With wireless technology taking center stage at the 2013 CES, as sales figures and adoption rates for mobile devices grow, it’s easy to see why there is increasingly high demand for skilled web and mobile applications developers.
San Diego State University is helping prepare people to work in the lucrative, high-growth fields of mobile and Web applications development by offering an award-winning graduate-level Advanced Certificate in Web and Mobile Application Development. Students can attend either online or on campus, and courses may be applied toward the MS in Computer Science with graduate advisor approval. SDSU’s Department of Computer Science is offering the program in partnership with the College of Extended Studies.
Students can register now for spring semester courses that begin Jan. 16, or apply to the program by Aug. 1 to enter the certificate program beginning in fall 2013. The advanced certificate can be completed in two 16-week semesters.
The job demand is so high for mobile applications developers that employers have been contacting SDSU’s faculty for references and students regarding job openings. Roger Whitney, an associate professor who teaches in the program, said employers continue to ask about students in the program and have even been waiting outside to offer jobs to students.
“The goal here is to train professionals so that they can immediately begin working in the industry to develop web applications,” added instructor Alan Riggins.
Justin Boseant, a graduate of the program, now works as a data warehouse engineer for Facebook.
“The role I was hired for requires several years’ experience with databases and systems, but with a company like Facebook, they look for some of the most outstanding engineering talent on the planet,” he said. “Mere experience with database wasn’t likely going to be enough. The interview, for example, isn’t just about being able to write code on the board – good code design matters; appropriate algorithm matters; selection matters; and, good solid naming conventions and readable code matters. These are some of the advantages that taking the certificate courses (through SDSU) provided me.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the following concerning software careers: “Employment of software developers is projected to grow 30 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of applications developers is projected to grow 28 percent, and employment of systems developers is projected to grow 32 percent.”
In the SDSU program, students study and gain experience with the languages and frameworks that are most commonly used in developing web and mobile applications, with the design of user interfaces and software systems, as well as associated topics such as networking, hosting infrastructure, and security. They also learn the fundamental principles on which these topics are based, so that they will be prepared for the new technologies that are constantly being developed.
This program is an advanced academic certificate at the post-baccalaureate level, and admission requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a closely related field. Students with an equivalent knowledge of the background materials through work or self-study may be accepted into this program at the discretion of the program director.
The certificate requires completion of at least four courses (12 units) from the list of courses below, selected with the approval of the program advisor. These courses will be offered on a regular rotation:
*Advanced Web Application Development
*Android Mobile Application Development
Emerging Web and Mobile Technologies
Human Computer Interfaces
Introduction to Web Application Development
iPad/iPhone Mobile Application Development
*Programming and Scripting Languages for Web Applications
(*Course will be offered spring 2013)
Three courses will be offered each fall and spring semester. For more information, visit www.neverstoplearning.net/mobile, or SDSU’s Department of Computer Science at www.cs.sdsu.edu.
This program is approved for federal financial aid through the SDSU Financial Aid office.
SDSU's College of Extended Studies reaches out to the greater San Diego County community, the nation, and the world with a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certificate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from accounting to web design. Additionally, the College offers more than 50 certificate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. For more information or to register, call (619) 265-7378 (SDSU) or log on to www.neverstoplearning.net.
