Coding is the technical process of building web pages, software programs, or mobile applications. Coding involves writing the script that tells a computer what to do, what to display, and how to respond to user input. In our rapidly changing technological landscape, computer software, and digital applications are becoming an essential part of our everyday lives. The advent of the Internet of Things suggests that these applications will become even more ubiquitous. This means that learning computer programming languages and how to code software is an increasingly in-demand career field on the cutting edge of the modern economy. Whether you are learning how to use HTML/CSS and JavaScript to program a webpage's visual and interactive elements or using Python to train AI algorithms and machine learning applications, learning to code will open the door to a new world of technological and professional possibilities.
A wide array of training programs offer summer coding classes designed to fit the schedules of adults, college students, and high schoolers. Learning coding over the summer can be an ideal way to supplement your existing programming skills or start down the path to a professional coding education by learning the basics of programming languages like JavaScript or Python. Whether you are a novice programmer looking to build a foundation for long-term career success or an experienced coding professional looking to supplement your existing skills, enrolling in a summer coding program is an excellent way to achieve your goals.
For Adults & College Students
While summer training is often associated with high school students on vacation, it is also a great opportunity for aspiring programmers of all ages to dedicate themselves to additional training. Professional summer coding classes are available all around the country in person at a dedicated training center or online via live telecommunication applications. If you are interested in honing your programming skills, professional development training in a summer course is an excellent option, regardless of your previous experience.
Noble Desktop
JavaScript Development Certificate: May 1–August 8, 2024
Noble Desktop’s JavaScript Development Certificate provides a comprehensive overview of JavaScript programming fundamentals for those who already use HTML and CSS. Students will learn the basic syntax and structure of JavaScript and the fundamentals of programming logic, variables, functions, and objects. Additionally, students will learn how to use the popular JavaScript libraries and frameworks React, Express.js, and Node.js, as well as MongoDB. By the end of the certificate, students will be able to create dynamic and interactive webpages with JavaScript.
Data Science Certificate: April 3–August 8, 2024
As businesses and organizations steadily collect more and more consumer data, there is increased demand for computer programmers who can build programs that automate, organize, query, and interpret that data. Noble Desktop’s Data Science Certificate program will teach students how to use Python and SQL to program databases, query and visualize large amounts of data, and work on machine learning projects. Students will leave the class with an understanding of how computer science and data storage interact and how to build programs and applications that make sense of collections of data so large and complex that human beings lack the time and capacity to work with them.
Front-End Web Development Certificate: July 10–August 4, 2024
Front-end web development is the process of building computer code that tells a web browser how it should display information on a webpage and how it should respond to user interactions. Noble Desktop’s Front End Web Development Certificate program will teach students with no prior coding experience how to use HTML/CSS to build basic web pages. HTML and CSS are the foundational languages of modern webpage design, with HTML informing a browser of how to format information and CSS controlling display information. Once students are comfortable with these two languages, they will learn JavaScript, the most commonly used programming language for adding interactive elements, like drop-down menus, buttons, or other interactive assets to web applications. By the end of this course, students will have a portfolio of sample web design and will be prepared to start building more advanced digital applications.
BrainStation
Software Engineering Bootcamp: July 11–September 29, 2024
BrainStation’s Software Engineering Bootcamp guides students through all of the major steps involved in taking a software development project from the planning stage to launch. Students will start by learning how to program basic applications in HTML/CSS and they will learn how to use coding efficiency tools like Git and Visual Studio Code. From there, students will learn JavaScript and its major libraries (notably React and Node.js) in order to support full-stack development projects. By the end of the course, students will be able to deploy and publish their work with the aim of preparing them for a new career in software engineering.
Data Science Bootcamp: July 11–September 29, 2024
BrainStation’s Data Science Bootcamp provides students with instruction in the processes involved in organizing, querying, and visualizing huge amounts of data. In this accelerated summer bootcamp, students will learn how to work with Python and SQL and data visualization tools like Tableau. More advanced lessons near the end of the program focus on machine learning algorithms and software development platforms like Azure and Amazon Web Services.
Code Fellows
Software Development: June 3–August 18, 2024
Code Fellows is an online training platform that offers live instruction in basic computer programming and software development. In their Software Development training program, students without prior coding experience will learn how to think like a programmer before embarking on a curriculum that will teach them HTML/CSS and JavaScript as well as the important libraries that enable software development, such as React and Node.js. Students with prior programming experience can test their way out of the introductory seminars in this course progression.
Flatiron School
Software Engineering
Flatiron School offers full-time or part-time summer Software Engineering courses. In this course, students will learn the basics of using JavaScript to program software applications and how to use Python and SQL to build important back-end database functionality. They will also learn to use Flask and JSON to construct a web API server, completing their back-end software development training. The class concludes with a capstone project in which students will build and present their own software application.
