Udacity School of Programming Review
Breaking into the field of programming is both exciting and intimidating. You’ll not only have to prove that you have the skills but have proof of your ability to develop complex apps. Gathering the skills it takes to break into the field could be hard to do on your own, as you may need some structure and advise to keep you on track.
That’s where Udacity comes in to play, helping anxious learners find a path that will help them land the career of their dreams. In this review, we’ll take a look at Udacity’s School of Programming, helping you decide if it’s a good option for you. Not only will we highlight featured career paths but take a look at the job market to help you decide if it’s worth it. Becoming a developer is exciting, and starting now will help you land a job faster than you think.
About Udacity
Udacity was founded in 2011 by two Stanford University professors. The goal was to bring the opportunity to learn about current IT techniques to all students, even those without the means to pay. The first courses were video lectures taught by the professors, quickly expanding to a whole archive of courses for learners of all levels. Today, they’ve collaborated with top names in the IT industry in the development of their courses, all of which include hands-on project that mimic real industry issues.
School of Programming Extras
When you sign up for a nanodegree in the School of Programming, you’ll score a handful of perks all set to help you out. When you sign up and start learning, you’ll score:
Hands-On Projects
Gain experience to the test with these projects that highlight key industry issues.
Career Services
Get expert advice about your resume, portfolio, and social media pages or, schedule a mock interview.
Technical Mentor
Just in case anything goes wrong, you’ll have a technical mentor there to help you any time day or night.
Flexible Learning
Enjoy the freedom of logging in and learning whenever you like. Take your time and learn on your schedule.
A-List Instructors
Udacity searches far and wide when looking for instructors to lead courses. They choose wisely and only go for those with both professional and academic experience.
School of Programming Career Paths
Programming and development are two of the top skills businesses need. As more and more businesses make the switch to more digital ways of doing business, they need web apps that scale and provide seamless user experiences, all of which you can learn to do in the School of Programming.
Fundamentals Career Path
Set a great foundation for your programming skills that help you step into a career in programming.
C++
Learn one of the most advanced programming languages around, helping experts program highly sophisticated technologies like robots and self-driving cars.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Data Structures and Algorithms
Learn about data structures and algorithms used in the industry and solidify them with real-world scenarios and projects throughout.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Android Basics
This nanodegree was created in collaboration with Google, filled with all that rookie developers need to jump in and start developing Android apps.
Course Duration: 3 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $927 with Udacity’s Deal
Front-End Web Developer Career Path
Join one of the most in demand careers by mastering the skills needed to work as a front-end developer on today’s modern web applications.
Front End Web Developer
Learn the art of creating beautiful and seamless displays that enhance user experiences and keep organizations looking professional.
Course Duration: 4 months at 5-10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Data Structures and Algorithms
Learn how to construct algorithms that help industries create workflows that help them increase efficiency.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
React
After learning React from front to back, you’ll see how it fits into the advanced development landscape, helping developers transform their abilities in front-end web development.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Back-End Web Developer Career Path
For a well-rounded look at back-end development, learn what it takes to work with databases in the creation of complex structures for large organizational needs.
Full Stack Web Developer
If you’re on a path to discovering how to develop advanced web applications, then this course is the one you’ve been waiting for. Learn everything from the most foundational techniques and more.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Java Developer
Using Java, this course will rocket your through back-end development and prepare learners to work with software that keeps large enterprises in business.
Course Duration: 4 months at 5-10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
C++
Get a preview of C++, learning how it has the power to develop some of the most exciting and advanced technologies in IT.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Data Structures and Algorithms
By learning basic algorithms and data structures, you’ll be able to start in the world of development and take your developing skills to the next level.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
iOS Developer Career Path
If working with iOS is a dream of yours, you can take this course to learn the basics and grow your skills with hands-on projects and in-depth curriculum.
Data Structures and Algorithms
Start with a look at key algorithms and data structures that can help you build up your skills before embarking on your development journey.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
iOS Developer
Work with the iOS development system and find out how to develop apps creating a portfolio that can follow you as you search for your first gig.
