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    • Software Design

    Software Design Courses Online

    Learn software design for developing robust applications. Understand design patterns, object-oriented principles, and user-centered design.

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    Explore the Software Design Course Catalog

    • G

      Georgia Institute of Technology

      Machine Design Part I

      Skills you'll gain: Failure Analysis, Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering, Structural Analysis, Engineering Analysis, Engineering Design Process, Engineering Practices, Engineering Calculations, Verification And Validation

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.2K reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Google IT Automation with Python

      Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Version Control, Cloud Services, Debugging, Puppet (Configuration Management Tool), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Bash (Scripting Language), Configuration Management, Professional Networking, CI/CD, Cloud Computing, Technical Communication, Docker (Software), Unit Testing, Containerization, Web Services, Interviewing Skills, Python Programming, Programming Principles

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      48K reviews

      Advanced · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Game Design: Art and Concepts

      Skills you'll gain: Animation and Game Design, Game Design, Animations, Prototyping, Conceptual Design, Storytelling, Software Design Documents, Ideation, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Storyboarding, Video Game Development, Virtual Environment, Art History, Technical Design, Usability Testing, Creative Design, Design Strategies, Graphic and Visual Design, Design, Design Elements And Principles

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4.1K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      D

      DeepLearning.AI

      AI-Powered Software and System Design

      Skills you'll gain: Database Design, Software Design Patterns, Database Systems, Software Architecture, System Design and Implementation, API Design, Large Language Modeling, Software Development, Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Secure Coding, Application Programming Interface (API), Performance Tuning

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      130 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      The Language of Design: Form and Meaning

      Skills you'll gain: Design Reviews, Design, Graphic Design, Design Elements And Principles, Visual Design, Peer Review, Typography, Creative Design

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      887 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      Status: New AI skills
      New AI skills
      G

      Google

      Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce

      Skills you'll gain: Media Planning, Search Engine Marketing, Email Marketing, Data Storytelling, Social Media Strategy, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media Marketing, Content Creation, Order Fulfillment, Google Ads, Professional Networking, Online Advertising, A/B Testing, Social Media Campaigns, E-Commerce, Customer Retention, Customer experience strategy (CX), Customer Relationship Management, Campaign Management, Interviewing Skills

      Build toward a degree

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      39K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      I

      IBM

      Generative AI for Software Developers

      Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Generative AI, ChatGPT, Large Language Modeling, Data Ethics, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence, Software Development Tools, Software Testing, Test Automation, Software Development, DevSecOps, Application Security, CI/CD, Natural Language Processing, Code Review, Program Development, Software Architecture, Content Creation, Image Analysis

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      6.8K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      D

      DeepLearning.AI

      Generative AI for Software Development

      Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Large Language Modeling, Database Design, Software Documentation, Software Design Patterns, Database Systems, Collaborative Software, Software Testing, ChatGPT, Technical Documentation, Generative AI, Code Review, Software Architecture, System Design and Implementation, API Design, Dependency Analysis, Artificial Intelligence, Software Development Tools, Security Testing, Software Development

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      538 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      C

      California Institute of the Arts

      UI / UX Design

      Skills you'll gain: Information Architecture, Wireframing, Persona (User Experience), Mockups, User Experience Design, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, UI/UX Strategy, User Interface (UI) Design, User Centered Design, Interaction Design, Prototyping, Graphic and Visual Design, User Research, Web Language, HTML and CSS, User Flows, Design Elements And Principles, Human Computer Interaction, Typography

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      7.9K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere

      Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Analytical Skills, Data Sharing, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, SQL, Data Management

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      115K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: Free Trial
      Free Trial
      G

      Google

      Start the UX Design Process: Empathize, Define, and Ideate

      Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, User Story, Ideation, Usability, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, User Research, Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Competitive Analysis, User Flows, Persona Development

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      16K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • C

