Online Master's Degree in Software Development

Learning to code takes time.
Mastering it takes skill.

Today more than ever, companies need software developers who can keep up with the latest trends — in coding, apps, agile methodology, project management, and interface design — and turn this technology to their strategic advantage. When you earn your master’s in software development online at Maryville University, you’ll gain the skills to begin or advance your career in software development and seize the extraordinary opportunities this field has to offer.

Top career skills you can develop:

Agile methodology
Troubleshooting
Automation

SQL & Python
Project management
Amazon Web Services

Get Curriculum Details

100% online with no campus visits required

No GMAT, GRE, or application fee

Graduate in as little as 12 months

3 start times per year (Spring, Summer, and Fall)

4 coding classes, 5 management courses, 1 capstone

No previous experience in business required

Why Earn Your Master’s in Software Development Online?

Software developers create the computer programs essential to our modern world. Virtually all of today’s industries and organizations rely on software to support their operations, resulting in tremendous demand for software development professionals who command higher-than-average earnings.

In fact, Software Developer is ranked as the #1 ‘Best Job in America’ for 2023 on the U.S. News & World Report top 100 list. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that software developers typically earn salaries two to three times higher than the average for all occupations. The BLS projects that employment in the software developer field will grow by 26% by 2031 — much faster than the 15% average for all computer occupations.

What Can You Do with an Online Software Development Degree?

Software development encompasses a wide range of roles and responsibilities. For example:

Applications software developers design computer applications for use in consumer or commercial software to be sold to the public. In some organizations, software development professionals create databases or programs for use internally or online.
Software engineers are responsible for assessing a project’s system and software needs so they can plan its scope and the order of work. Professionals in this role may direct software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers.
Systems software developers create the operating systems that control the consumer electronics we use today, from cellphones and tablet computers to smart cars and home appliances. Systems software developers may also build the interfaces through which users interact with computers.

Software development experts with a master’s degree and the relevant experience can become project managers or computer and information systems managers — senior-level positions that oversee the software development process.

Careers in Software Development

Earn your online software development degree from Maryville, and you can begin or advance your career as an:

Applications software developer
Data scientist/engineer
DevOps engineer
Software consultant

Software developer
UX (user experience) designer
Web software developer

In settings such as:

Business and finance
Government and defense
Healthcare

Information technology
Research and development
Retail

Find out more about careers in software development.

What Is the Typical Median Software Development Salary?

Your online master’s in software development can qualify you to pursue careers with median annual salaries such as these:

Software Developer

$120,730*

Web Developer/Digital Designer

$78,300*

Computer Programmer

$93,000*

DevOps Engineer

$101,173**

Software consultant

$83,478**

Data scientist

$100,910*

*BLS, May 2021; **PayScale.com, January 2023

Industry Outlook for Software Developers

A master’s in software development online puts you in an excellent position to advance in a rapidly growing field where career possibilities are wide and varied.

Software developers held about 1.5 million jobs in 2020 (Statista).

The median annual salary for software developers was $120,730 in 2021 (BLS).

The BLS projects employment in software development to grow 26% by 2031.

U.S. News & World Report ranks software developer #1 on its 2023 list of the 100 best jobs.

Why Choose Maryville for Your Master’s in Software Development Online?

Our master’s in software development online program, which is part of the John E. Simon School of Business, prepares you for a career on the leading edge of software technology project management, and troubleshooting. Equipped with the knowledge this program provides, you can be the leader who creates the big ideas, develops them, and then manages them to launch and beyond. Your Maryville degree will carry the distinction of a university respected worldwide for its quality, value, and affordability.

Why Maryville?

Named an Apple Distinguished School through 2024.

Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

Maryville’s Online Software Development Curriculum

As a student in Maryville’s online software development degree program, you’ll receive broad-based instruction in software design and development, coupled with deeper vertical studies of more complex and specialized applications.

The result is a curriculum structured for long-term success in a growing industry. You can complete the program 100% online in as little as 12 months. Learn more on our curriculum page.

