What is Software Development?
The basic concept of software development is relatively simple: it’s all about designing and building applications that people can use. When you think of it like that, it doesn’t sound so scary or complicated at all. In fact, businesses around the world benefit from applications made by talented software developers every day!
There are some reasons why you should choose a career as a software developer. You get to build cool stuff. One of the biggest perks is that as a software developer, you get to build products people can use. Maybe you’ll create an app that people love to use every day, or maybe you’ll be involved in helping someone design and launch their first website. Either way, what you do will touch many lives on a daily basis. You get to solve problems.
Why work in Software Development?
Software developers are the rock stars of the business world. With an average salary of more than $100,000 per year, those who know how to code software have lucrative careers and bright futures ahead of them in just about any industry they choose.
Additionally, the software development field isn’t going away anytime soon, so if you get into it now, you will be well-prepared to jump between companies or industries in order to meet your goals.
What is Software Development?
The basic concept of software development is relatively simple: it’s all about designing and building applications that people can use. When you think of it like that, it doesn’t sound so scary or complicated at all. In fact, businesses around the world benefit from applications made by talented software developers every day!
There are some reasons why you should choose a career as a software developer. You get to build cool stuff. One of the biggest perks is that as a software developer, you get to build products people can use. Maybe you’ll create an app that people love to use every day, or maybe you’ll be involved in helping someone design and launch their first website. Either way, what you do will touch many lives on a daily basis. You get to solve problems.
Why Work In Software Development?
Software developers are the rock stars of the business world. With an average salary of more than $100,000 per year, those who know how to code software have lucrative careers and bright futures ahead of them in just about any industry they choose.
Additionally, the software development field isn’t going away anytime soon, so if you get into it now, you will be well-prepared to jump between companies or industries in order to meet your goals.
Explore Software Development Programs
Programming is one of the most impactful industries in the world today, where demand, salary, flexibility, and job satisfaction are high. Best of all, you don’t need a traditional 4 year degree and years of debt before you start earning, and there is no corporate ladder to climb. Learn the most fundamental and industry-relevant programming languages today. Earn your degree in Software Development and build a portfolio that will showcase your expertise, and kickstart your entry into the workforce. Get started on your computer programming degree and certification by taking courses online at CIAT’s virtual campus.
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Data Analytics
Length: <2 years
IT Level: Beginner
Number of Certifications: Up to 5
Students can kickstart their first entry-level IT career by earning a Certificate in Computer Information Systems. This program prepares students to earn up to 5 industry certifications to support a variety of successful IT career paths and are encouraged to continue their education and technical training to for maximum career potential and ROI.
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Software Development
Length: <2 years
Best Fit If You Are: New to coding
With this degree at CIAT, you get hands-on training and personalized instruction to master coding skills needed to design and build web, software, and mobile applications. Successful graduates will gain solid exposure to coding languages, database platforms and mobile app development frameworks most demanded in the industry.
Applied Bachelor's Degree in Software Development
Length: 3.5 years
Best Fit If You Are: New to coding
Choose between 3 concentration tracks – Data Analytics, Web Development, or Mobile App Development – to kickstart your tech career. Learn to design and build web, software, and mobile applications using the languages and platforms that serve as the backbone for small, midsize, and enterprise organizations.
Software Development Jobs Are In High Demand
Earning Potential
Software developers are some of the best-paid employees in the tech industry. According to Glassdoor, they earn a median salary of $110,000 per year. And if you’re looking for a high-growth career with lots of opportunities, software development is definitely it.
Software developers have large earning potential In fact, some software developers earn more than their managers.
*Job title and salary information displayed are all average annual salaries sourced from paysacle.com in 2022. They represent the most up-to-date information at time of print and are not to be construed as guarantees of employment or future earnings. Some positions may require 5+ years of experience and/or a Bachelor’s degree to be eligible.
The Technology Landscape Keeps Evolving
New technologies emerge every day, and they’re quickly adopted and incorporated into businesses around the world. Whether you like to work with something cutting-edge or are more comfortable building on top of an existing platform, there’s a place for you in technology. If you enjoy solving problems and working with others, software development is a great career choice.
