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Software Development and Programming
Two-Year Associate in Specialized Technology (AST) Degree Program
Available at the State College and Altoona Campuses
Available at the State College and Altoona Campuses
Prepare for a Rewarding Career in Software Design
Skilled software developers are in high demand as the field continues to evolve alongside technology. With training and practical hands-on experience developing applications for desktop and mobile operating systems, creating databases, and building websites using platforms chosen by top employers, the Software Design & Programming (SDP) program at South Hills School of Business & Technology will get you started on the path to professional success in just two years.
A successful SDP student is…
- Technologically inclined
- Detail-oriented
- Willing to work collaboratively to achieve an objective
Our Associate in Specialized Technology (AST) Degree Program readies you for employment in a variety of fields, including:
- Web Design/Development
- Database Administration
- Software Engineering
- Mobile Applications Development
- Software Quality Assurance/Development
Information Technology Program at South Hills Participates In Global Technology Event
The Information Technology Club at South Hills School of Business & Technology's Altoona Campus organized a Local Hack Day event as part of a global event sponsored by Major League Hacking. People from all over Central Pennsylvania came together at South Hills, joining more than 10,000+ hackers participating in the event from 250 locations around the world.
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Why South Hills?
Knowledge for current needs.
Our curriculum is regularly updated to ensure students are learning programming languages and technologies that employers are using.
Small class sizes.
Keeping our student-to-faculty ratios low ensures you receive the kind of one-on-one attention and mentorship you need to succeed.
Expert instructors.
Our faculty include working professionals with experience in every facet of the field.
Real-world job insights.
A second-year internship will give you critical exposure in the software development and programming industries.
A Comprehensive Curriculum
With an educational training program including attention to theory, practice and application, students in the Software Development and Programming program will develop the knowledge, skills and competencies to succeed in this consistently evolving field. Software Design & Programming at South Hills prepares students to:
- Identify ways to solve problems or complete tasks
- Manage the process of developing designing, testing, and delivering a software application to meet user needs
- Create, retrieve, update, and delete information from modern database systems
- Write programming scripts and applications using modern languages and software tools
- Revise software for corrections, enhancements, or environment changes
- Perform quality checks to ensure software functions bug-free
- Collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common objective
- Identify the operating system platform, components, inputs, interface requirements, and dependencies which ensure that a software project will achieve its objectives
- Utilize a version control system
- Develop a thorough understanding of data structures and algorithms
- Provide oral and written reports in both technical and non-technical environments
- Apply object-oriented programming principles when developing projects
- Design web pages using HTML and content management systems
Course Highlights
- Networking Essentials
- JavaScript
- UNIX/Linux Essentials
- Website Design
- Apple Application Development
Complete Course List
Software Development and Programming Course List
Software Development and Programming Course List for 2020-21
| Term | Course # | Course Name | Credits | Clock Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Term | GE117 | Applied Algebra | 4 | 60 |
| GE183 | Business English I | 4 | 60 | |
| GE130 | History of IT | 2 | 24 | |
| CP127 | Introduction to Operating Systems | 2.5 | 36 | |
| CP132 | Introduction to Programming & Logic | 4 | 60 | |
| IT200 | Networking Essentials | 4 | 60 | |
| PD110 | Professional Development | 2 | 24 | |
| Totals: | 22.5 | 324 | ||
| Second Term | GE184 | Business English II | 4 | 60 |
| CP134 | Web Site Design | 4 | 60 | |
| IT100 | Intermediate Programming | 4 | 60 | |
| IT201 | UNIX/Linux Essentials | 4 | 60 | |
| Totals: | 16 | 240 | ||
| Third Term | CP135 | Business Applications | 4 | 60 |
| IT230 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 4 | 60 | |
| CP129 | Introduction to SQL Databases | 4 | 60 | |
| IT101 | IoT Programming | 4 | 60 | |
| Totals: | 16 | 240 | ||
| Fourth Term | IT214 | Android Application Development | 4 | 60 |
| IT232 | PHP -Hybrid | 4 | 60 | |
| IT231 | Software Engineering & Application Development | 4 | 60 | |
| CP130 | Technical Presentations | 2 | 24 | |
| GE259 | Technical Writing | 2.5 | 36 | |
| Totals: | 16.5 | 240 | ||
| Fifth Term | IT217 | Apple Application Development | 4 | 60 |
| IT233 | Content Management Systems | 4 | 60 | |
| IT211 | JavaScript | 4 | 60 | |
| CD207 | Job Search Skills | 2 | 24 | |
| CP277 | Project Management | 5 | 60 | |
| Totals: | 19 | 264 | ||
| Sixth Term | GE178 | Human Relations in the Workplace | 2.5 | 36 |
| IT225 | Information Technology Capstone Project | 7 | 120 | |
| MG116 | Introduction to Business | 4.5 | 60 | |
| GE213 | Oral Business Communication | 2 | 24 | |
| Totals: | 16 | 240 | ||
| Seventh Term | CD214 | IT Career and Certification Prep | 2 | 21 |
| IT229 | Software Development and Programming Internship | 11 | 330 | |
| Totals: | 13 | 351 | ||
| SDP PROGRAM TOTAL CREDITS | SDP PROGRAM TOTAL HOURS | |||
| 119.0 Credits | 1,899 Clock Hours |
Bright Outlook Occupation
Software Developer
Software Developers play a key role in the design, installation, analysis, and maintenance of computer programs and applications as well as software systems. The programs are often developed with a goal of helping businesses to be more efficient and deliver improved services to their clients. Some developers design applications for consumers such as games or software for home or personal use.
