Dive Brief:
- Colorado State University-Global Campus launched a new program this month for aspiring computer scientists that falls somewhere between non-accredited coding bootcamps and traditional programs.
- Campus Technology reports the online program is made up of five eight-week courses on programming, data structures and algorithms, and platform-based development that prepares students for web and mobile application design and software development.
- The course sequence can be taken on its own for a certificate of completion or embedded within CSU-Global’s bachelor’s degree in information technology as a specialization.
Dive Insight:
Coding bootcamps have put pressure on traditional computer science degrees by offering student an alternative to yearslong, costly programs. Bloc now offers an online, 48-week software engineering program that includes the computer science fundamentals that other bootcamps have left out of their programs. The company expects this new track to completely eliminate the need for a four-year computer science degree.
As has been the case with other higher education innovations, it was only a matter of time before colleges tried their own shortened models to compete. Of course, the U.S. Department of Education has opened the door for partnerships between accredited, four-year institutions and coding bootcamps through the experimental sites program. One thing this next generation of students will certainly have is flexibility as they consider post-secondary education.