I want a major that’ll teach me web design skills, coding, and saviness using the internet to further my career. Would Computer Science be the best option? I’m not sure if it is more math or hardware based than I’d want, please let me know how closely the major fits my needs and whether there is a better option.
Vocational School is a good choice if you don’t care about the prestige of having a Bachelors.
Otherwise Comp Sci is a good fit.
You can learn web design and coding skills with any major - you just have to take the right classwork. You don’t have to major in CS to do that. You could minor, or you could just take the classes you need.
Computer Science would not be the best place for you. You could get many of the classes you’d need at a community college. If you want to go the 4-year route, look for majors that are more tailored to what you want, which is considered “front-end” computing. One example I’ve seen that might be a good fit is the electronic commerce major at University of Scranton.
If you are interested the coding component of web design, currently you would want to study things like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (maybe PHP but that’s in decline). Computer Science would include courses that would have little relevance for you, such as Operating Systems and Assembly language. You also wouldn’t need a language such as Java typically in front-end development.
Courses in Web Design and some business courses, including digital marketing, would be helpful.
Graphic design and multimedia courses would also be helpful.
I was looking to take this in addition to a journalism or poli sci major, most likely as a minor, just to supplement my skills and provide a bit of a backup. Is a computer science minor a good idea, or should I do it some other way?
I really wouldn’t look towards computer science based off your specified interests. Even in a minor, you’re going to take courses that have very little relevance to what you’re looking to learn. For example, at NC State, a CompSci minor includes Java, C and software tools, Discrete Math, and Operating Systems. None of which would help you achieve your goal and which could take incredible amounts of time and drop your GPA if it’s not where your passion lies. You would be better off looking at programs in Communications or Business that have a technology slant to them. None of the front-end developers I know have a computer science background.
Thanks Inigo. Sorry, but just to be sure, these kinds of courses wouldn’t be offered within some kind of technology department at universities, but instead in the communications or business schools?
It’s going to depend in some part on the schools you’re looking at - you should look at the individual programs at each school. My experience is that Computer Science majors and minors do not teach much in the way of front end skills. It’s pretty much assumed that if you can learn the back-end stuff, you’ll pick up whatever you need to do the front-end. And the back-end developers I know don’t really want to be bothered with front-end. There may be some individual courses that would give you what you want, but the formal major or minor would include a lot you DON’T want, and they’d be very challenging and time-consuming courses.
It’s become more common as web technology has become more accessible for a lot of web functions to be handled by the business rather than being dependent on corporate IT groups. Some of these skills are taught in business information systems courses. Some are in communications departments - after all, what is the Internet but a big communications vehicle? If you feel you need some formal documentation of these skills, some larger universities offer 6-month certification courses for this type of development.
You should look for courses in HTML, CSS, Javascript, courses that teach you to work with common content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress, courses in web site design, perhaps web analytics. Web accessibility is a good thing to understand, as ADA compliance is becoming a bigger issue. Some communications departments offer courses designing content for the web which could include blogging and social media strategies.
Ok, I’ve decided I’m going to try and learn some coding before college. What programming language would be best for beginning in the areas I mentioned, and where should I learn it (free site please)?
I think that Computer Science might be a bit overbearing for a Web Designer. I’d suggest something along the lines of studying BFA with a digital emphasis if your college offers it.