What Degree Do You Need to Become a Full Stack Developer?

In many cases, nearly any degree can help a prospective Full Stack Developer to attain their dream career. Most employers will simply want proof of your collegiate education but some may also require that your degree be in a related program. If you don’t have a related degree or never attended college, you can still become a Full Stack Developer. This article will discuss what degrees employers are looking for, tips for starting your career (whether you have a degree or not), and what training programs you should consider to help you master full stack development. Keep reading below to learn more. 

What is a Full Stack Developer?

A full-stack developer helps build and maintain both the front end and the back-end of a website. They must be skilled in a variety of areas: programming, database management, user experience, project management, and client communication. They are also skilled in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, NodeJS, ExpressJS, Django, and PHP. Equally, full-stack developers understand various database management systems (DBMS) like MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and more. 

Software developers require slightly different skills, tools, and software knowledge for frontend and backend development. Full stack development combines both disciplines—meaning teams can build applications from start to finish in an integrated and cohesive manner. This makes Full Stack Developers particularly valuable in the field of web development, allowing for higher earnings and greater long-term job stability. 

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Full Stack Developer?

While not strictly required, most Full Stack Developers will have a degree in computer science, information technology, or something similar. Many job postings you see will list a bachelor’s degree as a general requirement but won’t specify the field of study, but most professionals you encounter will most likely have taken the traditional route and attended a four-year institution for a bachelor’s degree in something related to computer science and coding. 

If you don’t have this background, don’t fret. What matters most in the field of full stack development is being skilled. Full-stack development bootcamps and professional trainings are good options for those who want to enter the field without a traditional degree. These programs offer practical, hands-on experience with languages and frameworks. You can gain the skills needed, as well as develop a portfolio of work to prove those skills to potential employers. These programs also tend to offer networking opportunities, resume development, and interview prep, all of which can help you land your dream full stack development job without a four-year degree in computer science or programming. 

Common Degrees for Full Stack Developers

While a four-year degree isn’t always required for working in full stack development, employers will look favorably on candidates who possess a degree, especially within a related major. Below are the degrees that employers will be looking for. If you already possess one, you’re a step ahead. But if you don’t, remember that there are other ways to land your dream job as a Full Stack Developer.

• Computer Science: This major covers a broad range of topics including algorithms, data structures, database management, and programming languages, all of which are essential to full stack development.
• Information Technology: This degree typically focuses on technical skills, but may also include electives to align with your career goals, like becoming a Full Stack Developer.
• Software Engineering: These programs cover both front- and back-end development and involve a combination of engineering principles and computer science skills, as well as a strong foundation in math and programming.
• Information Systems: Considered a more general degree that is a jumping off point for more specified career fields, information systems degrees teach students how to use technology, processes, and people to manage and transform data into valuable information.

Tips for Starting a Full Stack Developer Career Without a Degree

As previously mentioned, there are ways to become a Full Stack Developer without a degree. Self-teaching is one option and typically involves utilizing free resources and a little grit and determination to become an expert all on your own. This method does have its drawbacks. Self-teaching can result in a much longer amount of time being dedicated to your learning. You’ll be responsible for keeping yourself focused and on track, which can be extremely difficult if you rely on the accountability of deadlines and set course times. Plus, mastering particularly challenging topics can be made even more difficult as you won’t have someone to guide you in the right direction or clarify misunderstandings. Self-teaching is best for those with previous experience in coding, information technology, and/or computer science but may not be the best choice for someone starting from scratch.

A step up from self-teaching and free resources, you could enroll in an on-demand course. Also referred to as pre-recorded, these courses are available online and offer a curriculum developed by experts. Your lessons will be a combination of recorded videos, interactive activities, and assignments to prove your comprehension. These courses typically have no start or end date, so you can take as much time as you need to complete them. But, much like self-teaching and free resources, on-demand classes lack the accountability that live online or in-person classes can provide. You also won’t be able to get answers to your questions in real time, as you’ll have to either message or email your instructor and receive a response at a later time.

Your other main option will be a bootcamp or professional training course. These options have many benefits, like faster mastery, expert instructors, the accountability of structured classes with set deadlines, and top-notch curriculum. Bootcamps and professional courses also tend to have additional benefits like setup assistance, one-on-one mentoring, portfolio and resume development, interview prep, and even networking opportunities. It’s these additional benefits that really set these programs apart from other options like on-demand courses, free resources, and self-teaching. A bootcamp will properly prepare you for a new career in full stack development and will provide you with the portfolio and certificate to prove your competency to potential employers. 

Learn the Skills to Become a Full Stack Developer at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers several professional training courses that will properly prepare you for a career in full stack development. Held both live online or in-person at their office in New York City, Noble Desktop’s courses boast top-notch curriculum, industry-expert instructors, and additional career and support resources. Their certificate and bootcamp programs result in a certificate of completion that can be added to your LinkedIn profile and presented to potential employers during the interview process. Below are a few of the most relevant courses for those interested in becoming Full Stack Developers. 

Full Stack Web Development Certificate

This thorough certificate training teaches you how to program the visual appearance of a web application (the front end) and the infrastructure that allows it to function (the back end) to create complete web pages. Project-oriented, it will cover everything you need to know to code websites from scratch while building a portfolio of working web applications to showcase to potential employers.

This course takes 17 weeks for full-time students and ten months for part-time. This course includes 1:1 mentoring and one free retake, and financial assistance options (like installments and financing) are available for those in need. You’ll receive a certificate of completion at the end of this training that can be added to your resume, cover letter, or online portfolio. 

Software Engineering Certificate

This program is divided into front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. You will learn HTML to mark up web pages and CSS for styling; the fundamentals of JavaScript and Git; and how to use Flexbox and Grid to layout, align, reorder, and adapt web page content to different size screens. You’ll then move on to the fundamental JavaScript programming concepts, including variables, data types, loops, and DOM. Plus, you’ll cover topics like React, a powerful JavaScript library for web development, and master Node.js, MongoDB, and Express.js to round out your JavaScript development skills.

By creating a portfolio of projects, preparing for common interview questions, and polishing your resume and LinkedIn profile, this course will have you ready to pursue a new job in software engineering in as little as 20 weeks (on a full-time schedule). One-on-one mentoring and a free one-year retake are included in the cost of this course. Payment plans and tuition assistance are available, and this training requires no previous experience, making it great for beginners.

Python Developer Bootcamp

This three-week course teaches Python for software development with Django, Django REST, and other developer tools like Git and SQL. You’ll start by learning the basics of Python including its lexical syntax, then move to more advanced topics like dictionaries, custom functions, and sorting algorithms. In week two, you'll learn object-oriented programming, how to work with APIs, and get an introduction to web databases using SQL. By creating projects that can be added to your portfolio, you’ll master URL dispatchers, querying models, and automating tasks with Django, as well as how to work with images, authentication, and use API endpoints with Django REST. 

It’s recommended that you are comfortable coding HTML and basic CSS. You should possess equivalent knowledge of Noble Desktop’s Web Development with HTML & CSS class, and mastery of another programming language is helpful, but not required. Payment plans and financing are available, in addition to extra perks like one-on-one mentoring, a free one-year retake, and a verified digital certificate are included with your purchase.