The Best App Development Colleges

USC is a private university located in the technology metropolis of Los Angeles. USC's Viterbi School of Engineering offers a minor in Mobile App Development.

Students will engage the technologies, tools, frameworks and languages that are most commonly used in developing mobile applications for Apple's iOS, Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows Mobile, and other mobile systems.

Students learn these relevant domains of competencies:

• Mobile app ideation
• iOS development
• Android development
• UI design

Students will learn how to design user interfaces, networks, host infrastructure, implement security, and learn the fundamental principles on which these subjects are based--which will prepare students for new technologies that are under continuous development.

The minor consists of 16 units.

Selection of courses offered:

• Android App Development
• Advanced iOS App Development
• Programming in Python
• iOS Mobile Application Development
• Mobile Game Development

There are no prerequisites or prior knowledge needed to take the course. This program teaches students app development from the ground up.

Liberty University (LU) was one of the major pioneers of distance learning education, and one of the first schools to integrate the internet as the medium of teaching.

Liberty University offers an undergraduate Certificate in Application Development.

Length: courses are 8 weeks long

Credits: 18 credit hours

This program is shorter, more concentrated in relevant content, and less expensive as compared to a traditional four year degree program.

Online students learn:

• Developing C# Applications
• Creating Algorithms
• Coding Information Systems
• Utilizing a Graphical Development Environment

Courses include:

• Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction
• Application Programming
• Object-Oriented Programming
• C# Programming
•  Introduction to Information Sciences and Systems

Southern New Hampshire University offers game design programs for students who are interested in game development and game art.

The online Bachelor of Science in Game Programming and Development degree teaches online students technical game development, which includes learning how to create games for mobile devices.

Online students will learn game development from the artistic and technical perspectives. This includes 3D modeling, illustration and digital painting. This degree merges technical skills with artistic designs for making games.

Online students also learn software development and how to use a programming language (for example, C++, Java, and C#). Online students can learn design, production, and testing of online game development. Both degrees are 120 credits, and both accept qualifying transfer credits.

ECPI University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science degree that has a track in Mobile Development.

ECPI University's Mobile Development track in the Software Development major offers a skills based program utilizing the latest in technology across platforms using virtualization. ECPI's programs encourage students to obtain industry certifications and internships for real world experience that enhances graduate opportunities.

If this sounds like the career you've been looking for, choose the Mobile Development track and the Software Development major in the Computer and Information Science bachelor’s degree. Through ECPI University's year-round schedule, you could graduate in as little as 2.5 years!

ECPI University

Industry-relevant skills that students learn include:

• networking
• security
• software programs
• operating systems

Students can earn this degree online, or through as on-campus/online hybrid program.

MIT teaches budding digital artists through the "App Inventor". This is a programming tool for anyone at any level of technological understanding. Even the beginner can design a fully functional app. Mark Friedman and Hal Abelson, both associated with Google, developed the program specifically for Android devices.

The App Inventor is currently being used by close to 3 million people worldwide, and has helped build over 7 million Android apps. App Inventor has 3.3 million registered users from 185 countries currently, who have worked on developing 8.9 million apps.

The program has been instituted throughout the school, but has also caught the attention of many others. Government employees, researchers, and entrepreneurs have also used the App Inventor to develop custom apps to meet the needs of their own projects.

UC Berkeley has the Mobile Developers of Berkeley (MDB) group for students who want to learn professional app development. MDB offers a ten week training program, in which students can learn machine learning, software development, full stack web development, and other relevant skills to develop apps.

Students will learn to take their ideas and turn them into applications to launch into the commercial world of apps.

Courses include:

• Intro to Mobile Development
• General Mobile Development with React Native
• Native Mobile Development with Swift
• Applied Mobile Development with Machine Learning and Edge Computing
• Project

One benefit of the MDB is that they review their students resumes and provide mock interviews, helping to prepare students for successful transitions into the commercial app industry.

Each semester the MDB tackles three app development projects.

From humble beginnings in 1636, Harvard has grown with the times as can be seen by their cutting-edge technological and wireless campus.

Harvard offers a free course to anyone, even available to people who aren't students at Harvard, called CS50’s Introduction to Computer Science. No prior knowledge of programming is needed.

This can be taken for free through their OpenCourseWare. For students who want to earn a verified certificate, you must enroll through edX.

The program is 11 weeks long, and includes:

• Week 0 Scratch
• Week 1 C
• Week 2 Arrays
• Week 3 Algorithms
• Week 4 Memory
• Week 5 Data Structures
• Week 6 Python
• Week 6.5 Artificial Intelligence
• Week 7 SQL
• Week 8 HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Week 9 Flask
• Week 10 Cybersecurity

There is a final project.

