A few years ago, it would be unheard of for a school to confer an online Master's in Mobile Development. Applications are a relatively new product in America and have only been in mainstream use for about a decade. Now they are how many people work, connect with others, and even relax.
When mobile applications began to take root in society, professionals were generally self-taught or came out of undergraduate software engineering or computer science programs. Now, however, schools are providing online programs that will fit the needs of these professionals. With flexible schedules and affordable rates, there has never been a better time to look at graduate online degrees in mobile development.
Explore these promoted online degree programs.
These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master's or PhD programs.
This ranking was created by utilizing the College Navigator database, which can be found on the National Center for Education Statistics website. Out of an initial pool of 25 schools, 10 were picked for their affordable tuition. They are listed below in descending order based on in-state graduate tuition rates.
Ranking Low-cost Mobile Development Master's
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Career Options for an Online Master's in Mobile Development Degree?
An online Master's in Mobile Development opens up a variety of career options. Professionals will find that companies are interested in offering positions to them based on their education alone. In fact, many companies will also offer a signing bonus for professionals with the right set of skills.
Those who are interested in this degree will see these career options pop up time and again:
Mobile Developer
iOS Mobile Applications Developer
Software Engineer
Android Mobile Applications Developer
Software Engineer
Senior Developer
Mobile Developer Specialist
Mobile Developer Analyst
Consultant
Freelance Mobile Developer
Professionals can work in every industry in both the public and private sector in the United States. Every facet of life can be found on the internet and in smartphones, so the possibilities for a mobile developer are endless.
How Much Can You Earn in this Field?
The average salary range for a mobile developer is between $70,000 and $135,000. This career also offers additional cash compensation in the form of stocks or bonuses that are delivered quarterly or annually. Salaries depend on whether a developer works for themselves, is employed by a large company, and the region in the country in which they work.
Specialization plays a large role in how much a professional makes in this field. Those that specialize by operating system tend to make around $100,000, while software developers earn $80,000 a year. Software engineers who specialize in mobile development make the most money, often earning around $150,000 a year.
A note to professionals who have decided to venture out on their own and create their own web applications: monthly revenue can fluctuate, but top developers make around $5,000 a month. The types of mobile applications that earn the most money are games and social network; games are much more popular and often make the most money. If professionals are working freelance, then they must consider which apps make the most money in order to earn a viable salary.
What are the Various Disciplines of Mobile Development?
Mobile development consists of creating and implementing mobile applications for use on handheld devices. It is a STEM discipline that requires a knowledge of science, technology, computer science, engineering, psychology, sociology, software development, and database architecture and structure.
Many people might find it strange that psychology and sociology are listed as disciplines. These disciplines are listed because mobile applications are built for human use. The psychology of how people interact with technology, and the sociology of how a society interacts with the internet and mobile devices, is one of the largest factors that dictate mobile development.
There are other disciplines that factor into mobile development. Business plays a large role, as many applications are built for financial means. So too does the law, as mobile development is subjected to the rules and regulations of countries in order to defend against abuse and other criminal issues.
Why Earn a Degree in Mobile Development When Most Professionals are Self-taught?
It is true that when mobile applications first became popular, many of the professionals in the field were self-taught in the field. That is because the field was brand new and a proper education was not possible. A decade later, it is important to at least consider an online master's in mobile development for a few reasons.
The first reason is that it is not a coincidence that the same people developing mobile applications are those who went to college to earn degrees in software engineering and computer science. That's because mobile development is quite complex. Many people mistake the influx of various websites and programs that help people build their own applications as a reason that it is simple; they don't seem to understand that the programs themselves are mobile applications and were probably built by someone with a graduate degree in the field.
The second reason is that there is now a standard for mobile development. The types of programming languages used, the operating systems, and even consumer interactivity now have a base level standard of acceptance. It is difficult to build an application that does not meet these standards and so many professionals choose to pursue graduate education in order to meet those standards.
The third, and perhaps the most important, reason is simple: mobile development is constantly changing. With technology advancing at an exponential rate, it is difficult to keep up if a professional does not have a full understanding of advanced concepts in software engineering, computer science, and mobile computing. A graduate degree can help with that foundation and may provide professionals with creative ideas they may not have come to on their own.
What are Some Requirements to Apply for This Graduate Program?
Graduate programs, especially those in the computer science field, are advanced degrees that build on both undergraduate education and work experience. This is because programs in this field were designed for working professionals and builds on the knowledge that they already have. There are some requirements that are necessary for acceptance and they are discussed below.
As many of the programs that offer a concentration in mobile development are advanced information technology, software engineering or computer science, one of the first requirements is generally a strong undergraduate foundation in computer science, math, and engineering. These degrees must come from a regionally accredited institution and transcripts are required. It is rare that a student with a unaccredited degree is given conditional acceptance in these programs.
Work experience is often cited by programs as a requirement but it less important than having an accredited undergraduate degree. Most schools will state they have a preference for work experience but make an exception for students who are entering graduate school straight after graduating with a bachelor's degree. The usual requirement for work experience is at least one year.
This is not to say that students who come from another background are ineligible to apply, because many programs do offer conditional placement. These students will be required to complete various prerequisite courses before beginning the graduate program. These courses are often noncredit and do not count towards the requirement for the degree.
Another requirement, which seems to be less important in terms of consideration, is the submission of GRE and GMAT scores. While many schools require them as a matter of formality, it is rare that the scores affect a student's ability to enter the program. In fact, a rising number of schools, including many on this ranking, do not require the scores at all.
As society continues to rely on smartphones and tablets to do more things, such as play games, work, or even pay bills, the need for mobile developers will rise. Now that online degrees are available in this specialized field, it's becoming easier than ever for professionals to prepare themselves for this exciting field. Anyone interested in creating applications for mobile use should take a look at these affordable online Master's in Mobile Development.
