What is a Bachelor of Science in Computer Software Technology?

Bring technological expertise to any organization with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Software Technology. Computer software technology is an accumulation of information technology, software engineering, and computer science. Pursuing a computer software technology degree from the Forbes School of Business and Technology® at the University of Arizona Global Campus will give you the opportunity to explore these various aspects of the software technology industry. This computer science degree covers all stages of the software development lifecycle, including requirements gathering, software design patterns, software development, software testing, and software project management.

Accelerated 5 week courses
Transfer approved college credits toward your bachelor’s program at UAGC
1 course at a time
$0 Application Fee

Take the Next Step

Learn more about how to get started in your degree program.

Degree Completion Journey

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Software Technology degree program was developed on the basis of adaptive and engaged learning concepts to improve student professionalism and develop your ability to communicate ideas, work in groups, manage computer software products, and build quality into software products. Through your computer technology classes, you will explore technical skills such as software technology design and development, information security, operating system design and administration, and computer networking. You’ll also dive into business topics such as project management, economics, and statistics.

1

Freshman Year

  • In this foundational course, students explore the principles necessary for achieving personal and career success. GEN 101 serves as a road map, guiding students as they begin their academic journey. Through self-discovery, surveying available resources, connecting with UAGC groups, and engaging with Career Services, students learn the essential skills of planning and goal setting. Students apply their personal strengths, skills, and lifelong learning strategies to develop essential career competencies. By making these meaningful connections students gain a deeper understanding of how their education relates to their desired career path.  Congratulations on embarking on this college journey filled with growth, exploration, and endless possibilities! This course is not available for non-degree seeking students and is not available as an elective.

  • This course will help students gain knowledge and skills required for achieving computer and digital literacy in the twenty-first century and introduce students to information technology in three levels: basic understanding; practical applications; and implications for their lives, world, and future. Students will use operating system software, the Internet, and productivity software (word processing, spreadsheet, presentation graphics, etc.).

  • Learn and use key, practical skills that are applicable at home, at work, and in all UAGC courses! As UAGC students progress in their academic journey, strategies for personal, professional, and academic success continue to develop. This introductory course takes a two-pronged approach to setting students on a path to success. It merges fundamental informational literacy concepts with essential resources and skills that prepare students for college and career. Students learn how to identify, locate, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge information obtained through UAGC Library databases and internet search engines. By applying the research process, students sharpen critical thinking skills and learn to use information ethically. The final project is a practical and relevant opportunity for students to apply their learning in personally, professionally, and academically meaningful ways.

  • ENG 121 is designed to introduce students to the standards of writing in both academic and professional settings. The class will operate by first introducing, and then allowing students to practice, several written communication skills. Throughout, we will work to understand writing as a process, one that is strengthened through critical thinking, deepened by research, and built on a foundation of professional standards. Students will articulate a sense of their own skills and goals, and engage in collaborative conversations with peers and their instructor so as to be able to express their ideas more effectively. During the course, students will use the writing process to scrutinize their own perspectives while challenging them to embrace a wider conversation.

  • This course is designed to expand students’ appreciation of film and knowledge of how films are made. Through analysis of storytelling in a visual medium, students will examine the ways in which movies are shot, develop characters, evoke emotion, depict physical reality, reflect society, and have the power to influence it. Though the focus of the course is film itself, students will gain deeper intercultural fluency while growing their skills in critical thinking, written communication, and visual analysis.

  • This course is a study of correct and incorrect reasoning involved in everyday activities. The fundamentals of language and argument, deductive and inductive reasoning and other aspects of practical reasoning are examined. 

  • This course examines and evaluates theories and arguments concerning ethics and moral reasoning from a philosophical perspective. By engaging with historical and contemporary sources, students will analyze theories about the meaning, nature, and justification of ethical concepts; determine and assess how different forms of moral reasoning apply to contemporary moral issues; become more reflective and informed about their own moral beliefs; and develop their capacity for critical practical reasoning.

