Best Classes San Diego, CA

Find & compare hands-on courses near San Diego or live online in coding, design, business, and more. We’ve chosen over 300 of the best tech courses from the top training providers to help you find the perfect fit.

Explore the Best Classes in San Diego

San Diego is one of the sunniest places in all of California, and home to major employers such as BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics. The largest industries are related to technology and the military, due in part to the presence of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps bases in the area. The unemployment rate is lower than the national average, and residents of the city also enjoy access to amusement parks such as the San Diego Zoo.

It’s not a secret that San Diego has been a favorite hub for technology-based entities to call home, but something new is happening downtown. In this geographic heart of a binational city on the border of Mexico, the vibrations of fresh fast-tech are making waves for dozens of companies that want to share the scene. The evolution of San Diego’s innovative economy stretches up and down miles of beachfront, still with plenty of real estate inland. This makes San Diego a magnet to main-stage tech companies to begin their shift to the area, as they discover that the city is now out-pacing other well-known locations for tech.

San Diego is once again rejuvenating itself as the third decade of the 21st century rolls in, much as it did with the Panama California Exposition in 1915 when the most modern technology of the day showcased the possibilities of the area. The city kept up the momentum, pivoting to a focus on research and design-based economic development and as major military base operations in the 1940s and upward. There was nothing to stop San Diego from storming into becoming the epicenter of globally traded science and engineering clusters in the 1990s, but this new resurgence is different: the city has watched and learned the pros and cons of being a tech hub from other silicon giants.

Now becoming recognized as “Silicon Beach, ” San Diego’s newest reinvention is signaled by the billions of dollars in external investment to create large life science and technology industry complexes next to the centers of retail and tourism. An amazing eight acres of space has paved the way to become home to the San Diego Research and Development District, led by the IQHQ biotech real estate investment group. Former warehouses and long-vacant college buildings have been upcycled into co-working spaces for tech incubators and small business centers, heavily supported by the local government.

With the recent report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, investments in technology are on a massive upswing. The report projects that employment in computer and information technology occupations will grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects that the occupations of computer and information research scientists, as well as information security analysts, will experience even faster growth. With strong demand for tech talent over the next decade, employers are under pressure to offer more attractive compensation, employment terms, and locations with a top-ranked quality of life—San Diego’s forte.

San Diego came in at an impressive ninth place when ranked by Cushman & Wakefield, primarily for its concentration of tech jobs. Technology jobs account for nearly 9 percent of the total employment in the city, which has a population of 1.41 million. Adding to the top-ten award in the dominance of tech possibilities, San Diego’s science and engineering sectors now have the second-highest concentration of jobs in the nation, with a total of 63,000 experts.

San Diego’s presence as a tech hub has rightfully won its time in the spotlight, drawing multiple Fortune 500 companies eager to lure top-level technology wizards to the area. Tech companies need access to capital and high-quality labor, and the City in Motion has earned its nickname with its willingness to oblige. Employment in technology industries, an educated workforce, and venture capital investment in the region are attributes that make the city shine. Top sectors include cybersecurity, aerospace, navigation, software, health IT, bioinformatics, and cleantech, all of which drive the tech job density that strains to meet demand.

Tech Careers in San Diego

There is amplified demand in San Diego for those who have or are starting a career in technology. Recent trends towards remote work have snagged some of the more seasoned professionals, but many of the jobs in Silicon Beach need boots on the ground and expertise that can only be offered face-to-face. At the start of 2021, employers posted more than 365,000 job openings for IT positions, with software developers, support specialists, systems engineers, and architects among the most coveted workers. There is so much demand that the balance of power has shifted to potential employees, who often have to choose between multiple job offers in the booming San Diego tech landscape. To win over a top engineer in Silicon Beach, companies offer things like flexible hours, sign-on bonuses, and a choice of office locations around the city.

Startups have begun to snatch up tech phenoms, leaving established companies such as Qualcomm, Petco Holdings, Sempra Energy, and General Atomics scrambling to convince well-trained technology workers to choose them with sky-high salaries. Other entities that have felt comfortable in past years with the supply of job seekers are feeling the pressure, too. Rock-solid Fortune,000 multi-year winners anchored in San Diego like ResMed, Illumina, and PriceSmart are feeling the pinch and often offering to pay employees for additional education.

