Key Takeaways
- An associate degree in web development is a career-focused credential that prepares students for jobs in web development and design.
- This degree usually entails about 60 credits of coursework and two years of full-time study.
- Web developer associate degrees are often found at community colleges.
- Graduates can pursue roles as front-end, back-end or full-stack web developers; web designers; or computer support specialists.
- Continuing education helps keep web development professionals current in their field.
Scrolling through an interactive webpage can feel like an effortless experience. However, behind the scenes is typically a web developer who makes it all possible. Web developers create websites to forge connections with consumers, convey vital information and showcase innovative graphics.
Earning a web developer associate degree can launch your career in this in-demand field. The need for skilled web developers is increasing as technology advances. Read on to explore associate degrees in web development, including common courses, continuing education paths and career options for graduates.
What Is a Web Developer Associate Degree?
Web development calls for breadth and depth of knowledge in an ever-changing technical landscape. Web developers must adapt to changes and pursue continuing education opportunities throughout their careers.
An associate degree in web development typically entails about 60 credits and takes about two years of full-time study to complete. Along with web development courses, this degree may include general education classes that build transferable skills in communication and critical thinking along with broad cultural knowledge in the arts, humanities and sciences.
Career Preparation
With an associate degree in web development or web design and development, you can choose from various careers. If you enjoy graphic design and creating visuals, you might pursue a career as a web designer. If you want to help people solve technical issues related to web development, a career as a computer support specialist may be a good fit.
Subjects Covered
Core courses in a web developer associate degree program teach you how to build and manage websites. Most programs cover common themes and topics, such as database management and programming languages like JavaScript and Python. Depending on a program’s requirements, you may also need to take courses in mathematics, communications and computer science principles.
Admission Requirements for an Associate Degree in Web Development
Community colleges and some four-year schools offer in-person and online web development programs. Applicants must typically be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED® certificate.
Web Development Focus Area
Front-End Development
Front-end web developers write code that influences a website’s appearance and functionality. These developers must keep website visitors and business goals in mind as they determine how the fonts, colors, images and text appear on a web page. It’s also vital for front-end developers to stay on top of trending functionalities and code a responsive website that functions well on mobile devices and tablets.
Back-End Development
Back-end developers work behind the scenes to ensure websites remain operational and functional. Most websites connect to databases and servers that store large amounts of data related to the site. When you visit a new web page, a signal alerts a server to populate the page with the correct code and content.
Back-end developers monitor this connection and troubleshoot any network connectivity issues. It’s also common for a back-end developer to implement computer network and server security.
Full-Stack Development
Some web developers choose to gain expertise in both front-end and back-end web development. To become a full-stack developer, you must become proficient in back-end and front-end programming languages and gain extensive experience in both web development roles. Smaller teams with smaller websites may employ a full-stack developer to manage both ends of a website instead of two separate developers.
Common Courses in a Web Developer Associate Degree
You can expect to find web development courses similar to the following across community colleges, though exact requirements differ among programs.
Database Development
The database development course teaches students how to create, manage and troubleshoot problems within a database. Some courses may cover creating and populating databases and Structured Query Language (SQL), the programming language used to manage databases.
Introduction to Python
Python is one of the top programming languages essential for any future web developer or designer. Students engage in problem solving through algorithmic design, programming in Python and learning to write their own computer programs.
Online Search Strategy
Findability is an essential aspect of any website. Courses on search strategies ensure web developers understand the connection between search engines, like Google, that influence the ranking of a website in search results. Students learn how to structure data to improve a website’s success in search and how updates to a search engine’s algorithm can impact a website’s rankings.
Web Page Development I
Learning how to curate a web page remains a foundational skill for front-end and back-end developers. In this course, students may learn HTML5, a programming language often used to create websites. They also develop proficiency in building multiple web pages with various elements, including navigation, imagery, plugins, fonts and graphics.
Website Design
Website design teaches students how to make a website aesthetically pleasing. Students learn trending website designs and how to create a mockup (i.e., a sketch) of a web page before its development to map out its look and feel. Designs must prioritize functionality and technical possibility, a vital skill for future web developers.
Careers for Web Developers with Associate Degrees
Earning an associate degree prepares you to enter a fast-growing field in a short amount of time. Depending on the chosen program, you can gain the expertise required for various web development careers. However, prospective students should understand that a career in web development necessitates staying current with technological advances in the field and demands a commitment to continuing education and skills development.
The following salary and job growth projection data come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Computer Support Specialist
Median Annual Salary: $60,810
Projected Job Growth (2022-2023): +5%
Job Description: Computer support specialists maintain smooth and efficient web-based business operations and networks for organizations. When company employees experience a problem with their computer hardware or software, they rely on a computer support specialist to resolve the issue. Support specialists may also host training on new software systems; therefore, proficiency in many web systems and applications is crucial to their success.
Web Designer
Median Annual Salary: $98,540
Projected Job Growth (2022–2023): +15%
Job Description: Web designers manage the creative aspects of websites. They conceptualize the visual elements, including layout, color schemes, typography and graphics. They understand how to build a website that is both functional and appealing to users. Web designers also collaborate with front-end developers and user experience designers to ensure websites look and function properly on different devices.
Web Developer
Median Annual Salary: $84,960
Projected Job Growth (2022–2023): +17%
Job Description: Web developers are categorized based on their area of focus: front end, back end or full stack. They manage the appearance and functionality of websites, which requires knowing multiple computer programming languages.
Front-end web developers’ daily responsibilities may involve collaborating with web designers, reviewing results of user testing and updating web pages with new elements. Back-end web developers may focus on troubleshooting network errors or researching new web security systems.
Continuing Education for Web Developers with Associate Degrees
After earning your web developer associate degree, you can advance your education by transferring to a four-year school to earn a bachelor’s in web development or a related field like web design or information technology.
Many web developer associate degree programs are Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) programs rather than Associate of Science (A.S.) programs. The critical difference between these degree formats is that an A.S. is structured as a transfer degree with a curriculum designed to meet lower-level bachelor’s degree requirements.
An A.A.S., on the other hand, aims to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in the workforce. While you can transfer A.A.S. credits toward a four-year degree, the process may not be as seamless as with an A.S.
Whether or not you advance to a four-year program, it’s important to stay up to date with new developments in your field. Online courses, web development certificate programs and bootcamps can add skills to your tool kit and help you keep up with the fast-evolving web development industry.
You can also earn certifications to demonstrate mastery of tools and products you may work with as a web developer or web designer. Which certification areas you pursue depends on your job, but relevant options might include Amazon Web Services, Python and Adobe.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Web Developer Associate Degrees
What degree do you need for a web developer job?
Some web developer jobs may require candidates to hold either an associate or a bachelor’s degree. Earning an associate degree can improve your earning potential, boost your skills and help you qualify for jobs. But it is worth noting that some employers may prioritize technical proficiency and practical experience over formal education for web developer candidates, considering the skills-based nature of the role.
Can I become a web developer without a degree?
You can become a web developer without a degree by enrolling in web development bootcamps or other online courses. Some people develop their programming languages and coding skills through self-teaching rather than formal education. However, obtaining a degree can give you a competitive advantage when applying for web developer roles.
How much does an associate degree in web development cost?
Associate degree in web development programs are often housed in community colleges, making them one of the most affordable degree types available. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, tuition at public two-year colleges averaged $3,598 a year for in-state students and $8,565 for out-of-state enrollees as of the 2022–2023 school year.
By comparison, tuition at public four-year schools averaged $9,750 for in-state students and $28,297 for out-of-state students, while learners attending private four-year schools paid an average of $35,248 a year.