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Coding Bootcamps Vs Computer Science (CS) Degrees

By degreeeditor

The tremendous demand for skilled coders has led to creation of hundreds of coding academies across the U.S., most of which are for-profit. Bootcamps attract students with a lower price tag and a much faster program than a college degree. Most also claim to give you solid skills that will lead to immediate employment in the tech field, rather than “academic” type training. But there are some important questions you should answer before choosing a bootcamp vs a more traditional college degree in computer science.coding academies and cs degrees explained

Bootcamps aren’t really a new idea. Super focused “trade” or “vocational” schools for computer programming have been around for many years. A bootcamp can make sense as a way to get an entry level position in tech – if it actually delivers the promised technical training. College CS degrees, on the other hand, provide a more rounded education that is seen as a plus by some employers and can equip you with management, communication and other skills you’ll need to move up the corporate ladder into management type position eventually.

Pick A Coding Bootcamp That Works

Coding academies operate under a mish-mash of national and regional regulations. In truth, though, they live in a “wild west” where regulation is unclear. There have been many cases where a coding school has failed to get it’s grads hired or, even worse, turned out to be a total scam. Because bootcamps aren’t accredited (more on accreditation below) you will not be able to get a federal grant or loan to pay for one – the cost will rest entirely on you. Here’s a process to follow that can help you pick a good one:

bootcamp coder jobs

Picking the Coding Skills You Want

Bootcamps focus on teaching the “hot” programming languages and frameworks, including front end languages such as JavaScript (students are generally assumed to already know simpler languages like CSS and HTML) and back end frameworks like Ruby on Rails, Python and PHP. Learning is done through working on projects involving web development, UI/UX design, Blockchain and Machine Learning.

Two important things should influence your choice of a coding academy. The first is whether you want to study multiple languages or focus in on one in particular that can lead you to a specific type of job. It’s perfectly fine to study several frameworks – you don’t necessarily have to know exactly where you want to work before you start your studies. Key issue number two is the question of how advanced your technical knowledge is right now. Code camps such as Flatiron School and DigitalCrafts are set up to bring beginners up to speed quickly, while schools like Hack Reactor and App Academy are more geared to students who already have a strong basic tech knowledge and who may have even worked already in IT, who want to move quickly into mid to higher level tech jobs.

A third question too many students overlook is: “Do I really have any aptitude for coding?” Writing code pays well because it isn’t easy. Frankly, it can also be a pretty lonely kind of job. If you’ve never actually worked in tech, it’s advisable to at least take read a few books on it or take some coding classes on YouTube to see if you’re comfortable learning it before you sign up for an intensive academy program.

Code Camp Cost

Coding camps cost less than college, but they’re not exactly cheap. At the time of this writing, most coding camps are priced in a broad range between $15,000. – $20,000. for a 12 or 14 week program that results in you getting a certificate.

As we’ve mentioned, you can’t get federal Pell Grant money or loans to pay for them a coding camp, as you often can for a college CS degree. However, because these camps have exploded in the past 10 years, there’s now cutthroat competition among them for students. Many of them are offering creative ways for students to pay, including deferred tuition or income share agreements where the camp will take a part of your salary for a time after graduation to cover their fee. Hack Reactor, for example, allows you to pay for your courses after you get employed, while Wyncode will have you pay your tuition back only when you get a job paying $40,000. per year or more.

What’s the Value of A Coding Academy Certificate?

Most camps confer a certificate on students at the time of graduation. But the certificate itself has little value. You want to know what a camp will do to make sure you get hired after graduation, and how successful previous grads have been. At a bare minimum, you should leave a coding camp with a portfolio, a quality website to show employers and a knowledge of what to say in a job interview.

Don’t believe too many of the promotional materials you’ll see from the academies. They all tend to promise very high rates of job hiring and great salaries for their graduations. But many of the camps have gotten into trouble with regulators because these numbers are exaggerated. To protect yourself, make a point of find one or two graduates of an academy and ask them if they got real help in finding a job after graduation. Even better, find a way to have a conversation with someone in tech management, and ask them what they think of the quality of the camp you’re considering. They’ll be able to give you the unvarnished truth.

