SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROGRAM

The Software Engineering Program is designed for IT and non-IT professionals who are interested in transitioning their careers into programming, software, web and UI development. The program includes practical training, industry certification and job placement support to help professionals secure a job in the software industry.

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Overview

The Software Engineering Program can be taken in either 24 weeks part time or 12 weeks full time and is designed for career-driven professionals to transition into the software development industry. The program includes pre-work, intensive practical training, industry certification and a job outcomes program in collaboration with industry partners. The course content has been tailored to give you the skills that are demanded by businesses in today’s rapidly evolving job market.

Remote learning is available for this program. The interactive remote format enabled by video conferencing technology is a rich and connected experience featuring virtual break-out rooms, shared screens, digital whiteboards, peer to peer collaboration and instructor support.

Discuss with a Career Consultant

You can schedule a call with a Career Consultant to discuss this course.

THE DEMAND FOR TECH TALENT

The opportunity is massive in the United States and around the world. There are 162,900 job openings forecasted each year from 2021 to 2031 for software developers, quality assurance analysts and testers. The growth of these jobs is projected to be 25% through to 2031, much faster than average.

 

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) & Institute of Data

Welcome to the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Institute of Data's most practical software engineering training program.

Learn how to create interactive web pages with HTML, CSS and JavaScript, connect them with backend databases and develop best practices in software engineering from dedicated software industry professionals.

The Software Engineering Program is a structured training program designed to help you develop the practical skills you will need as a software developer. After completing your Software Engineering Program, you will receive a Software Engineering Certificate of Completion from VCU and an Institute of Data® Industry Certification.

Hundreds of professionals choose the Institute of Data every year to prepare them for their future career after careful consideration of their desired career progression and to attain maximum return on investment for their education. Leading the future of the profession, the Institute of Data offers a collaborative and successful program, designed to ensure you have the technical and interpersonal skills required to accelerate your career in the software industry.

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Software Engineering Program

The next program starts
March 10, 2025 (Part-time)

With the practical training program you will...

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Be ready to practice software development

The program is designed to prepare students for real commercial work in the area of software engineering. Our program is focused on practical in-class training, labs and real-life projects to prepare you for the industry.

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Receive the best training and the latest curriculum

The program trainers are actively working in the industry and will teach you how to practice software engineering. The curriculum is developed by the Institute of Data Academic Committee with decades of experience working in data, automation and software engineering.

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Be more attractive to employers

The program results in a VCU Software Engineering Certificate of Completion and an Institute of Data® Industry Certification which signals to employers that you are ready to join the industry. Your resume and profile will be reviewed by your Job Outcomes team to give you the best possible chance of success.

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Get more support and guidance

Join a valuable industry network with peers and mentors from your cohort. Our dedicated career coaches will guide you on how to effectively connect with employers through targeted industry engagement, job applications, and by participating in industry networking events.

Program structure

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Pre-work

Students complete curated online pre-work designed to prepare every student with the foundational skills required to complete all coursework and training.

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Remote or In Class Training

Students undertake a professional in-classroom course from a team of expert industry trainers from leading consultancies and enterprises to acquire the most sought-after practical training in the country.

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Job outcomes

You will undergo a Job Outcomes Program which will help position you for the best chance of a new job opportunity and/or internal promotion. Land a job in one of the most sought after fields in tech with the guidance of professional career coaches and access to our hiring network.

How will I be assessed?

The Software Engineering Program uses competency based assessment through the completion of labs and a final capstone project. There is no formal exam. The capstone project is a real-life project and is assessed against the competency based assessment standards set by the Academic Committee.

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Industry Partners & Contacts


Post course

We'll help you transition into the software development industry. We have a 93% job outcome success rate within 180 days of graduation for active job seekers.

Syllabus Breakdown

Software Development Principles
  • Creating a Basic Web Page
  • Version Control
  • Gathering Requirements and Wireframe Design
  • Test Driven Development
  • Industry Best Practices
Introductory Front-End Development
  • Web Browsers and the Internet
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • Fluid Layout
JavaScript Programming
  • Fundamentals
  • Intermediate JavaScript
  • Advanced JavaScript
  • Mini-project 1
More on Front-End Development
  • JavaScript Frameworks
  • Figma
  • Bootstrap
  • Working with Data
  • App Enhancements
Introduction to Back-End Development
  • Web Services and JavaScript Applications
  • Developing the MVC Structure
  • Designing a Back-End Service
  • Object-Oriented Development
  • Swagger
Web Design with React - I
  • JSX
  • Components and Props
  • Thinking in React
  • Code Splitting
Web Design with React - II
  • Hooks
  • Routing
  • Integration with Libraries
  • Mini-project 2
Databases
  • Database Design
  • MongoDB
  • MySQL
  • Redis
API Development
  • REST APIs
  • Sockets
  • Model View Controller
  • Mini-project 3
Software Deployment
  • Docker
  • CI/CD with GitHub Actions
  • EC2
  • Beanstalk
Ongoing Modules
  • Additional Topics: determined by students and Lead Trainer
  • Job Outcomes Program
  • Consultation and Presentation Training
  • Software Engineering Practice
  • Capstone Project

FAQs

Fees and Payment
Speak to a career consultant about fee and fee support details.
Program Entry Requirements
  • Bachelor degree in any field of studies
  • Any previous qualification undertaken in English or obtained IELTS 5.5
  • Complete the assigned online pre-work provided to you when you enroll
Time Commitment: Part Time Program
24 weeks intensive remote or in-class training | 2 night classes per week + 1 Saturday class every other week
Time Commitment: Full Time Program
12 weeks intensive remote or in-class training | Monday-Friday
Location
Remote
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Richmond, VA 23284
(804) 828-0100

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