BS Software Engineering

The Departments of Computer Science and Information Technology at Virtual University of Pakistan offer a 4-year BS program in Software Engineering. The degree is designed to meet the country’s growing demand for software development.

The program focuses on providing students with technical knowledge of computer systems, programming languages, algorithms, and data structures required for reliable and safe software development.

The course emphasizes the development of professional skills in software engineering, including the application of analysis, design, and construction techniques for computer systems and applications.

Objectives

The objective is to provide students with a theoretical understanding of the software development life cycle.
Develop students’ programming proficiency by introducing them to diverse programming languages, tools, paradigms, and technologies
Strengthen students’ abilities to analyze and solve problems using software engineering approaches.
The objective is to empower students to make valuable contributions to the field of software development.
Equip students with a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge to address information technology issues.
Foster students’ awareness of the prospects and real-world applications of software development
Enable students to develop and refine their research skills in their respective fields.
Allow students to improve their communication skills.

Curriculum Targets

The program aims to enable students to use problem-solving skills in the context of software engineering concepts and standards, to support individuals or organizations in achieving their goals and objectives.
Choose, create, combine, and manage Computer Science-based solutions in an organizational setting.
Analyze problems and apply up-to-date and innovative technical concepts and practices in the field of software engineering.
Develop critical thinking skills to assess problem areas and determine optimal solutions
Create a project utilizing your computing skills and present it effectively to a viva panel.
Acquire and utilize the most up-to-date tools, technologies, and skills required to keep pace with the evolving computing practices in the industry of software development.
Begin a career in software development and Information Technology-focused business/industry or pursue advanced studies in a relevant field.
Express information and concepts clearly and convincingly.

Eligibility

(I) for Students 12-Years Education

50% in Intermediate (HSSC) or a comparable certification approved by IBCC is required.
Deficiency courses: Students who did not pass Mathematics at the required (Intermediate) level mentioned above point can apply, but they need to complete two additional 6-credit hour Mathematics courses in the first two semesters.

(II) For Students with a 14-Year Education (Entry Route)

Minimum 45% marks in 14 years of education obtained from a university or institute recognized by HEC.
To be eligible, the candidate should have completed a major in at least one of the following subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Computing, Commerce, Statistics, Economics, or Engineering.
The Equivalence Committee will determine, on a case-by-case basis, the number of courses required to complete a BS degree as well as the duration of the residency.

Deficiency courses:

Students who did not pass Mathematics at the required level mentioned above point can still apply, but they need to complete two additional 6-credit hour Mathematics courses in the first two semesters.

Course Exemption

Students who have already completed 14 years of education and those wishing to transfer their credit hours from other universities are eligible for course exemption.

Degree Duration

This program is a four-year full-time course, divided into eight semesters, each semester has at least 18 weeks for teaching and examinations.

Study Scheme

Semester 1

Course Code	Subject Title	Type	Credit Hours
CS101	Introduction to Computing	Required	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
ENG101	English Comprehension	Required	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MTH101	Calculus And Analytical Geometry	Required	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
PHY101	General Mathematics	Required	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
PHY101	Physics	Required	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
ECO401	Economics	Elective	3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
MTH100	General Mathematics	Deficiency	3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
VU001	Introduction to e-Learning	Required	1 (Theory:1, Practical:0)
PAK301	Pakistan Studies	Required	2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)
MGT211	Introduction To Business	Elective	3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
ISL202	Islamic Studies	Elective	2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)

Semester 2

Course Code	Subject Title	Type	Pre Requisite	Credit Hours
CS201	Introduction to Programming	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MTH202	Discrete Mathematics	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
ENG201	Business and Technical English Writing	Required	ENG101	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MTH501	Linear Algebra	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MGT301	Principles of Marketing	Elective		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MGT503	Principles of Management	Elective		3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
MTH104	Sets and Logic	Deficiency		3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
CS201P	Introduction to Programming (Practical)	Required		1 (Theory:0, Practical:1)
ETH202	Ethics (for Non-Muslims)	Elective		2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)
ISL202	Islamic Studies	Elective		2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)

Semester 3

Course Code	Subject Title	Type	Pre Requisite	Credit Hours
CS301	Data Structures	Required	CS201	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS304	Object Oriented Programming	Required	CS201	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS601	Data Communication	Required	CS101	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS625	Professional Practices	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MGT201	Financial Management	Elective		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MGT501	Human Resource Management	Elective		3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
CS301P	Data Structures (Practical)	Required		1 (Theory:0, Practical:1)
CS304P	Object Oriented Programming (Practical)	Required		1 (Theory:0, Practical:1)

