What Degree is Needed to Become a Software Developer?
Becoming a software developer offers you the chance to be part of a rapidly expanding field. But you have to earn the right educational credentials to be eligible for the best jobs in software development. Let's take a look at why earning a degree is the best plan on your journey to become a software developer.
Educational Requirements
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in order to become a software developer, you need to obtain a bachelor's degree in computer science. Within the program, you will be taught how to write code for software using various programming languages. A degree in software engineering or mathematics can also go a long way towards adding to your knowledge about the field.
Additional Training
An important requirement for becoming an in-demand software developer is that you have plenty of practice writing software. That is why there are so many tutorials and games online devoted to teaching students as young as ten years old how to write code. Additionally, there are plenty of open source projects which welcome new coders and help them build their first piece of software to showcase their skill.
You can also train for a certification in a particular coding language. Companies offer certificates in different languages. Having the certificate is not a requirement, but it does help add to your credibility, and gives potential employers an indication of your level of skill. Once you receive a certificate, you may be required to continue giving an exam periodically to maintain its legitimacy.
Advantages of a Degree
Some people try to become software developers without getting a degree first. But there are many advantages a degree in software development can offer you, including:
1. Legitimacy
Degrees add legitimacy to claims of being a qualified professional. The work of a software developer is complex and requires a great deal of study and practice. A person who simply claims to be a good software developer will not gain the same amount of trust that a degree holder would. Companies rarely have time to put candidates through various tests in order to determine how good or bad they are at what they do. As such, having a degree becomes a shortcut method to signal to potential employers that you have the basic understanding of the job and your responsibilities.
2. Better Quality Offers
Degree holders are offered better quality jobs. If you try to get started as a software developer without a degree, you will not find any reputable company willing to trust you with their work. As such, non-degree holders face a long slog from the bottom where they have to work on a vast number of projects run by smaller companies and get paid very little for their efforts. Only after the non-degree holder has spent years building a portfolio of successful past projects and formed a network of useful connections within the industry is the developer likely to be given a chance to work with a good company for a fair price.
Degree holders, on the other hand, come with a certain guarantee of quality based on where they got their degree from. This means they could start getting good work right from the beginning of their career instead of working for peanuts under unprofessional clients who want cheap, easy labor.
3. On-campus Placement
Most universities have a career services office who help place students in jobs after graduation. Some even help students gain real world experience while still in school. While people without a degree might struggle to find work and support themselves, someone with a reputable university behind them will have resources at their disposal to aid in the job hunting process.
4. Knowledgeable Teachers
You receive expert guidance in a degree program. Software development is not a branch of learning that is easy to understand or implement. Even if you learn the basics of coding in a particular language that does not mean you have become a professional coder, just like being able to write basic sentences in English does not make you a professional writer. A vast amount of additional knowledge needs to be gained in order to become a professional software developer, and no one can instruct you better about those matters than the qualified instructors found in colleges.
5. Networking
You can build a network of contacts while studying for your degree that you could not have formed practicing coding on your own. While earning your degree, you will most likely come in contact with similar-minded people in the same profession, and having those contacts can prove extremely useful in the future.
Are you interested in becoming a software developer? If you could see yourself thriving in this field, consider earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Software Development from ECPI University. With accelerated classes and year-round scheduling, you could graduate sooner and start looking for work in your field faster. If you're ready to take the next step, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Software Development - Bachelor’s
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