Format:
100% online
Learn on your own time
Duration:
9 months, 15 hours/week
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Why choose a software engineering bootcamp?

Software engineers are the driving force behind the technology that shapes our modern world. From applications and websites to APIs and other digital tools, their creations have a profound impact on businesses and consumers alike. The demand for these skilled professionals is higher than ever, with companies of all sizes seeking software engineers to build innovative solutions.

The Software Engineering Bootcamp with University of Maryland Global Campus is designed to prepare you for a successful career in this exciting field. You'll gain expertise in the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js), the most in-demand toolkit for web development.

Through hands-on projects and personalized mentorship, you'll acquire the skills to build full-stack web applications. The bootcamp culminates in a professional-grade capstone project, showcasing your abilities to potential employers.

Our 100% online, flexible format allows you to learn at your own pace, while comprehensive career services ensure you're well-prepared to enter the job market. With technical interview prep and guidance on resumes, cover letters, and networking, you'll be equipped to land your dream job in tech.

Discover how the Software Engineering Bootcamp with University of Maryland Global Campus can empower you to launch your tech career and make your mark on the digital world.

Software engineering careers in DMV

There are a variety of career paths and specializations you’ll be able to choose between once you begin your journey toward your new career in software engineering. As you work through the course modules, it will become clear which skills you excel in and what interests you the most. Here’s a few examples of job positions, including average annual salary, that bootcamp grads like you will be fully equipped to take on:

  • Software Engineer - $97,536

  • Front-End Developer - $68,352

  • Back-End Developer - $93,500

  • Full-Stack Developer - $102,656

  • Web Developer - $105,216

Annual Median Advertised Salary. Source: Lightcast; Oct 2022 - Sep 2023; 0-3 years minimum experience required.

Curriculum

In this bootcamp you'll complete projects similar to the work software engineers do daily. You’ll develop a strong portfolio that shows your ability to work end-to-end on a development project. Plus, you’ll learn to collaborate with generative AI and code smarter and faster with a new AI learning unit. Preview some of the curriculum units below:

Foundations Curriculum: Building Your Web Development Toolkit

Learners without previous coding experience will begin in this introductory curriculum, which equips you with the essential skills to embark on your web development journey.

  • Beginning with HTML, learn to structure web content and create a digital resume.

  • Style your creations with CSS, adding visual appeal and responsiveness.

  • JavaScript brings interactivity to your pages, and you'll apply these skills in a series of engaging exercises.

Introduction to Web Development

  • Explore the evolution of the web: From its humble beginnings to the dynamic, interconnected ecosystem of today.

  • Understand the underlying mechanics of the web: How data flows, servers communicate with clients, and the core principles driving modern web applications.

  • Get acquainted with the MERN stack: Learn the basics of MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js and understand their roles in building full-stack web applications.

  • Lay the foundation for future learning: Establish a solid understanding of web development concepts to prepare for the deeper dives into each MERN technology.

Development Environment Basics

  • Set up VS Code: Install, configure, and customize your code editor with extensions tailored for web development.

  • Master the command line: Learn essential commands for navigating directories, installing packages, and executing scripts.

  • Install MERN stack tools: Use the command line to prepare your environment for working with MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js.

  • Get started with Git and GitHub: Understand the basics of version control, collaborate with others, and manage your projects effectively.

JavaScript for Web Interactions

  • Master intermediate JavaScript: Error handling, algorithms, data structures, asynchronous programming, modules, OOP, and ES6+.

  • Interact with the web: Manipulate web page elements and handle user interactions.

  • Communicate with backend systems: Work with APIs, understand REST and GraphQL.

  • Structure your code: Learn the MVC design pattern.

  • Prepare for your capstone: Begin conceptualizing and planning your web application.

MVC with MERN

  • This module dives into the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, a blueprint for structuring modern web applications. Using the MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js), you'll build each core MVC component:

    • View (React.js): Craft interactive user interfaces with essential React concepts like state management, forms, and routing.

    • Model (MongoDB): Master database interaction, from traditional relational databases to the flexible NoSQL power of MongoDB.

    • Controller (Node.js and Express.js): Create APIs, handle requests, and secure your application's communication.

    • Integration (Next.js): Seamlessly unite your frontend and backend, optimize performance, and leverage TypeScript.

    By the module's end, you'll have the skills to build full-fledged MERN stack applications and be ready to tackle your capstone project.

The Path Forward: Building Your Portfolio

  • Harness the power of AI prompt engineering: Craft effective prompts, guide language model outputs, and understand real-world applications.

  • Build a robust portfolio: Complete five projects, including a capstone, showcasing your ability to build full-stack web applications.

  • Demonstrate your expertise: Pass assessments that evaluate your knowledge and skills in various aspects of web development.

  • Launch your career in tech: Graduate with a strong portfolio and the skills to succeed in the ever-evolving world of web development.

Custom capstone and hands-on projects

Demonstrate your skills through hands-on projects, and graduate with a professional-grade capstone, where you'll build a complete web application, which will be the centerpiece of your portfolio. View a description of the portfolio projects below:

Capstone Project

In this project, whose steps are distributed across the course, you will build a complete web application using MongoDB as the database, Node.js and Express.js for creating the API layer and React.js for building the frontend.

