As the modern world becomes driven by software, the need for highly skilled professional software developers is projected to grow exponentially. In fact, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected a 22 percent growth in software developer jobs and related fields by the end of the decade—higher than the national average across occupations.
To address the increased need for software developers, traditional educational institutions and universities are beginning to adapt their curricula. And some are doing so in the form of digital bootcamps.
What Is Software Development?
Software development refers to the process of creating software programs that encompass the stages of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)—planning, designing, building, testing, deploying, and maintaining applications.
What Do Software Developers Do?
Software developers design and develop computer programs according to client specifications and requirements to facilitate business growth. They analyze consumers’ needs, design software to meet these needs, and carry out maintenance and security checks.
Software development applications cut across all major industries such as retail, healthcare, finance, travel, research and development, defense, entertainment, education, and cyber security. As technology evolves, more applications may be discovered.
Why Become a Software Developer?
According to the job site, Indeed, software developers were among the top 25 in-demand careers for 2021, earning an average salary of $117,564 per year. This growth can be explained partly by the increasing demand for software developers and the need for more software services, especially as companies have started to conduct their business online due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aside from high earning potential, a career in software development can also lead to countless job opportunities in different industries. This is also supported by the staggering 266,047 open software developer jobs that are available in the United States at the time of publishing.
Becoming a skilled software developer can boost your earning potential significantly, give you a competitive advantage, and contribute to your ascent in climbing the career ladder. One way to acquire the abilities needed to become a highly qualified software developer is through a coding bootcamp—a faster approach to gaining job-ready skills.
Some universities are now partnering with coding bootcamps to foster the development of software development skills in learners. Through university-backed software development bootcamps, learners are provided with both the traditional and the fast-track intensive educational experience needed to succeed in their chosen field.
Why Enroll in a University-Backed Software Development Bootcamp?
Statistical data support that most employers believe coding bootcamps are worth it, as learners can perform as well as those with a college degree. However, there are still some who believe the opposite to be true. That is why combining the experience a traditional educational institution offers with expert-led and industry-focused courses can be an advantage.
University-backed tech bootcamps provide comprehensive training to learners by following industry standards and trends. The education they receive during these programs can also add credibility to learners’ certificates and help them stand out in the pool of job applicants.
To maintain and protect their status, universities carefully vet bootcamp curricula and design to ensure they are up to standard. This process guarantees that learners receive a mix of practical and theoretical concepts that they can apply to solve real-world problems.
Most university-backed bootcamps also maintain a wide range of global academic networks and hiring partners, allowing learners to explore opportunities within and outside the school’s network.
Top University-Backed Software Development Bootcamps to Consider
California State University, Long Beach Software Development Bootcamp
Founded in 1949, California State University, Long Beach ranked as one of the most innovative schools in the US, according to USNews.com. It is the second-largest university in California with full accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The College of Professional and International Education at CSULB promises learners an immersive learning experience with industry experts and a community of software developers. It has designed its software development course as an accelerated program to turn novice coders into job-ready developers in less than a year.
Learners have access to diverse web design, engineering, and development courses, and they start learning to code from Day 1. If you’re a complete beginner, don’t fret. Training starts with a 30-hour Introductory Course that is designed to introduce learners to the basics of software development.
This is followed by the Extended Program where learners strengthen their foundations, learn advanced concepts, and put their skills to the test by building three projects. Learners must design and create complex applications of their choice that use some of the technologies covered in the last part of the course. Projects may include:
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence applications
- Real-time applications
- Containerization and cloud application
- Access management
- Voice-driven applications
To view the program completely, visit the school’s course website.
Kansas State University’s Software Development Bootcamp
Founded in 1863, Kansas State University is the oldest university in Kansas and has an acceptance rate of 92 percent and a graduation rate of 62 percent. The university has its main campus in the city of Manhattan.
The school promises to turn learners into market-ready professional software developers in ten months. Experienced industry experts design the course curriculum. This ensures that learners gain practical skills that they may use to tackle real-world challenges.
While some bootcamps limit enrollment to intermediate to advanced learners, you’ll only need basic computer skills and the drive and passion to qualify for the university’s 30-hour Introductory Course in Software Development. No coding experience is required.
After completing the Introductory Course, learners take an assessment exam as well as meet with their admissions advisor to evaluate their performance and discuss their readiness for the bootcamp’s Extended Program.
Aside from technical training, learners gain access to comprehensive career services and career coaching that encompass interview prep, resume building, and LinkedIn profile optimization to meet each learner’s career goals and help shorten their job search.
Learners can also participate in scheduled networking opportunities, where they get to communicate with the school’s alumni and local hiring companies. They will have access to a pool of job opportunities through this community once they complete the program as well as the opportunity to network with potential employers.
For more details about the program, visit the school’s course website.
University of Wisconsin—Madison’s Software Development Bootcamp
Founded in 1948, the University of Wisconsin—Madison is ranked among the top universities in the United States. It boasts notable alumni such as well-known glass artist Dale Chihuly, Dick Cheney (former vice president), Charles Lindberg, Frank Lloyd Wright, and many others.
The software development program at UW—Madison is designed to equip learners from diverse backgrounds with industry-standard skills to take up jobs as professional software developers within a year. The course materials were created in collaboration with industry experts and professionals who are familiar with both the skills gaps and the issues that the industry faces.
The entire program is divided into three parts. There is a milestone project at the end of each part, and the project complexities increase as learners progress through the course.
Upon completing the program, a bootcamp certificate holder may apply to job roles such as web DevOps developer, software developer, computer programmer, database administrator, information security analyst, and front-end developer, among others.
For more details about the program and its opportunities, visit the school’s course website.
Dive into a Software Development Career with a University-Backed Bootcamp
Because of the growing demand for software developers, pursuing a career in this field may be a sensible choice. The positive job outlook for software development jobs and the potential to earn a good compensation package coupled with the remote nature of software engineering jobs are also some of the benefits of this profession. This can strongly indicate that a software developer qualification is worth investing in.
Suppose you have the passion and the motivation to follow a career path in software development. Enrolling in a university-backed online bootcamp might be the golden ticket you need to land your dream job.
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.
