Established in 2012, Coding Dojo is one of the first coding bootcamps to offer learners an alternative to a typical four-year computer science course. Since then, it has provided students with a scientifically designed program that fully prepares graduates for STEM careers.
Today, Coding Dojo has multiple campus locations in the US and offers full-time, part-time, and fully online bootcamps. It has 10 years of learning science behind its curriculum and has produced over 6,000 graduates.
With such a long time in time in the coding bootcamp space, how has Coding Dojo maintained a steady footing in the industry?
One significant aspect that sets Coding Dojo apart from other online bootcamps is that it teaches three full stacks instead of being a typical one-stack program. Students learn Python full stack, MERN full stack, and Java or C# full stack. According to the school, its curriculum covers more front end and back end programming than any other online coding course.
Coding Dojo’s comprehensive program was developed with the recognition that most tech companies require their employees to know more than just one programming language. Its goal, therefore, is to fully prepare graduates to tackle any coding language the future may bring.
Coding Dojo offers a 14-week, full-time, three-stack Software Development program that sets it apart from other coding bootcamps.
Be part of Coding Dojo’s next cohort today.Coding Dojo’s Application Process: How to Get into the Coding Bootcamp
Your journey to Coding Dojo begins with an optional Q&A call with the Admissions Team to answer any initial questions about the coding bootcamp. Coding Dojo also holds regular virtual Open House events where interested applicants can learn more about the bootcamp’s various programs.
If you decide to apply, you’ll need to fill out a short online application form that will cover personal information, your professional background, and the program you are interested in.
For the full-time programs, the third step is an interview with an admissions advisor. The interview will ascertain a match between your learning goals and the bootcamp’s requirements. The most important trait you’ll need to possess is determination, which the interview will also uncover. Two to three days after the interview, the admissions team will inform applicants of the acceptance decision.
Note that part-time programs do not require an interview.
Coding Dojo does not require a technical interview or assessment in its application requirements. Once the student is accepted, they need to submit a deposit to officially save their slot in the program and gain access to bootcamp prep materials. After this, the student is connected to their onboarding manager and their future cohort.
An Overview of Coding Dojo’s Full-Time Software Development Program
Coding Dojo offers a full-time Software Development program, delivered in different formats: both online and onsite, pending safety recommendations from health organizations. It has campuses in Bellevue, WA; Boise, ID; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Silicon Valley, CA. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all classes are currently held online.
The online full-time Software Development bootcamp program is fully immersive and takes 14 weeks to complete, with students spending 70 to 90 hours a week on the program. Students have 24/7 access to the proprietary Coding Dojo Learn Platform, where all assignments are posted. This is also where projects, readings, and quizzes are available.
Assigned projects start small and build up to more significant projects, ensuring that students “learn by doing”. Assignments are tackled individually as well as with other students, teaching learners how to code with other people, which is similar to a real-life workplace situation.
Put simply, the program is rigorous and requires drive and determination. For this reason, students will have multiple avenues of support throughout the program, from admission until well after graduation. It is open to both beginners and people with advanced coding backgrounds.
The initial two weeks of the full-time program consist of a warmup course. This period is when students take a skills assessment to determine if programming basics are necessary or if they can move directly to web fundamentals.
This intro period covers web interface, industry tools, and DOM & Data Manipulation. The technologies covered are HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, Visual Studio, Terminal, and Git. After this period, the main program begins.
- Weeks 1 to 2 of the program consists of learning the basics of front end development, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Students will build and animate their first websites.
- Weeks 3 to 6 focus on Python Full Stack. Python is one of the most in-demand programming languages in the industry. Students will work with object-oriented programming, SQL, relational databases, and Python MVC frameworks.
- Weeks 7 to 10 build upon the past few weeks and focus on MERN Full Stack, using technologies like Express, React, and Node.js. Students learn how to build a mini social media website, mini online marketplace, and real-time chat features.
- Weeks 11 to 14 focus on the third and final stack, JavaScript or C#. The focus will depend on where the student is located or what campus the student enrolls in.
For JavaScript, students learn object-oriented programming in Java, SQL queries, object-relational mapper, and Java MVC frameworks, among others. For C#, students finalize their portable, marketable skills in ASP.NET Core, MySQL, and Dapper.