Data Science
Flatiron also offers an accelerated data science training course in which students will learn the basic principles of data storage, organization, and analytics. The curriculum covers basic data science skills, including building and maintaining databases and more advanced data science applications, like machine learning algorithms. The course concludes with a capstone project in which students work independently to build an effective machine-learning program to present to their instructors and colleagues.
For High School Students & Teenagers
Many high school students have an inkling that they hope to one day work in the field of computer science. For those students, a high school summer coding class can be an ideal place to pick up the basic skills they will need to succeed in their future training. These courses are an excellent way to prepare students for the kind of training they will receive in a college computer science program which can set them up for long-term educational and professional success.
NextGen Bootcamp
Computer Science Summer Certificate Program Live Online: June 27–July 19, 2024, June 27–August 1, 2024, July 22–August 15, 2024
NextGen Bootcamps Computer Science Summer Certificate program teaches high school students the basics of programming through more advanced programming and data science using Java and Python, two of the world’s most popular coding languages. It is open to beginners without prior programming experience. This course is ideal for students who want to prepare for the AP Computer Science exam, college classes, or a future career.
Java Programming Summer Program Live Online: June 27–July 19, 2024, July 22–August 1, 2024, August 5–August 15, 2024
NextGen Bootcamps’ Java Programming course teaches students how to utilize the Java programming language, one of the most commonly used programming languages in the world. Students will begin by learning basic programming skills, making the course an ideal place for new students to start learning how to write code and the course will quickly transition into more advanced Java skills, such as object-oriented programming and recursion. This course will give students an important introduction to general programming principles and the specific functionality of Java and, by the end of the summer, students will learn how to write their own functions and work with large programs.
Python Data Science & Machine Learning Live Online: June 27–July 19, 2024, July 22–August 1, 2024, July 22–August 9, 2024, August 5–August 15, 2024
NextGen’s Python Data Science & Machine Learning summer certificate program teaches high school students the fundamentals and functions of the Python programming language, with an emphasis on the role the language plays in data science projects. In this summer session, students will receive hands-on experience using Python to build databases, organize and clean them, and query them for visualization purposes. They will build multiple elaborate graphs, and produce complex data visualizations using tools such as heatmaps, and they will build simple machine-learning algorithms to start the process of developing programs that can read and interpret data. This course is an excellent introduction to Python skills applicable to aspiring Software Developers or Data Scientists.
Computer Science Summer Program NYC: July 22–August 15, 2024
NextGen Bootcamp’s accelerated in-person Computer Science Summer Program offers students a chance to learn computer science skills, like Java and Python, at NextGen’s state-of-the-art technology campus in Manhattan. In this immersive four-week program, students will learn the two most popular programming languages in the world and receive hands-on instruction in object-oriented programming, data analysis, and machine learning. By the end of this course, students will be prepared to continue their programming education and equipped with skills in writing code, debugging code, and working with large computer programs.
Java Programming Summer Program NYC: July 22–August 1, 2024, August 5–August 15, 2024
High school students looking to learn Java programming skills in person may want to consider enrolling in NextGen bootcamp’s Java Programming Summer program. This course, which is taught at NextGen’s Manhattan campus offers students the opportunity to learn object-oriented programming skills in a dedicated learning environment under the supervision of experienced computer science experts. Students will learn how to write algorithms, utilize object-oriented and procedural programming functions, and read and analyze large amounts of code. This is a perfect opportunity for students to spend a summer picking up programming fundamentals in a focused and dedicated educational environment.
Python Data Science & Machine Learning Program NYC: June 27–July 19, 2024, July 22–August 1, 2024, August 5–15, 2024
As more and more companies and organizations collect huge amounts of data, there is increasing demand for Data Scientists and Data Analysts. High school students looking to get in on the ground floor of this expanding field may want to consider enrolling in NextGen Bootcamp’s in-person Data Science and Machine Learning program. In this course, students receive live, hands-on instruction from data science professionals at NextGen’s training campus in Manhattan. Students will learn the basic skills involved in collecting and organizing large sets of data, and by the conclusion of the course, they will start working with machine learning algorithms, ensuring that they have the foundational knowledge that they need to succeed in future training in data science and machine learning fields.