As new technologies permeate all aspects of life, the need for innovation in technology accelerates at a record speed. With that, San Diego joins other cutting-edge tech hubs in the race to support startups. A large amount of funding is provided by the city and matched by venture capitalists, who see training program graduates jump straight into entrepreneurship with enterprising concepts. The surge to create successful incubation environments is backed by strong investor appetites, especially in machine learning apps, AI, robotics, and biotech. Startups can write their own tickets with a robust proof-of-concept as investors roll out creative offers, perks, and housing incentives to lure the best candidates.

Being in the scorching technology forefront that is San Diego is no less than exhilarating. Yet sunny San Diego faces the fast pace of business with a laid-back vibe. It helps that the city stretches along miles of the Pacific coastline and offers legendary surfing. There is so much more to San Diego than beaches, though. Not to be missed and regularly visited by locals are places like the world-famous San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and a kids-of-all-ages mecca, Legoland.

Guidebooks can point out major attractions, but those in the know in Dan Diego also flock to watch paragliders soar at Torrey Pines. Not to be confused with parasailers, paragliding is similar to hang gliding, a motorless way to fly, thermalling high to stay in the sky for potentially hours. More adventurous types can do more than watch; many companies offer tandem flights in this world-class center for paragliding. Other exciting adventures in San Diego include a stroll across the Spruce Street Suspension bridge that stretches a whopping 375 feet, 70 feet above the beautiful sights only seen from to top of Sessions Canyon.

San Diegans love exploring all year-round in their city, which is easy to do with warm, sunny days and the lucrative salaries that tech professionals see. Examples of how well jobs in the area pay include average salaries for Digital Designers at an annual salary of $118,000 and Software Engineers, who can expect to see around $108,000 per year.

Tech Schools in San Diego

In innovation technology-rich San Diego, extraordinarily high salaries across all tech sectors make acquiring the skills it takes to enter a career in tech a wise investment. There are an amazing amount of technology classes and bootcamps in San Diego to choose from, especially as the home of two major universities. More than 100 of the best course offerings from area schools provide in-person, live online, and on-demand course options. Schools are located in areas situated purposely within walking distance of some neighborhoods, reducing their carbon footprint. For all students in technology, schools cover a vast array of subjects in technology, including Design, Digital Marketing, Data-related training, Coding, Business, Web Development, and IT. In-person instruction is offered by Sonic Training, UCR Extension Boot Camps, and the University of the Redlands SCS. One school, ONLC, holds classes in a computer lab, pre-loaded with the latest equipment and software, led by a live, off-site instructor. Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, offers an extensive amount of live online courses and has also compiled a list of the top schools and the subjects they provide.

San Diego has seven top-notch schools where students can take in-person and hybrid bootcamps and courses in Graphic Design. Ledet Training, Sonic Training, General Assembly, New Horizons, and Academy X all offer courses that prepare students to enter the world of design. Those wanting to pursue a design career have more than enough options to learn anything they’d like about the field, and all schools also offer live, online, and on-demand options. Additionally, ONLC and Certstaffix hold classes in computer labs with equipment preloaded with the latest software and a live, offsite instructor.

Schools in San Diego that offer Data Science bootcamps and classes include highly ranked training centers such as General Assembly, New Horizons, Sonic Training, the University of California San Diego Boot Camps, and Academy X. Subjects within the realm of Data Science include Python, SQL, Machine Learning, and R. There are also a vast array of offerings for live online courses in Data Science offered by Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool.

For in-person and hybrid Web Development bootcamps and classes in San Diego, students can choose from over 30 classes provided by the University of California San Diego Boot Camps, General Assembly, Ledet Training, Academy X, and Sonic Training. Schools are located downtown, and a short distance north of the city, making it convenient to find a training center that fits students’ needs. Additionally, Certstaffix and ONLC offer live instruction in state-of-the-art computer labs with a live, off-site instructor.

There are numerous options presented by eight highly-ranked schools to choose from for in-person, live online, and on-demand coding classes and bootcamps in San Diego. These San Diego training centers offer live, online courses and provide a way for students to take classes from wherever they choose and are close to major thoroughfares. Schools in San Diego that are easily accessible for busy professionals include Sonic Training, Ledet Training, the University of California San Diego Boot Camps, Academy X, and General Assembly. Two other schools, ONLC and Certstaffix, hold coding classes in a dedicated computer lab, with instruction from a live, remote instructor. All courses take students through the learning process step-by-step and provide object-based experiential learning experiences. Students can find coding-related options in Web Development, Data Science, Computer Science, iOS Development, Front-end Development, Back-end Development, Python, JavaScript, Java, SQL, HTML & CSS, and PHP & MySQL. Offerings range from comprehensive and immersive bootcamps to extensive information certificates and classes. Most courses are also available live and online and offer a variety of times and lengths. For more extensive programs, financial assistance is often available.

