Spend your summer exploring web development in a bootcamp or certificate course to learn to design and build stylish and functional websites. Businesses across industries strive to expand their digital presence, and available jobs in this field are expected to increase dramatically in the next decade. There's no better time to start your web development education than summer break. Read on to learn more about the types of programs available to high school students and tips on how to select the best course for you.
Why Learn Web Development During the Summer?
Summer vacation is a great time to learn web development. You don't have to worry about school assignments and activities, so you have time to focus on learning a valuable skill like website development. You will learn valuable skills, like coding with HTML, CSS, and adding animation and interactivity with JavaScript.
After the class, you will be able to design and code your own website. You can create a website for a side hustle, do volunteer work for an organization, or help friends. If you are thinking of starting a career as a Web Developer, having a portfolio website is a must for a job search.
A summer web development course will give you an idea of what it is like to work as a Web Developer. Class assignments are based on real-world situations and help students collect examples of work for their portfolios.
What Will Students Learn in a Web Development Class?
When you sign up for a summer web development class, you will learn the skills you need to build effective websites. You will learn the best coding languages for the purpose, how to track changes across versions, useful libraries and frameworks, testing and debugging, and how to design the best user experience.
Coding
The bulk of a Web Developer's job is coding. The front end of a website, or user-facing portion, is built using HTML, a markup language used for content, and CSS, which controls the layout, colors, and style of the website. JavaScript is another coding language that adds movement to make the website interactive and interesting. The back end, or server-facing portion, is often coded using Python frameworks and libraries. All of these languages are taught in a web development class.
Version Control
Web Developers need to be organized and keep track of changes made to software code. Version control tracks software changes during website development. This protects the source code and helps developers locate conflicting code.
Libraries and Frameworks
Python is an open-source, object-oriented coding language used to build Internet applications. Numerous libraries and frameworks for Python allow developers to avoid repetitive coding and streamline their workflow. Some of the most popular libraries are NumPy, Pandas, TensorFlow, and Matplotlib. Frameworks, like Django, FastAPI, and Flask, provide the structure for the libraries when building the website.
Testing and Debugging
Another skill you will learn in a web development class is testing and debugging. No matter how hard developers try, they make mistakes and debugging is the way to find them before the product is released for use. Websites are tested repeatedly to find problems or bugs that are fixed in the debugging process.
User Experience
Web Developers also need to consider user experience when designing and coding websites. Is the site easy to navigate? Does the layout make sense? Is the text easy to read against the background color? These are some of the user experience issues developers need to learn about in a web development class.
What Industries Hire Web Developers?
Most businesses have websites, so Web Developers can find a job in just about any industry. However, some industries hire more Web Developers than others. These include education, finance, advertising, and public relations.
Education
Education has been shifting toward digital technology, and that accelerated during the pandemic when many schools closed and instruction went online. Web Developers build websites for schools to keep students and families updated on announcements, schedules, and activities. Websites are also used to keep student records, such as grades and attendance. Web Developers also build online learning platforms.
Finance
Banks, insurance companies, and investment firms have websites to help clients access and manage accounts. The finance industry hires many Web Developers to create and maintain a web presence and to keep up with new developments like cryptocurrency.
Advertising and Public Relations
Most businesses have websites they use to advertise services, schedule appointments, or sell products. Digital Marketers use social media platforms to drive traffic to these websites, and Agencies and companies hire Web Developers to build websites to increase their web presence.
Web Development Job Titles
People with web development skills can work as Front End, Back End, and Full Stack Developers. People with web development skills can also work as UX/UI Designers.
There are many perks to joining this field. The average salary for a Web Developer is nearly $80,000, but those with more experience can earn closer to $100,000 depending on their location and the size of the company they work for. A web development career is also an excellent choice for those wanting to prioritize job security. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that careers in this area will grow at a rate of 23% by 2031, which is much faster than the average job growth rate.
Front End Developer
Front End Developers code websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for an enjoyable and interactive experience. They often work as part of a team to build, troubleshoot, and maintain websites. Some Web Developers work remotely as freelancers. Web Developers make about $80,000 a year.
Back End Developer
Back End Developers use Python and its many libraries to create the structure of the website, the part that communicates with the operating system. They work with Front End Developers to ensure the website or mobile app works properly. Back End Developers earn an annual salary around $100,000.
Full Stack Developer
Full Stack Developers work on both ends of websites. They work with the full "tech stack" that includes all of the languages, tools, and technology a company uses. Full Stack Developers make around $100,000 a year.
UX/UI Designer
People with web development skills can also work as UX/UI Designers to use visual and technical design principles to create websites that are functional and easy to use. In addition to coding, UX/UI Designers use tools like Adobe Photoshop to add images to the design and Figma to create prototypes for testing. UX/UI Designers earn about $60,000 a year.
Types of Web Development Summer Programs for High School Students
High school students who want to study web development over the summer have several options. The available programs cater to various scheduling needs; some are more intensive, with classes taking place every day for a few weeks, while others have one class per week for several weeks. Understandably, longer courses are more expensive since they cover more material.
