Online Web Development Degrees
Ask a Question
As the Internet becomes an increasingly important means of sharing ideas and marketing products, skilled web developers become all the more vital for individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to present a professional or creative website for viewers. A career in web development may include building a single page website or constructing a database of web pages for a multimillion dollar company. Individuals equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge of technology will be able to create highly interactive websites that are in demand right now. Web developers continue to obtain jobs when they present the product a company wants and the product that the company had no idea was even a possibility.
The language of web developers is a mix of HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language), JavaScript, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), and many others that allow a web page to be designed as desired by a client. There are programs like DreamWeaver and Photoshop that assist with the design elements of a web page, but a talented web developer should thoroughly understand how to write the computer language before relying on software that does the design work for them. Software can only get you so far, and almost anyone can utilize this software for basic web development needs. A web developer should provide a lot more than simple software designs that anybody can utilize.
A web developer goes beyond basic software programs to provide a product unique to the client and continues to hone skills by experimenting and learning new technologies. A career in web development is consistently evolving, and individuals in the field must be just as adaptive.
Answers to Your Questions
Featured Accredited Schools Offering Online Web Development Degrees
- All
- Associate
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Certification
Learn more about Kaplan University - Information Technology Programs
Career Specializations
- Database Administrator: While database administrators can work as consultants, many are employed by a company and handle software updates, data organization and management, and troubleshoot solutions when a problem arises in the company's database.
- Software Architect: As computer language is constantly used, a web developer may want to specialize as a software architect who writes code that others would not or could write, enabling others to develop websites without the knowledge that the software architect has acquired.
- Development or Software Engineering Director: A mastery in Web development may encourage someone to head up a company that plans how the company will grow into the future while also overseeing an organization's software development operation.
- Information Technology Manager: The creation, development, and operation of a business' needs is performed by the information technology manager where daily activities, hiring, reviewing, and firing of employees are all conducted on behalf of the business.
- Computer and Information Scientist: Computer and information scientists research the basic information and computer sciences and solve problems while also creating and testing new theories in the field.
Degree Levels Available for Web Development
- Associate Degree: 2 years to complete
- Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
- Master's Degree: 1.5 to 3 years to complete
- Doctoral Degree: 3 to 5 years to complete
Education & Certification Requirements
While most employers prefer a bachelor's degree when hiring web developers, web developers can begin their careers with a two-year associate degree or a certification that can take less than two years to complete. Web developers with certification or an associate degree can begin working immediately designing websites for individuals and smaller companies. The field of study for Web developers includes computer science, information systems, and mathematics.
Larger corporations and organizations may require that their web developers have at least a four-year bachelor's degree. Students can major in computer science, mathematics, or software engineering. A degree can be supplemented with accounting, finance, or other business areas to assist the student if they want or decide to work for themselves.
Master's and doctoral degrees are usually designated for students that wish to get into the research aspects of web development. These degrees are useful to gain employment when the employer is looking for those who have hands-on experience in web development. A resume that indicates the student has taken an internship related to computers is also highly valued to employers because it represents programming experience.
While there are no states that require web developers to become certified, competence and professionalism is demonstrated with certification and provide a competitive advantage over other web developers who are not certified. Software firms and product vendors may all offer certification. Also, voluntary certification may be acquired through a number of professional computing societies. The Certified Internet Web Professional is one society from which certification can be acquired. Additional training is also offered through Certified Internet Web Professionals.
Salary Information
According to CNN Money's Best Jobs in America, computer and information systems jobs make up five of the top 20 jobs in 2010.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that web developers with an associate or bachelor's degree will earn less than those with higher degrees. An entry-level position is what can be expected, and the starting salary is $53,720. This salary represents the lowest 10 percent of web developers. The annual mean salary for all web developers is $85,430. Those with a master's degree or higher can expect to receive the top 10 percent of wages and can be higher than $128,870 annually. (BLS)
Job Outlook
One of the main reasons computer-related careers are ranked so highly is due to the demand for people with the technology skills to operate computer systems. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates web development careers to increase much faster than average, continuing that web development careers are expected to rise 23 percent. This increase is projected from 2008 t0 2018, and job prospects are ranked "excellent" in this time period.
Related Careers
Web developers incorporate a variety of fields where computer, technology, mathematics, and information are all intertwined into the discipline. Many other related careers for web developers have some sort of relation to computers.
Computer support specialists deal directly with the public. With an undergraduate degree or certification, computer support specialists will be better prepared for an assortment of jobs that the public ineeds. The ability to solve a variety of problems and listen to the public are skills that will make computer support specialists more successful in their careers. (BLS)
Systems security specialists are expected to be in demand and grow much faster than average compared to other careers. Information technology tools are used by systems security specialists to ensure that systems are operating efficiently. Those interested in a career in systems security should have at least a bachelor's degree that focuses on computer systems. (BLS)