Those looking for in-person Web Design bootcamps and classes in San Diego can choose from more than 50 courses at Sonic Training, Ledet Training, the University of California San Diego Boot Camps, Academy X, and General Assembly and through hybrid-style courses from ONLC. Topics within web design include Front-end Web Development, Visual Design, UX Design, WordPress, HTML & CSS, JavaScript & jQuery, Sketch, and Adobe XD. Courses include bootcamps and hands-on classes, ranging from three hours to twelve weeks, and are offered in-person, live online, and via on-demand sessions. ONLC provides Web Design training in a computer lab with a live, off-site instructor.

Attending an in-person Digital Marketing class or bootcamp in forward-thinking San Diego is a wise investment to get ahead of the competition in the booming digital world. Schools in the city offer live, online classes, as well as on-demand sessions. Students can choose to take face-to-face courses at Sonic Training, Ledet, Academy, and General Assembly. More classes can be found at ONLC, a school that holds courses in a computer lab with a live, remote instructor leading the class. Subjects students can choose from include Google Analytics, Google Ads, SEO, social media marketing, email marketing, and ecommerce.

San Diego is an excellent place to learn Python skills in bootcamps or classes. General Assembly, New Horizons, and Academy X all provide prominent instruction in Python and other computer languages. Additionally, Certstaffix and ONLC provide classes in a computer lab with pre-loaded professional-level software led by a live, offsite instructor. Python is essential for most careers in technology, and certain professions require knowledge in specific syntaxes of the language. Instruction in Python for all levels and career-related topics can be found throughout the schools listed and offered live online, as well as on-demand.

Students can choose to take Video Editing bootcamps and classes from highly-ranked schools, Ledet and Academy X. Additionally, Certstaffix holds video editing classes in a central computer lab led by a live, offsite instructor.

In-person and live, online UX Design classes and bootcamps in San Diego are offered by highly-ranked schools Sonic Training, General Assembly, and Ledet Training. These schools offer classes that are important to every professional in the field of design, including Sketch, Adobe XD and UX Design Research.

Students have a choice of many unique in-person and live online Excel classes and bootcamps in San Diego. All Excel sessions range from three hours to three days and are provided by highly-ranked schools including General Assembly, Ledet, Academy X, New Horizons, and Sonic Training. ONLC holds Excel classes in a dedicated computer lab led by an offsite instructor. The need for Excel skills stretches into most areas of a professional career, so essential general and specific classes in the software are available face-to-face, live and online, or on-demand.

Corporate & Onsite Tech Training in San Diego

In tech-focused and innovative San Diego, it’s essential to keep your team up-to-date with the latest developments in technology. That’s why Noble Desktop, the creator of this tool, provides onsite corporate training in technology. An expert Noble Desktop instructor will arrange a session in a vast array of technical subjects, and can provide training at your location. Additionally, a live session can be arranged via a video conferencing platform such as Zoom.

If it is easier for individual employees to attend a class on their own schedule, vouchers can be obtained for them to attend an open enrollment session. There is a discount on the purchase of multiple vouchers. Contact Noble Desktop to arrange a tailored training session for your workplace and employees.

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San Diego Tech Topics

  • Design

    Graphic Design

    Graphic design is visual communication through artwork or combining images and text. Graphic designers create logos, ads, social media graphics, magazines, books, websites, apps, and more.

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    Web Design

    Web design combines elements of user experience design (how the website works), visual or user interface design (how the website looks), and coding (how the website is actually built and made to function properly). Some web designers touch on all three areas, while others focus on one specific skill. If you like to design or write code, there's a role for you in web design. With billions of unique websites and more being created every day, web designers continue to be in high demand.

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    Video Editing

    Video editing is about telling a cohesive story through combining different video clips, footage, and effects. Video editors are able to achieve this using programs such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Avid Media Composer, and Final Cut Pro.

