Why should I learn full stack development?

There's growing demand for full stack developers in the marketplace, so now is a great time to pursue this career by enrolling in some educational programs.

How long does it take to learn full stack development?

You can pick up the basics of full stack development by taking some free online courses. This will equip you with introductory information that may be sufficient for an entry-level job. A certificate course is the next step, which should take several months, while a bachelor’s degree in a field such as computer science will likely take four years.

How hard is it to learn full stack development?

There’s quite a steep learning curve to become proficient in full stack development, but with application and commitment, you can eventually learn it and open up some great career possibilities.

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What is full stack development?

Full stack development is the practice of building both the front-end (user-facing) and back-end (server-side) parts of a software application.

To be proficient in this role, you need to know everything about front-end and back-end software systems. For example, you'll need to know about the user interface, for which HTML is a common language, and business logic or application workflows behind the scenes, such as Java or Python.

To start, you might consider anything from short courses to a college degree. Depending on your choice, you could take a few weeks to a few years to complete.

On the other side, you'll likely discover robust job prospects in many sectors — such as a software engineer — in fields like e-commerce, finance, tech, or manufacturing.

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Choosing the right full stack development program for you

Here are some considerations to think about when choosing a full stack development program that best aligns with your career goals:

Courses

To introduce you to the field, consider a course such as web development with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. You'll learn about the key tools and programming languages in approximately two weeks. This is a logical place to start if you have no initial experience.

Certificates

A professional certificate in cloud and application development foundations could be a great springboard if you want to learn all about front-end and back-end development languages and tools. This type of course is self-paced and typically lasts for four months.

Executive education programs

If you're already a professional in the industry, an executive education program could be ideal. Consider learning about user experience (UX) design, where you can help optimize website navigation to make it easier for visitors to use a website. Such a program will typically last 10 weeks, and it's a great option for anyone who needs to learn how to build strategy around full stack development.

Degrees

For those who are serious about their career in this field, pursuing a degree in computer science can be a good option. This can give you the knowledge you need to build or improve computer systems, software, and algorithms in a world largely run by technology.

Jobs in full stack development

Full stack developers play a pivotal role in building and managing digital infrastructure in many industries. There are a lot of career opportunities in front-end, back-end, and full stack development fields, and certain certifications — as well as bachelor's or master's level education — can often boost your prospects.

Here are some common careers for professionals well versed in full stack development, with the required level of education and salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):