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An Industry Relevant Curriculum

Dominican’s MS in Software Development degree and certificate option offer you a convenient, flexible and robust academic program to deepen your current skills or forge a new career path. No matter your academic background, we respect and value the experience you bring, because solving today’s toughest challenges requires diversity, agility and fresh perspectives. This program equips you with the expertise to learn and apply software tools employers are hiring for, leverage emerging AI solutions, and drive innovation in the ever-evolving tech landscape. 

This program is ideal for:

• Working professionals with no prior background in computer science looking to explore new career opportunities
• College graduates with a background in computer science or related fields
• Professionals seeking to upskill or transition into software development roles using AI tools and applications
• Entrepreneurs looking to develop technical expertise to launch new startups and business ventures

Whether you’re a newcomer pursuing a career change or an experienced developer seeking a career boost, Dominican’s online software development program offers you a convenient, flexible path to achieving your most ambitious goals. 

You’ll study 100% online but still build face-to-face connections with your classmates and professors through videoconferencing. At Dominican, personalized support from expert faculty is at the center of your online course experience.

Program Overview

• Complete your degree in just 18 months (three semesters) 100% online
• No prerequisites in computer science: We welcome students from all academic backgrounds
• Start immediately: Dive in with our self-paced foundation courses
• Introductory courses for individuals with no previous experience in software development or advanced courses for individuals who hold a degree in computer science or related disciplines

Start advancing your career today. Request information today.

What You’ll Learn

Our outstanding faculty designed the MS in Software Development curriculum in close partnership with industry leaders to ensure it meets the most current and highest industry demands and anticipates technological advances in a fast-changing field. You’ll master the subtleties of applications, frameworks and support components. And you’ll learn to design, program, test, debug and maintain today’s most sophisticated systems. You’ll take a deep dive into an in-demand area of specialization: web development, the application of AI technologies and tools, mobile applications development, database management or software design. You’ll acquire the cutting-edge skills that top employers demand. .

Required Courses

• Front End Web Development
• Web Development Server-Side or Introduction to AI Applications
• Android Apps Development I or Cross Platform App Development
• Database Design and Management or Advance Database Design
• Agile Software Development – Practices and Management
• Software Design
• Internship or Independent Study

Reboot your career by focusing on the skills employers want most. Learn more about our curriculum

Expert Faculty

You’ll make connections with our diverse faculty, who have real-world software development experience in fields ranging from business and advertising to health care and military/aerospace technology.

AI Applications and Prompt Engineering Certificate

The provides a broad overview of artificial intelligence and gives you the opportunity to explore how you can use AI in your current job. It is designed for professionals who will be using AI tools in the workforce and need to upskill to learn about these technologies, which can help increase job security. The certificate is also open to all students with an undergraduate degree in any discipline with no other prerequisite knowledge in AI, software development or programming. 

The AI Certificate will appear on your official Dominican transcript upon successful completion of its two courses and can be applied toward the full master’s degree if you decide to go further.

What to Expect as You Earn Your MS in Software Development

In Dominican’s software development graduate program, you’ll find students from all academic backgrounds, including many career changers who earned liberal arts degrees as undergraduates.

At Dominican we believe in the compatibility of the liberal arts/humanities and STEM fields like computer science. To develop technology that responds to real human needs, a new generation of troubleshooters needs to include professionals who can think critically, communicate effectively, understand human behavior and act ethically. These are skills many liberal arts graduates possess. So, no matter your background or whether your path has been full of twists and turns, here you’ll fit right in.

Our expert faculty, too, come from different fields and backgrounds. They prepare aspiring and current developers to thrive in careers that will span decades. You will master current technology as well as gain insights needed to become a leader in imminent and future innovations.

Financing Your Software Development Degree

As a graduate student at Dominican, you’ll find the resources to help offset your tuition and costs. Options range from scholarships and student loans to campus employment and graduate assistantships. We will help craft an individualized plan for you to meet these costs. Contact the Office of Financial Aid to learn more.

We can be reached at (708) 524-6809 or finaid@dom.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What can I do with a degree in software development?

Software is fundamental to modern life. Every sector of the economy—from government to academia to business and beyond—relies heavily on highly skilled software developers to create everything from social networking applications to wearable technology. Jobs in the software development field are growing rapidly. Whether you’re a recent college graduate, a career changer or a career advancer, Dominican’s master’s in software development will prepare you to meet the market’s voracious demand for advanced technical knowledge and to thrive throughout a long and rewarding career.

What are some specific roles for software developers?

• Applications programmers
• Java developers
• Web developers
• Software developers
• iOS/Android/.NET developers
• Database analysts
• Systems architects
• Systems Analyst
• Technology managers

What is the job outlook for the software development field?

Now is a great time to enter or take steps to boost your career in the software development field. ranks software development in the Top 5 on its list of the 100 Best Jobs. It’s not hard to see why. Jobs in the software development field are projected to grow 17 percent in the coming years, much faster than average. And  puts the median salary at $ $132,270. The job has a high degree of upward mobility and work-life balance with ample opportunities for both onsite and remote work. But the skills gap is large, and many jobs remain unfilled because of a lack of qualified candidates. Those with high-quality graduate-level training stand to benefit. 

Don’t I need a bachelor’s in computer science?

No. You don’t need a four-year degree in computer science to enter our software development master’s program and succeed in technology careers. In fact, a liberal arts background may give you a competitive edge as businesses seek technology leaders able to understand the human contexts critical to solving today’s toughest social and technological challenges. That trend is sure to continue as the IT industry evolves, for instance, in deploying low-code and no-code development platforms used by citizen developers. There are fewer barriers to entering the field.

At the same time, the need for developers skilled in the intricacies of traditional programming and capable of building complex enterprise systems is surging. Whether you’re already fluent in today’s coding languages or just starting out, you’ll be prepared to succeed in Dominican’s master’s in software development and beyond.

Will I be Able to Use AI Tools for Development?

Yes, you will be encouraged to use all resources available to become a better developer. Additionally, specific courses are offered in the MSSD program introducing you to these tools.

How do I apply?

You will need the following:

• A completed 
• Official transcripts from universities showing all degrees earned
• A GPA of 2.7 or higher for the full degree program
• Non-degree students admitted to admitted to the AI Certificate program may elevate to degree-seeking status after completing at least three courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Candidates for admission may qualify to waive up to two zero-credit foundation courses, depending on their undergraduate coursework or if they can demonstrate proficiency in Java and C# programming in an exam
• If foundation courses are needed, upon acceptance to the program you can take them at your own pace, online and at no cost

Before you apply, make sure you review our full application and admission requirements.

Ready to take the next step?

Advance Your Career with an MS in Software Development

Request information today