Jeopardy

Build an app to recreate the jeopardy game.

Pokedex

Create a pokemon application with a custom user interface, which is an encyclopedia of various information on Pokémon (a Pokedex).

Space Travel

Build a futuristic app to plan space travels by maintaining and tracking the details of all our spacecrafts.

Dog Adoption Platform API

Design and build RESTful APIs for a Dog Adoption Agency. 

Personalized student support

During the entire duration of the Software Engineering Bootcamp with University of Maryland Global Campus, you’ll have support from people who know your name, your passions, and your goals, including:

Your student advisor: Your advisor will be at your side from day one through graduation, and is always there to answer questions that come up. They’ll also match you with an expert software engineering mentor who is the best fit for your needs and interests. 

Regular 1-on-1 mentor: Through mentor calls, gain insider knowledge and career guidance, as well as feedback on your assignments and projects. 

An online community: Build a connection with your classmates and exchange feedback and ideas as you progress through the program.

Your career coach: Tackle your job hunt with an expert 1-on-1 career coach at your side and take advantage of our optional career units.

University of Maryland Global Campus

Learn with a 1-on-1 expert mentor

Refine your knowledge and skills with the help of your software engineering mentor, who already works in the industry.

  • Regularly 1:1 video calls: Fine tune your projects, address any obstacles, and discuss your professional goals. 

  • Accountability: Your mentor will keep you on track so you can achieve your learning goals. 

  • Dedicated mentor calls: Get additional 1:1 help from other cybersecurity expert mentors in our community, at no extra cost.

Earl Friedberg Headshot
Lahiru G.
Software Engineer
Jessica McElroy Headshot
Jessica McElroy
Software Engineer
Roy Zheng Headshot
Roy Zheng
Sr. Software Engineer
Eddy Sayar Headshot
Eddy Sayar
Software Engineer

The impact of mentorship

"Shannon's guidance extended beyond the confines of the bootcamp itself. She provided crucial advice on how to stand out to potential employers, ultimately facilitating my transition into the job of my dreams," - Aaron Mitchell, Technical Consultant at Intact Technology.

Read Aaron's full story

University of Maryland Global Campus

Is this software engineering bootcamp right for you?

Prior coding experience is not required for acceptance into our Software Engineering Bootcamp. 

  • If you are new to coding, you can enroll in the Foundations+Core version of the program, where you’ll equip yourself with the technical skills you need.

  • If you already have basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills, you can test directly into the more advanced Core version of the course.

FAQ

What is software engineering?

Software engineering is the application of a systematic, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software–essentially applying an engineer’s mindset to software. Every website or app that you have ever used was built and continues to be maintained by a software engineer. Software engineers can also create more complex software, like operating systems, but our course focuses primarily on the development of websites and apps.

Is software engineeering a good career in DC, Maryland, or Virginia?

Yes, software engineering is a lucrative and in-demand career in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area, with ample opportunities in the tech industry, government, and defense sectors. The region boasts a robust job market, competitive salaries, and a favorable quality of life for professionals in the software engineering field.

What does a software engineer do?

Software engineers design and test the code that makes up our digital world. Apps often consist of hundreds of files, and software engineers both create them and verify that they work correctly. Engineers also deploy code to a server and debug, maintain, and upgrade live apps.

Is software engineering hard?

All you need to master software engineering is a lot of determination. The complexity of software engineering can seem intimidating, but it also creates a plethora of opportunities for creative problem solving. Creating programs is usually simpler than debugging programs. Software engineering is a lifelong learning journey; even experienced software developers are always learning new things or surmounting new challenges.

Is software engineering in high demand?

Organizations have never needed software engineers more than they do today. Tech is advancing faster than companies can hire developers, and this trend is only going to continue. Once you equip yourself with the skills you need, you can expect a highly-paid career with outstanding job security.

What is the salary of a software engineer?

Software engineers are some of the highest-paid workers at every company. Entry-level developers can expect to earn $100K, with experienced engineers earning very high salaries, especially in tech hubs where competition for software engineers is high, such as New York or San Francisco.

How quickly can I become a software engineer?

Software engineers learn the trade in many different ways, but through this bootcamp, most students land jobs within 13 months of starting the course. Our course takes about nine months to complete, and then you can expect to do a few months of job hunting and interviewing before landing a job.

How do you become a software engineer?

A computer science degree isn’t required to become a software engineer. You just need to build coding skills in an in-demand language and develop a strong portfolio of real work that will show hiring managers what you can do.

What type of jobs can you do after a software engineering bootcamp?

As a University of Maryland Global Campus Software Engineering Bootcamp grad, you’ll have developed the skills necessary to obtain roles such as:

  • Web developer

  • Software engineer

  • Full-stack developer

  • Front-end developer

  • Back-end developer

Is this program really offered by UMGC?

Yes, UMGC has partnered with Springboard to offer online tech bootcamps. Springboard developed the curriculum in partnership with industry experts and hiring managers, and administers and leads the courses. This partnership allows students like you to build technical skills while earning a certificate of completion from UMGC.

More questions about the program?

Complete the “Apply Now” form to schedule a call with our Enrollment team, email Carolina, our Enrollment Advisor, who will help you think through the decision, or explore more frequently asked questions.

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