  • In this course, students will develop and expand their research and writing skills to communicate ideas in informed, ethical, and persuasive written documents intended for a range of audiences across a range of situations and contexts. Students will receive instruction and practice in synthesis and analysis, bolstering their written communication skills with a thorough understanding of academic research while honing critical thinking skills and effective work habits. Through writing well-structured, logical, and effective academic essays, students will explore tools and develop topics in a way that is meaningful to academic and professional lives. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 121 or equivalent with a grade of “C-” or better.

  • This course is designed to aid students in understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Verbal and nonverbal communication patterns among people in personal, social, academic, and professional settings will be examined, within and between cultures, including both face-to-face and technologically mediated channels.  The nature of these interactions will be evaluated using contemporary communication theory. The course will enable students to identify their interpersonal communication skills and behaviors and to more critically evaluate their own oral communication and that of others. The primary goals of the course are to improve the quality of students’ communication in their personal and professional relationships, to enhance students’ experience and. confidence with oral communication, and increase awareness of the importance of interpersonal communication that is inclusive and equitable.

  • This course surveys American history from 1877 to the present. Emphasis is placed on the multifaceted experiences within American society; political, economic, intercultural, and social trends; and the impact of the United States in world affairs. Prerequisite: ENG 122 or successful completion of the Written Communication Competency II requirement.

2

Sophomore Year

  • This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of social sciences and some of the disciplines that comprise this field, including anthropology, psychology, economics, sociology, political science, and history. In this course, students will learn important social science concepts and theoretical approaches, along with the research methods that social scientists use to study human behavior. They will also learn how research and findings from the social sciences can be applied broadly throughout society. Throughout the course and through a summative assignment, students will examine how social factors shape social behavior and some of the consequences of current social problems.

  • In this course, learners deepen their understanding of the importance of natural resources to mankind. Students explore physical, biological, and ecological principles, examine how human alterations affect the environment, and reflect on the controversies surrounding various approaches to addressing environmental problems and the steps some communities have taken to address these challenges.

  • In this course, students will explore a wide range of Algebra topics. Topics will include study of linear equations, linear relationships, slope, polynomials, and functions, including graphing relations and solving systems of equations. Emphasis will be placed on developing an awareness of historical and current uses of algebra in real life settings, in various careers, and in solving important societal problems.

  • The capstone serves as an opportunity to reflect upon, integrate, and showcase learning achievement. Through discussions and course-embedded assessments, students will demonstrate a mastery of essential general education competencies as they relate to their personal and professional lives and provide evidence of growth through application of competency related skills to real-world situations. A minimum grade of “C-“ is required to meet course requirements. Prerequisite: 75 completed credits or permission of the student’s college or dean.

  • This course is designed to meet general education quantitative reasoning (mathematics) requirements. It will cover such topics as sampling, bias, probability, distributions, graphical methods of portraying data, measures of center, dispersion and position and the Central Limit Theorem. It will also cover computational techniques such as correlation, regression and confidence intervals.

  • Introduction to national income determination and the equilibrium level of output and employment. Monetary and fiscal policies as well as open economy issues are discussed. Recommended prerequisites: Fulfillment of the General Education Critical Thinking core competency and Digital Literacy competency.

  • Students will develop the skills necessary for writing about scientific, environmental, medical, and technological topics. Emphasis is placed on making complex and technical information understandable to a variety of audiences. Prerequisites: ENG 122 or fulfillment of General Education Written Communication Competency II requirement and fulfillment of General Education Scientific Reasoning requirement.

  • This course is designed to prepare students for their degree program path. The Fundamentals of Information Technology and Literacy course covers concepts to enable fluency in Information Technology (IT), a fluency that the National Research Council (NRC) considers an important component of the life-long learning process. This course includes a review of basic concepts needed for the program, including topics such as operating systems and computer components, hardware and software, basics of database, programming and system design, and other concepts that encourage critical thinking. Course materials are aligned with the CompTIA IT Fundamentals and encourages students that so desire to take the CompTIA IT Fundamentals certification exam.  

  • This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of computer programming. Students will learn fundamentals of computer programming including primitive data types, expressions, control statements, functions, and arrays. Students in this course will be using Python programing language. Python is a widely used high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming language. 

  • This course provides students with an opportunity to form a strong understanding of the design and architecture of modern computers. In this course, students will learn the principles of computer organization and basic architecture concepts, including computer instruction, arithmetic of computers, and memory hierarchy and technologies.Prerequisite: CPT 200.

