If you’re thinking of becoming a developer, it might have also crossed your mind to specialize in mobile development. As such, you’ll need to find the best major for mobile development that will give you the edge once you join the job market.
If you’re wondering, what degree for mobile development you should enroll in and how you can best choose a major for mobile development, this guide is here to help you. Here, you’ll find tips on how to choose the best major for mobile development. You’ll also have an idea of the job outlook, job satisfaction, and salary potential for mobile application development careers.
Why Choose a Career in Mobile Development
A career in mobile development lets you be part of innovations that people use everyday. The importance of smartphones will increase in the coming year as the numbers of smartphone users will rise to 311 million by 2025 according to Statista. Choosing a career that is essential to people’s lives is a good move, especially for job security and growth.
Additionally, professionals in mobile programming and development have lucrative salaries. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, mobile developers earn an average salary of $110,140 per year.
Mobile Development Job Outlook
Mobile development has a positive job outlook. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a growth of 22 percent for software developers from 2020 to 2030. This projection is much faster than the average of other occupations.
Mobile Development Job Satisfaction
Mobile developers are typically happy in their roles and enjoy job satisfaction. PayScale reports four out of five stars of job satisfaction from mobile applications developer reviews. Additionally, over half of US mobile developers are satisfied with their salaries, according to a report by Indeed.
Mobile Development Salary Potential
| Career | Minimum Level of Education | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Data Warehouse Database Administrator | Associate degree | $115,168 |
| Computer Software Developer, Applications | Associate degree | $122,087 |
| Simulation and Modeling Engineer | Associate degree | $90,338 |
| Multimedia Designer | Associate degree | $87,074 |
| Computer Graphics Artist | Associate degree | $72,568 |
How to Choose a Major for Mobile Development: Tips for Selecting the Right Mobile Development Degree
Tip 1: Research online
When choosing a major for mobile application development, it’s important to know what this technical education entails. Because of this, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to research majors online.
Consider the school rankings of colleges that offer the best major for mobile development. Read about the benefits of studying this major, the mobile device systems included in your study, the programming language required, and job prospects after graduation to help you decide.
Tip 2: Analyze what mobile development programs and degrees offer
As you search for a mobile app development degree, you need to assess if the topics correspond with what you want to study. Take the time to analyze the course plan of various majors to see if it aligns with your expectations.
Tip 3: Talk with professionals in the field
Try talking to someone that is already working in that profession. Mobile app developers know and understand mobile app development frameworks and the mobile development process, so they can help you explain all the pros and cons of a career in programming and mobile development.
Tip 4: Talk to a mentor
Consider finding a mentor. As you pursue a career in mobile development, having a mentor can help you gain valuable insight into the knowledge and skills you need to become a mobile app developer. They know how the mobile development process goes and can guide you through your learning and professional development.
Tip 5: Think about what drives you
Ask yourself what subjects pique your interest. Is it mobile web app development, software development, or something else? Choosing a major entails devoting a significant amount of time to a single subject, so be sure it’s one you’re interested in studying.
What Degree for Mobile Development: Best Majors for a Mobile Development Career
Web and Multimedia Design
In a web and multimedia design course, you’ll learn about how to design interactive graphical interfaces for a web development environment using software technologies. You’ll also learn how to create animation, use audio files, and manipulate text.
This major is in demand, with US colleges awarding over 5,400 multimedia design degrees in 2019 – 2020 based on College Factual data. Top schools offering a web and multimedia design major are Madison Area Technical College, Dunwoody College of Technology, and New York University.
Associated Career Paths: Graphic designer, web developer, multimedia artist and animator
Levels of Education: Post-secondary certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree
Computer Programming
A computer programming major teaches students the fundamentals of programming. In this course you’ll gain proficiency with programming languages and learn how to create computer programs. To steer toward mobile development, you will learn about mobile apps and mobile programming.
Some of the best schools with this kind of degree are Yale University, Gwinnett Technical College, and the University of Chicago.
Associated Career Paths: Software applications developer, systems software developer, and computer network support specialist
Levels of Education: Post-secondary certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate
Computer Science
One of the most common majors to choose is computer science, which is a broad technology-focused major that equips you for a range of careers in the tech industry. Many developers from all areas of the field earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science as their education to enter the tech field.
Pursuing a computer science major may also come with the opportunity to specialize in certain concentrations, including video game design, mobile application development, and information systems management.
Associated Career Paths: Web developer, software engineer, full stack developer
Levels of Education: Associate degree, bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree
Computer Graphics
Computer graphics courses teach people how to highlight, shadow, design, and render graphic components in applications, games, or movies. People in these courses also learn how to create software, video games, ads, and special effects for mobile web app development.
Associated Career Paths: Graphic designer, computer programmer, and production artist
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Levels of Education: Post-secondary certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree
Computer Software and Media Applications
Students in computer software and media applications programs learn how to use tools to design, edit, and publish products on the Internet. In this course, students will gain exposure and experience in Internet technology. They’ll also learn how to create and manage databases, maintain servers and pages on the Internet, and manage the security of computer systems and networks.
Associated Career Paths: Software applications developer, computer and information scientist, and computer programmer
Levels of Education: Associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate
Other Mobile Development Related Majors
If you’re interested in mobile technologies, there are many mobile app development programs you can get into. There are also many degrees and specializations similar to a mobile development program. So, if you still want to assess further what degree for mobile development should you enroll in, check out some of the best-related majors for this field.
- Computer Information Systems
- Information Technology
- Information Science
- Computer Software and Applications
- Data Processing
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Systems Networking
- Computer Systems Analysis
- Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation
Is a Career in Mobile Development Right for Me?
Yes, a career in mobile application development is right for you if you’re interested in creating applications for smartphones. If your interest lies in the tech industry, this field will hone your ability to learn quickly and interpret and follow technical plans.
Choosing a suitable degree program is just one way to have a career in mobile development. If you acquired skills through online programs or bootcamps and can produce a professional portfolio, you won’t need a specific mobile app development degree to get a job in the field.
Best Major for Mobile Development FAQ
Many mobile application development companies prefer hiring people with bachelor’s degrees, but employers usually look for mobile application developers who can get the job done. According to College Factual, most computer software development and applications IT workers have associate’s or bachelor’s degrees.
You can also gain knowledge and acquire the necessary skills via online education. One of the best ways to learn mobile app development is through a bootcamp or online courses. In these formats, you can learn about mobile design, interface design, and mobile programs. Once you have the proper skills you can get lucrative mobile app developer jobs.
In mobile development, you will study a programming language such as Java or Kotlin. You will also learn about Git, Android and IOS operating systems, object oriented programming, and material design, among other topics.
You’ll need to have good analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to be an app developer. Software application development in mobile requires coding, so you will need the knowledge and ability to write computer and software programs. It also requires good mathematical knowledge, system analysis, and the ability to find inventive ways of doing things.
Yes, technically you can build a mobile application yourself if you have the appropriate knowledge. However, whether the application is properly built or successful is another matter. When creating a mobile app, you must consider the user experience and interface design, support, documentation, and use cases, among other things. Typically these roles are filled by numerous people in a development environment at a mobile app company.
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