San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies offers an online Advanced Certificate in Web and Mobile Applications Development.

This is a post bachelor's advanced certificate.

A bachelor's degree in computer science or a closely related field is required for admission. A person's equivalent knowledge of the bachelor's degree materials may be accepted by the program director.

Students will learn languages and frameworks for developing applications, networking, hosting infrastructure and security, and design user interfaces and software systems. At least 4 courses (12 units) must be completed for the certificate. Classes include:

• iPad/iPhone Application Development
• Android Mobile Application Development
• Emerging Web and Mobile Technologies

The certificate can be completed in one year.

Full Sail University was founded with the idea that passion leads to success and enjoyment, and they applied this to education in the entertainment industry. Starting with music and sound, the University quickly grew to incorporate design, animation, gaming, and the general business of entertainment into the curriculum.

Full Sail University offers an online undergraduate Certificate in Application Development Fundamentals.

In the Application Development Fundamentals certificate program, students learn computer programming basics using industry-standard software development processes. They earn coding experience, learn app development essentials, and get familiar with workflows and documentation.

This certificate also helps students build aptitude in technical writing, so that they come away with the ability to communicate clearly on tech topics within the industry.

Full Sail University

Courses include:

• Introduction to Development
• Discrete Mathematics
• Application Development
• Project I: Application Development Fundamentals

Credits: 23 credit hours

For 160 years Bryant and Stratton College has been offering practical workplace education. In a world that is dependent on instant information and communication, Bryant's Mobile Application Development Associates Degree has become popular among its students.

This flexible program is offered online through the Information Technology degree. Focus is given to the Android and Java programs. Thorough knowledge will be gained in areas such as database fundamentals, software development, and programming.

Student developed application projects will be submitted to Google Play. Students will create portfolios demonstrating their successful projects that will make them excellent candidates for IT positions.

Clear communication and adaptation are the 'non-tech' skills emphasized to students as keys to success in the ever-changing world of electronics. For those interested, a no-obligation online application is available.

Rasmussen University has over a 100 year history of preparing students for successful careers in a changing world. Rasmussen was one of the first colleges to offer an Associate's Degree in Software Application Development.

This two year degree program offers courses such as Foundations of Software Design, Mobile Application Development and Database Design, and SQL.

Rasmuseen College also recognizes that in a field exploding with developments as rapidly as the information sciences, students can greatly benefit from specialization.

This is why their program allows learners to focus on Apple iOS or Microsoft Universal Windows mobile applications. Yet, this specialization is also balanced by flexibility. Their bachelor's degree program allows a Flex Choice option, which lets students use up to 18 credits in self paced study.

The University of California, San Diego has the distinction of being one of the top 15 recognized research universities in the world. Quite naturally, some of that research has been in Information Technology and Application Development.

Currently the school offers a one year certificate program in Mobile Application development which can be taken online. Prior experience with the digital arts or coding is strongly encouraged for applicants to the program. A college degree is not required to apply, but is encouraged.

Professors experienced in the IT field teach classes via project-based learning. Students are required to create working mobile apps for iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android devices.

Though Capella is a young University when compared to others, it has a progressive outlook and offers many flexible programs through online classes.

One of these is the online Bachelor's in IT-Software Development with a concentration in Mobile Development.

A total of 180 credits are required to complete this degree, including 8-13 general education credits.

Up to 135 credits may be transferred into this program.

Students take an average of 1-3 classes per quarter, with each academic quarter being 10 weeks long. The final semester consists of a capstone project.

Though Baker College is one of the largest in the state of Michigan, it still gives a personal touch to education and offers both campus and online curriculum. Baker College runs a substantial computer science department with over two dozen different sub programs.

Baker College offers an online Bachelor of Science Information Systems: Web & Mobile Application Development.

Credits: 120 credit hours

This program combines business knowledge with technical know-how in order to prepare students to create apps that can solve business problems.

The technical instruction includes learning these domains:

• security
• programming
• networking
• databases
• project management

Courses include:

• Big Data Analytics
• Networking Essentials
• Programming in Python
• System Modeling and Design
• Back-End Web Development
• Statistical Methods

DeVry University offers an online Bachelor's degree: specialization in Web and Mobile apps.

Students learn how to create operating systems across different platforms, programming, software and hardware applications for creating apps. For students who want to use their skills for industry certifications, DeVry will reimburse their certification expense up to $300.

Industry certification options:

• CompTIA Network+
• CompTIA Linux+
• CompTIA Security+
• CompTIA Project+
• CompTIA Cloud Essentials+

The online bachelor's is designed to teach students the technical aspects of app development in accordance with the Internet of Things (IoT).