Bachelor's Degree
Software Development
Online Bachelor's Degree Program
Bachelor's Degree
Software Development
Online Bachelor's Degree Program
Earn a bachelor’s degree in software development online
Accreditation | Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
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Transfer credit | Up to 90 approved credits |
Format | 100% online classes you can take right at home |
Languages | Learn to code using popular programming languages, including Visual Basic, C#, Java, Python, C++, Javascript, and more |
Certification | Become certified: we pay for your first attempt for several key certification exams from CompTIA, Oracle, and the Python Institute1 |
Pathways | Earn dual credit towards a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree |
QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Overview: Bachelor of Science in Software Development
The Bachelor of Science in Software Development degree is a 120-credit undergraduate program which prepares you for a career as a software developer/engineer.
The degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in object-oriented programming, discrete structures for computer science, software engineering, software testing, business systems analysis, and much more. No coding experience required!
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
You can take classes during the day or in the evening. We strive to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Learn More Today!
Curriculum
Software development bachelor’s degree classes & curriculum details
The Bachelor of Science in Software Development online degree program is designed for those students wishing to pursue the programming or coding side of computers. Students in this program will gain the knowledge and skills to understand, analyze, test and design the software and systems responsible for the base functionalities of computers.
Software engineers design innovative software for businesses and clients and typically specialize in computer applications software or computer systems software.
Program | Monthsi | Credits |
---|---|---|
Bachelor of Science in Software Development | 32 | 120 |
Program availability varies by location
Required Core Courses in Software Development
All courses, 52.00 semester credit hours, are required.
Elective Courses in Software Development
A minimum of 15 semester credit hours in the field of information technology, information systems, computer science or a related discipline are required, of which 9.00 semester hours must be at the 300, 400, 500 or 600 level.
Open Elective Courses
A minimum of 12.00 semester credit hours of open electives is required.
Required Capstone or Internship
3.00 semester credit hours are required.
or
* IT 491 - Information Technology Capstone Project can be substituted for IS 491.
Required Courses in General Education
Students enrolled in this bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of 36.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for specific information about courses within each discipline. 12.00 Semester Credit Hours in Communications 9.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities (must include 3 semester credit hours of cultural diversity) 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics 3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Science 6.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Personal and Professional Development Courses
A minimum of 2.00 semester credit hours is required.
Certifications
Get educated, and get certified
Complete our software development bachelor’s degree program and we will pay for your first exam attempts for several key industry certifications:1
- CompTIA A+. Master and confirm your core IT skills and knowledge necessary for success in a variety of IT support positions.
- CompTIA Network+. Show employers you’ve got the ability to configure, manage, and troubleshoot IT infrastructure.
- Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer. Demonstrate you have the high-level skills necessary to become a professional Java developer.
- Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate. Illustrate your knowledge of SQL and how to use it when working with the Oracle Database server.
- PCEP – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer. Verify your familiarity with the essentials of Python programming and universal programming concepts.
Our goal is to fully prepare you with the comprehensive skillset needed to excel professionally immediately upon graduating—and build a strong foundation to continue advancing your career. Getting certified is an excellent way to become more qualified not only for entry level jobs after graduation, but advanced career opportunities in software development in the future.
Additional certification eligibility
Software development encompasses a wide variety of job opportunities featuring unique certification options across many disciplines.
Our software development bachelor’s degree curriculum contains coursework that can help you prepare for additional key industry certifications:
- Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 8 Programmer
- Oracle Database Administration Certified Professional
- CIW Web Foundations Associate
Dual Credit
Save time and money by earning dual credit
Students enrolled in Herzing University’s Software Development bachelor’s degree program can get a head start on earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Qualifying undergraduate students who pursue a Herzing bachelor’s degree in software development may apply up to 12 credits toward an MBA degree.
Requirements
Admissions requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University Software Development bachelor's degree program include:
- Prior education requirement. Completion of high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
- Entrance testing. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to succeed in college-level courses via prior ACT/SAT scores, completion of prior college credit, or additional entrance testing.
- Availability of time, personal commitment, and a professional attitude. We exist to help enthusiastic students fully committed to reaching their highest career goals. Our faculty and leadership are dedicated to helping you reach them.
You will need to meet and interview with a Herzing University admissions advisor and complete an enrollment application to be admitted into the program.
If you have any additional questions regarding admissions into the program, please contact our admissions team.
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District Of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.