It’s also exciting to be part of something new and potentially ground-breaking. If you’re interested in technology, it can be very fulfilling to help build software that other people find useful. Being on the cutting edge allows you to experiment with new programming styles, languages and processes.
Get To Be Creative
Writing code is creative. Just like you can write a novel or pen a poem, you can also build an application or website with code. And, unlike most other forms of creative expression, programming offers instant feedback on your progress.
You’ll know as soon as you’ve created something great—or something terrible. There’s no need to wait for someone else to tell you whether or not it was any good. As long as you have an idea and a computer (and maybe some free time), there are no limits to what you can create.
The same is true when you build something that has never been created before. Perhaps it’s a tool, an application, or even a website. There’s no telling what kind of impact you can make on others until you try to do something that’s never been done before. It could be a great achievement—or maybe just a fun experiment—but either way, you’ll learn from your experience and grow as a person.
To see how much room there is for creativity in software development, consider how many different kinds of developers there are: front-end developers, back-end developers, mobile developers (and more). Each one works with different technologies and tools to create unique applications and websites; they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.
There Are Many Professional Opportunities in Software Development
As technology expands and as software becomes increasingly complex, there are a multitude of job options. Whether you want to work for a large corporation or start your own business, you can find many ways to do so.
Further, even if you’re not interested in starting your own company, working for a small startup or mid-size company is an appealing alternative. With such an expansive landscape of opportunities, nearly anyone can find employment.
Software development roles can easily transition into other fields. Once you learn how to code, it’s easy to transfer those skills to other industries. For example, if you’re a software developer and want to transition into another field, you can become a data analyst or build your own website. There’s no limit with what you can do!
Software Development is Creative and Intellectually Challenging
One reason that many people love working in software development is that you’re constantly solving problems. A program can be anything from a simple web page to an advanced software package, but at some point, there will be a problem that you have to solve before your creation is complete. You’ll also often find yourself collaborating with other developers as you learn and work on projects together.
Additionally, learning new programming languages gives you a fresh set of problems to tackle and a way to become more marketable within your industry.
Another reason that software development is an interesting career path is that you’re constantly challenged to learn new skills. The technologies that are used to build programs change and grow rapidly, so there will always be new things for you to learn as you become a better programmer. You’ll also need to keep up with industry trends if you want to stay competitive in your field.
This means reading tech blogs, attending conferences, and learning from other developers whenever possible. Since technology evolves quickly, it can be hard to stay on top of everything—but it also means that there will always be something new for you to master!
Curious about Software Development?
Contact us to find out if Software Development is right for you.
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2022 BEST CYBERSECURITY PROGRAMS
CIAT has been awarded top ranking status two years running in Intelligent.com’s Best Cybersecurity Program review, highlighted as “Best For Industry Certifications”. Evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.
CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD
EC Council, the world's largest cybersecurity technical certification organization, awarded CIAT the Circle of Excellence Award two years in a row for our Certified Ethical Hacker certification training courses and career-ready curriculum.
MILITARY-FRIENDLY
We believe you deserve an education worthy of your service. CIAT welcomes military veterans, active duty service members, and spouses using the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E), Active Duty Tuition Assistance, and MyCAA.
FULLY ACCREDITED
We have high standards and we believe you should too. CIAT has proudly earned accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
2021 BEST CYBERSECURITY PROGRAMS
CIAT has been awarded top ranking status in Intelligent.com’s Best Cybersecurity Program review, highlighted as “Best For Industry Certifications”. Evaluated based on curriculum quality, graduation rate, reputation, and post-graduate employment.
CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD
EC Council, the world's largest cybersecurity technical certification organization, awarded CIAT the Circle of Excellence Award two years in a row for our Certified Ethical Hacker certification training courses and career-ready curriculum.
MILITARY-FRIENDLY
We believe you deserve an education worthy of your service. CIAT welcomes military veterans, active duty service members, and spouses using the Post 9/11 GI Bill®, Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E), Active Duty Tuition Assistance, and MyCAA.
FULLY ACCREDITED
We have high standards and we believe you should too. CIAT has proudly earned accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.