Online Software Development Degree

Creative Problem Solvers Shine and Sparkle with Online Software Developer Degrees

An accredited online software development degree is perfect for analytical team players who bring imaginative ideas to life in computer applications that we all rely on. If you're looking for a fascinating career that demands creativity and vision, an online software developer degree may be the way to go.

Software developers have many names for what they do: computer science, software engineering, software development. Their skills as software programmers are in high demand today as people rely more and more on sophisticated computer programs to solve everyday problems large and small.

Turning abstract concepts into practical applications, software developers design computer programs and operating systems found in a surprising range of things you probably take for granted. From refrigerators to radio-frequency identification, from smart phones to smart cars, the knowledge and experience of software engineers affects millions of people in positive ways.

Online software developer degree programs offer career-minded people like you the most value for your educational dollar. Ideally suited for online software development courses, distance-learning techniques allow you to master computer science on your own terms and from the comfort of your home workstation.

If you have strong mathematical and analytical skills, your career can go as far as your ambition with an online software development degree, and eDegreeSteps helps you find the best accredited online software engineering programs.

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Online Software Development Courses Hone Your Skills in a Challenging Field

Online software development degree programs are designed to give you the advanced skills and knowledge you will need for a successful IT career. Many excellent and regionally accredited colleges offer bachelor's and master's degrees in a variety of computer engineering fields.

You can focus your career on developing software applications that will enhance people's lives in ways still undreamed of. Or you can concentrate on designing and developing computer operating systems that are used to run home computers, large servers, video game consoles, smart phones, laptops and other mobile devices.

Because software developers use variety of programming languages, web scripting languages, and application development tools, you have to master several advanced languages and frameworks such as C, C++, Java, J2EE, .NET, and PHP.

Other essential subjects you will study in online software development degree include:

• Database structures and algorithms
• Information security
• Data communications
• Relational database design & SQL
• Operating systems architecture
• Discrete mathematics
• Database connectivity
• Mobile application development
• Web servers
• Web development
• Distributed and mobile systems

Most online software engineering programs require core courses such as technical writing and major-related electives ranging from game theory to cyber security.

An Online Software Development Degree Maximizes Your Career Options

The research and development of new software programs for an enormous range of applications is an ever-growing process that offers qualified software engineers almost unlimited career prospects. More and more businesses, government agencies, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations need software developers.

A business making heating and air-conditioning systems needs a program to manage a new kind of thermostat. A non-profit in New York wants to use computers to tackle its supply chain problems. A cell phone service provider wants to develop unique applications for a new line of smart phones. These examples are sample of countless career possibilities for well-trained software developers.

Your online software developer degree will put you well ahead of the pack in most entry-level computer programming positions. System software engineers are vital to many large businesses, helping them more efficiently deliver their services in an evermore competitive marketplace.

Many top executives in positions such as Information Systems Manager and Chief Information Officer used their skills as software engineers to get to the boardroom. Every corporate ladder has a first rung, and an online software development degree is a solid leg up.

Software Engineer and Developer Market Overview and Growth Prospects

As one of the foundations of information technology, software development and engineering have seen tremendous career growth in recent years. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 900,000 Americans were employed as software developers, or in related fields. And the demand for more software developers is expected to continue to expand at more than twice the rate of all other professions through 2020:

Salary Guidelines for Careers in Software Development

Software developers earn higher than average salaries and benefits for working in a field they love. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries in 2010 for selected software development careers were:

Future Trends in Software Development

Because they are constantly developing new and practical software applications, software engineers drive the cutting edge of information technology. Innovation is expected in this field, and stale ideas and slap-dash designs are left far behind by the surging wave. Some trends in this vital and exciting career field include the following.

• Agile development is an innovative process that streamlines software design, development, testing, and production, emphasizing tight teamwork in continuous real-time. Agile management sharpens a project's competitive advantage over older, slower processes.
• Consumers have been demanding mobile computing for more than a decade, but by the end of 2013, smart phones and tablets will overtake laptops and netbooks as the preferred business client, continuing the trend for more mobile software applications.
• Cloud computing has come of age, offering businesses an easier and more flexible way of conducting business. The cloud computing software of the future will have to be faster and more efficient to meet increasing demand.

Clearly, a career in software development offers many promising goals. As your comprehensive hotline to the best accredited online software development degrees, eDegreeSteps will help you find the right program for you.

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