World Scholars Academy
World Coders Academy: July 17–28, 2024
World Coders Academy provides high school students with an immersive overview of computer science's important fields and languages in their summer computer science courses. In these classes, students will learn about everything from artificial intelligence to app development to cryptography and the blockchain. Each lesson is a compact day of study, meaning that this course aims to provide students with an understanding of the totality of the field of computer science and what they can do with additional training rather than expertise in any individual field or skill. This makes the course ideal for students interested in computer science but aren’t fully certain where they want that interest to take them. World Coders Academy is a UK-based school, so check the courses' runtime before enrolling.
iD Tech
Computer Science with Java
iD Tech’s Computer Science with Java course is a summer session bootcamp for high school students looking to learn the basics of computer science. In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of Java, one of the world’s most popular and commonly used programming languages. This course aims to give students an understanding of basic programming skills, such as how to work with functions, loops, and integers, and how to think like a computer scientist. The course will also teach students how to construct algorithms using Java and they will conclude the class by building a basic portfolio of Java applications and programming assets.
JavaScript Coding and Web Development
In its JavaScript Coding powered by MIT Teen Program summer course, students will be introduced to the basic principles of web programming. Students will learn how to use HTML/CSS to build the skeleton on a webpage and they will pair this knowledge with training in JavaScript, the most commonly used programming language for adding interactive elements to a digital application. Students will learn the basics of writing code, and they will learn how HTML/CSS is used as the foundation for modern web design. Then, they will learn the JavaScript skills that let them build interactive elements into their designs, like drop-down menus or functional buttons. By the end of the class, students will have a basic web design portfolio full of simple, functional web applications that they built during the sessions.
For Kids & Preteens
Computer coding is like any other skill: the earlier you start learning how to do it, the more likely you are to carry those skills through to adulthood. Thus, many training programs offer coding classes for children under 12 who are interested in learning the basics of building computer applications.
iD Tech
Python
iD Tech offers private Python training courses for students as young as 7. These classes can be tailored to your child’s individual needs and interests. Single lessons are available for students who want to test the waters of learning Python and its associated data science functionalities. As many as a dozen lessons are available for students who want hands-on experience in the Python programming language for a future in data science or computer programming.
Java
iD tech also offers courses for Java, the highly popular programming language that was designed to be simple and easy to understand. Students can learn how to use this language through fun projects and activities like Building Mods with Minecraft or coding applications for game development. These summer programs are available for all level learners, and tailored for kids aged 10-12. With small groups, students will have more opportunities for personalized feedback. This program is also offered in both day and overnight options, based on location.
Intro to Game Design (2D) with GDevelop
Video games serve as the gateway for many students’ interest in computer science so iD Tech builds on this by offering individual 2D game design tutoring lessons on game development. These courses are light on practical coding skills but teach students the basic elements of programming problems and solutions in a focused-environment designed to hold a student’s interest and show them the practical applications of learning STEM skills.
General Computer Science
Children as young as ten years old can receive private tutoring lessons in the field of computer science through iD Tech. Rather than emphasizing a single language or skill, these lessons introduce students to the basic principles of programming, writing code, and debugging. The goal of these lessons (parents can sign up children up for as many as a dozen) is to give students an overview of STEM concepts and set them up for long-term success with focused, one-on-one instruction.
Kids 4 Coding
Summer Tech Camp: weekly camps from June 5 - July 8, 2024
Kids 4 Coding offers weekly summer course offerings, in-person at their Atlanta location or online, that teach students the basics of programming using Python and Java in fun and accessible ways. These classes promise excellent teacher-to-student ratios to help ensure that students are given the focus and attention they need. Students as young as seven can enroll in these classes and learn the basics of programming over their summer break.
National Computer Camps
Computer Programming Languages: Weekly
National Computer Camps offer week-long, immersive educational programs for children between 8 and 18. Parents can personalize these courses to individual students, and NCC offers a wide variety of different computer programming courses to choose from, including instruction in Python, HTML/CSS, and Java. These camps also provide an option for guided sports play, ensuring that students blend tech and physical education over their weeklong stay at one of NCC's locations.
Berkeley Coding Academy
Data Science to AI
Berkeley Coding Academy hosts a summer program in Data Science and AI for those kids and teenagers looking to expand their data science skills. Students will learn how to write Python code for Artificial Intelligence (AI) use, before collecting and using their datasets for real-world insights. This course is beginner-friendly, with a curriculum tailored towards those 12-14. Students will also have an opportunity to build relationships with their cohorts and collaborate on projects based on in-class lectures. By the end of the course, students will have built a strong portfolio of projects that can be used for future internships, school applications, science fairs, and more.
Why Summer is the Perfect Time to Learn Coding
The summer is an ideal time for people of all ages to learn how to code. For children and adults, this is the time of year when their academic schedule is the most flexible, and they’re able to take classes that interest them. As coding is a valuable skill that can greatly enhance job opportunities, it’s a worthwhile investment for those summer months. There are plenty of practical reasons to learn coding. It can help improve your problem-solving skills, develop personal creativity, and build confidence. In the world of modern technology, code is a great segue into learning how computers work, and how modern technology functions. Taking coding classes during the summer without the pressure of school allows kids to explore new skills in a relaxed environment.