      Coursera Instructor Network

      User Interface Design: Principles, Prototyping, Practices

      Skills you'll gain: Prototyping, User Interface (UI) Design, Usability, User Research, Interactive Design, UI Components, User Centered Design, Mockups, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design Thinking, Design Elements And Principles, Typography, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      33 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    Software Design learners also search

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    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular software design courses

    • Machine Design Part I: Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Google IT Automation with Python: Google
    • Game Design: Art and Concepts: California Institute of the Arts
    • AI-Powered Software and System Design: DeepLearning.AI
    • The Language of Design: Form and Meaning: California Institute of the Arts
    • Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce: Google
    • Generative AI for Software Developers: IBM
    • Generative AI for Software Development: DeepLearning.AI
    • UI / UX Design: California Institute of the Arts
    • Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere: Google

    Skills you can learn in Software Development

    Programming Language (34)
    Google (25)
    Computer Program (21)
    Software Testing (21)
    Web (19)
    Google Cloud Platform (18)
    Application Programming Interfaces (17)
    Data Structure (16)
    Problem Solving (14)
    Object-oriented Programming (13)
    Kubernetes (10)
    List & Label (10)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Software Design

    Software design is the process of creating a plan to guide the development of a software solution based on an assessment of user requirements determined through research and testing. It is a very important phase of the software development lifecycle, as software design provides the foundation for subsequent coding and implementation by programmers and software engineers.

    The software design process may encompass many aspects including planning for software architecture, design of user interfaces and other visual elements, and the selection of software design patterns and other components. Application security is another critical consideration for software design, and implementing secure practices as early as possible in the software development lifecycle can help ensure that the final product provides adequate protections for business and customer data.‎

    An understanding of software design principles can be a terrific asset for a career in software development, as it provides an overarching view of the entire software development lifecycle. In some ways, you can think of the software designer as the architect whose vision directs the work of a team of engineers and construction workers. According to Glassdoor, software designers in the U.S. earn an average annual salary of $92,046 - significantly more than software programmers, whose average salary according to Glassdoor is $76,526.‎

    Certainly. Taking online courses on Coursera has become an incredibly popular way for students from around the world to learn about a wide range of computer science topics, including software design. Top-ranked schools like the University of Alberta, the University of Colorado, and the University of Minnesota offer individual courses as well as Specializations spanning multiple courses covering software design and related topics such as application security and software design patterns. And, since you can view lessons and complete coursework on a flexible schedule, you can build these valuable, job-ready skills regardless of whether you’re a student or a mid-career professional looking to upgrade your skill set.‎

    The skills and experience you might want to acquire before starting to learn software design would include practical knowledge and work experience in all kinds of software development work, from websites to apps to network maintenance and more. You may already have skills or experience in designing, developing, and installing software for enterprise information systems via an internship or job role.‎

    Some of the common career paths for someone in software design might include starting out in junior roles in web design and development, and possibly moving into creative director roles for gaming systems (if on the creative side), or software analysis manager, if more geared to the operational side of the business. Software design workers could also possibly branch off into deeply analytical roles like computer science engineer, or information research scientist, depending on the company and industry.‎

    The kind of people best suited for roles in software design are computer science enthusiasts, who love programming and are excited about creating new software possibilities. These people are often creative, focused, and cerebral individuals who know programming languages such as Java, SQL, and Python. These languages are important to know as a software designer’s work may include developing software projects and programs for external clients or internal company usage. They might also write code, create charts and diagrams to represent the software, and may even supervise a team of programmers.‎

    Learning software design may be right for you if you love design challenges, love working with new software tools, and are interested in building a lucrative career in software design. You may be able to earn a good income in software design, as jobs for software developers are expected to rise by over 20% in the next decade, according to projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you find passion in work that involves designing computer systems, projecting network capabilities, and determining performance interfaces, then learning software design may be a good step in the right direction.‎

    Online Software Design courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Software Design skills. Choose from a wide range of Software Design courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

    When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Software Design, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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