Maximize your opportunity with our diverse curriculum.

Want to build your programming and agile methodology skills? Need to grow your knowledge of databases, automation, and cloud environments? Looking to create clean, user-friendly interfaces and design? We’ve built our online Master of Science in Software Development curriculum to help you achieve all of this and more.

At Maryville, you can gain an advanced understanding of the creation, architecture, and presentation of software and applications. And to top it off, you’ll have the opportunity to see your skills in action in our capstone course as you design, plan, develop, problem solve, and deploy a web application of your own.

Prepare for a high-tech career.

At Maryville, we designed our Master of Science in Software Development curriculum to help you meet today’s technology challenges and take advantage of the opportunities in this booming field. Our goal is to help you deepen your understanding of the tech and principles behind software design so you can grow into a capable and confident leader in the field.

Insights from Our Faculty

Joseph Gradecki, program coordinator and instructor of software development, shared his thoughts about the software development program.

What are some of the trending areas of focus in the software development degree program?

One of the core differences between our program and others is we do not chase trends, nor do we merely teach a language. Our goal is to give the students the fundamental skills of software development so they can use them in any programming language. We want to produce a software developer who can immediately move into the workplace regardless of the technology the employer uses. At the same time, we stay current, working with cloud platforms, for example. Employable software developers are those who have been exposed to the solid and proven technologies used today, and cloud is one such technology.

What skills will a student learn in the program that can be transferred into a career?

One of the primary skills will be time management. The program is rigorous, and weekly deadlines need to be met. The students will, in a sense, be forced to manage their time to accomplish the weekly assignments.

Another transferable skill is knowledge of software development fundamentals. We teach the fundamentals of development instead of just a language. The student should be able to take the fundamental tools we teach and use them in other software languages.

As someone who enjoys solving software challenges, what are some of the challenges you anticipate impacting the industry in the next five years?

One of the biggest challenges is resources. There just aren’t enough software developers, and the trend will only get worse.

Also, there are many new technologies and frameworks created daily. My advice to students would be to resist the temptation to try to learn them all. Recognize those that will be long lasting and work to learn those technologies on your own time. Experiment and learn.

What advice would you give to someone studying software development?

Focus on the fundamentals of software development versus just learning a language. Learn data structures and how those structures affect the underlying computing system. Learn about memory management. Resist the temptation to be a siloed developer who concentrates only on the front-end GUI or the back-end server. A great software developer can write code regardless of where that code will reside.

The Master’s in Software Development Online: Admission Requirements

The following criteria are considered during the admission process for the online software development degree. Learn more on our admissions page.

A four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Official academic transcripts
A completed online application — no fee required
Personal letter explaining qualifications for graduate work

International applicants:

Demonstrated English proficiency in one of the following ways:

Test score (TOEFL IBT 79, IELTS 6.0 PTE 58)
College degree earned in the U.S.
College degree where language of instruction is English

*Low sub-scores may disqualify a student. Test dates must be within five years of application.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do with an online master's in software development?

Software development encompasses many different roles and responsibilities, including project management, quality assurance, and testing. Completing your online master’s in software development can prepare you for careers in virtually any industry and sector, such as retail, financial services, government, or healthcare.

Find out more about careers in software development.

What is the median salary for graduates of a master’s in software development online program?

How long is the online master's in software development degree?

What is the market outlook for software development careers?

Demand for software developers will be strong over the coming decade due to several factors, according to the BLS:

The need to replace programming professionals who are retiring or switching careers
The demand for new applications for smartphones and tablets
The growing need for innovative software in sectors including healthcare, insurance, cybersecurity, and consumer electronics

What are the benefits of earning an online master’s in software development?

Earning your master’s degree in software development can put you on a path to career advancement, higher wages, and management-level positions. Master’s programs provide students with a deeper look into topics such as emerging technologies and allow for greater specialization, letting you explore areas that align with your professional interests and goals.

Apply to the online master’s degree in software development program at Maryville University.

Apply Now

Master’s in Software Development Online

Learning to code takes time. Mastering it takes skill.