Do you have to know a lot about computers before you take a Software Engineering degree?

The more you know about computers will only help you but during the software portion of my undergrad degree i took one Java course and one Data Structures course, and that was all that really used any previous knowledge.

You learn how to take software from an idea and then to follow the production paths to make it a reality, the other software you learn along the day is usually something you wouldn't use in everyday life (unless it's for industry of course). Stuff like computer architecture and assembly languages for example.

From what I gather you are more or less wondering if you need to be a leet h4x on windows or know all about linux and now to do cool stuff with the command prompt or bash terminal and the answer is no; but it wouldn't hurt.

"workstation technological know-how" maximum generally potential application engineering, yet CAN contain some hardware engineering. A chook of a diverse feather is "workstation engineering," which truthfully potential hardware, heavy on electronics, circuit layout, reliable state instruments, and so on. I worked as a application engineer for approximately 6 yrs on the muse of an MS in utilized Math. "workstation engineering" is greater paid, yet a application engineer can bypass a techniques based truly on expertise and function.