Classes Start January 6th
Waived Enrollment FeeFrequently Asked Questions
Software developers typically work in a comfortable office environment or computer lab. A standard workweek is 40-50 hours with occasional periods of longer hours when deadlines must be met.
Those employed in this field most often enjoy full benefits packages from their employers along with a competitive salary.
While it’s possible to become a software developer or engineer without a bachelor’s degree, most developers do hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. According to the 2021 Developer Survey from Stack Overflow with over 58,000 responses from professional developers, 80% have earned some form of higher education, a bachelor’s degree being the most common (49%).
If you enjoy problem-solving, possess critical thinking skills and have a keen attention to detail, earning a software developer degree could be right for you. Software engineers rely heavily on the ability to analyze and evaluate technical data.
Professionals in this field must have a strong aptitude for reasoning, be detail-oriented and possess interpersonal skills in order to work as part of a team and communicate technical details—both to clients unfamiliar with the language and programmers demanding clear instructions to execute.
The Herzing University software development program takes 16-32 months depending on the degree you pursue. After earning either an associate or bachelor’s degree you’ll be ready to apply for entry level software development positions in many different industries.
Software developers conceptualize, design, code and produce the programs we use every day.
The specific tasks and duties of a software developer will vary depending on the employer and industry. Generally, software developers do the following:
- Evaluate user needs to determine whether they will need existing, modified, or new software
- Plan out each part of an application or system, creating diagrams and models of how the program will flow and which programming languages will be used
- Direct the work of software programmers as they code and test the program
- Create reference documentation so the program can be upgraded and maintained
- Conduct testing of the program and create regular updates
Yes, working from home and remote work may be an option for software developers. Especially for freelancers/contractors and those who choose to work for themselves.
However, every employer has their own requirements in regard to remote work. Not every company is equipped to smoothly handle remote communication and team project management. Some jobs will require office availability by default and offer one or more days per week to work remotely.
Strictly speaking, no. You don’t need to be well-versed in calculus or be able to perform complex computations in your head in the snap of a finger.
However, you will need to be able to think mathematically and logically to succeed in software development. Programming logic is a foundational topic—the ability to design and debug systems and successfully navigate progressive “if/then” logic requires mathematical thinking.
Students with an aptitude for math may have an advantage, but a career in software development doesn’t require advanced math skills.
This is a subject of ongoing discussion as the industry continues to evolve. Some people use the terms interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between engineering and development:
- A software engineer applies traditional engineering principles to analyze and solve problems. Their analysis, interpretation and solutions are done through a quantitative, engineering lens.
- A software developer approaches problems creatively with more flexibility to solve problems outside of the scientific method, applying qualitative practices and patterns learned outside of an engineering-based process.
The Herzing software development program introduces concepts in software engineering but does not provide a full foundation in engineering principles.
There is a lot of similarity between software developers and computer programmers. They very often work closely together, and oftentimes experienced developers will wear both hats. Here is the primary distinction:
- Software developers design software.
- Computer programmers build software.
The developer outlines how the software must function, and the programmer makes it function. To successfully design software programs, developers need a background in programming to understand what’s possible from a programmer’s perspective.
Do you excel in executing tasks and carrying out instructions with tremendous attention to detail? You could thrive as a programmer and may consider working towards a computer programming degree.
Do you excel in conceiving a new solution to a problem, designing it from the ground up and working with the many people needed to make it work? A career as a software developer might be perfect for you.
The average salary for software developers can vary widely based on the specific roles and responsibilities of the job.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for software developers is $138,110 per year ($66.40 per hour).*
Job outlook
The BLS reports employment of software developers is expected to rise 26% from 2022-2032, much higher than the projection across all U.S. occupations.
Program Finder
Bachelor of Science in Software Development Degree Programs
Showing 1 program for the Online campus
This program prepares students for a broad range of positions in the computing field, with particular emphases placed on software development. Foundational skills taught include programming logic, object-oriented programming, applications development, including web and mobile application fundamentals, database applications, security concepts, and network and computer architecture fundamentals. Advanced skills include software application design, systems analysis and design, software testing, and business analysis.
Students will have the opportunity to complete their studies through a selection of elective coursework that deepens their understanding of information technology and software development techniques, as well business management concepts.
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Accreditation
Accreditation & Disclosures
1. Certification is not a state requirement. Payment for first exam attempt(s) requires meeting certain University guidelines, including passing specified courses, completion of exam preparation materials, and more. Please contact admissions for more information.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.