See the Bright Outlook for this OccupationMeet the Faculty
Guido Santella
Instructor
Altoona Campus
Guido's Biography
Guido Santella has been an Information Technology instructor at the South Hills Altoona campus since 2005. In 2013, Guido was given the Instructor of the Year award by the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators (PAPSA). Known for his classroom enthusiasm and energetic teaching style, Guido’s professional experience includes coding, web design, database, and server administration.
Over the years, Guido has enjoyed spending months at a time in Europe, as well as interning at the British Museum in London.
Guido is also an accomplished pianist and was awarded the Italian Heritage Society of Pennsylvania - John Monti Music Award in 2010 for exemplary efforts in promoting the musical heritage of the Italian-American community.
Guido's "I Am South Hills" Video
Guido Santella has been an Information Technology instructor at the South Hills Altoona campus since 2005. In 2013, Guido was given the Instructor of the Year award by the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators (PAPSA). Known for his classroom enthusiasm and energetic teaching style, Guido’s professional experience includes coding, web design, database, and server administration.
Over the years, Guido has enjoyed spending months at a time in Europe, as well as interning at the British Museum in London.
Guido is also an accomplished pianist and was awarded the Italian Heritage Society of Pennsylvania - John Monti Music Award in 2010 for exemplary efforts in promoting the musical heritage of the Italian-American community.
Guido's "I Am South Hills" Video
Ray Liddick Jr.
Instructor
State College Main Campus
Ray's Biography
Ray Liddick Jr., the Program Coordinator for Graphic Arts, has been an Information Technology and Graphic Arts Instructor at South Hills School of Business & Technology since 2004.
Ray is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University and has had MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) accreditation. Ray has spent decades utilizing his IT and graphic arts creativity on the job. Outside of the school, he is the Marketing Media & IT Manager at Pneu-Dart, Inc., a global manufacturer of remote drug delivery, as well as being the Creative Director/Owner of Open Door Visions.
In the classroom and on the job, Ray applies his artistic vision and IT experiences to a wide range of projects including print design, web development, project management and IT infrastructure/networking.
Ray Liddick Jr., the Program Coordinator for Graphic Arts, has been an Information Technology and Graphic Arts Instructor at South Hills School of Business & Technology since 2004.
Ray is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University and has had MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) accreditation. Ray has spent decades utilizing his IT and graphic arts creativity on the job. Outside of the school, he is the Marketing Media & IT Manager at Pneu-Dart, Inc., a global manufacturer of remote drug delivery, as well as being the Creative Director/Owner of Open Door Visions.
In the classroom and on the job, Ray applies his artistic vision and IT experiences to a wide range of projects including print design, web development, project management and IT infrastructure/networking.
Chaz Wall
Instructor
State College Main Campus
Program Advisory Committees
State College Main Campus
| Member Name | Job Title | Company |
| Russell Myers | Systems Administrator | Penn State University |
| Jason Smith | Senior Manager of Software Engineering | Blackboard, Inc. |
| Ellen Thorne | Software QA Lead | InFocus |
| Steven Weaver | Contract Software Engineer | AscentOp |
| Mark Lively | Senior Software Developer | Accuweather |
| Varun Goyal | Mobile Application Developer | Accuweather |
| Chris Paveglio | Mobile Application Developer | Accuweather |
| Chris Beaver | Owner /Developer | cbCodeStudio, LLC |
| James Leous | Manager of Research Programming | Penn State University |
| Stefanie Rocco | Assistant Director of Learning Design | Penn State University |
SDP Program, Student, & Alumni News
South Hills School of Business & Technology’s Altoona Campus Hosts (ISC)² Local Chapter Event
March 27, 2020
In early February, the Altoona Campus of South Hills School of Business & Technology hosted an International Information System Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)², Pennsylvania Highlands Local Chapter event to help our students learn more about keeping networks secure.
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Information Technology Program at South Hills Participates In Global Technology Event
December 20, 2019
The Information Technology Club at South Hills School of Business & Technology's Altoona Campus organized a Local Hack Day event as part of a global event sponsored by Major League Hacking. People from all over Central Pennsylvania came together at South Hills, joining more than 10,000+ hackers participating in the event from 250 locations around the world.
Read More
South Hills Students Attend AccuWeather’s First Annual CODE 2019 Tech Conference
May 9, 2019
Information Technology students and faculty from South Hills School of Business & Technology's State College, Lewistown, and Altoona Campuses attended AccuWeather’s CODE 2019, a tech conference that provides IT professionals with opportunities to learn about the latest software development and software engineering, best practices, strategies, and ideas to develop technical skills.
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South Hills Students Attend 28th Annual Philly.NET Code Camp
April 30, 2019
Information Technology students from South Hills School of Business & Technology’s Altoona Campus recently participated in the 2019 Philly.NET Code Camp at the Microsoft® Training Center in Malvern, PA.
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South Hills Information Technology Students Partner with Link Computer Corporation to Assist AMBUCS™ AmTryke Therapeutic Tricycle Program
April 18, 2019
Information Technology students from South Hills School of Business & Technology's Altoona Campus partnered with Link Computer Corporation to develop a web application to help the Altoona Chapter of AMBUCS keep track of its AmTryke Therapeutic Tricycle program.
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South Hills Students Seek To Assist Local Homeless Shelter
March 29, 2019
South Hills School of Business & Technology’s Club IT (Information Technology) is working on a project to update the technology infrastructure for Shelter Service Inc., an organization in Lewistown that provides temporary shelter and life improvement services for homeless individuals in Mifflin and Juniata Counties.
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South Hills Announces New Software Development & Programming Associate in Specialized Technology
February 1, 2019
South Hills School of Business & Technology will offer a new Associate in Specialized Technology degree program in Software Development and Programming at its Main Campus in State College. Applications for enrollment are being accepted for Fall 2019. This new program is for students who are interested in preparing for careers in software development, computer programming, applications development, and web development.
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