3

Junior Year

  • This course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts and techniques for Operating Systems Theory and Design. Students will learn the operating system concepts including implementation, processes, deadlocks, communication, multi-processing, multilevel memory management, file systems, protection, resource allocation, and scheduling. This course is designed to provide students an overview of operating systems principles, implementations, and methodologies. Prerequisite: CPT 200.

  • In this course, students will learn data structure foundations; concepts and features of object-oriented-programming, arrays, stacks, queues, lists; and trees. Students will analyze different sorting and searching algorithms. Emphasis is placed on the appropriate use and choice of standard data structures. Prerequisite: CPT 200.

  • This course provides a comprehensive overview of digital and analog transmission. The course discusses fundamentals of voice, video and data processing, client-server architectures, Open Systems Interconnect model (OSI), Network Components, Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN), and cutting edge technologies. In addition fundamentals of Ethernet, TCP/IP, and other high speed protocols, broadband communication systems will also be presented. Participating students actively learn via case studies that provide “real-world” examples and scenarios of modern state of the art data communication systems. 

  • This course introduces the students to fundamentals of database design, modeling, and relational databases. Students will utilize the concepts to construct and test a database and associated application components. The developments of efficient database application systems require an understanding of fundamentals of database management system. Prerequisite: CPT 307.

  • In this course, students will learn how to manage the technology that affects organizations. Concepts covered include security best practices, access control, network components and services, change management, and configuration management. Students will gain an understanding of how the services offered by the various network components should be managed and protected. Prerequisite: INT 301.

  • In this course, students will learn the application of theory, knowledge, and practices to effectively and efficiently build reliable software systems that satisfy the requirements of customers and users. Students will understand all phases of the lifecycle of a software system, including requirements analysis and specification, software architecture, design patterns and concerns, software development methodologies (i.e. waterfall and agile process development), and software testing. Prerequisite: CPT 310.

  • This course teaches the framework of Scrum as used in project management as it applies to software development and many other applications. A comparison to predictive (waterfall) methodology is made. Scrum terminology, team responsibilities, and values are introduced. Tools to organize and track Scrum projects are reviewed. Course materials are aligned with Scrum.org and encourage students that so desire to take the Professional Scrum Master I certification exam. Individuals with PSM I certifications often continue to earn additional levels of Scrum Master and related certifications. Links to exam study materials are provided. Note: Students will be responsible for registering and paying for the actual certification test as administered by Scrum.org.

  • The course will discuss concepts for systematically establishing, defining and managing the requirements for a large, complex, changing and software-intensive systems, from technical, organizational and management perspectives. The course will involve building models of both requirements Technology process and requirements Technology product, concerning both functional and non-functional. Prerequisite: CST 301

  • This course introduces basic concepts and principles about software architecture and design. It starts with discussion on architectural structures and styles, followed by coverage of design issues and design patterns. The emphasis is on the interaction between software design and quality attributes such as availability, performance, security, interoperability, and modifiability. Prerequisite: CST 301

  • This course introduces students to modern software development principles and practices. It provides the necessary grounding on the different technologies associated with developing a business website. Students in this course will learn client-side web development; as well as server-side web development using PHP programing language. Prerequisite: CST 301

4

Senior Year

  • This course introduces students to software testing and quality control concepts, principles, and methodologies. The emphasis here is on understanding software testing process, planning, strategy, criteria, and testing methods, as well as software quality assurance concepts & control process. It covers the various subjects, including test models, test design techniques (black box and white-box testing techniques), integration, regression, and system testing methods. Prerequisite: CST 301

  • This course introduces students to skills, knowledge, techniques, and tools required by information technology security professionals. Topics include application security principles and techniques, network security mechanisms, cryptography, and secure programming techniques including cross site scripting, and SQL injection. Prerequisite: CST 301

  • This course will offer an opportunity for students to work on real life problems through an applied project in a teamwork environment. This course will cover the major software development lifecycle phases: software requirements gathering, software architecture & design, software development, software testing, and software project management. Students are required to apply appropriate methodologies to the activities in the aforementioned phases based on the selected topic. Each group of students will report their progress through a weekly interactive assignment and receive feedback from the instructor. Upon the completion of the course, each group will be required to submit a professional technical report and a working software demonstration. Prerequisites: GEN 499. This course must be taken last in the program. 