Does Accreditation Really Matter With Coding Bootcamps?

Strictly speaking, the answer is no, because employers generally know that almost none of the bootcamps have traditional regional accreditation. But there are a few organizations that rate the quality of bootcamps that it doesn’t hurt for you to look into. Several groups designed to certify the quality of code camps have come and gone. The most credible one at the moment is the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting (CIRR). It allegedly provides transparent data on graduation rates and earnings of graduates of member bootcamps. It’s a good idea to look at their website, but don’t consider them gospel. Some of the bootcamp companies that have helped create quality assurance councils in the past have nonetheless wound up getting in trouble for reporting exaggerated results. Alternatively, you can look to sign up for courses with company certifications. IBM, for example, certifies the quality of data science courses at some bootcamps.

What About A College Computer Science Program?

College and university tech programs generally operate under the accreditation of their parent school, which means you can get various types of student aid and loans to pay for them. They will take longer and cost more than a bootcamp – a bachelor degree in CS is generally a four year commitment. But it will usually provide you with valuable “soft skills” like time management, public speaking and teamwork that large corporations in particular tend to value highly. Additionally, a college will probably have many different course options you can take as you go through your studies and begin to hone in on exactly what you are good and what you want to study. You just need to balance that benefit against the fact that some hard-core techies consider a college degree to be too “academic,” and that typical estimates for the cost of a full CS degree now range well over $60,000.learn coding faster and cheaper

Coding Academy Within The College

An interesting new wrinkle has emerged, as some universities have actually acquired coding academies. The University of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), which has often taken an innovative approach to alternative learning programs, announced in March of 2021 that it was acquiring Kenzie Academy, which offers software engineering, experience design programs and business-to-business programs. Kenzie will now operate as a nonprofit entity under Southern New Hampshire’s umbrella. Not addressed in the school’s announcement is whether or not Kenzie will share in SNHU’s high quality regional accreditation. Kenzie offers short term and full-length programs that range in cost from $10,000. to $20,000. Other schools including Case Western, George Washington University and Rutgers have also built or purchased coding bootcamps.

Both a CS Degree and an Academy Certificate?

Finally, keep in mind that these two options aren’t mutually exclusive. It’s not unusual, in fact, for someone with a college CS degree to take a course or two at a coding academy in mid-career to boost his or her skills.

Filed Under: Technology

How To Get More Women Into Computer Science

By degreeeditor

fewer women in computer techWhy do women seem to be deserting computer science education?

A new study by Accenture and Girls Who Code (GWC) exposes the unpleasant fact that the percentage of women in U.S. computer science programs has plummeted from 37% in 1984 to just 18% today. That, along with a finding that the gap in pay between men and women in tech is actually growing, has prompted lots of finger-pointing, and a whole lot of ideas on how more women can be encouraged to get into computer science.

The Cure?
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet recommends that schools hire more female computer science teachers at the high school level. Though boys don’t seem to care much about the gender of their teachers, girls seem to see the subject as more “cool” if it’s taught by a female instructor.

Changing the curriculum to be more girl-friendly is another recommendation. To many applications being built in computer classes focus on games or sports, which are of far less interest to girls than boys. One California school, Harvey Mudd College, has actually been able to boost its percentage of women computer science majors by simply changing the name of its courses from “Introduction to Java Programming” to “Creative Problem Solving In Science And Engineering With Python,” and by using course examples that focus on world health instead of gaming.

High schools need to stop killing girls’ interest in technology. Right now, 74% of American girls in middle school express interest in STEM subjects, but by the end of high school, just 0.4% are focused on getting a college degree in computer science. Schools need to do a better job of changing a perception that math and science are masculine fields, by creating more opportunities that keep young women engaged in tech learning.

