Code Your Career with Software Development
Build the skills to design, develop, and deploy the software powering today’s digital world. The IT Software Developer Associate Degree prepares you to turn ideas into applications—whether you are building web platforms, business tools, or mobile apps. Through hands-on learning in programming languages, databases, system analysis, and user experience design, you will gain the technical expertise employers need and the problem-solving mindset to grow with the industry. Artificial intelligence (AI) principles are integrated into course outcomes, giving you experience with tools and techniques shaping the future of software. From automating tasks to enhancing user interactions, you’ll learn how AI is transforming the development process—and how to stay ahead of the curve. Graduates are ready to launch careers in software engineering, application development, QA testing, and more—supporting innovation in industries like healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and tech.

  • Overview
  • Is This Program for You?

    Students entering the IT Software Developer program should:

    • Be curious about technology and excited to learn new programming languages and tools.
    • Pay attention to details and be able to solve problems by thinking carefully.
    • Enjoy taking on challenges and trying different ways to fix problems.
    • Be organized and able to follow steps to write clean, working code.
    • Think creatively and come up with new ideas to build useful software.
    • Think creatively and come up with new ideas to build useful software.
    • Be patient and determined, willing to keep working until the job is done right.
    • Communicate well and work with others, especially when testing or fixing code.
    • Be comfortable working alone or with a team, where both creativity and rules matter.

    Program Basics

    • Associate degree, requiring a minimum of two years to complete.
    • High school articulation courses accepted.
    • Financial aid available.
    • Classes start in August and January.
  • Curriculum & Costs
  • Cost of Attendance (COA) 25-26

    Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

    Category Amount
    Tuition and Fees $4,932
    Living Expenses (Housing and Food) $10,305
    Books and Supplies $1,463
    Personal Expenses $3,065
    Transportation $4,103
    Charger Tech 360 Fee $600
    Loan Fees $85
    Yearly Total (Living Away from Home) $24,553
    1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home) $12,277

    Based on Wisconsin Residents.

    Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

    Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

    These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

  • Requirements
  • Admission and Program Requirements

    • Submit Application
    • To make sure your classes are the right fit, we consider any previous college credit you've earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit High School Transcripts, College Transcripts, and Test Scores to: Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
    • Admissions Meeting: After applying and submitting transcripts, work with your advisor to begin or continue your student success plan to talk about your career interests and goals, develop a plan for paying for college, learn about various funding options, create an academic map, and discuss supports and services. Schedule an admissions meeting by clicking "Make an appointment" with your program advisor.

    Helpful Academic Background

    • Oral and written communication skills
    • Keyboarding
    • Computer applications and concepts
    • Critical thinking, continuous improvement, and problem solving skills

    Program Fees

    • This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
    • Estimated cost for each semester can be found under the Curriculum tab. Please note that costs are approximate and are based on the current academic year.
    • Please discuss additional fee questions with the program advisor or instructor.
  • Outcomes
  • Program Outcomes

    At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

    • Design software systems
    • Develop software applications
    • Develop technical documentation
    • Implement a team-based software development methodology
    • Integrate data technologies
    • Navigate in a software development environment
  • Career Opportunities
  • Graduates are prepared for positions in a wide variety of organizations and businesses. Opportunities for employment exist in accounting firms, banks, schools, hospitals, insurance companies, manufacturing firms, and government agencies as:

    • Junior Software Developer
    • Application Developer
    • Web Developer
    • Software Support Technician / Specialist
    • QA Tester (Quality Assurance Technician):
    • Database Assistant / Junior Database Developer
    • IT Technician with Programming Focus
    • ERP / Systems Support Assistant
    • Technical Implementation Specialist
    • Technology Solutions Specialist

    Graduates of the IT-Software Developer Associate Degree can expect to earn in our region:

    • $51,500 (Entry Level) – $74,200 (Experienced) per year

    What Impacts Your Salary?

    • Industry (e.g., healthcare, manufacturing, education, finance)
    • Employer size (startups vs. large tech firms like Epic in Verona)
    • Experience and certifications
    • Continued education or a bachelor's degree

    Opportunities for career advancement

    Examples of Career Growth Paths:

    • From Junior Developer → Software Engineer → Senior Developer
    • From QA Tester → QA Analyst → Test Automation Engineer
    • From Developer → Team Lead → Software Development Manager

    With More Experience or a Bachelor’s Degree, You Could Advance Into:

    • Full-Stack Developer
    • Systems Architect
    • DevOps Engineer
    • Product Manager
    • IT Project Manager
    • Cybersecurity Analyst (with additional training)

    Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.