Tech advancements have made their way into almost every aspect of our lives—and no one’s complaining. They save us time and money, make our jobs easier, and allow us to work from the comfort of our own homes. And the list of benefits doesn’t end there. So it should come as no surprise that more and more learning platforms are using tech resources to provide quality access to education.
If you’ve landed on this page, you might be in the process of sizing up different software engineering courses and seeing what’s on offer. At Thinkful, we’ve got your back. Our online software engineering school offers everything you need and more, and this article will show you exactly what we mean.
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Software Engineering and Software Development – Same Thing or Different Career Tracks?
You thought these were the same thing, didn’t you? That’s alright, we get where the confusion comes from.
Although the terms software engineering and software development are often used interchangeably, they have some core differences. Software engineers are required to be technical experts, and have experience with a vast array of specialized tools. They connect user needs with tech solutions, using a systematic approach to developing software products.
Software developers, on the other hand, are the creative minds behind software programs. They team up with clients or users to come up with a theoretical design. They then collaborate with programmers to write code and create the software.
As more and more courses emerge in the software space, you might feel like you have plenty of options (maybe even too many). The only way forward is to do some of your own research. So let’s take a look at our own software engineering school compared with another popular option: Flatiron School.
Our Curriculum
We offer an extensive software engineering curriculum, and the ability to choose between full-time and part-time options. If you’re a working professional and want to upskill while keeping your monthly paycheck, part-time is an ideal option for you. You can learn at your convenience, anytime and anywhere. And you’ll still reap the benefits of one-on-one mentor sessions.
If you can commit to full-time study, the intensive format will help you get into your new career faster. You’ll complete weekly assignments and get personalized feedback to help you quickly progress through the course curriculum. You’ll learn all the core concepts of software engineering, along with how to develop an impressive portfolio.
Both full-time and part-time options include the following course content:
Prep Course: Web Development Fundamentals
The prep course aims to equip you with strong fundamentals. You’ll start by building basic web pages using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Bringing HTML, CSS and JavaScript together, you’ll connect the dots to create beautiful and functional websites comprised of multiple web pages.
Server-Side Programming with NodeJS
You’ll complement your front-end skills by learning back-end programming. So you’ll have all the knowledge needed to be a full-stack engineer. Collaborate with your peers and develop modern RESTful APIs. This will also help you develop as a team player, which is highly sought-after in terms of soft skills. You will also be trained on Mocha and Chai frameworks, PostGres and Mongo backends, and Heroku.
Advanced Frontend: React
In this module, you’ll learn about React, React Router, Redux, Redux Thunk, Redux Form, and Enzyme. You’ll be trained to design user-friendly website pages and styling and animations to make you an expert in these powerful frameworks.
Advanced Topics: Data Structure and Algorithms
The foundational concepts of computer science, such as data structure and algorithms, are an essential element of the course. This involves learning to select just the right language, framework, or library and developing a small application in a small amount of time. You’ll also learn to use the SCRUM methodology to build full-stack apps.
The Upshot?
The decision to change careers and invest your valuable time into a software engineering course is not to be taken lightly. If you’re truly after a long-term career, then make sure you choose an institution that’s open and transparent about their career outcomes. We publish our hire rates on a regular basis and design our courses to appeal to top tech companies. So you can rest assured your time will pay off in the form of a high-paying job.
Software engineering courses call for big investments in time and money, so it’s important to understand what you’re getting into. Still undecided? Let’s chat about your options so you can make the most informed decision.
Learn to Code with Thinkful
Take the proven path to a high-income career with professional mentorship and support, flexible ways to pay, and real-world, project-based learning.