Is 30 Too Old to Learn Computer Science?

Thirty is not too old for learning computer science. On the contrary, it could be argued that 30 is the perfect age to begin training in computer science. Turning 30 has traditionally been the age when society considers a person “grown up,” whereas the 20s and earlier is considered part of the period of growing up, learning a skill, and fitting into society. However, the process of learning and figuring out the world continues throughout a person’s life. The 30s is generally the age when a person begins reassessing their direction in life and may consider taking another path.

As people grow older and mature, they tend to settle in and begin to think about what they want out of life. Turning 30 and older is the time when many people start figuring out what is best for them and how to get where they want to be career wise. While some may decide to return to college for either a completely different four-year major or graduate school in a slightly different area than their previous choice, many choose a less complicated route for learning skills to work in a new career through continuing education certificate programs or bootcamps. This would include enrolling in courses at local colleges or online education providers like Noble Desktop, which offers courses like the Python Programming Bootcamp, Intro to HTML & CSS, or the JavaScript Programming Bootcamp that provides immersive training for people looking to shift to careers in computer science.

Why Learn Computer Science at 30?

For people 30 and older, the idea of going back to school to learn new skills could be intimidating. While many people go through college and other methods of training in their late teens and 20s, some continue their education or return to learning to either adjust skills or go in a completely new career direction. Learning new skills after 30 usually involves balancing courses with real-life such as work or family obligations, which can make any new ambition challenging.

The reason a person 30 or older might want to learn computer science could be to adjust skills they already have to current appropriate technologies. For example, a person with training and experience working in commercial art might consider learning graphic design software like Photoshop or After Effects for being able to use their skills for working on a wide range of projects with digital media. In the same way, experience in business, mathematics, or engineering can be applied to working in computer science for web development, software engineering, or artificial intelligence as well as other areas of computer technology. Adding skills in computer science can enhance anyone’s resume or portfolio for either finding a new job or improving opportunities at a current position.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for people who have skills in computer science is expected to increase by 26 percent between 2022 and 2032 for finding work related to technology for building websites, developing software, or analyzing data. People in their 30s who decide to go back to school for training in computer science give themselves opportunities to improve their career circumstances. Learning programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and Java can open doors to working in several areas of technology. For instance, taking classes related to data science for training in machine learning and artificial intelligence--which has become a widespread and controversial aspect of everyday life--could put someone ahead of the curve for finding a career in technology. Training in computer science covers a broad range of technologies involving computer software and devices. Training in areas like data science, especially AI, could lead to successful careers related to computer science through classes to learn web development, software engineering, or cybersecurity.

How Long Will It Take to Learn Computer Science?

A person's time is valuable and can affect their decisions about whether to go back to school for making a career change. Older students tend to look at training as an investment in their future when deciding on the types of courses required for computer science for learning coding, programming languages, or procedures required to work in data analytics or cybersecurity. Different options for training in computer science encompass a variety of skills such as web development, software engineering, and machine learning.

Anyone enrolling in computer science-related classes must consider how long a course may take to complete as well as how much time they will need to invest with learning. Training in classes for computer science not only helps with gaining knowledge in areas of technology but certificate programs can also contribute to passing a certification exam for authenticating expertise in programming languages, software engineering, or cybersecurity. Classes in areas of computer science can lead to careers in web development, software development, data science, and IT security for becoming Full Stack Developers, Software Engineers, Data Analysts, and IT Security Specialists.

The time required for learning skills related to computer science involves factors such as a person’s experience and interests, the time needed for practicing, or a person’s ambitions. It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to learn basic techniques with coding and programming languages or much longer for gaining expertise in data science or machine learning. For instance, a basic coding course might require only a few hours to learn fundamental concepts while advanced training to learn a programming language like JavaScript or a subject involving data science will likely require days or weeks of training to gain a viable understanding. However, with any type of technical training, the time needed for learning areas of computer science will depend on the specification that someone has chosen as well as the level of training. The time needed for training can range from a few hours watching an online video tutorial to a few weeks or months enrolled in an online course, bootcamp, or certificate program.

Ways to Make Learning Computer Science Easier and Quicker

There are several paths for quickly learning skills related to computer science. For people who are just getting started with training, there are a variety of approaches that they can take depending on their career goals. For example, there are free resources available such as online tutorials and video webinars from different education providers, including LinkedIn Learning and video platforms like YouTube. These training resources provide a fast way for learning coding, programming languages, procedures, and techniques for working in computer science to learn about web development, software engineering, data visualization, and cybersecurity. New learners also have the option of enrolling in introductory courses involving computer science that they can attend in person at local schools or with online providers like Noble Desktop. Experienced technology professionals interested in adding to their skill set might decide on training in a certificate program that can help with passing certification exams.

Free Online Resources for Learning Computer Science

Computer science encompasses several areas involving how people engage computer technology for getting things done. This includes building web platforms, devices, and software for gathering and processing information or performing functions such as analyzing data or protecting computer networks. Work related to computer science requires possessing basic knowledge with coding and programming languages. People can also find video tutorials on YouTube or online courses for tips on building websites with HTML and CSS. For anyone who doesn’t feel ready to take on a formal introductory course to learn coding or other skills in computer science, there are several free learning options available from a variety of online education providers like Coursesity, which offers the free Introduction to Computer Science I course that provides an overview of computer science, including the principles of coding, software development, and terminology for object-oriented programming.

Noble Desktop also offers several free video seminars for learning about computer science that provides new learners with training and timesaving tips for exploring new areas of technology. These free video seminars provide initial training for getting familiar with areas of computer science like coding, programming languages, procedures, and concepts. Noble Desktop seminars include Intro to Front End Web Development, Get Started in Data Science, Intro to JavaScript, and Intro to Python Fundamentals. These free video webinars can help people with gaining a basic understanding of computer science.

Introductory Courses

People 30 and older who would like to learn new skills for changing careers can enroll in an introductory course for computer science as a quick and efficient way of learning fundamentals. Beginner-level training in HTML and CSS can take less than a day or can be spread out over a few days in short class sessions. Introductory classes offer everything from an overview of the fundamentals of coding to learning skills in specific categories of computer science through hands-on lessons for a direct experience that sticks. Starter-level courses are a good way for quickly learning skills in computer science through education providers like Noble Desktop, which offers the JavaScript for Front End course that provides training in the popular programming language for creating dynamic and appealing websites.

Certificate Programs

For people 30 and older who are looking for training in computer science or would like to demonstrate a high level of skills with coding, programming languages, and procedures related to computer technology, enrolling in a certificate program could help with achieving new career goals. Certificate training can also help with passing certification exams that authenticate proficiency in various areas of computer science. Gaining certification typically requires passing an exam supervised by an industry-recognized association. Whether a position requires certification or not, achieving certification will likely improve the likelihood of getting any job. Certificate programs related to computer science can enhance any computer professional’s skill set for finding work in web development, software engineering, data analytics, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity. Certifications related to computer science include working with programming languages, data science, and network security. It should be noted that certificate training and gaining certification are not the same. As stated, certification programs not only help with gaining skills for landing work in computer science but can also help with passing a certification exam.

Learn Computer Science at Noble Desktop

If you are over 30 and thinking about learning skills in computer science to either change careers or advance at a current position, you might consider enrolling at Noble Desktop to take advantage of courses, bootcamps, and certificate programs for training in coding, programming languages, or techniques for working in computer technology. Noble Desktop offers advanced training related to computer science through programs like the Full Stack Web Development Certificate, the Data Science Certificate, or the Software Engineering Certificate that can help set students on the right path to careers in computer technology.