If you enjoy developing and improving mobile applications, you may want to consider working in the mobile engineering industry. Mobile engineering is a highly technical field that requires extensive knowledge of programming languages and advanced technical skills. Understanding what mobile engineering is can help you decide if you want to pursue a career in this industry.

What is an educational program in Mobile Software Engineering?

Mobile development is a specific area of web and software development that involves designing, programming, and implementing mobile-compatible web pages and apps. A degree in mobile software engineering can vary and may be offered as a BS in informational technologies (IT) or a related field with a concentration on mobile or web apps.

A mobile software engineering degree includes general education courses, major courses, electives, and often a capstone project, all centered around topics in business, web and mobile design, and software. You can earn this degree either on campus, online, or in a hybrid format—the best of both worlds. Not surprisingly, most students earn a degree in mobile development online because they are already tech-savvy, and the flexibility of online learning is appealing.

What does an educational program in Mobile Software Engineering cover?

The skills and platforms you will learn in mobile software engineering courses are paramount when building a learning plan. Here are the key hard skills and soft skills that employers demand, and which you should seek out in a mobile development training program. Hard skills are the tools, techniques, and platforms you will use in the field on a regular basis. Hard skills to look for in a mobile software engineering degree program include:

• Apple iOS & Google Android application development — These two platforms account for over 99% of mobile operating systems in the US so this is where the jobs are. iOS has the edge in America while Android leads globally.

• Native mobile development programming languages, i.e., code that's designed to work on each mobile platform; this means Java or Kotlin for Android, and Swift or Objective-C for iOS.

• Cross platform mobile development tools — these frameworks that are rapidly growing in popularity enable devs to build web and mobile apps for multiple platforms at once, hence the name “cross-platform.” Marketable cross-platform dev tools right now include React Native, Ionic, Flutter & Xamarin.

• Mobile media distribution and promotion — In a competitive field like mobile, it pays to have expertise in the business and marketing domains that help determine the commercial success of applications.

• User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design — Knowing how and why users interact with mobile applications, and how to capitalize on these tendencies, is a vital skill set for mobile app developers.

• Graphic arts and creative design — Having strong design skills in the Adobe software suite and other popular design programs will make you more well-rounded and valuable to employers.

• Database expertise — Knowing how to design and manage information systems is key for mobile devs as many apps need to interact with information kept in relational databases.

What types of jobs are available for Mobile Software Engineering graduates?

Most people who earn a degree in mobile software engineering aim to become software engineers who create apps and systems for computers and devices. These professionals can work pretty much anywhere, from computer system designing businesses to software publishers. Some may begin their own business, which is why business courses are usually a core part of a mobile development bachelor’s program.

Some graduates use a mobile software engineering degree to become web developers. Web developers work to design and create websites for businesses or as their own business. While an associate degree is required to become a web developer, a bachelor’s degree provides even more skills and marketability.