Program Requirements
Credit Breakdowns
General Education
43
Credits
Major Credit Requirements
57
Credits
Electives
20
Credits
Total Credits
120
Credits

To earn your Bachelor of Science in Computer Software Technology at the University of Arizona Global Campus, you must complete 120 credits. You will need to complete 30 upper-division credits, of which 18 credits must be from the major program. A total of 30 credits must be completed at Global Campus to meet the residency requirement. You may be able to transfer approved credits from community colleges, other previous college coursework, or other life experiences such as military service or job training toward your degree.

Program Specific Requirements:

  • Platforms: The most currently commercially available version of the Windows operating system (as of August 2024 this is Microsoft 10 or higher) or macOS (as of August 2024 this is macOS 14.5). Note: The most current version of the Windows operating system is the recommended platform.
  • Administrative Rights: Students must obtain administrative rights to their computer and Internet connection. The ability to download and upload files from various sources and providers will be required. Students must have administrative rights to their computers to facilitate the following:
    1. Software Installation: Many tech courses require the installation of specialized software, including development environments, programming languages, and database management systems.
    2. File Management: The ability to manage files such as downloading, uploading, and modifying files from various sources.
Licensure and Certification Terms and Conditions

This program is not designed to meet the state educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification in any state. Students seeking licensure or certification in a particular profession shall carefully research the requirements prior to enrollment and regularly review the requirements as they are subject to change. Requirements vary by state. The University of Arizona Global Campus does not guarantee that any professional organization will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any exam for the purpose of professional certification. Further, a criminal record may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in their field of study.

Certain degree programs may not be available in all states.

Quality Matters Certification

The Online Teaching Support Certification recognizes programs that require all online faculty to undergo training in best practices for online course delivery, provide faculty with ongoing pedagogical support, encourage faculty professional development to increase their knowledge and skill in online teaching, emphasize instructor availability and feedback to learners, and collect and use feedback from learners to improve online teaching. Learn More

The Online Learner Support Certification recognizes programs that provide all the critical student and academic services needed for learner success and use learner feedback to continuously improve those services.

Customize Your Computer Software Technology Degree with UAGC Emphases

An emphasis provides you with additional opportunities to broaden and enrich your education that is distinct from and enhances your major. It may be taken as a way to expand career options, to prepare for graduate study, or simply to explore in greater depth an area different from your major. An emphasis consists of 9 to 12 credits.
  • Do you have an interest in studying important questions like how a country builds wealth and what policies help economies grow? If so, the Business Economics emphasis may be for you! This emphasis provides the critical knowledge you need to understand the impact of the economy on businesses, individuals, and the global community. Learning economic concepts will assist you in understanding how to analyze scarce resources, how to structure effective consumer incentives, and how public policies may impact an economy. Finally, the Business Economics emphasis includes topics such as profit maximization, international trade, and how to solve contemporary business problems in a global environment. The following courses are a part of the emphasis:

    Undergraduate Business Economics Emphasis Courses

    ECO 320 International Economics

    3 Credits

    This course will focus on the global environment of firms with particular emphasis on economic variables such as GDP, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates. Topics include international trade, international finance, and regional issues in the global economy.

    ECO 406 Business Cycles & Growth

    3 Credits

    Topics include analysis of economic fluctuations and their impact on corporations and consumers; different explanations for business cycles; monetary and fiscal policy for stabilizing economic fluctuations; effects of public debt, investment, employment and trade policy on economic growth. Prerequisite: ECO 203.

    ECO 408 Managerial Economics

    3 Credits

    This course will focus on the application of economic principles and analyses to contemporary business problems and managerial decision making. Emphasis will be given to price and production decision making for profit maximization, investment decision making for a new project, strategic decision making in various business situations, and decision making with risks and uncertainty. Prerequisite: ECO 204.

    Learn More

  • The Cognitive Studies emphasis is designed to introduce you to the study of the brain and how we learn, solve problems, and make decisions. You will discover the unique needs of learners with cognitive delays, as well as programs to address those needs. You will also learn to identify changes in brain development over time and analyze their impact on cognitive functions.