Additionally, many schools offer a virtual learning environment through teleconferencing platforms like Zoom, while others offer more traditional in-person classes. Most courses discussed below are suitable for beginners, but some programs require previous web development experience. It’s important to review any required prerequisites to ensure you learn material that is relevant to your skills and goals.
Which Web Development Summer Program is Right for Me?
When it comes to picking a web development summer program, students have some choices. You can attend an in-person class with an instructor and other students. This feels comfortable to many people because it is so familiar. If you can't find a course that fits your schedule or there are no in-person classes in your town, you can sign up for a live online course. These sessions include a live instructor in a classroom with students, while others log on via a video conferencing platform. You can interact with the instructor and other students, asking questions and getting to know people, but you can attend from your bedroom or favorite wifi cafe.
Another consideration is what level of course you want to enroll in. That will depend on how much prior experience you have and what your eventual goal is. If you are a complete beginner and just want to learn how websites are built, a bootcamp course is a good choice for you. If you have a bit of practice with website building and think you might want to become a Web Developer, a certification course is the way to go. Another advantage of taking a summer course is the chance to get an idea of what it will be like to study computing in college.
1. NextGen Bootcamp: Full-Stack Developer Summer Program1.
NextGen Bootcamp has a Full-Stack Developer Summer Program available to interested students. The first half of the class is devoted to coding with HTML and CSS, including learning to structure and style your content. In the second half, students learn to program with JavaScript and its relevant libraries to add interactive elements to their sites. At the end of the course, students will upload their live website that they can show off to college admissions teams and prospective employers.
Students can take this beginner-friendly class either in-person or live online with no prior knowledge beyone basic computer skills.. NextGen’s campus is located in Manhattan near Grand Central Station. Students who take the virtual program will use Zoom to interact with their instructor and classmates. NextGen courses are specifically designed for high school and early college students and sessions are held Monday through Friday.
2. Noble Desktop: Python Developer Certificate
Noble Desktop’s Python Developer Certificate is an excellent choice if you want to learn how to design both websites and software using Python. This course covers a range of industry-standard development tools like Django, SQL, and Git. Students add their completed projects to a digital portfolio to assist in their job search once the course is finished.
To enroll in this class, students must have previous experience using HTML and CSS. However, previous Python experience is not necessary. This class can be taken in person at Noble’s Manhattan campus or online through Zoom. Students 18 or over can enroll.
3. Noble Desktop: Front-End Web Development Certificate
Noble Desktop also offers a Front-End Web Development Certificate during the summer. In this program, students focus on creating the client-side of websites. Participants learn HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress. At the end of the course, students will have designed and edited a complete website from start to finish. Students just need to have general computer skills to enroll in this certificate course.
This course is available full-time for four weeks or part-time for four months. Students can attend this class either in person at Noble’s New York City campus or remotely via Zoom. Remote students must have access to their own computers. Noble Desktop courses are for students who are 18 or turning 18 in the near future.
4. BrainStation: Web Development Course
There is a Web Development Course available through BrainStation. Students will learn to design websites using HTML and CSS. They will also explore current best practices in the industry, learn to use Visual Studio Code, and study elements of responsive web design to ensure their work can be optimized for a variety of screen sizes. This beginner-friendly course has no required prerequisites.
BrainStation’s courses are available exclusively online. This program is offered part-time for ten weeks. BrainStation requires that students be 18 or older to attend.
5. General Assembly: Front-End Web Development Course
General Assembly has a Front-End Web Development Course available over the summer. In this course, students learn to design interactive web pages with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. Students are also instructed on higher-level topics like version control with GitHub, APIs, and responsive design. This course is designed to be beginner-friendly; there are no prerequisites required. General Assembly also preparatory coding lessons for additional practice before the class starts.
All of General Assembly’s classes are available online. If you prefer in-person learning, you can explore their list of campuses in major cities to see if there is one near you. Students need to be over the age of 18 to participate.
6. V School: Web Development Program
V School’s Web Development Program is another option for high schoolers. This course begins with the basics of web development, like HTML and CSS, before moving on to more complex topics like JavaScript and React. Students are also exposed to back end coding by building APIs and servers. There are no prerequisites required to attend this course. However, the application does include an evaluation and aptitude test to ensure the program is a good fit for you. This class is available online only.
V School’s web development program is unique in that it is mastery-based rather than being held over a predetermined length of time. Students will take an assessment at the end of each module to demonstrate their skills. V School generally accepts students who are 18 or older. Younger students can contact the school to discuss attendance.
7. Harvard Extension School: Undergraduate Introduction to Web Development Certificate
Harvard's Undergraduate Introduction to Web Development Certificate course for young adults covers the fundamentals of website and application development with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and PHP. Students will practice using tools and frameworks like WordPress, Drupal, Node.js, React, and Ember. The course will build familiarity with both front and back end technologies and best practices. Students who complete the course can get college credit.
8. Education Unlimited: Web Design Summer Camp
Education Unlimited offers a Web Design Summer Camp for junior high and high school students. Students can choose from an introductory course to learn web development fundamentals, including coding education in HTML and CSS, or a JavaScript class. The courses will focus on technical skills, like coding and organizational and problem-solving skills, as well as layout, content production, and design skills. This is an in-person program and students can attend as day, extended day, or overnight campers.