Difference between BA in Software Engineering versus IT?

What is the difference between a BA degree in computer programming and software engineering?

• Im aiming at becoming a game programmer, but didn't want to be restricted to only that if i cant find a job in the gaming industry, so Im looking at those two rather than a game programming course.

• Answer:

  The computer programming degree will focus on theorectical concepts that are reinforced with programming: using languages, representing data in the computer, efficient ways of searching and sorting data, interacting with perhiperals, writing to the file system, database systems, graphical user interfaces, hardware, assembly language, and the complementary math courses required for your program. That's the very core of most computer science/programming programs. There are electives as well: security, graphics, databases, networking, compilers, etc. You'll learn how to make the stuff you want, but not everything, and certainly not games like today's console games. At the very most you might get some experience in creating very primitive 3d graphics and a small game. Today's PS3 and XBox Games are massive software projects. Software Engineering focuses on real-world development and not so much the depths of programming. You'll probably learn more about designing system architecture, architectural patterns, collaborating, project management, the different methodologies used to build software, cost estimation, eliciting system requirements. I think you still do quite a bit of programming in the SE program, as they expect that most their graduates will become developers, but a portion of the education focuses on SE principles rather than applied Computer Science topics. In other words, it's the programming education without the electives. It all depends on your program. After graduating college and developing a whole bunch of programs to demonstrate knowledge of theoretical concepts, most programmers begin working on small, medium, or large-scale projects with other programmers. That's when everything you've learned in school sits on the back burner and you start to learn how to "develop" software, not just code. That involves using tools to significantly increase productivity, designing architectures rather than just jumping into code, using source control, glueing libraries together rather than trying to re-invent the wheel, learning how to write maintainable code, learning a specific framework or technology, learning how to work as a team, working on real-world business requirements, etc. If you want to become a game developer, go with the programming degree. It would be even better to double up with a Math/Physics degree as well. After all, games do involve a bunch of physics. That doesn't mean all game programmers deal with Math or Physics though. You should try to find a forum with game programmers and talk to them.