Online programming courses prepare students for several technology jobs.
Online programming courses aim to give students the theoretical knowledge, as well as the hands-on experience, needed to thrive in this fast-changing field.
Students enrolled in these online technical training courses can expect to learn how to find optimal solutions for an organization's technology problems by studying subjects such as database design, web development, programming languages, types of computer hardware and software and application programming.
Programming course content
Online programming courses give students a number of skills they need to find a job in the technology field. Among the skills that students gain from these courses include:
- Network management
- Database programming
- Network security
- Programming logic
- Software engineering
- Data management
In addition to information on how to overcome technology challenges, students in these courses also learn how to handle business challenges by studying subjects like entrepreneurship, business communication, accounting, management principles and finance.
Applying programming skills in the workplace
Students who complete online programming courses often pursue careers as computer programmers, a role which, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), allows them to use many related skills. Programmers are responsible for writing and updating computer programs, fixing errors in a program and ensuring that a program is not vulnerable to security breaches.
Students who take programming classes online also have the potential to become computer support specialists, where they use their technological and communication skills to ensure that an organization's systems -- including Internet connections, local area networks and wide area networks -- are working properly, as well as train employees how to use the company's hardware and software programs.
In addition, students who complete programming courses may potentially take jobs as computer and information systems managers. According to the BLS, this role entails using computer skills and knowledge to determine what types of hardware and software and organization needs, install and upgrade systems, as well as keeping abreast of new technologies that are available.
People who pursue this career also have the potential to use the business and communication skills learned in programming classes to supervise other employees, such as computer systems and information security analysts, software developers and support specialists. These professionals also create budgets to cover the technology needs of an organization and negotiate vendor contracts for products and services.
"Online Computer Programming Degree Program," Southwestern College, May 25, 2014, http://www.southwesterncollege.org/bachelor/technology/computer-programming-technology/
"Computer Programmers," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 25, 2014, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm
"Computer Support Specialists," U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 25, 2014, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-support-specialists.htm
"Computer and Information Systems Managers," U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsJune 25, 2014, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm