Format:
100% online
Learn on your own time
Duration:
9 months, 15-20 hours/week
Finish early by putting in more hours
Apply by:

Cohort starts

Software Engineering Bootcamp

Software Engineers craft the technology that drives the modern world. They have the awesome power to create applications, websites, APIs and other digital technology. Software Engineering is a challenging and fulfilling job and the products that engineers create have the potential to impact both businesses and consumers in a powerful, positive way. There is a team of software engineers working tirelessly to perfect any website, app, or product you’ve used recently.

Because of this, the demand for software engineers is at an all-time high, as every business from small companies to international conglomerates are creating software for their customers to use. Software engineers enjoy high salaries, great job satisfaction, mentally stimulating work and the opportunity to work with the latest and greatest technologies.

The Software Engineering Bootcamp, created and delivered by Springboard and offered by Northern Illinois University CPE, will get you up to speed with the core principles of development, the most in-demand tools and technologies and teach you the best practices you’ll need to land a job in the tech industry.

This 100% online, non-credit bootcamp allows you to learn on your own schedule, and you can complete the course earlier if you put in more study hours per week. In addition, you’ll receive 1:1 regular mentor support through phone calls where you can ask questions, receive feedback on your projects and get insight into the tech industry.

We’ll also set you up for career success with nine optional career units that cover finding the right job titles and companies, networking fundamentals, writing resumes and cover letters and conducting mock interviews. The last unit covers 60 hours of technical interview prep, including in-depth preparation for whiteboarding and coding interviews.

Emerging Careers in Software Engineering

There are a plethora of different career paths and specializations to choose from within software engineering. As you become more familiar with what it takes to create software, you’ll find yourself gravitating towards roles that utilize your skillset and interests. Below are possible job titles, fields and salaries that you may consider after you graduate.

  • Software Engineer: $108,000.

  • Front-end Developer: $87,000.

  • Back-end Developer: $115,000.

  • Full-stack Developer: $106,000.

  • Web Developer: $70,000.

Northern Illinois University

Curriculum

The Software Engineering Bootcamp is designed so you can land your first engineering job after graduation. You’ll work through coding projects and exercises similar to the work that software engineers do daily. Many of these projects will be portfolio grade and will help you demonstrate your ability to work end-to-end through a development project to potential employers. Plus, you’ll learn to collaborate with generative AI and code smarter and faster with a new AI learning unit. Preview some of the curriculum units below:

NEW! AI for Engineers: Prompt Engineering

Since the arrival of OpenAI’s GPT-3, there has been an increased awareness of the crucial role prompts play in shaping language model outputs. In this unit, you’ll gain an understanding of how language models like GPT-3 and GPT-4 work through interactive exercises, videos, and quizzes.

  • Learn techniques and best practices for crafting effective prompts to achieve desired outcomes from language models like Chat-GPT.

  • Leverage prompts to assist with the process of efficient coding.

Front-end Development with JavaScript

  • Use JavaScript to create reactive web applications utilizing the Document Object Model.

  • Maintain and share your code with GitHub and the Command Line.

  • Ensure accuracy and functionality in your programs with testing best practices.

  • Learn Object-Oriented Programming, the most popular programming paradigm.

  • Understand how the web works through various protocols and APIs.

  • Complete two large scale projects.

Back-end Development with Python and Flask

  • Create fully functional web applications with Python and the Flask microframework.

  • Learn best practices for writing professional-grade back-end Python code Store data in databases using SQL and SQLAlchemy.

  • Design database schemas.

  • Add authentication, authorization, hashing and log-in to your applications for heightened security.

  • Deploy your Flask applications with Heroku.

  • Create a clone of Twitter.

Back-end Development with Node.js

  • Utilize Node and Express to do back-end development with JavaScript.

  • Learn testing best practices.

  • Set up routes with Express.

  • Connect PostgreSQL to your Express applications.

  • Validate the data being sent to an API.

  • Complete a large scale Node/Express application.

Front-end Development with React.js

  • Learn the ins and outs of React.js - an in-demand JavaScript library - including component design and state management.

  • Test your React applications.

  • Set up routes in React using the React Router library.

  • Complete a large scale Node/Express application.

  • Create a custom project of your choice in React.

Data Structures and Algorithms

  • Use BigO notation to create applications with optimal runtimes.

  • Learn the sorting and search algorithms most likely to appear on a job interview.

  • Understand data structures such as stacks, queues, hash tables, trees, graphs and more.

