10 Best Software Development Courses To Grow Your Skills

If you’ve spent any time in software engineering, you know that the software development process is essential in any organization. The foundation of the tech industry is the development and implementation of new tools and software, and so to help with this process, many universities and programming schools have developed courses to help students reach their fullest potential as project managers and software developers. 

One of the dilemmas faced by developers is which of these courses they should choose. With so many options, deciding which course is the best option to help you upskill or get started in software development is a complicated process. To make this process less stressful, we’ve researched software development courses and compiled a list of our top choices.

What Is a Software Development Course?

A software development course teaches you the entirety of the software development lifecycle. This usually happens through a combination of lectures, discussions, and hands-on projects that allow the student to walk away with a strong understanding of the project management process. While courses may differ in approach, length, and price, the best options will work with students to create an environment that facilitates effective learning and application of software development skills.

Best Software Development Courses

Here are the best software development courses:

Springboard: Software Engineering Bootcamp

Rating

Course Report: 4.6 

Overview

This course is an all-encompassing software engineering course that provides key resources, including 1:1 mentorship and classes taught by development expert Colt Steele. Coursework ranges from front-end and back-end development to production-ready web app development. Mentorship is provided through experts who are working in the field and who will provide key insights, networking tips, and interview advice.

Best For

This course and certificate are best for beginner to intermediate programmers. It is ideal for those who are making a transition into software engineering or who are trying to advance their career into a more rewarding role.

Duration

800 hours of content over a 9-month period.

Prices Starting From

$9,900, with multiple payment options available.

Southern New Hampshire University: Online Software Engineering Degree

Rating

N/A

Overview

This course is a bachelor’s degree in software engineering offered by Southern New Hampshire University. The degree covers the full breadth of software engineering, and development, from programming to mathematics. 

Best For

This degree is best for anyone who is looking for a long-term career in software engineering.

Duration

This degree requires the standard 120 credits for graduation. It is a standard bachelor’s degree that will take about 4 years to complete.

Prices Starting From

$320/credit.

App Academy: 24-Week Online Software Engineering Program

Rating

SwitchUp: 4.68 out of 5

Overview

This course is a software engineering program that is designed to take you from a beginner to a new developer. The course also places emphasis on job placement and readiness. The instructional parts of the course cover programming, software development, and many other topics in the software engineering scope of practice.

Best For

App Academy’s Software Engineering Program is best for those who are relatively new to programming and are most likely transitioning into their first tech position.

Duration

24 Weeks

Prices Starting From

Free up front, then 15% of salary once you land a job that pays $50k or more.

University of Pennsylvania: Software Development Fundamentals

Rating

N/A

Overview

This course is taught by the University of Pennsylvania faculty as a 4-week training program. The course focuses on Java and software development practices through lectures and practice exercises. As a training program, it is designed to help you understand the basics of the software development process and to be able to further study other programming languages upon graduation.

Best For

This course is best for beginner to intermediate developers who are learning object-oriented programming languages.

Duration

4 weeks 

Prices Starting From

$149

Coding Dojo: Software Development Bootcamp Online Full-Time

Rating

Course Report: 4.4 out of 5

Overview

This course is a full-time bootcamp that provides a comprehensive study of the software development process, as well as several weeks of programming-based-practice problems. The time span of only 16 weeks makes the process an intense learning session that will give even a brand new developer the skills that they need to be successful.

Best For

This course is ideally designed for a beginner software developer who is able to commit to a full-time course.

Duration

16 weeks with 70-90 hours/week.

Prices Starting From

$16,495 paid in full.

Duke University: Java Programming and Software Engineering Fundamentals Specialization

Rating

Coursera: 4.6 out of 5

Overview

The Java Programming and Software Engineering course offered by Duke University is available through Coursera. It is a basic course that focuses on Java and software development processes. Upon completion, you will walk away with several high-yield projects and a certificate of completion from Coursera.

Best For

This course is best for beginners with no prior experience in software development. With a flexible schedule, it is ideal for students who have other full-time commitments while taking the course.

Duration

5 months

Prices Starting From

$59.00 a month, or $399 a year

Thinkful: Software Engineering Bootcamp

Rating

Thinkful: 4.8 out of 5

Overview

This course is a software bootcamp that gives a full, comprehensive learning experience for new developers who are interested in application development, software development, or a similar career path. Thinkful also provides learning assistants and career coaches.

