At 4Geeks we take very seriously the whole deal about how to become a software developer. There are plenty of options, I know, and there are plenty of opinions, I know. But we have found a lack of argument when talking about the schedule and the methodology brought by the coding program.
Having a coding program that is either part-time or full time, or even online, is not an easy discussion. The whole product is built around that decision. It is not – at least it should not be - a marketing approach, but a career approach. We do not choose Part-time because we know most people have work/things to do; we choose Part-time because we are sure that we are able to build software developers out of our students if we took care of the methodology.
We believe in part-time education, but only if the methodology and the product are designed towards enabling students to become developers without taking their life away for 4-6 months. Some people say that if you want to become a professional developer, your only choice is a Full-time program [1]. Sorry, but that’s not true.
| **Wyncode Full- Time** | **Wyncode Part-Time** | **IronHack Full-Time** | **Wyncode Part-Time** | **Thinkful** | **4Geeks Academy** | |
| 10 weeks> | 12 weeks> | <9 weeks> | <24 weeks> | <24 weeks> | <16 weeks> | |
| Hours of Coding | 300 hours (6 hours per class day. 5 days a week. 10 weeks: 6*5*10=300) | 110 up to 150 hours (3 hours per class day, 3times a week + 3 additional hours of work per week: 3*4*12= 144) | 270 up to 300 hours.
(6 hours per class day. 5 days a week. 9 weeks: 659=270) | 300 hours approx. | 400 hours; 20-30 hours per week | 350+ hours; 22 hours per week. |
| Title | Full Stack Web Developer | Front-end developer | Full Stack Web Developer | Full Stack Web Developer | Full Stack Web Developer | Full Stack Developer |
| Cost | $11,500 | $4,000 | $12,000 | $12,000 | $8,500 | $6,000 |
| Immersive? | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If you are likely to spend your time (every day for several weeks) in a Coding Bootcamp, we are delighted with that decision. You should do it. But please, stop saying that the only way to become a software developer (or a web developer at least) is by taking a full-time program. It’s like saying that Thinkful has been wrong with their online program. You don’t become a chef just because you eat all day, but, because you cook every day: at 4Geeks you have to write code every day.
Click here to download our syllabus and program details.
The program schedule makes the difference. Of course, Part-time could not imply only 100 hours of practice. If so, you are not becoming a developer. But Part-time, at least in our case, does not refer to that. Taking a program with a blended education, focusing on a flipped around classroom, with a Mentor/student ratio of 1:7, and based on a Mastery learning process, will enable you to achieve the skills you need to get a job in Tech or to launch your startup. And that is a Part-time program - our program.
In order to become a developer, you need to commit to - at least - 300 hours of hard work. And, as previously stated, a part-time program does not equate to delivering less or poor content (you are still committing to more than 300 hours of work). It actually requires a strong product, a well-designed methodology, and the support of technology (Build your own academic platform -LMS-) to achieve the quality expected from the student.
While I write this post, I realize that the conversation shall not be addressed as Part-time vs. Full time programs (Online programs by the way, could be either part-time or full-time as well). The conversation needs to stop there. Students should start to ask: Do you need me all day every day? Or can I actually have a life and also become a developer? Only after you answer that question, you can choose if you want to have an online program or an in-person program.
[1] https://lighthouselabs.ca/blog/full-time-versus-part-time-which-program-is-for-me