At SchoolAmanda Vaden
Software Engineering CTE Pathways for Your School

High schools offering CTE programs should consider adding a software engineering course to equip students with in-demand skills for future careers in software and technology-related fields.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of software developers is projected to grow 26 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. This strong growth reflects the ongoing demand for software across industries, including healthcare, finance, and education. As of May 2023, the median annual wage for software developers was $132,850, highlighting the strong earning potential in this high-demand field.

Software engineering is a strong choice for administrators looking to align CTE programs with workforce needs and high-opportunity career paths.

Why Students Want to Study Software Engineering

A career in software doesn’t limit someone to a single industry. In fact, the Digital Technology Career Cluster and the Software Solutions subcluster under it are identified as cross-cutting clusters in the new Advance CTE Career Clusters Framework. These go hand-in-hand and show the real-world application of software engineering across various industries.

In today’s digital world, nearly every field, from robotics to agriculture to financial services, depends on software. Students with coding knowledge and problem-solving skills can pursue careers in various sectors, many of which offer strong job growth and salaries.

Earning potential is among the most compelling reasons students pursue software engineering. These roles also allow for continuous learning and high-impact work, all traits today’s learners value.

What Makes a Strong Software Engineering CTE Course

Implementing a new CTE course can present challenges. Schools must collaborate closely with staff, assess instructional capacity, and consider local and regional workforce needs.

An ideal software engineering course gives students hands-on experience with programming languages, development tools, and technical documentation, while supporting essential skills like communication and teamwork. The right course also allows students to explore areas of interest within software, such as app design, web development, or embedded systems.

Here are two popular types of software engineering CTE courses:

Programming

These courses introduce students to text-based programming through languages like Python or JavaScript, but the focus goes beyond syntax. Lessons start with foundational concepts, such as loops, variables, and conditionals, and guide students toward a deeper understanding of how code works. By applying these principles in real-world contexts like robotics or game development, students develop strong code sense: the ability to think computationally, recognize patterns, and break down complex problems. Along the way, they also explore how software connects with hardware, networks, and data systems.

App Design

These courses guide students through designing, building, testing, and iterating apps. They often use block coding to introduce core concepts, balanced with app-specific learning objectives like visual design and user experience.

Students in app design courses learn the product development cycle and build skills that apply to mobile and web-based platforms.

Software Engineering Career Pathways

A strong software engineering CTE program sets students up for success, whether they pursue higher education or enter the workforce directly. In addition to software developer roles, students can explore career paths like:

  • QA engineer or software tester

  • Front-end or back-end developer

  • Mobile app developer

  • Robotics programmer

  • Web developer

Students with a CTE foundation can also pursue advanced technical careers in AI, cybersecurity, or data science.

Software Engineering + Sphero

Sphero’s tools support high school CTE programs in software engineering, programming, and robotics, helping students gain future-ready skills. Explore BOLT+RVR+, Blueprint Engineering, or book a meeting with a Sphero expert to learn how it fits into your curriculum.

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