The Challenges
There’s no shortage of obstacles for women in tech. To begin with, many young girls find that there’s little social support for tech learning from their friends. Ms. Sweet says that a girl is about one-third less likely to be interested in coding if her girlfriends don’t think it’s “cool.”

Young women, unfortunately, aren’t getting a message that tech is a great field from the women who have gone into it. The Harvard Business Review has reported that 50% of all women who go into STEM fields eventually leave because of “hostile work environments.”

While out and out discrimination may be minimal, many women in tech report an undercurrent of condescension and isolation that companies have not been quick to address.

A male-dominated venture capital world makes it hard for women entrepreneurs to get funding. With less than 10% of all partners at VC firms being women today, it’s hardly surprising that less than 9% of all venture capital-funded startups in 2014 were run by women CEOs ( Find out about one of the few women who has broken through in the tech VC world: read Meet the Only Female General Partner at Alphabet’s VC Arm.

Better maternity leave policies need to be created that allow women to stay in tech without having to choose between work and family, and to avoid burnout for women who are returning from maternity leave.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: girls and computer science, tech hostility to women, women in tec, women leave computer science

Elite University’s Affordable Online Master’s in Computer Science

By degreeeditor

cheapest online computer science mastersA new experiment at Georgia Tech could save students – at least some students who qualify – a bundle on a master’s degree in computer science.

America’s elite universities – of which Georgia Tech is certainly one – have often regarded online education with suspicion. They’ve toyed with so-called “MOOCs” or massive online courses, which have drawn large numbers of students but have seen high dropout rates and don’t provide actual credits toward a degree.

Online education tends to result in more price competition among schools – at least in the opinion of SuccessDegrees. The more traditional private colleges fear that they won’t be able to protect their $50,000. per year price tags if they dive into the online degree world. Many professors also express a view that online learning isn’t at the same quality level as classroom study.

Georgia Tech, apparently, has chosen to toss away both those notions. Although their computer science degree is officially referred to as an “OMS” for “online masters,” the school promotes this accredited degree as being essentially on a par with their campus-based degree in the same major. And on price – the school has taken a truly adventurous step. The online computer science degree from Georgia Tech is now being offered for a total of $7,000.

No, that’s not a typo. The degree costs $7,000. Naturally, it’s created excitement. About 4,000 students are now enrolled online, versus about 300 who are taking the computer science master’s on campus. The main issue, of course, is that Georgia Tech is a selective school, and you’ll need good college grades to get in.

More on Georgia Tech’s online master’s program here.

Filed Under: Blog, Technology Tagged With: cheap computer science masters, computer science, computer science degree

Expertise & Career Opportunities You Can Gain With A Bachelor’s Degree In Information Systems

By editor at successdegrees

Click To A List Of Schools Specializing In Online Technology Degrees

A bachelor’s degree in Information Systems (IS) is designed to prepare you to work in all areas of business where information technology is used; in other words, virtually anywhere. IS degree holders can potentially wind up with a broad spectrum of job titles from database specialist to systems analyst, programmer or even web designer. Many job listings for IT administrators also call for applicants with information systems training.

Stated differently: information systems is one of the more general types of technology degrees. It provides you with a foundation in both technology and business concepts. While this can potentially help you get a “foot in the door” in many business settings, it’ s also likely that you’ll want to gain certification in skills like C# or C++ later on if you want to advance beyond an entry level job. While you’re working on your bachelor degree in information systems, you might also consider using your electives to take courses in areas like security or cloud computing – more specialized areas where the demand for experts is relatively strong these days.

Computer Tech Specialty Courses
Like just about all bachelor’s degrees, a BS in information systems will require you to take some “core” liberal arts courses in English, math, communication, and political science or history. Those will be followed with a series of “foundation” courses that focus more squarely on technology including:

  • Database design and management
  • Systems analysis
  • Technology planning
  • Programming concepts
  • Consulting, designing and maintaining information systems
  • Develop/refining business processes
  • Network engineering

Advanced courses are offered in most IS programs that take a “deeper dive” into specific tech subjects like E-Commerce Technology Management, object-oriented programming or software engineering.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information systems administrators in the U.S. earn median salaries in a broad range from $88,000 to $141,000, though earns are very much affected by the particular industry where they are employed. Software publishers pay on the high end of the scale, while insurance carriers are on the lower end.