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    Photoshop

    Adobe Photoshop is widely known as the best photo editing software for photographers and photo retouchers. It's also used by digital painters as well as graphic designers for creating a wide variety of designs such as social media graphics, web designs, app designs, graphics that will be animated in Adobe After Effects, and much more.

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    After Effects

    Adobe After Effects is the industry standard for video post-production, compositing, effects, and animation. It's one of the most important apps for motion designers and can be used for creating animations and videos for social media, YouTube, websites, TV, and movies.

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    UX Design

    User experience (UX) designers work on creating functional, meaningful, and enjoyable user experiences. UX design focuses on ease of use, navigation, and functionality of products (which are commonly digital products such as websites and apps).

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    Adobe

    Adobe Creative Cloud is a collection of industry-leading apps dedicated to creativity, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, and many more. Adobe Creative Cloud has what you need to create projects using photo editing, bitmap or vector illustration, digital design, animation, audio, augmented reality (AR), and more.

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    InDesign

    Adobe InDesign is the industry-leading layout design tool for print. Publishers of magazines, books, newspapers and other media rely on InDesign for page layouts and graphic design. InDesign can also be used to create digital documents such as PDFs and eBooks.

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    Premiere Pro

    Adobe Premiere Pro is the leading choice for video editing for TV, movies and the internet. It allows users to weave together video clips, graphics, and audio to produce professional grade video projects. It offers seamless integrations with Adobe Audition, After Effects, Photoshop and more.

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    AutoCAD

    AutoCAD is a computer-aided design software used to create scale blueprints, schematics, and models. It’s used by engineers, interior designers, manufacturers, and architects. AutoCAD offers intelligent objects for creating common plans such as electrical and plumbing design plans.

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    Animation

    Animation refers to the art of creating the illusion of motion and depth in 2D or 3D images. Most modern animation is done using digital applications like Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro though hand drawn projects aren't unheard of. Animation professionals will work on the post-production aspects of video production projects and their work ranges from the addition of simple title cards to the creation of completely digital assets like dragons, power armor or even whole environments.

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    Revit

    Revit classes provide comprehensive instruction on Autodesk's industry-leading Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, equipping students with the skills to design and manage complex architectural and engineering projects. Attendees will learn how to create 3D models, generate detailed construction documentation, and collaborate efficiently, making these classes essential for aspiring architects and engineers seeking to excel in modern construction and design practices.

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    Figma

    Figma is a web-based design application used for wireframing and prototyping applications. With Figma, UX and UI Designers can easily collaborate on projects and share clickable product designs with users for testing.

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    Illustrator

    Adobe Illustrator is one of the most popular vector graphics applications. With seamless integrations across Adobe Creative Cloud, Illustrator is widely used by individuals and organizations to create resizable illustrations, design elements for videos and motion graphics, all through its powerful vector creation tools.

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    Motion Graphics

    Motion graphics refers to animated graphic design. It blends together text, sound, motion, animation, and visual effects to communicate a message or tell a story.

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  • Coding

    Web Development

    Web development encompasses all of the layers involved in building a website or web application. Websites are made up of two parts: the front-end and the back-end. Web development is used to create beautiful, interactive, and functional websites in nearly every industry.

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    FinTech

    FinTech (financial technology) includes new technologies that aim to improve or automate financial services. Your banking app, stock app, invoicing software, and bitcoins are all examples of FinTech. The FinTech (financial technology) industry has moved far beyond early entrants like PayPal. Many experts predict that this industry could replace up to 50 percent of all bank jobs within the next few decades.

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    Software Engineering

    Software engineering is the process of creating applications for operating systems, as well as writing operating systems themselves. Software Engineers use a strong knowledge of coding and development to create and modify computer programs.

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    Java

    From basic single-computer programs to enterprise-level solutions, Java is the most widely-used code in the world. It is a simple, open-source code which is relatively easy to learn. Those who master it have solid employment prospects now and in the future.

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  • Data

    Data Science

    Data science is one of the fastest-growing career fields, with competitive salaries and nearly endless opportunities for specialization. Data science uses machine learning algorithms, statistics and other analytic tools to understand data.

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    Python

    Python is an easy-to-read, versatile object-oriented programming language. It is often compared to Java, Ruby, and Perl. It is available under an open-source license and is a favorite among programmers.

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    SQL

    SQL is short for Structured Query Language and refers to a programming language designed for relational databases. SQL organizes data and allows for queries and sorting of data.

