Demand for software developers has been growing as the world becomes ever more digitally entwined.

Starting this fall, Northwest College will be helping to meet that growing demand.

NWC is launching a new Associate of Science degree program in software development, the culmination of a five-year process designed to build on the basics already being taught in Wyoming K-12 classrooms as part of the state computer science initiative passed in 2018. The program also accelerates Wyoming’s goal to diversify the state’s economy while providing an additional educational path for students who wish to remain close to home for college. Astrid Northrup, STEM division chair and professor of engineering and mathematics, said the sort of jobs students could get after completing this college track are often ones that allow remote work and thus could keep students in Wyoming who might otherwise have to leave.

“We're talking about developing an economic base for the state, a modern take on what Wyoming can look like in a few years,” she said.

The A.S. in Software Development is funded by the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) and was created through a collaboration between the University of Wyoming and the state community colleges. It establishes a four-year program that opens the field of computer science to more Wyoming students and is provided as a shared effort among participating community colleges, which include Northwest, Sheridan, Western Wyoming and Central Wyoming.

NWC is adding one full funded faculty position for the program.

“It’s a culmination of many years of work to get to this point,” Northrup told NWC board members last school year.

After completing the associates in software development at a Wyoming community college, students can transfer to the University of Wyoming to complete a bachelors in software development. It will also articulate with the Western Governors University Software Development program.

Northrup said Western Wyoming College was the first state community college to setup the program, with the first cohort having just completed its first year of learning.

The program combines practical experience with current programming languages, tools, and processes in the field of computer science. It covers a wide range of topics that are sought after by employers, including programming for web applications using languages such as Python, HTML and JavaScript, Databases, Mobile, DevOps, and Security. The program incorporates working with real clients from the industry on exciting, team-based projects that bring together the knowledge and skills acquired through the related coursework.

“It’s targeted toward people who want to find solutions to problems, rather than do full on computer science,” Northrup said. 

As part of the WIP initiative, the Software Development degree program is a top priority for community colleges and UW and complements the already established computer science major at Northwest College. About 70 credit hours will be needed to complete the degree, and all major courses are available online.

For more information on the A.S. in software development, contact Northrup at 307-754-6066, or astrid.northrup@nwc.edu.

The Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) was created at the request of Gov. Mark Gordon in 2021 to modernize and focus Wyoming’s efforts to develop a resilient workforce and economy. The effort aims to better align Wyoming’s economic development agenda by increasing collaborations between state entities and ultimately local partners. The partnership involves the University of Wyoming, the state’s community colleges, Wyoming Business Council, Department of Workforce Services, and Wyoming Department of Education with an emphasis on developing innovative solutions that support and enhance Wyoming’s economy, workforce, and sources of revenue.