A Degree That Comes With Many Different Names
Because there are many potential job pathways with IS training, colleges and universities offer a number of different degrees that all fall under the heading of Information Systems. Some of these include:

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems
  • Bachelor in Business Administration- Business Information Systems
  • Bachelor of Arts in Computer Information Systems- Information Systems Management
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology- Information Systems

In addition, many schools have now developed IS degree programs that are more industry specific, or which provide a higher degree of specialization at the bachelor’s level. Some interesting options you’re likely to come across include:

BA Business/Information Systems: Students learn about current business practices and how to design, develop and implement information systems in a high technology environment. Courses unique to this program may include procurement, business law and troubleshooting (searching for and correcting computer problems and assisting system users).

Bachelor in Computer Information Systems/Health Information Systems: students who enroll in this program have a desire to work in the healthcare sector. In addition to the standard IS courses, the curriculum will cover EMRs (electronic medical records), PACS (picture archiving systems) and HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).

Bachelor in Computer Information Systems/Information Systems Security: The security of private information is a huge concern nowadays. Students in this type of program learn how to design policies, procedures, standards and protocols for information security and apply them in their work environment. They also ensure that security is in compliance with laws, standards and practices. Graduates may find work as an auditor, security analyst, disaster recovery analyst, strategic planner or a security tech specialist for a private company or government law enforcement agency.

Filed Under: Technology

Online Computer Training: Keys To A Career Move

By editor at successdegrees

Click To A List Of Schools Specializing In Online Technology Degrees

Virtually every business, large or small, now needs technology experts on hand with the training to develop web sites, build databases and fix the IT disasters that crop up every business day.

If you think it makes sense to take your interest in computers to a higher level, you’ll find that there’s a wide range of online computer training that can allow you to take the first step toward a tech career without making a huge commitment of time or money.

A tremendous variety of training choices is available, whether you want to study computer engineering, java programming, web security or other programming skills that can land you an “IT” or “Development” position in a good company. You’ll also find lots of tech courses offered online that can help you get a foot in the door if you are just starting out in this specialty, or even if you are a small business owner who wants to better understand how technology can help your business.

Economic Bright Spot
Technology is one of the few relatively bright areas in the economy at present. Banks, media companies, retailers and other kinds of companies have continued to invest in their digital assets, because even in hard times, they create powerful savings and efficiencies. A recent report from Bloomberg said that many large tech companies have increased their staffs by more than 50% in the past two years, while some smaller ones grew their employee ranks fivefold. Against this background, the article said, some young people are looking at tech as being more attractive than investment banking.

One nice thing about this category is that it’s a “big tent,” in the sense that many different types of people can fit into it. Although you obviously need to be comfortable with computers to succeed, career opportunities here range from site design, if you’re a more creative type, to software development or database management if you are more of a computer scientist who is comfortable writing code. In between, there are functions like drupal development, project management, online sales analytics or executive management of tech teams, each of which involves different types of skills.

One Step At A Time
Online computer training is offered by accredited colleges and universities nationwide. Specialties include security, network administration, php, java, other coding languages and web design. Many successful people have started by learning a few particular skills for part-time or project work, and then moved on to classes that give them an education in the more complex specialties like database and network administration. There’s no real limit to how far a bachelors or associates degree can take you in this field, since many tech experts become IT directors, a very senior management position.

But there’s also great distance learning offered by independent providers. Basic programs for beginner students are also available online at a very reasonable cost – often below $200. This type of online computer training can include basic desktop computing, small business computing and technical web development.

Filed Under: Technology

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