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    Excel

    Microsoft Excel is the leading spreadsheet application and data analytics tool. With Excel, you can create charts, tables, automate workflow, track budgets and financials, and much more.

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    Data Analytics

    Data analytics is the process of analyzing raw data to draw conclusions. Data analytics are used to study all kinds of data, including productivity, production, profit/loss and much more.

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    Machine Learning

    Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence and involves creating programs that learn from data and optimize. Machine learning is prevalent in our everyday lives, from the recommendation engines for music and TV to the search engines and the voice assistants. Machine learning models leverage vast amounts of past data to learn to solve problems on their own and predict future outcomes. With the power and prevalence of machine learning, it is a highly in-demand set of skills, and the field of machine learning continues to grow.

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    Tableau

    Tableau is a data visualization tool used to simplify raw data. Data visualizations take data and turn it into easily understandable analysis diagrams – even for non-technical users. Visualizations can be used for data journalism, business insights (BI), reporting, and research.

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    Power BI

    Power BI is a collection of software that works together to convert multiple sources of data into usable information. Using the Power BI Desktop, the Power BI service, and the Power BI mobile apps, businesses can analyze data, create visualizations, and make sense of it all. Leaders can use these critical insights to forecast, plan, and make informed decisions. This dashboard has the power to uncover critical business insights needed to drive decision making.

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    AI

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative field in technology that leverages advanced algorithms and data to enable machines to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, creating career opportunities in numerous industries. By learning AI, professionals can gain cutting-edge skills essential for roles in sectors like tech, finance, healthcare, and more, positioning them at the forefront of innovation and problem-solving.

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  • Digital Marketing

    SEO

    SEO is the practice of optimizing your pages and website for search engine ranking. With a variety of SEO strategies and techniques, you can boost your websites ranking to start bringing in organic traffic. In SEO classes, participants will learn the fundamental ideas of SEO and strategies to succeed in the search engines.

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    Google Analytics

    Google Analytics is a free web and marketing analytics tool offered by Google that provides valuable information about your website traffic. Google Analytics is a fundamental component of digital marketing as it serves as the aggregator of our online efforts. It allows us to measure web traffic, see the success of our marketing efforts, learn about our users, and understand their behavior on our site. Google Analytics does much more than count website views; it provides a deeper understanding of what is going on before, during, and after a website visit.

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    Social Media Marketing

    Social media refers to websites and applications that allow people to interact, and commonly used tools are Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram. Social media marketing involves leveraging those digital channels to achieve your business goals.

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  • Business

    Microsoft Office

    Microsoft Office is a suite of software with an integrated collection of applications for word processing, and creating spreadsheets, databases and other media. Many offices, schools and individuals use Microsoft Office.

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    Project Management

    Project management is the art of leading a team to achieve a common goal. As a field, project management involves managing people, scope, time, quality, and budget.

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    Investing

    Investing is the process of generating revenue for personal or business purposes by placing money in an asset that is expected to increase in value. Investors may purchase business shares (stocks), property, real estate, or something else with the goal of growing their finances.

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    PMP Certification

    The Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is an industry-recognized professional designation offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). To qualify for the PMP exam, a specific amount of hours and education level be met which makes this certification in-demand and valuable to employers.

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  • IT

    Cybersecurity

    Cybersecurity refers to the protection of internet-connected assets. These assets can include servers, systems, hardware, software, and data. Cybersecurity professionals work to prevent and defend companies, governments, organizations, and individuals from cyber-attacks that seek to interrupt service or compromise data. These experts must stay informed about new technologies and threats.

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  • Web Development

    JavaScript

    JavaScript is a coding language primarily used to add interactivity to web pages. JavaScript is an essential language for Web Developers and is most commonly used for front-end development. With its libraries and frameworks, JavaScript is more efficient and versatile than ever before.

    Explore JavaScript Classes in San Diego

    WordPress

    WordPress is used on over 37% of all websites, and growing. It's a free and open-source content management system (CMS) that lets you create and manage a website or blog. It’s popular for blogging, but you can build websites that don't even have a blog.

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Training Locations in or Near San Diego

    Careers and Salaries

    Learn in-demand technology and computer skills to launch a new career in design, programming, marketing, business, and more. See the career pages for more information on required skills, tips for landing a job, typical day-to-day work, and where to find job postings.