UNC Charlotte’s New ‘Coding Boot Camp’ To Prepare Professional Web Developers

UNC Charlotte will launch a 24-week “Coding Boot Camp” certificate program this November to meet the growing local, national and global demand for web developers.

“The innovative, full-stack program is best-suited for motivated individuals looking for a new career challenge — one that puts them in the forefront of the digital economy,” said Asher Haines, UNC Charlotte’s director of continuing education. The term full-stack refers to developers who are comfortable working with both back-end and front-end technologies; it means that the developer can work with databases, PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript and everything in between, also, venturing as far as converting Photoshop designs to front-end code.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, web development ranks among the world’s fastest-growing professions, with jobs projected to increase at a 20 percent annual pace through 2022. The opportunities for skilled developers already have outstripped the labor supply; of more than 150,000 new openings posted each year, some 50,000 go unfilled. The median salary for professional web developers is $63,000, with some earning as much as $110,000 a year.

In the Charlotte market specifically, the growth rate was 28 percent from 2010 to 2013, and it has continued to grow since.*

The Coding Boot Camp at UNC Charlotte… is designed to accommodate the schedules of students and working professionals, with two evening classes during the week (6:30 to 9:30 p.m.) and a four-hour class on Saturdays (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

“The opportunities are growing daily,” said Janeene Humphrey, UNC Charlotte program director. “And while web development is a profession that demands great commitment, students will find the Coding Boot Camp at UNC Charlotte to be flexible, fast-paced and fun.”

“The coursework covers a lot of ground in a short amount of time,” added Samantha Abt-Bumgarner, UNC Charlotte program director. “Students who complete the program will have the skills they need to develop dynamic end-to-end web applications and to make a great impression on prospective employers. In addition, they will receive a certificate in Full Stack Web Development from UNC Charlotte.”

The curriculum covers all the bases: from the basics of coding, algorithms and data structure, to intensive training in Javascript, Node.js, HTML, CSS, jQuery, C# and more. In addition to classroom instruction, students will spend 10 to 15 hours a week on outside projects and experiential learning activities while building a professional project portfolio to showcase their abilities and hone their competitive edge in the employment market.

Students also will receive a range of career-planning services, portfolio reviews, demo days, recruiting assistance and extensive staff support. Representatives from area businesses participating in UNC Charlotte’s employer network will advise on curriculum, products and student needs. While no previous training or experience is required, applicants should have an understanding of coding basics.