Custom Capstone and Hands-on Projects

Demonstrate your skills through hands-on projects, and graduate with a custom capstone, created with the tech stack of your choice, which will be the centerpiece of your portfolio. View a description of the portfolio projects below:

Capstone project

In this 40-60 hour project, you’ll choose a language and framework of your choice and create a database-driven web application. You’ll go through ideation, API selection, database design, coding, polishing and finally documenting the project. This will showcase all of the skills you’ve learned in the course.

Jobly

In this 20-25 hour project, you’ll create a web application similar to Indeed - where users can go find jobs. You’ll create an API, create a data model for users and jobs, build out the back and front end and add authentication into the app.

Warbler - A Twitter Clone

In this 20-25 hour project, you’ll create a clone of Twitter and add in some new functionality. This will require you to read a codebase you are unfamiliar with and extend functionality - a common task for developers in the real world.

Hack-or-Snooze - A HackerNews Clone

In this 15 hour project, you’ll create a clone of HackerNews and add in functionality to allow a user to add stories, favorite stories and delete them. You will also add in log-in and authentication.

Continuous Student Support

While you’re learning online, you'll have a full team of human support behind you. These include:

Personal mentor with regular 1:1 video calls: Your mentor will provide feedback on projects, help you overcome blockers and can give you career advice and industry insight.

Student advisors: Call upon your student advisor for questions regarding accountability, time management, or anything else that comes up throughout the course.

1:1 career coaching sessions: these optional career units can help you navigate the stages of your job search.

Online community: Start discussions with your fellow peers about the work you're doing and receive feedback.

Northern Illinois University

Support From Experienced Mentors

  • Regular 1:1 video calls: Receive direct feedback from your mentor to help you fine tune your projects, address any concerns and build your professional goals. 

  • Accountability: Stay on track so you can achieve your learning goals. 

  • Dedicated mentor calls: Get additional 1:1 help from cybersecurity experts in our community, at no extra cost.

Meet some of our mentors:

peter-nsaka
Peter Nsaka
Software Engineer
skye-nguyen
Skye Nguyen
Sr Software Engineer
john-newton
John Newton
Sr Controls Software Engineer
sonia-rm-karungi
Sonia RM Karungi
Web Developer

Is this Program Right for You?

No knowledge of programming is necessary! If you already have basic skills in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, you can test into an accelerated Core version of the curriculum.

If you don’t know how to code, you’ll learn everything you need to succeed in the Foundations+Core version of the program. All backgrounds are welcome.

FAQ

What is software engineering?

Software Engineering is the applied use of programming languages and engineering principles to create software products and applications for consumer use. Any website or application that you have interacted with in your life was developed by software engineers. They may also create more complex software, like a computer operating system, although this course is focused on the development of applications and websites.

What does a software engineer do?

Software engineers write and test the code that creates our digital world. An application may have thousands of files, and software engineers are responsible for creating those files and ensuring that they run correctly. They may also be responsible for the deployment of code to a server and for debugging, maintaining and upgrading live applications.

How to become a software engineer?

To become a software engineer you must learn how to code in an in-demand language. You also must have an eye-catching portfolio of work that will land you an interview, and an understanding of how the technologies you work with function. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a computer science degree to become a software engineer - you just need to be good at programming!

What type of jobs can you do after a software engineering bootcamp?

After this Software Engineering Bootcamp, you’ll be ready for a number of careers paths in the tech industry. You’ll be able qualified for jobs as a software engineer, full-stack developer, back-end developer, front-end developer or web developer - to name a few

Is software engineering hard?

Software engineering is challenging, but anyone can learn how to do it with grit and determination. Creating programs is not as complicated as it may seem, but debugging programs to ensure they work properly can be a very strenuous process. Even professional developers have challenges, software engineering is a lifelong journey.

What is the salary of a software engineer?

Software engineering is one of the highest-paying professions in the world. Entry-level engineers often make salaries in the high 5 figure range, or even the low 6 figure range. Skilled engineers can command extremely high annual salaries, especially in areas like San Francisco or New York.

Is software engineering in high demand?

Software Engineering has never been in higher demand. The growth of technology is outpacing the number of qualified engineers, and it is only going to keep rising. Although getting your foot in the door will require a lot of legwork, job security is extremely high in this lucrative field.

How quickly can I become a software engineer?

It all depends on how much time you put in! Although there are many paths to becoming an engineer, this Software Engineering Bootcamp has a proven track record of upskilling students into quality jobs within 13 months of starting the course. It generally takes 9 months to complete the course, and then several months of job searching and interviewing to land a job.

More questions about the program?

Speak to our enrollment team by completing an application, email Carolina, our enrollment assistant, or explore more frequently asked questions. 

Orlando Headshot

Request the Syllabus

Get Started

Upcoming Programs