What Classes to Take to Become a Software Engineer

People learn coding for a variety of different reasons. A common reason is to go into the field of software engineering. If you’re interested in becoming a Software Engineer, you’ll want to make sure that you pick the right coding classes. This article contains some information about the types of skills needed to work in software engineering and talks about the types of classes where you can gain those skills.

What Is Coding?

Coding is a way for people to communicate with a computer by writing a set of instructions in a language that the computer can understand. It is the basis of digital technology and is needed in many different industries. There are hundreds of different coding languages, all with a different purpose. These languages vary in structure and complexity. Some of the most popular include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, and SQL.

Coding Classes for Software Engineering

If you want to become a Software Engineer, then one way to get the training you’ll need is to take a course that is specifically designed for Software Engineers, like a college degree program or an immersive bootcamp. These courses will cover all the skills that you’ll need in this career. Another option is to take shorter classes that cover certain software engineering skills. In addition to taking less time to complete, shorter classes are less expensive, however, they are not as comprehensive as a complete software engineering course.

College Degree

One way to become a Software Engineer is to earn a college degree. Many schools offer a bachelor’s degree in software engineering. This will cover topics like programming, operating systems, advanced math, and software development. As with most bachelor's degree programs, you’ll also need to complete general education classes that are not directly related to software engineering. A bachelor’s degree usually takes four years to earn. Depending on the college that you choose, you’ll likely need to be prepared to spend tens of thousands of dollars on your education. 

Immersive Bootcamp

Colleges are not the only schools that offer comprehensive software engineering courses. Many career-focused schools, like Noble Desktop, also offer immersive bootcamps and certificate courses specifically designed to help you prepare for a career in software engineering. These courses will cover a variety of front end skills--such as HTML and CSS--and they will also cover backend skills like JavaScript. They usually take a number of weeks or months to complete and can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 dollars. While this is still a substantial investment, it is significantly cheaper and faster than earning a college degree. Because bootcamps and certificate classes are career-focused, they often include a variety of career support services such as help building your resume and portfolio, and advice about searching for a job and interviewing.

Shorter Class

Another way to learn software engineering skills is to take shorter classes. A single short class won’t be enough to prepare you for a career as a Software Engineer, but it can be an effective way to learn a smaller set of skills. You’ll find shorter classes offered in many of the skills that need to be mastered as a Software Engineer. These include HTML and CSS, JavaScript, React, and Python. An advantage of taking shorter classes is that you can space out the time and cost required to learn software engineering skills. However, it can ultimately end up costing you more money, and it can be more difficult to make sure you cover all the skills that you’ll need.

Learn Coding with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is a coding and design school based in New York City and it offers many different types of coding classes, with both short classes that can help you quickly master the basics of coding, and longer, more comprehensive courses where you can develop the skills that you’ll need to code in a professional setting. Its coding classes can be taken in person at its Manhattan facility or in a live online format. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department. All courses include the option of a free retake within one year.

If you’re looking for a short coding class, Noble offers a beginner class called Web Development with HTML & CSS, where you can learn to create webpages by coding with HTML and CSS. In this class, you’ll learn to use HTML to create webpages that have text and images. You’ll also learn to use CSS for styling content, creating centered page layouts, adding background images, style navigation, and for making responsive pages that adapt to various screen sizes. If you already know the basics of HTML and CSS, you might be more interested in Noble’s Advanced HTML and CSS class. This class covers a variety of advanced topics including SVG, CSS variables, gradients, shadows, positioning, transitions, transforms, and responsive images.

Noble Desktop also offers many bootcamps. The Python for Data Science Bootcamp is a multi-day course that starts with Python basics and takes you to the start of machine learning with Python. You’ll begin by covering fundamentals like writing statements and expressions, creating variables, and working with different data types. After that, you’ll learn about structuring programs, which includes using conditional statements and control flow tools. The next part of the bootcamp is focused on arrays and dataframes and covers importing and cleaning data using NumPy and Pandas. Finally, you’ll learn to analyze and visualize data. This includes working with key data science libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, and Matplotlib. This class also comes with a one-on-one bonus training session.

Another bootcamp option is the FinTech Bootcamp. This course is designed to help you gain the skills that you’ll need for an entry-level position in data science and financial technology, and covers a variety of in-demand finance and data skills. You’ll learn Python fundamentals, including advanced libraries. You’ll also learn to use Python for data visualizations and financial analysis. The bootcamp also covers working with SQL to query databases. This bootcamp can be taken either full-time or part-time. It includes six one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Noble Desktop also offers a variety of certificate programs that include coding. One popular option is the Full-Stack Web Development Certificate. This course covers everything you need to know to create a website from scratch. You’ll learn a variety of both front end and back end skills. These include HTML and CSS, JavaScript, Express.js, MongoDB, React, and Node.js. You’ll also learn about databases, APIS, interactivity, and server environments. You’ll receive ten one-on-one mentoring sessions. As part of the bootcamp, you will also have the option to attend Noble’s SQL Bootcamp or WordPress Bootcamp for free. Finally, you’ll work on real projects that can be used for a portfolio. 

Another popular Noble Desktop option is the Software Engineering Certificate. This is a comprehensive, multi-week course designed for students who want to become a Software Engineer or a Full Stack Developer. You’ll learn about front end development, React Development, and Django (Python) Development. This includes learning a variety of front end tools including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. You’ll also learn Flexbox and Grid for layout and adapting to different screen sizes, and Git for version control. The program also covers JavaScript, and the JavaScript library, React. As part of the course, you’ll create a working desktop application with React and deploy it using AWS. In addition, the course covers Python, including syntax, dictionaries, sorting algorithms, and custom functions. Finally, you’ll learn to use Django and Django Rest. Twelve one-on-one mentoring sessions are included, and you’ll also create a portfolio.