New UC IT degree program sets up undergraduate students for industry success
A degree in Software Application Development was created to answer tech needs in an evolving world
The University of Cincinnati’s School of Information Technology (SoIT) has announced a newly approved undergraduate degree program for current and future students of the school. The Bachelor of Science in Software Application Development has been launched to build on the school’s Software Application Development track, previously offered through the B.S. in Information Technology (BSIT) program.
“The technological and digital transformations that are permeating our society require professionals with deep hands-on technical skills, problem-solving skills and communication skills,” says SoIT director Hazem Said. “Students interested in making a difference in society through selecting, creating, securing, integrating, implementing and administering software solutions will find empowerment in this new degree.”
Software application development is a wide-ranging set of practices involved in creating, designing, launching and supporting software applications. A major in this program will provide students with the training and skills to pursue a rewarding career in software application development, a field the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts will see a higher-than-average growth rate of 17% over the next eight years. The median pay for a software developer as of May 2024 was $133,080.
“While the SoIT has been offering specialization in software applications for over 20 years,” explains Said, “the new degree will enable students to create their own path based on their passion and career goals.”
About the new program
Two students network at the 2025 UC IT Expo. Photo by CECH Marketing
Part of UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology (CECH), the SoIT offers a variety of undergraduate, graduate, accelerated graduate combinations, minor and certificate programs. The school is home to Ohio’s first ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree program, which was launched in 2004 with the Software Applications Development track area alongside Networking/Systems. In 2013, a Cybersecurity track was added, followed by a Game Development & Simulation track in 2017. The most recent track to be offered is Data Technologies, which was added in 2019.
The SoIT plans to seek ABET accreditation for the new B.S. in Software Application Development program, as well, which should be awarded by 2030 at the latest. This ABET accreditation is expected to be retroactive to the date of the first graduate from the B.S. in Software Application Development degree program.
“As part of the SoIT strategic plan, and following a curriculum retreat in 2020, we started a process to move some of the tracks to their own degrees,” explains assistant professor Jenifer Soale. “In 2022, we launched the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, and it was well received by the students and the industry. In 2025 we are pleased to launch the B.S. in Software Applications Development."
"This area of study is a popular major by student enrollment and industry demand based on employment opportunities.”
Jenifer Soale Associate Professor, School of Information Technology
Flexibility for the future
According to Soales, there were three main purposes for creating the new degree program. First, the change offers enhanced program visibility to future students seeking study in this type of area. Second, the highly specific degree name will provide clear identification of a student’s training in software application development for future employers. And third, the standalone degree program offers flexibility for staying relevant in an ever-changing field via the addition of micro-credentials or concentrations within the degree based on industry needs.
“Though the skills and tools might vary, the overall need to provide solutions to users will always be in demand,” says Soales, pointing to jobs such as front-end developer, full stack developer, back-end developer, web developer and software developer as existing jobs students can pursue with this degree. “Our goal is also to help prepare students for the job titles that do not exist and give them the skills needed to provide the solutions in a space where they will always be marketable.” Adding or modifying courses, as well as developing micro-credentials and concentration areas, will allow the SoIT to nimbly address industry changes as they arise.
“This includes the area of AI and how it impacts solutions for users.”
Like all degrees in the School of Information Technology, the B.S. in Software Application Development will incorporate a connection with industry partners – including Fifth Third Bank, the Information Technology Solutions Center, Ohio Cyber Range Institute (OCRI), US Bank, Western & Southern Financial Group, Marathon, the Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Brooksource and Macy's – through business advisory and co-op requirements for students as part of the program.
And like the current BSIT, the new B.S. in Software Application Development will be offered both as on-campus and online.
To learn more about the SoIT's new B.S. in Software Application Development, request information or apply to the program, please visit the program page. Current BSIT students seeking to transfer to the B.S. in Software Application Development degree program should contact CECH Recruitment for guidance.
Featured photo at top: School of Information Technology director Hazem Said wearing a sweatshirt with the phrase "Solving Problems with Technology" on the back. Photo by CECH Marketing
School of Information Technology
UC's School of Information Technology displays a commitment to excellence that extends to a wide range of degree programs, each tailored to prepare students for a thriving career in the ever-evolving field of IT. At the School of Information Technology, students expect nothing but the best from experienced faculty, impactful research centers, and global opportunities that shape a brighter future for all.
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