The industries that rely on coding are diverse. There are more traditional technology-based fields like Information Technology, electronics, Artificial Intelligence, or Cybersecurity that use this skill. Some industries might not seem as reliant on coding, but they regularly use it. Education uses coding for learning management systems and learning applications. Healthcare uses it for medical record systems and imaging software. Even the modern automotive industry utilizes coding in their in-vehicle systems like entertainment, calling, and menu controls. Perhaps one of the more unique industries that uses coding is Aerospace and Defense. Think of NASA, or any other space-related businesses that depend on coding to create aircraft, manage spacecraft, simulate missions, and analyze important data.
Once you’ve joined your ideal industry, many titles and roles can benefit from a working knowledge of coding. As more jobs require intensive use of technology, companies are always looking for ways to simplify and make their systems more efficient. Once you’ve learned to code, you do many things. A software Engineer, or someone who creates and tests programs for others to use, depends on coding languages. There are also professions like systems administrator, game developer, or data scientist, who can use coding to enhance their output. Proficiency in coding allows those who go into non-coding professions to collaborate more closely with their technical teams and better understand any underlying technology issues.
Coding is a great way to challenge yourself while developing technical skills that are highly valued in today’s job market. With the summer being relatively easy on those in school, it’s an ideal time to crack into a new interest or follow up with old interests. For working adults whose summer schedule may not change, this time of year often comes with unique and expanded course opportunities, making scheduling easier. Coding can help people of any age stay competitive in their field or school, and improve their work.
What Will Students Learn In a Coding Course
Coding students will learn a variety of skills that allow them to be successful in related fields. Certain concepts are considered fundamental to coding. Though these may be covered in any level course, beginner courses are more likely to cover programming topics like variables, data types, operators, control structures, functions, and algorithms. It is also likely that an introductory coding course will use at least one programming language, like Python, Java, or C++. As each language has its unique benefits, students need to consider which works best for their goals and interests. This level class is more likely to use group work or team-based projects to teach the core skills associated with coding, as many programmers at this level have limited experience. Beginner courses also act as an introduction to debugging and problem-solving.
There are a few differences between the beginner level and the intermediate or advanced levels of a coding course. In the later stages of your education, the coding projects are often larger and tailored for individual work. For example, students at this level may learn how to create websites and web applications, build mobile applications, or manage entire databases. Rather than writing simple programs or scripts, students will learn how to work with complex codebases. A large part of the more advanced courses is the focus on efficiently finding and fixing errors. Coding courses are a great way to get more involved with the community through open-source projects and blogs, and there are unique opportunities to shake hands with some of the social leaders in the world of programming.
Technical skills are not the only focus of a coding course. There are plenty of soft skills that will grow throughout the summer. One of the biggest is attention to detail. Writing code, and especially debugging code when there are issues requires a sharp eye and an ability to catch small errors. It also requires collaboration and communication. Coding projects often involve teamwork. It is not uncommon for programmers to work on projects alongside their peers and colleagues. Communicating effectively can make a big difference in the success of coding-based projects.
How to Choose the Right Summer Coding Course
Choosing the right summer coding program can be difficult. Many different options are available, and they vary greatly in curriculum and design. However, there are a few things to consider when looking at various options for summer coding training.
For adults and college students, the most important question concerns what you want to achieve with your coding education. Students looking to start a new career or prepare for a job in a new field will want to enroll in a more immersive summer program, like one of the certificate programs offered through Noble Desktop. Students looking to supplement their coding skills, learn a new marketable skill, or simply become hobbyist programmers may want to consider shorter, more focused courses. Students can use Noble’s Classes Near Me Tool to find and compare summer coding classes in their area or live online.
High school students looking to enroll in a summer class will also want to consider their future goals, but they should be more focused on how the courses can help them prepare for additional STEM and computer science training. High school summer coding programs won’t replace other kinds of education and training, so you should consider the long-term applications of enrolling in any given program. For example, some summer camps offer AP credit or provide certificates of completion that you can list in a college application. To explore your options for summer coding courses, Noble Desktop offers a free blog documenting the best summer coding bootcamps for high school students.
Choosing a summer camp to send your child to comes with several added complexities. Not only will you want to consider the lessons being taught, but you’ll also want to consider issues like the service provider's reputation and whether or not the camp involves children staying overnight. The skills taught in these classes tend to be fairly cursory, meant to instill a lifelong interest in computer science rather than practical computer science skills, so parents will want to pay more attention to the environment in which these skills are taught.