I have a bachelor of software engineering, accredited by the Australian institute of engineers. Many of my university buddies studied computer science, so I saw

I have a bachelor of software engineering, accredited by the Australian institute of engineers. Many of my university buddies studied computer science, so I saw the difference in course loads and expectations then, and 17 years later I’ve seen it play out long term. If I have to pin it down, I’d say my degree had a lot of focus on all the phases of the SDLC, while computer science and programming are just one phase. My course was an extra year and included mandatory classes on testing theory, large scale system design, real time systems, personal software process, and much more theory about the what, why and how of each phase of the SDLC. My computer science friends were just writing code, without much education on the bigger picture. So I would say a programmer is doing one piece of building a software system (like a bricklayer), while a software engineer keeps in mind and can actually perform all the tasks required to design, build, test, document and support the software (all the people required to build a building from conception to completion)