Mobile Software Developers

High School

In high school, take as many computer science classes as possible—including programming, Web design, and database management. Sign up for science and mathematics courses to develop your analytical and critical-thinking skills. Design and art classes will help you to hone your artistic abilities, and English and speech classes will help you to become a strong communicator, a key skill for mobile software developers.

Postsecondary Education

A bachelor’s degree in software development, software design, computer science, or software engineering, plus at least one year of experience with programming languages, is required for most mobile software developers. A few colleges—such as Columbia College Chicago, University of Texas at Austin, and Rasmussen College—offer degrees in mobile application development. Many computer science departments offer classes in app design.

Other Education or Training

Continuing education webinars, on-site classes, workshops, and other educational opportunities are provided by professional associations and for-profit schools (such as Global Knowledge Training LLC and Udacity). For example, the Association for Computing Machinery offers online courses on topics such as software design and development, Web development, and business skills. The IEEE Computer Society provides online courses on management, leadership, project management, and other topics. The International Web Association offers a variety of classes including Mobile Web Design, Intro to Programming Concepts, Introduction to C#, and Introduction to JavaScript. Contact these organizations for more information.

Certification

The IEEE Computer Society provides more than 10 knowledge area certificates, including those in software requirements, software design, and software testing. Many colleges and universities offer certificates in software design and other IT-related areas. Contact schools in your area to learn about available programs.