Learning full stack development is no small undertaking. Some students start with front end development skills, others master back end development, while others learn both through immersive programs.

Fortunately, there are course offerings open for students with different levels of scheduling availability. Full-time, part-time, on-demand, and introductory courses are a few options for learning full stack development. Read on to learn more about the different types and how long they take.

What is Full Stack Development?

Full stack web development includes a website's front end (user-facing) and back end (server-side) elements. It represents the complete web development process since both front end and back end development infrastructure is required for web applications to run.

Commonly-used full stack web development languages include HTML/CSS, JavaScript, SQL, Python, and Ruby on Rails. JavaScript, in particular, is an essential language for Full Stack Developers because it is versatile enough to handle all of the elements of full stack development.

Read on to learn more about full stack web development and why you should study it.

Benefits of Learning Full Stack Development

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, web development jobs may grow by as much as thirty percent this decade. Companies need Full Stack Web Developers who can handle all the tasks associated with building a website. The average Full Stack Developer makes over $100,000 annually, and large companies pay as much as $200,000.

Learning full stack web development means you won’t need to contract someone to build and maintain web pages for your organization. Whether you want to start a business or freelance, mastering full stack web development pays long-term dividends.

Read more about why you should learn full stack web development.

How Long Do Full Stack Development Courses Last?

Full stack development training can take anywhere from a couple of months to several years, depending on multiple factors. First is the issue of the student's background and current skill set. Those with little to no programming history may need courses in several programming languages like JavaScript and Python. If you plan to transition from an existing position to a Full Stack Developer role, your experience and current skill set may shorten your learning curve considerably.

Other factors include the level of the course or program you take (beginner, intermediate, or advanced), your learning style, and the cost of tuition for your training. Consider these and any other factors that may impact how long it will take to learn full stack development at the level you need.

Different Courses with Different Schedules

Your training delivery method and the depth of instruction will affect how long it takes to finish a course. For example, a live in-person or online program typically runs on a set schedule. If you take one of these courses, your choices may be limited to part-time or full-time, but you will know whether you need four months or ten.

By contrast, the time required for an on-demand or self-paced course may vary widely. Some students may be able to finish an on-demand program in a few weeks because they have a flexible schedule. Others may need several months for the same course as their schedule permits. Evenings and weekends may be the only option in cases like these.

In-Person & Online Classes

Bootcamps and certificate programs are among the most effective full stack development training methods. Some course providers host courses in person, and others live online. Many providers offer both options or a hybrid of the two.

Some course providers combine front end and back end development training in an immersive full stack development program. For example, Noble Desktop offers a Full Stack Web Development Certificate open to students at the beginner level. In this program, the choice between taking it in-person or live online does not affect the length of training. Enrollees can take it full-time in 17 weeks (weekdays) or part-time in ten months (evenings).

Synchronous & Asynchronous Classes

The difference between synchronous and asynchronous classes widens the gap between how long the shortest and longest classes take to complete. Asynchronous training—also called self-paced or on-demand education—typically includes prerecorded videos and a few other resources, like articles. These courses can take anywhere from an hour to several months.

Live in-person or online bootcamps and certificate programs are synchronous, which means they run on a schedule. Some course providers offer more or less flexibility than others, but you can expect the timeframe to be narrower than with asynchronous training. While the length might seem irrelevant, the level of instruction is essential: consider asynchronous training for introductory materials before attending a full stack development bootcamp or certificate.

Career-Focused & Skills-Focused Classes

Skills-focused and career-focused courses also differ in length and emphasis. While career-focused programs often consist of a series of skills-focused classes, a single skills-focused class typically runs much shorter. 

For example, the Web Development with HTML and CSS class from Noble Desktop emphasizes these essential markup and styling tools. The program is 18 hours, and you can start your web development training here.

However, you can save by taking this course as part of a broader curriculum, like Noble's Full Stack Web Development Certificate or Software Engineering Certificate. These programs run in excess of 400 hours, a much deeper commitment than a single full stack development class.

Introductory Classes & Immersive Courses 

Most introductory web development courses focus on front end development, back end development, or a skill or combination of skills, like HTML and CSS. While some shorter classes teach intermediate or advanced tools and skills, introductory courses typically attract beginners.

Immersive full stack web development programs differ in length and composition. Many course providers combine introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses into one long training program. Others require students to be comfortable with skills like HTML/CSS or JavaScript before enrolling in an immersive program. Check course listings for prerequisite information before applying.

Learn Full Stack Development Skills with Noble Desktop

Becoming a full stack developer will take a decent amount of time and energy since it will require students to learn many different programming languages. While these languages complement one another and learning one will make learning another easier, students still need to spend a decent amount of time training as programmers.

One of the best ways to learn a complex set of new skills is by enrolling in a professional training program like the Full Stack Web Development Certificate from Noble Desktop. Participants learn HTML/CSS, JavaScript, and developer tools like VSC and Git. Check course listings to learn more.

Key Takeaways

• Full stack web development includes a website's front end (user-facing) and back end (server-side) elements.
• Full-time, part-time, on-demand, and introductory courses are popular full stack development training options.
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, web development jobs may grow by as much as thirty percent this decade.
• Live in-person and online programs typically run on set schedules, whereas on-demand training offers a more flexible schedule.
• Career-focused programs often consist of multiple skills-focused classes, whereas a skills-focused course typically emphasizes one or two skills, like HTML and CSS.
• You can receive comprehensive full stack web development training through Noble Desktop, either in person or online. Check out their Full Stack Web Development Certificate program for more details.