Course Duration: 6 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1854 with Udacity’s Deal
Android Kotlin Developer Career Path
Created in collaboration in Google, this career path will help you learn how to develop Android apps and leave you with a portfolio full of your achievements.
Android Basics
Even without any programming experience, you can jump in and try out this course. Start learning the basics and develop your first Android apps here.
Course Duration: 3 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $927 with Udacity’s Deal
Android Kotlin Developer
After developing your first apps, you’ll see what it takes to step it up a notch, learning Kotlin. Develop more complex apps and get further into the design.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Data Structures and Algorithms
Work with algorithms and data structures that you can add to your app making skills to take your designs to a whole new level.
Course Duration: 4 months at10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Advanced Specializations Career Path
For the most advanced skills, check out this career path that will help take your programming skills to new heights and leave you with experience before you start hunting for your dream job.
C++
Start off with one of the most advanced programming languages, learning the theory, technique, and language through video lectures and hands-on projects.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Data Structures and Algorithms
After learning advanced languages, start working with data structures and algorithms that help you take your skills up a notch.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Blockchain Developer
Learn the ever-popular concepts of Blockchain and Ethereum, starting with protocols and taking it into real-world application.
Course Duration: 4 months at 10 hours per week
Course Cost: $359 per month or $1236 with Udacity’s Deal
Free Courses
Some of these courses might seem like they’re a lot to handle but, if you need to brush up, you can do so with a long list of Udacity’s free courses. In the School of Programming, check out these to create a strong foundation or brush up on knowledge you haven’t looked at in a while.
- Client-Server Communication
- UX Design for Mobile Developers
- JavaScript Promises
- Website Performance Optimization
Featured Learner Reviews
“This is a great program! Finishing my first project was very accomplishing. Overall, I think the course is well designed and guides students to break big problems down into smaller chunks and slowly attack each of these chunks one by one. This can make these projects a lot less scary! For me, who has had previous experience in coding in a few other languages (though definitely not to a software engineering level), the course is the right level of difficulty.” – Chloe H. (C++)
“I’m really enjoying the program. I love the jupyter notebook exercises and the learn by doing approach. However, I have found some of the exercises extremely time consuming requiring alot of research outside of Udacity to arrive at a solution. This especially applied to the Recursion section for me.I thought the first project was a great warmup too and would really help people delve more into Python and give them a general sense of where their coding ability needs to be at to progress smoothly with the rest of the course.” – Christopher S. (Data Structures and Algorithms)
“Udacity’s iOS Developer nanodegree is the best set of programming courses I have ever taken. Even when compared to trainings offered by Silicon Valley tech companies, graduate-level university courses, and courses on other online platforms (Coursera and Code School in particular), Udacity’s courses are better designed.” – Shantanu R.
Can I Land A Job?
For those that are new to the field, now is the time to jump in. There are new technologies out that make it easier on developers and help them create apps lightning fast. Things like open-source code are making develop quicker and helping developers create cloud architectures for complex industry needs. That being said, the demand has dropped and bit and is expected to slide 9% until 2029. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find a job though it does mean that there will be more competition.
Programming, like many other IT career paths, is one that requires lifelong learning. The more experience you have and the more you’ve worked with different programming languages, the better, able to rise above the competition. When you’re fresh out of college or training, industries want to see what you can do, which is why Udacity’s hands-on projects are such a big deal.
Is It Worth It?
After reading up about all of the possibilities that come with Udacity’s School of Programming, there’s one last question to answer, “is it worth it?” Well, let’s recap. First of all, you’ll score the ability to access a number of career paths, using them to help you decide where you’ll fit into the market. You’ll not only work with projects first-hand but also leave some career paths with apps that you can add to your portfolio. Plus, you get a shot to work with career experts that will help you land a job.
So, in short, if you’re looking for a way to break into the career field, Udacity is a good place to start. Plus, if you start today, you’ll get your foot in the door faster than you think.
