Aspiring software engineers can select from a variety of courses with computer science as a subject after passing the 12th standard in science or commerce. There are bachelor’s degree alternatives, diploma programmes, and certificate programmes in software engineering for particular areas. Knowing which software engineering courses are offered after the 12th grade will help you narrow down your options and show you a career-enhancing educational path. In this post, we go through a number of software engineering courses you can enrol in following your 12th grade year as well as several career options in this field.
Software Engineering Courses After 12th Grade
Students from the science or commerce stream can apply to a broad range of software engineering courses after 12th grade. Many engineering and mixed-education institutes present these courses as undergraduate and dual degree programs. Here are a few such courses:
Bachelor Of Computer Application (BCA)
This course focuses on both the theoretical and practical aspects of software engineering. You can learn in-depth about setting up computer networks, small-scale and large-scale database management techniques, and developing software with hardware compatibility. It is a three-year program split across six semesters. IT aspirants looking to work in software testing, website programming or cloud computing systems can learn the theoretical knowledge they need in these professions. The course also has laboratory and computer room sessions that focus on implementing applications.
Bachelor Of Technology In Information Technology (BTech)
This is a four-year course usually split across eight semesters. While the subjects in the 1st year are common across all engineering streams, the subjects in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years gradually transform from basic Java programming and algorithm analysis to OS-related topics and system development. Unlike courses that focus on computer science, this course might put more emphasis on advanced programming, data structures, and artificial intelligence concepts. The knowledge you gather during this course makes you capable of pursuing jobs in network architecture, security analysis, data science, and web development.
Bachelor Of Technology In Computer Science (BTech)
Like a BTech in IT, the computer science stream extends into subjects related to computation, hardware specifics, computer equipment troubleshooting, system flow design, and quality assurance checks. There can also be an inclusion of machine and deep learning topics. The course combines software development, microprocessor, and microcontroller usage with artificial intelligence. There is also a considerable amount of education on wireless communication and mobile computing due to rising digitization in the corporate domain.
Bachelor Of Science In Computer Science (BSc)
As the name suggests, this course teaches students computer science fundamentals. Along with this, it can include theoretical concepts and theorems regarding the scientific advancements and developments in computers. To make it easier to apply these teachings on-field, students undergo various practical examinations involving programming skills, PCB design, and integrating code onto microprocessors for data gathering, data feeding, or automation purposes. It is a highly academic course that emphasizes the mathematical foundations of computing.
Application Process Based On Streams
Depending on whether you are a commerce, arts, or science stream candidate, the application process for a software engineering course can vary. Here are the possible routes you may take based on your 12th-grade stream:
Science
All software engineering candidates coming from the science stream can directly apply for a degree course. Once you clear 12th grade, you can fill out an application form for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains. The JEE Mains is an assessment conducted for admissions to various engineering colleges in India. You could aim for a particular score bracket based on the required cut-off score of the college you want to join.
Commerce
Students who cleared their 12th grade in commerce and want to apply for a software engineering course may do so after getting a diploma in engineering. The diploma can either be in computer science or in a subject closely related to computer science. Once they complete the diploma course, they can continue their education by applying for a BTech or BSc degree.
Arts
The process for art students who have passed their 12 grade is the same as commerce students. First, apply for a diploma course in an engineering subject. Once you pass the diploma course with at least 60 percent marks, you can pursue a BTech degree.
How To Become A Software Engineer After 12th In India
Here are the steps you may follow to pursue software engineering as a career:
1. Complete your 10th grade
The first step is to clear your 10th grade successfully. Ensure you acquire at least 60% marks in physics, chemistry, and mathematics as most engineering institutions in India demand proof of proficiency in these subjects. Even certain colleges offering 11th and 12th education can ask for this score. Enrolling in a school that offered computer science courses can highly benefit you in the future. It could give you a foundational knowledge of computer systems and the basics of object-oriented programming through C, C++, or Java.
2. Apply for the science stream in your 12th grade
While commerce and humanities also make you eligible to apply for a software engineering course after the 12th, you may save time by directly taking up science. This saves you the effort to apply for a diploma course and then, after clearing it, shifting to a new degree in a new college.
Also, similar to the 10th grade, acquire a score of at least 60% in physics, chemistry, and mathematics to be eligible for applying to an engineering institute. To increase your chances of getting admitted to a good engineering college, you can participate in computer or software-related projects and document your learnings.
3. Get involved in an internship
Having some internship experience in your software engineering application form significantly increases your chances of admission to your desired stream and college. You can try internships in sectors related to software engineering. Maintaining a strong professional relationship with your reporting authority or mentor may also help.
Software Engineering Jobs In India
Once you complete your 12th-grade and software engineering course, there are different kinds of jobs that you can apply for based on your specialization and expertise. Here are some of them:
1. Software Engineer
National average salary: ₹39,471 per month
Primary responsibilities: A software engineer may be responsible for managing complete software development life cycles by creating flowcharts and layouts. They can curate detailed documentation to define the software requirements and potential solutions to optimize its efficiency. Apart from implementing and typing well-structured code, software engineers can also decide upon hardware specifications according to the operational limits of their software. They may be responsible for combining multiple software components to design a fully operational software program.
2. Software Developer
National average salary: ₹53,980 per month
Primary responsibilities: Software developers typically work in teams to create flexible algorithms and based on the results, they modify flowcharts to achieve accurate outputs. They often write clean, easy-to-modify, and well-documented code while also combining third-party software functionality to maximize the software’s effectiveness. As they are code developers, they may debug code and troubleshoot snippets and identify changes that can increase the code execution speed. Also, they collect feedback from testers and incorporate it to develop better-performing software.
3. Software Test Engineer
National average salary: ₹72,669 per month
Primary responsibilities: Software test engineers test the software usability by running it across multiple devices with different loads. They are responsible for checking the performance of the code. They develop test designs and test procedures to run automated and manual tests. Based on their findings, they assess the code and communicate their research to the quality assurance or software development team. They also analyze software programs and update software documentation.
4. Web Developer
National average salary: ₹22,710 per month
Primary responsibilities: Web developers may use HTML, C++, or Java code to design the backend architecture of a website. Their tasks can also include writing fast codes that improve landing page loading periods and increase user comfort during website navigation. In complex web development projects, developers may link several web pages based on relatability and further conduct off-page search engine optimization to assist the website owner in attracting more traffic on the internet.
5. Data Scientist
National average salary: ₹92,917 per month
Primary responsibilities: Software engineers who work as data scientists usually perform predictive analysis through AI-based coding structures. They use machine learning and deep learning algorithms to study large data blocks and extract valuable information. Based on the seniority of the data scientist, they may also spend a significant duration on database management through modification, iteration, and breaking down of metrics.
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