Software Developer
Certificate
Curriculum code 1305
Course Requirements                   Information Management Systems Web site

This program prepares students with programming skills that will, when combined with a degree and industry experience, provide the background for entry-level or trainee software development positions. Information technology professionals also may pursue this program to enhance their versatility and career advancement potential.

Within this certificate’s courses, you will gain hands-on experience using at least two programming languages— selecting from C#, C++, Java, and Visual Basic. Software development lifecycle issues—including solution conception, design, implementation, and testing—are addressed with hands-on experiences using the latest hardware and software development tools. Students expand on their breadth of knowledge by selecting from database, web design/development, eCommerce, and Microsoft Office application integration course options.

Nature of Work—This program is designed to qualify you as a Software Developer. Software developers design and update the software that runs a computer. Because they are responsible for both programming and systems analysis/design, these workers must be proficient in both areas. Increasingly, software developers work with databases, object-oriented programming languages, as well as client-server applications development, Web applications, embedded systems, mobile applications, and multimedia and Internet technology.

Related Job Titles—Programmer, Systems Analyst, Software Developer, Application Programmer, and Web Developer.

Employment Outlook—Employment of computer software engineers is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations, as businesses and other organizations adopt and integrate new technologies and seek to maximize the efficiency of their computer systems, according to the U.S. Department of Labor—Bureau of Labor Statistics. Competition among businesses will continue to create an incentive for increasingly sophisticated technological innovations, and organizations will need more computer software engineers to implement these changes. In addition to jobs created through employment growth, many job openings will result annually from the need to replace workers who move into managerial positions, transfer to other occupations, or leave the labor force.

Earnings—The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports median annual earnings of computer systems software engineers who worked full time in May 2004 were about $79,740. The middle 50 percent earned between $63,150 and $98,220. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,420, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $118,350.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting salary offers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering averaged $52,464 in 2005; offers for those with a master’s degree averaged $60,354.

Starting salary offers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in computer science averaged $50,820. Starting salaries for software engineers in software development, according to Robert Half International, ranged from $63,250 to $92,750 in 2005. For network engineers, starting salaries in 2005 ranged from $61,250 to $88,250.

For job listings and job placement assistance, contact the Job Placement Center in the Center for Con­temporary Technology, T904, (708) 974-5737, www.morainevalley.edu/jpc.