    Undergraduate Cognitive Studies Emphasis Courses

    EDU 411 Reading & Cognition

    3 Credits

    The task of learning to read is a very complex process involving the application of perceptual, sensory, linguistic, and cognitive skills to making meaning of text. Exploration of the specific cognitive functions that are applied while reading and strategies supporting reading instruction and reading comprehension skills will be addressed. The implications of digital media on reading skills will also be explored in this course.

    PSY 317 Cognitive Functioning in the Elderly

    3 Credits

    This course will introduce changes both cognitively and physically, that occur in both healthy and pathological aging. This course will emphasize changes in functioning, learning, language-processing, decision-making, memory, and reasoning in older adults Prerequisite: PSY 101 or equivalent.

    PSY 323 Perception, Learning, & Cognition

    3 Credits

    Students will study research and theory about mental processes that go between experience and the human mind. Students will gather and interpret data for several simple experiments that demonstrate classic research findings in perception, learning, and cognition. Perception entails the mental processes involved in the organization and interpretation of sensory experience. Learning entails relatively permanent changes in behavior that result from experience. Cognition explains how the mind processes information, how we encode, store, and retrieve memories, and how we use information to form beliefs, make decisions, and solve problems. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or equivalent.

    Learn More

  • Perhaps you want to be your own boss, or you enjoy out-of-the-box thinking, solving puzzles, resolving problems, and finding creative ways to address issues in the current business environment. The Entrepreneurship emphasis may be just what you are looking for. This emphasis can help you visualize and realize skills you will need to succeed in a global business environment. It enables you to craft a foundation of skills and essential knowledge to build a business from its inception and transform it into sustainable growth. You will learn how to analyze risk, address and analyze the impact of various environmental factors in the political and ethical realm, and learn to design and compile business plans. The following courses are part of the emphasis:

    Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Emphasis Courses

    BUS 362 Introduction to Entrepreneurship

    3 Credits

    This dynamic course is based on a unique model of entrepreneurial methodology developed by Forbes School of Business and Technology® at the University of Arizona Global Campus. Entrepreneurship encompasses imagining the unknown, taking inspired action, and embracing uncertainty to create a new future. It involves the identification, evaluation, and exploitation of opportunities to address challenges and to solve problems. Students will learn how to use imagination, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship to bring new ideas to fruition that inspire others. Students will create a feasible blueprint for a venture opportunity idea of their own. This course will be the beginning of the journey to becoming an entrepreneur.

    BUS 433 New Business Strategy

    3 Credits

    This course is intended to provide prospective entrepreneurs with information and tools for evaluating opportunities for starting a new firm—how to choose markets for entry, when to enter, and what resources and capabilities it will take to enter and provide a platform for future growth. Prerequisite: BUS 362.

    BUS 437 Business Plan Development

    3 Credits

    BUS 437 students will use prior learning to create a comprehensive business plan for a new venture. The emphasis is on using a systematic four-step method to frame business plan development activities. Each week student teams will develop one segment of the team’s business plan and receive feedback from the instructor through a game simulation. Prerequisites: BUS 362.

    Learn More

  • Do you have an interest in learning how to lead a healthier lifestyle, exploring the benefits of behavior change, and diving into how to better manage stress? If so, the Health and Wellness emphasis may be for you! The Health and Wellness emphasis examines the dimensions of wellness and the relationship of chronic conditions to preventive measures and treatment interventions. This emphasis can help you gain skills to promote health and wellness behaviors on an individual level by evaluating lifestyle factors and developing personalized wellness programs that utilize evidenced-based theories and strategies. The following courses are a part of the emphasis:

    Undergraduate Health and Wellness Emphasis Courses

    HWE 200 Introduction to Health & Wellness

    3 Credits

    This course provides students with a holistic overview of the multi-faceted dimensions of health and wellness across the lifespan. The seven dimensions of health: Physical, social, intellectual, emotional, occupational, spiritual, and environmental are explored within the context of a wellness lifestyle.

