Wallace Community College Selma was one of three community colleges across the state to be selected for a new app-development curriculum launched by Apple.

The curriculum will be launched in the fall as part of computer science programs.

“We are very excited,” said Johnny Moss, director of marketing and college relations. “This will mean an advancement in our CIS classes. Apps are the new wave and, hopefully, students will get excited about it, and we’ll have more students that will want to pursue a technological degree and other innovative fields.”

Alabama’s community college system is one of six across the country selected for the curriculum. The other two schools in Alabama are Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville and Bishop State Community College in Mobile.

Apple noted in launching the program that there are more than 4,400 open computing jobs in Alabama, but also stressed that the college curriculum will allow students to develop coding skills that are valuable in a wide variety of careers.

“This will allow our students to develop cutting-edge skills that will prepare them for success in today’s workplace,” said Jimmy H. Baker, chancellor of the Alabama Community College System. “It’s exactly the kind of opportunity that we want to make sure we are offering our students. We are thrilled to be partnering with Apple on this program.”

Students will learn to code and develop apps in the program, by following Apple’s Swift language.

Apple decided to use community colleges for the program to address workforce development needs in an ever-growing technology driven economy. The plan is to have students graduate and to enter the workforce immediately with the knowledge of app development. All of the participating schools will also receive relevant electronic devices, including iMacs, iPods, iPads and Apple TVs.

“In a world powered by code, understanding key software concepts has become a new literacy,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple vice president for environment, policy and social initiatives. “Computer coding is an essential skill that students need to succeed, no matter what career they pursue.”