Support is available seven days a week. Students will be part of a Discord community composed of fellow learners and instructors. The Student Services Team is available anytime to answer questions. Teaching assistants are also available on weekdays from 2pm to 7pm PST for any curriculum-related concerns students may have.
Each day of the program starts with live algorithms and discussion sessions with an instructor. Next are lab hours where students work independently or in groups to complete assignments and further connect with instructors. All the work will be done and submitted on the Coding Dojo learning platform. Students can also schedule small group sessions with instructors to get detailed feedback on assignments.
After completing the program, a Coding Dojo graduate leaves with a strong web development foundation. However, the most important skill a graduate leaves with is knowing how to learn.
Coding Dojo Tuition Costs and Financing Options
For the full-time Software Development program, Coding Dojo costs are $16,245, with a $250 discount if paid in full. Coding Dojo also offers various payment plans including the Income Share Agreement payment model.
For most of the plans, students need to pay a $1,000 deposit and the balance of the tuition can be divided into monthly payments, with or without interest, depending on which installment plan is used. Ascent Funding and Affirm are also available.
Coding Dojo also offers several scholarships, such as the Fresh Start Fund, which gives up to $1,500 to those who make less than $40,000 a year. Diversity Scholarships and other scholarships, including Women in Tech and Military Re-training Scholarship, are also available and offer students a $1,000 scholarship.
Coding Dojo Career Services
Coding Dojo’s career services are built into the program from Day 1 and are designed to fully support students throughout their stay and beyond. Students get lifetime access to the bootcamp’s career services for as long as they need it. Whether it’s six months or six years after graduation, Coding Dojo is ready to support graduates in finding a job.
- Professional Profile and Portfolio. At the beginning of the program, career services help students build professional LinkedIn profiles, GitHub portfolios, and develop their resumes.
- Job Prospecting and Application Guidance. During the program, students undergo real-time job searching as well as fill out sample applications. Students also have the opportunity to communicate with hiring managers.
- Interview Prep and Salary Negotiation. As the program comes to a close, students complete technical job skills tests, mock interviews, interview prep, and contract negotiation.
According to Coding Dojo’s outcomes, graduates have an 89.1 percent placement rate within six months of graduation and have an average starting salary of $72,325. Coding Dojo alumni have gone on to work in tech companies like Google, HP, Disney, and Adobe.
Coding Dojo Alumni Spotlight
Coding Dojo has numerous student success stories. One of them is Joseph Lee. Before attending Coding Dojo, Joseph was a delivery truck driver. He was making a decent living, but he felt that he wasn’t living up to his potential. He decided to quit and started learning JavaScript on his own.
Sharing his experience, Joseph said: “When I came to the Dojo, I had gone to another bootcamp, so the nerves of the curriculum weren’t there. I was nervous when it came to meeting people because that is the most important part of the bootcamp. That’s where you grow your network. It starts there. One of the reasons I got this amazing job was because of a reference from a bootcamp”.
Career services played a huge part in Joseph’s positive experience at the bootcamp. “The one thing that stood out was the Career Services and more importantly, Chinni [his Career Services manager].”
“The support I got for all my interview prep was amazing,” said Joseph. “She [Chinni] went through a lot of practice with me and I was able to ace my interview. Not only ace but I was told I was one of the most prepared candidates they had that day. [My job hunt] went really well and I ended up landing a Software Developer job at Amazon only a couple months after graduating.”
Today, Joseph is a Software Developer Apprentice at Amazon. He credits Coding Dojo for giving him a solid foundation in coding and crucial skills in time management. For others who are thinking of attending a bootcamp, he has this to say, “If this is something you want to do, why wait? There is this amazing world in tech that is looking for diverse minds.
“I used to think that because I was a former truck driver, I could never do this. Boy, was I wrong. You would be surprised where people come from that make up this world in tech.”
Do You Want Your Own Success Story?
Coding Dojo welcomes students from all backgrounds, with tech experience or not. Its learning platform, curriculum, and student support help students attain success in their chosen fields. All the students need to bring are their drive and determination. If you have these and are ready to start a new career in tech, apply to Coding Dojo’s next cohort today.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
