Virginia's Programming & Software Development pathway develops expertise in software design, coding, programming languages, application development, and software testing—preparing students for careers developing software applications.
Students study programming fundamentals, multiple programming languages, software design patterns, testing methodology, debugging, and software development life cycle. They develop applications and software through hands-on coding projects.
Graduates work as software developers, programmers, application developers, or software engineers. Virginia's growing software development sector creates opportunities. Advanced students pursue computer science at Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, and others.
Programming & Software Development at a Glance
4
Courses
8
Credentials
4
Career Paths
State Standards & Framework
Virginia's programming standards address programming fundamentals, software design, development practices, and software testing. Standards emphasize multiple programming languages and development methodologies.
Students demonstrate competency through programming projects, code reviews, and application development. The state integrates industry-standard programming languages.
Typical Course Sequence
| Course |
|---|
| Programming Fundamentals |
| Programming Languages and Coding |
| Software Design and Development |
| Software Testing and Deployment |
Industry Certifications & Credentials
Career Opportunities
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections (2023-2033). Cost-of-living adjustment uses BEA Regional Price Parities (2023). Entry-level salaries reflect the 25th percentile; experienced salaries reflect the median.
Junior Software Developer
Entry LevelSalary range: $105,550 - $168,570
Programmer
ExperiencedSalary range: $72,580 - $153,450
Software Developer
ExperiencedSalary range: $105,550 - $168,570
Senior Developer
ExperiencedSalary range: $105,550 - $168,570
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Students intern at software companies, tech firms, and development shops throughout Virginia and the Washington D.C. region.
Career & Technical Student Organization
Students in this pathway can participate in CompTIA, gaining leadership experience and competing in career-related events.
How Sage Helps Virginia CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
Virginia Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with Virginia's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as Virginia standards and industry needs evolve
Ready to Build Programming & Software Development Programs at Scale?
See how Sage can help you create standards-aligned curriculum for Programming & Software Development in Virginia.