web dev program at community college?

[pontifex]

I posted this in OT a little while back but maybe I should have asked here.

Looking into going back to school and was looking at a web dev program at the local community college.

link to program

How does that look to you guys? Some people in OT said these programs would probably be barely enough to get an entry level job.

I want to get out of help desk type positions.

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: pontifex
I posted this in OT a little while back but maybe I should have asked here.

Looking into going back to school and was looking at a web dev program at the local community college.

link to program

How does that look to you guys? Some people in OT said these programs would probably be barely enough to get an entry level job.

I want to get out of help desk type positions.

I don't know about that. I do think that doing this is a step in the right direction, and it probably could land you an entry level job. That's what it is, entry level. You'll learn more on the job than you ever will really in school(in most cases anyways). I know I have.

What comes next of course are possible certifications that prove you know what is your doing, and what you're talking about.

I think going back to school is a plus, period.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Are you thinking of the design/art track or the development/programming track?

For programming, to get an entry-level job you'd probably want to learn PHP and MySQL development in addition to the ASP.NET class.

Also, after a prgram like this you will still be an utter n00b unless you do a lot of extra work outside of class. Unless you build up a large portfolio of outside work you will also be starting at the bottom (as you should, being a n00b).

This could be a good way to change careers but be realistic that you are starting over and don't expect to come back to the workforce as a senior developer with no experience.

 

[pontifex]

I'm looking at the dev/programming track.

 

[Kntx]

People in OT will tell you that you'll be flipping burgers with anything less than a PhD. Don't sweat it. If you really want to learn web development a college course is a great place to start. Learn your stuff both in and out of class and I have no doubt you'll be able to get a foot in the door somewhere. Good luck!

 

[techfuzz]

Go to college. Any college. Get a degree. You won't regret it.

techfuzz

 

[clamum]

That should be sufficient to get your foot in the door for an interview and if you combine it with some things you learn on your own time I think you would be able to find a job.

I got my first job out of college as an ASP web designer and I had only about four months of PHP and MySQL that I had learned on my own, plus a bachelor's degree (in CS).

 

[Woosta]

If you have the skills and determination, a degree really does not matter. I went from high school directly to full time front end web dev, and I pretty much was more knowledgeable than most people who've been working for X amount of years and did have a degree ( I'm self taught ). If you don't really have the passion then you're just going to get a mediocre job and you could survive with a degree.

If you really want to learn web development a college course is a great place to start. Learn your stuff both in and out of class and I have no doubt you'll be able to get a foot in the door somewhere. Good luck!

No. The things they teach are old, deprecated technologies and the professors themselves cannot even keep up with it. I suggest you go read a tutorial for some language such as Python via books/irc/e-books/documentation or if its HTML/CSS then directly from the w3 specs ( or htmldog/westciv ), if JS then grab the Definitive 5th by Flanagan ( if you're already a seasoned programmer just go read the e262 specs ).