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What is Web Development?
New Hampshire is one of our smallest states. It's roughly equivalent to the size of its direct neighbor, Vermont, but it has a stronger economy. This is mostly due to New Hampshire's geographic proximity to Boston, the virtual capital of New England. The I-93 corridor directly connects Concord and Manchester to Boston, with plenty of business opportunities in between. On top of this bustling business activity, New Hampshire is also home to beautiful countryside, which their neighbors love to visit.
It's then no surprise that New Hampshire's top economic driver is its real estate industry, which yields over $12 billion in annual revenues. Bostonians love to rent country cottages, and many also purchase second homes in the bucolic New Hampshire countryside. Tourists also flock to the state for its quaint bed and breakfasts and historic inns. Yet, the New Hampshire economy is composed of more than posh getaway properties.
A web developer is a high-tech worker who specializes in creating and maintaining websites for their employer or client. Web developers are often distinguished from web designers because developers work on the back end of websites and designers are hired to make websites look good. Developers focus on a website's functionality and designers focus on aesthetics.
Naturally, the two sides of website creation overlap. Often, a developer also needs to create the front-end user interface of a website. Thus, it's vital for developers to be proficient with all the relevant coding languages associated with the front and back end of a website. For the front-end, they should know HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. There are many more languages for the back-end work, but developers are known to focus on languages such as Python, SQL and its variants, PHP, Java, C++ and many more.
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Online Web Development Education in New Hampshire
The second strongest economic sector in New Hampshire is the sector known as professional and business services. This sector includes many large industries such as waste removal, commercial laboratories, and business consultants. In New Hampshire, this sector yields $11 billion in annual revenues.
The third strongest source of economic activity in New Hampshire is social services including education, healthcare, and assistance programs. This part of the economy brings in close to $10 billion annually. This and the rest of the top ten New Hampshire industries are ranked in the mid-high 30th percentile nationally, with retail (40th) and construction (44th) exceeding that bracket.
Web development students will be interested to know that the Information sector is in New Hampshire's top ten, with $3.3 billion in annual revenues and being the 36th highest such industry in the nation. However, web developers are not stuck in just one industrial sector. Since every sort of business needs a web presence, web developers are found throughout the New Hampshire economy. They work for the education system, manufacturing firms, and some construction companies, too.
Since web developers are so important to the New Hampshire economy, the state seeks to support them and their education. The legislature ensures that the state's public community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities all have ample funds to provide web development degree programs. In turn, faculties use their funds to support recruitment for the best web development instruction possible. Since they're in a bucolic New England state, it's relatively easy to attract top talent from the region's excellent master’s and doctoral web development degree programs. Students interested in completing a web development program can earn a degree from Southern New Hampshire University, Liberty University, and more public and private colleges.
Online Associate Degree in Web Development (AS)
Associate web development degrees are a great way to gain a general education and a great introduction to the field. New Hampshire's community colleges offer students the knowledge and skill they need to get started as web developers. In fact, many associate web development degree students find that they have the skill needed to complete a certificate program and earn industry certifications in the web development languages they need to succeed. They will also complete courses covering subjects such as operating systems, various programming languages, how to make dynamic web pages, and more from an associate's degree program.
Even students who have bachelor’s web development degree programs as a goal may do well to earn an associate degree first. There are many reasons for this, but one of the strongest arguments for attending a New Hampshire community college is the cost. Credits from a community college tend to be far less expensive than those from a four-year institution. Thus, those first two years of a bachelor’s degree can be completed at a discount relative to a four-year degree institution.
Online Bachelor's Degree in Web Development (BS)
Students who are hungry for maximum success should consider a bachelor’s web development degree program. Employers tend to prefer four-year diplomas over a two-year associate degree because a bachelor’s degree in web development indicates deeper knowledge of web development and the various issues that can arise over the course of a website's lifetime. Courses may cover web programming, how to develop software, interactive websites, web graphics, computer networking, computer information systems, data analysis, and other topics in computer science. Graduates should also be able to complete higher-level certificate programs than those who only complete associate's degree programs in web development.
Students can use the extra time in bachelor’s web development degrees to create a well-rounded educational foundation, including experiential learning opportunities. Four-year degree programs can also allow room for students to add a minor concentration to their diploma. Students earning web development degrees might choose to add other skills such as database management, networking, and cyber security. For those who seek to use their web development skills as a springboard, concentrations in management or marketing may help them create a unique and successful career.
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Online Master's Degree in Web Development (MS)
A web developer with a master’s degree is sure to attract lots of attention in the job market. Master’s web development degree students can focus their studies on the aspects of their trade that matter most to them. Some focus their studies on E-commerce solutions and others may focus on cyber security measures that make sure none of us are robots and keep data safe. Graduates should have knowledge in digital design, data analytics, systems analysis, how to test websites, and perhaps even software engineering.
Web developers may also pursue master’s degree programs that help them build a unique career path. They might choose to study management and then rise into their company's administration. Another option is to lean into their technical skill and study fields such as data science or computer science. Traditionalists may return to graduate school for a master’s mathematics degree. There are also web developers who enter an MBA degree program and then concentrate on web development or information technology for their concentration. Yet another option is a dual-MBA degree program that pairs a master’s in web development with an MBA and yields two master’s degrees in a rather intense three years.