Semester 4

Course Code	Subject Title	Type	Pre Requisite	Credit Hours
CS403	Database Management Systems	Required	CS201	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS504	Software Engineering – I	Required	CS201	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS604	Operating Systems	Required	CS301	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS610	Computer Networks	Required	CS601	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
STA301	Statistics and Probability	Elective		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS403P	Database Management Systems (Practical)	Required		3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
CS604P	Operating Systems (Practical)	Required		1 (Theory:0, Practical:1)
CS610P	Computer Networks (Practical)	Required		1 (Theory:0, Practical:1)
CS610P	Computer Networks (Practical)	Required		1 (Theory:0, Practical:1)

Semester 5

Course Code	Subject Title	Type	Pre Requisite	Credit Hours
CS205	Information Security	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS402	Theory of Automata	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS502	Fundamentals of Algorithms	Required	CS301	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MCM301	Computer Networks	Required	ENG101	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MTH401	Differential Equations	Required	MTH101	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
STA301	Statistics and Probability	Elective		3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)

Semester 6

Course Code	Subject Title	Type	Pre Requisite	Credit Hours
CS205	Information Security	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS603	Software Architecture and Design	Required	CS504	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS620	Modelling and Simulation	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS202	Fundamentals of Front End Development	Elective		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS614	Data Warehousing	Elective	CS403	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS411	Visual Programming	Elective	CS201	3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
IT430	E-Commerce	Required	CS101	3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
CS603P	Software Architecture and Design (Practical)	Required		1 (Theory:0, Practical:1)

Semester 7

Course Code	Subject Title	Type	Pre Requisite	Credit Hours
CS619	Final Project – CS619	Required		3
CS615	Software Project Management	Required	CS504	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
MGT101	Financial Accounting	Required		3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS311	Introduction to Web Services Development	Elective	CS201	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS435	Cloud Computing	Elective	CS304	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS609	System Programming	Elective		3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
CS611	Software Quality Engineering	Required	CS504	3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
SE601	Software Construction & Development	Required	CS603	2 (Theory:2, Practical:0)
SE601P	Software Construction & Development (Practical)	Required		1 (Theory:0, Practical:1)

Semester 8

Course Code	Subject Title	Type	Pre Requisite	Credit Hours
CS619	Final Project	Required		3
CS636	Formal Methods	Required		3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
SE602	Software Re-Engineering	Required	SE601	3 (Theory:3, Practical:0)
CS508	Modern Programming Languages	Elective	CS201	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)
CS609	System Programming	Elective	CS201	3 (Theory:3), Practical:0)

Assessment of Study Progress

The evaluation of student’s academic progress is based on continuous assessment throughout the semester, including assignments, online quizzes, Graded Discussion Boards (GDBs), mid-term and final term exams. The mid and finalterm exams are conducted at VU’s designated exam centers and typically account for 80-85% of the total marks for a course.

Project

To complete BS SE, all students must pass the “CS619 Final Year Project” course worth 6 credit hours during the 7th semester of their program. If a student is unable to pass CS619 by the end of the 8th semester, they may choose to take two 3-credit hour courses instead to fulfill their degree requirements. This option is only available to students who are facing hardship.

Degree Awarded

The minimum requirement for eligibility is the completion of the requisite courses, which must add up to at least 134 credit hours.
A minimum CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 2.0 out of 4.0 is required to be considered eligible.

Important notice

In accordance with HEC guidelines, students who are enrolled in a BS program are permitted to switch to an associate degree (AD) program after completing four semesters (2 years) of their BS program. If a student chooses to do so, they must fulfill the following requirements:

The student must complete and pass a final project worth 3 credit hours.
The student must have successfully completed all the courses necessary to fulfill the requirements for the corresponding associate degree (AD).
If there are any missing requirements, the student must fulfill them by passing the remaining courses.
All regulations regarding changes in academic programs, as established by the university, will be enforced.

If a student wishes to leave their BS program before completing four semesters, they must apply for a study change program. These guidelines will be followed in this case.

Curriculum or course plan for the corresponding associate degree program
Extra courses will be considered non-credit courses and will not contribute towards the completion of the program.

Fee Structure

Degree Program	Admission Fee	Registration Fee	Security Fee	Admission Processing Fee	Semester Enrollment Fee	Per credit hour fee	Fee of Convocation	Fee payable at admission
BS	3,000	2,500	2,000	500	1,000	935	2,000	11,905

Semester Fee

Semester fee Approximately Rs. 17000/-

Fee Structure for Overseas

Disclaimer

The courses are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date with those taught at top universities, taking into account the needs of local industry and the job market.
The University may change its fee structure from time to time.