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.

A CIAT student, who is pursuing a cybersecurity degree, working on dual-screen computer monitors

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.

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Software Development - CIAT Associate Degrees

Software Development Jobs Are In High Demand

The software development field is booming, as a business relies more and more on computer programs to run their day-to-day operations. Software developer jobs are expected to rise 22% between 2020 and 2030. In other words, if you’re looking for a career with lots of opportunities and room for growth—software development might be your best bet!

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.

Earnings potential of Software Development Programs

 *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.

A woman succeeding in the technology field with her degree from CIAT

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.

A picture of software development code on a computer screen
Software Development Opportunities at CIAT

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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Fully Accredited School

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

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.

2018 Academic Circle of Excellence award badge

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 School '21-'22 logo

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 School

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.

Talk to an Advisor

Request an appointment with one of our IT expert Admissions Advisors for personalized guidance on building your education plan. You’ll be able to book an appointment instantly for a time that fits your schedule. 

Enrollment Deadline - September 23, 2024!

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