Online PhD Degree in Web Development (PhD)
Web developers return for a PhD with many goals in mind. Some are interested in a career in data science, but there are also those who want to dive deep into the cyber security issues that impact website developers. There are also web developers that are interested in computer science matters, including creating new web development languages. They may see that there are better ways to code a website and need the intensity of a doctoral program to help them perfect their ideas.
One strong option for a PhD is a career in academia. A doctorate is a de facto requirement for a full-time, tenure track position. New Hampshire web development degree programs are always looking for top notch faculty members with doctoral degrees. Universities may also hire PhDs for research faculty positions. Research faculty don't teach students but spend their time working on problems for parties who have provided grant funding. Along the way, many researchers are able to advance their personal research projects.
Become a Web Developer in New Hampshire
To become a web developer in New Hampshire, all a student needs to do is gain the necessary skills. This is not always as easy as it sounds. However, students who are fascinated with computers can get a start as soon as high school. In fact, many young students have been known to learn HTML and CSS and begin working on websites in their early high school years. There's nothing to stop you from taking online web development courses as soon as you're interested.
High school students who are interested in website development can also look for a STEM-focused school for their high school diplomas. If that's not a possibility, there are many high schools that offer computer courses. Students can also study programming on their own. There are many websites that offer help for learning website programming languages. Students should start with HTML and CSS, then JavaScript, before studying more advanced languages such as PHP and Python.
When it comes time to seek out a web development college degree program, students should look for the best possible program available. While they should look for programs that feature the topics they wish to study, students should ensure that every program they apply to has the proper credentials. For colleges, this means accreditation.
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Each program should at least have a CHEA-approved regional accreditation. This minimum standard is sometimes all a school has, which is ample, but others seek program-specific accreditation credentials for their website development degree programs. ABET accreditation is the gold-standard for all STEM-focused degree programs. A developer with a degree from an ABET approved degree program will likely be able to make their way into the field easily.
At some point, web development degree students should seek certificates in specific languages in programming. While an academic background can be vital to long-term success, employers often need to see current certifications that demonstrate a dedication to the trade. Certificates help students define their place in the web development market. Each developer may be defined by the languages they know. Some may focus on Python or R, which will help them create websites that can process data, which may be of use by a financial firm. Others may focus on PHP which is great or websites that focus on content management. WordPress websites, for example, run on PHP.
Potential Careers for Web Development Graduates
- Web Developer
Success in web development involves strong programming skills. There are many options, but languages such as JavaScript, Java, PHP, Ruby, and SQL may be particularly helpful. However, each website project has unique needs. Developers may find work with marketing firms, government agencies, and really any sort of company in New Hampshire. - Web and Digital Designer
These tech professionals focus on the GUI (graphical user interface) of a website or its content. Designers must have strong tech skills on top of design and artistic abilities. In fact, many are art students who have been trained in tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator, while also learning coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Designers may want to add back-end languages, such as PHP, to their repertoire to broaden their opportunities. - Web Content Manager
Content managers are the editors of the internet. Web content managers keep tabs on keywords that are pertinent to their projects. They then dole out assignments to content creators, including writers and videographers, who produce content that addresses the keywords. Content managers often have humanities degrees, but website marketing credentials are increasingly important. A strong working knowledge of web languages may also help. - Front-end Developers
Front end developers make sure that websites look good and have a logical flow. This position requires a strong sense of the current trends in website development and skills in web languages, including HTML and CSS. A background in fine art may also help since the overall aesthetic of a website is often vital to its success. Workers should also have a portfolio that includes work in Photoshop, Illustrator, and perhaps Blender. - Full-stack Developers
These website developers can do it all. They have plenty of skills that enable them to create an entire website from scratch. Full-stack developers need to have a broad base of programming languages under their belt including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and other languages that support dynamic user experiences. Full-stack developers also need to know Photoshop and Illustrator. - SEO Specialist or Manager
This job is of vital importance if a website is going to be a success or not. SEO (search engine optimization) is the art of attracting clicks to a website, and SEO specialists are savvy with choosing the best, most attractive keywords that users are interested in. SEOs have their finger on the pulse of everything that trends, especially as it relates to their websites. - Software Developer
These high-tech workers often have a degree in computer science and then certifications in several programming languages. Developers may work on a software project from scratch, or they may be hired later to help update and evolve the package. Some software developers still don't have a degree since they were able to teach themselves the programming languages that they need to succeed. - Game Developer
These software developers are perhaps the most well-rounded in the tech space. Game developers need to be able to create a compelling idea or mechanic for their game and then set out to create its visuals. Then they need strong coding skills to build on the underlying engine that makes the game playable. - Information Technology Specialist
UI/UX Designers:
- Management, Technical, and Scientific Consulting Services
- Software Publisher
- Data Processor
- Data Hosting and Related Services Professional
- Computer Systems Designer
- Computer and Information Systems Manager
- Computer Engineer
- Computer Programmer
- Computer User Support Specialist
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer Network Architect
- Computer and Information Systems Manager or Administrator
- Database Administrator
- Graphic Designer
- Information Security Analyst
- Applications Developer
- Multimedia Programmer
- UX Researcher
- IT Project Manager
- Software Tester