Best For

This bootcamp is great for beginners who are just starting their software engineering career. 

Duration

5 months for full-time, and 6 months for part-time

Prices Starting From

$9500

University of Minnesota: Software Development Lifecycle Specialization

Rating

Coursera: 4.6 out of 5

Overview

The Software Development Lifecycle course by the University of Minnesota is available through Coursera. It’s a course that covers the process from beginning to end of software development that shows how. Through lectures, practical applications, and discussions, you’ll learn how software is designed, developed, and implemented. The course also offers you the chance to submit your own software development projects for peer review.

Best For

This course is best for those who are interested in the theoretical aspects of software development and learning how to put them into practice.

Duration

4 months if working at 4 hours per week

Prices Starting From

$59 a month with Coursera Plus

Flatiron School: Jump Start Your Software Engineering Career

Rating

Course Report: 4.52 out of 5

Overview

Flatiron School’s software engineering bootcamp is a course geared towards future software developers and software engineers. The course covers the software development process and web development. Upon completion, students should be able to build websites and web applications and will have completed a capstone project.

Best For

This course is best for beginners with no software experience who are starting their careers in software development.

Duration

15 weeks

Prices Starting From

$16,900

General Assembly: Software Engineering Immersive Online

Rating

Course Report: 4.31 out of 5

Overview

This course is designed to help individuals transition into high-paying tech jobs. While not exclusively for beginners, the focus of the course is a holistic approach to giving students all of the skills that they need to make a transition into a software developer role.

Best For

This course is for beginner to intermediate students. There is a pre-work portion made available to students who need experience prior to beginning the course.

Duration

12 weeks at 40 hours a week

Prices Starting From

$15,950

How Do You Choose a Software Development Course?

When choosing which course to take for software development, it’s important to know what key parts of the course you should be looking for. Here are some of the most important factors to consider:

Syllabus

The syllabus is one of the biggest things to consider when choosing a course. Some of the best takeaways from any course are the projects that you will develop while completing it. These projects are some of the highest-yield portions of any course and can give you credibility as a software developer. A great way to gauge if a course is worth your time is if these kinds of projects are made available through the curriculum.

Instructor Credibility

Courses are developed by instructors with vastly different backgrounds and credentials. When deciding on a course to take, you’ll find it very helpful to research the instructors and mentors who will be teaching the course and who will be advising you along the way.

Schedule

A software development course requires a significant time commitment. Before you begin your course, make sure that you are able to allocate the time necessary to succeed. Most courses have their duration on their website, along with the hours that you need to commit each week to be successful. Doing some research on how much time you’ll be able to dedicate can save you a lot of trouble later on.

Payment Options

One of the criteria for a good course is a flexible pricing schedule. Depending on your financial situation, you may be more or less flexible and may need to decide on a payment plan that fits your needs.

Reviews & Ratings

It’s important to pay close attention to reviews and ratings. While many great courses don’t have reviews, the ones that do are generally reviewed by those who have taken the course already. This ensures that you’ll have a reasonably accurate idea of how good the course is.

Making the Most Out of Your Software Development Course

Ask yourself these questions to make the most out of your software development course:

How Does a Software Development Course Work?

A software development course will help you build your understanding of the development process from beginning to end. Many will start with HTML and CSS, and then proceed to JavaScript, Java, jQuery, and many others. The course starts with technical education and ends with providing you with assistance in landing a software development role. Key skills like developing your portfolio and writing a software engineer cover letter are crucial features of any good course.

What Should You Expect To Learn From a Software Development Course?

Depending on the course, you may learn a number of different programming languages and development processes. The best courses offer projects for you to complete that will enhance your portfolio and your understanding of the software development process. Another key learning outcome should be how to get your first software developer job. Finding a course that values your chances at employment after graduation is a good way to ensure your course is the right option for you.

What Will Your Course Schedule Look Like?

When deciding on a course, it’s a good idea to take a look at the schedule that you will have to maintain to complete it. While many are self-paced, others require a certain number of hours per week to be completed on time.

Software Development Course FAQs

We’ve got the answers to your most frequently asked questions:

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