    HWE 340 Exercise & Physiology

    3 Credits

    This course introduces students to physiological responses to exercise in the human body. Students compare the major physiological systems (energy transfer, cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromuscular, etc.) at rest, explain the systemic adaptations that occur with acute and long-term exercise, and evaluate how these activities affect health and human performance. Students also analyze how nutrition and pharmacological aids impact athletic performance.

    HWE 415 Stress Management

    3 Credits

    This course provides students with a basic understanding of stress management concepts including causes and effects of acute and chronic stress as well as techniques used to manage stress. Students learn about the effects of stress, analyze the relationship between stress and health, apply stress management techniques, and develop stress management programs while considering various cultural backgrounds.

    Learn More

  • In the Real Estate Studies emphasis you’ll learn the ins and outs of a fascinating industry and prepare for examining the markets and financing methods for residential and commercial properties. Discover the many trends that influence property valuations and learn the best practices to benefit and safeguard investors. These three courses comprise the Real Estate Studies emphasis:

    Undergraduate Real Estate Studies Emphasis Courses

    RES 301 Principles of Real Estate

    3 Credits

    This course introduces students to the general principles of real estate, to include industry terminology, ethics, deeds, listing and purchase agreements, agency, contracts, and property valuation decisions. Emphasis will also be on factors impacting local and national real estate markets.

    RES 325 Real Estate Practice

    3 Credits

    This course examines the basic job functions of real estate salespersons and brokers. Property listing, advertising, escrow, sales, and establishing a client base will be covered with practical applications for completing successful transactions.

    RES 345 Legal Aspects of Real Estate

    3 Credits

    This course is a study of the legal system and its impact on purchase, ownership, sale, and leasing of real estate. Topics to be covered include contracts, wills, zoning, and environmental law, as well as Constitutional issues in real estate

    Learn More

  • Courses within the Supply Chain Management area of emphasis highlight effective management of supply chain processes and information flow in order to optimize activities and costs, and successfully serve their customers. You will study individual functions of supply chain and strategic relationships among these functions, which include: purchasing, inventory control, warehousing, quality, sustainability, financial controls; importing, exporting, trade agreements, contract negotiations, and transportation. You will learn to apply the core business knowledge to managing wider organizational processes. The following three courses comprise the Supply Chain Management area of emphasis:

    Undergraduate Supply Chain Management Emphasis Courses

    MGT 323 Principles of Supply Chain Management

    3 Credits

    This course introduces supply chain management, and the related costs. It provides a systematic overview and analysis of the elements of supply chain functions in widely varying types of industries and agencies, including handling, warehousing, inventory control, and financial controls. Prerequisite: MGT 330.

    MGT 370 International Supply Chain Management

    3 Credits

    Topics covered in this course include the government’s role in global logistics, the global logistics environment, ocean and air transportation, transportation to Canada, Mexico, and the European continent including intermediaries, documentation, insurance, exporting, and importing. Current trends in globalization will also be explored and evaluated. The role of logistics and transportation organizations in the global supply chain process will be discussed.

    MGT 400 Logistics Management

    3 Credits

    This course is an overview of logistics management in the modern business environment. It examines financial and economic aspects of logistics and highlights the value created by logistics activities. Students will evaluate transportation and warehousing management strategies. The course takes a practical approach to logistics and applies innovative logistics principles to business situations. The course examines contemporary topics, including the role of inventory, that support the organization’s strategic goals. Prerequisite: MGT 300.

    Learn More

Careers in Computer Software Technology

Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Software Technology degree can prepare you to help organizations fulfill their software technology needs. Graduates from this program could pursue career opportunities in the growing software technology field, such as: 

 

  • Software Developer
  • Application Developer
  • Quality Assurance Analyst
  • Business Analyst
Lady working on computers Lady working with computers

Other Degrees That May Interest You

You’ll find degree programs that suit a variety of interests and may enhance a wide scope of career opportunities at UAGC. Explore similar programs to find the right path for you.

Search UAGC

Let us help.

Fill out this form to talk with an advisor.

Are you currently a licensed RN?

This program requires you to be a current licensed registered nurse. Please check out other programs to reach your education goals such as the BA in Health and Wellness.

Are you a member of the military?

We are currently not accepting new enrollments in the state of North Carolina.