First of all, I want to say that I'm a freelance Frontend developer with an experience of 3 years in my 17th and things went that way that I have to go to college in another country (Canada, if it matters). Yes, I have.
My problem is that I can't decide which education program I should choose. I haven't found any programs that aim only on Frontend. I checked out some "Web design & development" programs and I can say for sure that I'm not going to learn XML, PHP and MySQL.
I was thinking about Computer Science but I'm a Frontend developer and I want to keep working as a Frontend developer in the future, I want to work with React, not some programming language and I'm afraid of math lessons! But I still have to go to college so I'm trying to find the most useful program that will help me to make some good contacts in this field and upgrade some other skills that will be useful in life in the future.
Any suggestions, thoughts and advice are more than welcome and appreciated, thanks :)
Latest comments (21)
With the rapid pace of change in the tech industry, it can be difficult to predict which skills will be in demand in the future ?
However, there are top 10 skills that are essential for any front-end developer.
You will want HTML5, CSS3, SASS of LESS, Valina JavaScript, then React. In that order. There is a path. I just gave you the heart of it but there are other programs that coincide. Good luck! You are going to be an awesome developer.
github.com/kamranahmedse/developer...
Hi, I graduated with Cognitive Science specializing in Human Computer Interaction. Try to see if there are any like that. Our curriculum was heavily focused on UX and that helps a ton on the front end as you can then provide your thoughts on that side of things.
What you're saying is a bit tricky though because you say you want to work with react and not a programming language. But react is a library of JavaScript which is a programming language. In this case I think computer science is a good idea. But if you want to stick more to the front end, look for more web development majors and yes maybe consider something in design as well.
If you want to avoid deep mathematics then find a degree that is on the outer perimeter of front end development. Something that compliments it so that when you look for a career you can show that you stand out from the rest. Every college has different majors so it really depends on the school. Just look for those that can compliment you within design, or web development if you want to avoid computer science.
You can study toward an information systems degree if you're avoiding maths.
Writing live from Kingston, Ontario! Currently in my second year of Computer Programming at St. Lawrence College and, to be perfectly honest, I'm dropping out of my last year. My main focus is web dev as well, but the curriculum is jam packed with server programs, COBOL, and Java (which I'd like to learn, but wasn't taught well).
The fundamentals are there, teaches you C++ really well, but I feel you can definitely learn more on your own. As someone else mentioned, the curriculum will definitely be outdated. I made some great friends and learned some PHP and C++, but it doesn't go in depth with web development.
I'm a front end developer. A Computer Science degree is still very useful. In fact, I'll be starting my Master's in CS next year.
My undergrad was in design and, while it's definitely helped me over th years and I feel like I'm a step above many other front end engineers because of it, the reality is, the CS theory is probably more useful on the job to me. Once you get to the senior level, you are focused more on architecture and performance than designing things, as there's usually someone else doing that work. It's also super useful to be able to understand the back end systems you'll be connecting to. I still mock up applications and make certain design decisions, but for most front end guys, I don't think an entire degree on it is worthwhile over a CS degree. If you're interested in design, take a few courses on UX design in addition to CS.
Consider a degree in design or communications with a focus on digital media.
That's the path I took, and I stand out from other front end developers because of my ability to see eye to eye with designers, solve visual problems, and think aesthetically. Both visual and technical problem solving skills always come in handy as a front end developer.
Pretty much all computer science, communications, and design programs teach the basics of web development.
If professors knew modern web development at a professional level, they would not be professors.
Just keep in mind that your degree is going to be a somewhat useless piece of paper that gives you a little bit of status. 90% of the knowledge you will come to have will be self-taught from your personal projects, Stack Overflow, podcasts, and great tutorial platforms out there like LinkedIn learning.
Well, as I said, I've been working for 3 years already as a freelance frontend developer and I'm okay with self-education. I like the idea of taking a design program, thank you. I've always been interested in design and to be honest, 20% of my job is finishing something instead of the designer.
Hey there,
Writing from Toronto, ON. I am about to graduate Computer Programming & Analysis program at Seneca College.
Insofar found it to be incisive into basic software development principles.
In this program I studied Fullstack in iterations - starting jQuery, Express, Handlebars, CSS, SQL; and finishing with React\Vue\Angular, bootstrap, NoSQL. Overall boring.
For many people who attend college, this program would be sufficing to instil "intern-ready" skillset for some huge corporation like "Canadian Tire". Hence this is the path people choose most often.
Hope you'll find Canada warm and cozy during winter! (In Ontario, it's utterly important to stay warm and dry).
Good luck, @silencerweb
Could you tell more about this college and Toronto in general? I'm still choosing the province, city and college so I wouldn't mind to hear feedback from somebody who lives there. I'm interested literally in anything that can come to your mind
There is one thing is to be said: Seneca College is about international students. You can learn the best aspects from each culture, and the worst, if not considerate...
Being a decent english speaker will render null while studying in there, everyone just utilizes simplest language possible (professors too!) So be aware of this, if your listening\narrating skills are valuable to you - better choose less open (smaller) college, like GeorgeBrown.
Toronto itself is a remarkable, loud, dirty, and nowadays foggy (pun intended), city, I get along with downtown quite easily, living uptown. Nevertheless commute during rush hours (which is essentially any time you go out, if you are not a night owl) takes more than an hour.
Rent prices are reasonable, a sturdy and clean basement CAN be found (renovation infrastructure for owners is bona fide).
Startups downtown appear and disappear on job boards daily, hence finding an internship is a pleasant Career Development experience with business communications and interviews is assured.
I am enjoying this place, people, education, life.
Wu Wei
Thanks for the information! ^
None. For Front-End Development you just need High School level of knowledge. Even that is too much.
I'm sorry, did you read post to the end?
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