A Brief History of the Web Development Major
Web developers oversee the technical aspects of website creation. Armed with a variety of software languages and tools, web developers help turn the dreams of site operators into reality. They determine what information needs to go on a site, how the information should be organized, and recommend the best layout for optimum visual experience and web performance. Using design software, they create pages that appeal to the tastes of the site’s users.
Web developers are needed in virtually every sector of business and government these days, as small business owners, bloggers, nonprofit institutions, large corporations, media companies and everyone in between needs a website to reach consumers and broadcast their message. While web development is a competitive field, experienced candidates demand high salaries and enjoy great employment opportunities. Does this sound like your dream job? If so, an online education in web development may be the start of a lucrative career in web development.
Delving Into the Web Development Major
Students looking to delve into a career in web development will find that there are many online colleges and universities offering degrees in this field. Academic degrees and certifications are available at many levels, including associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, plus executive certificates and more graduate-level options.
Online web development training can also be combined with other majors and focus areas to make graduates more desirable job candidates and more competitive in the industry. Some of these add-ons may include business management, computer science, animation, graphic design, communications, new media studies, or business development.
Four-year bachelor degree programs in web development will feature core curriculum classes in the liberal arts and sciences to give students a well-rounded education in addition to their major courses. Major courses offered from an online web development degree program will include HTML coding, network and database administration, design and programming, e-commerce and business development, web page design, e-marketing, and more. Students will learn a variety of coding systems, including PHP, Ruby, ASP, Java and others.
Degree Levels:
Associate
The associate degree training serves as a foundation for a bachelor’s degree in web development or computer programming. This academic level helps students fulfill the general education requirement needed to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program, while providing them with a wide survey of the field.
The associate program’s general education requirements at many online institutions are typically compatible for transfer to a four-year college or university, where students can then pursue a bachelor’s program. In addition to basic arts and humanities, coursework at this degree level may include educational psychology, introductory psychology, adult learning, and fundamentals of training.
Bachelor’s
A bachelor’s degree will give you an advantage over other applicants in the vast and competitive world of web development. The bachelor’s curriculum is geared toward those who wish to work in computer-related fields on a full-time basis.
The coursework will vary based on institution and concentration, but you can expect to take classes in web page development, networking, information technology, database development, microcomputer maintenance, technical and professional communication, web applications, and information security. Learning material will teach students to generate and address user needs, analyze information technology issues, and plan and implement IT-related solutions.
Master’s
Bachelor’s degree holders in this field can usually secure employment with reputable companies. For those who want to delve into related areas such as information systems management or database management, some employers prefer applicants with a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in web development or information systems. These MBA programs typically require two years of study.
The master’s program extends beyond undergraduate study, and may include courses on management, finance, marketing, electronic business, systems management and design. In addition to advanced degree, management candidates may be required to have relevant work experience in the field of web development.
Doctorate
As technological advances continue to revolutionize the models of modern business, corporations are eager to keep pace. These changes present challenges and opportunities for businesses whose goal is to shape the future of technology and information management. The intersection of business and technology is a welcome development for web developers at the Ph.D. level.
The field provides valuable research opportunities for doctorate students. The curriculum at this level seeks to nurture and deepen the understanding of the interaction between information technology and business. Graduates typically gain employment in research and teaching.
Supplementing Your Web Development Major
Web development is a versatile field. The knowledge gained in this web development can be utilized exclusively or paired with a related field. Web developers gain a mastery of design and programming skills, as well as project development techniques. Web designers work in a variety of industries.
As the career options are varied, so are the academic and training options in web development. Students can choose to major in a general web development program or select more specialized majors, like web design, e-commerce business development, computer networking and more. The versatility of a web development major enhances the knowledge of students and opens the floodgates of employment in various fields.
To truly have a competitive edge in this field, students should consider obtaining a bachelor’s degree, as it is the requirement for most jobs. Professionals with higher graduate degrees will find that even more career opportunities open up for them upon graduation. Career paths exist in management, research and development. Concentrations in web development are vast and advantageous. Depending on your specialty, you may pursue work as a web developer, database developer, systems administrator, information technology engineer, network analyst, cyber security specialist, or data communications analyst.
Regardless of your concentration, the possibility for web development majors is endless. MBA graduates enjoy even greater flexibility, as they are well equipped for a number of administrative positions in web development.
Learn More About the Web Development Major
- A Day in the Life of a Web Programmer
- XML Foundations
- Advanced Internet and Web Services
- Journal of Web Semantics
The Web Development Major in the Job Market
An education in web development can make you an indispensable asset in today’s technology-driven market. The skills acquired in web development training will enable you to evaluate and address problems related to technical aspects of websites.
Web development can also be a financially rewarding endeavor. Professional web developers at the entry level can expect to earn salaries ranging from the mid-thirties up to $50,000 per year. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary is $62,890 per year, while the top end programmers and developers can earn salaries of $90,000 and above. The BLS adds that senior-level web developers earn the fourth highest average salary in the computer science industry, between $71,000 and $102,000. They fall just behind database managers, network architects, and database developers.
Your overall job outlook will depend on your exact field within web development and your area of specialty. The BLS projects that computer scientists and database administrators (including telecommunications professionals and network systems analysts) are among the fastest growing industries. Graphic designers will see average job growth over the next few years, and those who work for specialized design service companies will earn the highest salaries in their group.
Graduates of online web development degree programs — especially those with bachelor’s degrees or graduate degrees — will be qualified to work for government agencies, in-house technology departments, large graphic design firms, small Internet companies, and more. Those who pursue graduate degrees or professional certificates will remain competitive throughout their careers. Actual salaries will vary based on location, work experience, level of education, among other factors.
Careers I Can Get with This Degree:
