Forum Moderators: mack
I graduated from University with a BA in English Lit almost 3 years ago. After school, I bartended for 2.5 years. Since October I've been working as a temp at a high profile Canadian crown corporation (the pay is bad and my job even worse). My interest in language is still there but I don't write as much anymore. No, I don't want to teach or be a journalist.
Since '99 or 2000 I've been interested in webdesign and development but I've only really taken it up within the past 4 months. I've been teaching myself HTML, CSS, some PHP and I love it! I've applied to a couple colleges and am going to, with any luck, be heading BACK to school in September.
The programs I've applied for are both a year long and both offer co-op. Here's what I'll learn in each:
1. Web Development: HTML, XHTML, PHP, CSS, JavaScript, Windows/Unix/Linux protocols, ASP, Access, MS SQL & MySQL, fully functional e-services site, 2 month minimum co-op (5days a week), blah blah blah ...
2. E-Commerce: HTML, XML, WML, ASP, VBScript, JAVAScript, Access and SQL, Visio, MS Project, Internet EDI, ERP (using SAP) + a real world group consulting project and a 1 day/week co-op (unsure of length) ...
My question ... Given the current state of the market which would be a better decision? I'm sort of leaning toward the E-Commerce program. Why? Because it'll be combination of learning hands-on-technology and business theory as it pertains to the web. Also, I fiigure that I can learn HTML, XHTML, CSS, PHP and MySQL on my own.
Your opinions? Sorry for the novel ....
Heh, me too ;)
Either route will get you going, just depends what you want to do. Are you thinking design or webmastering the back end of a server, database, or shopping cart functions?
You could probably teach yourself just as much in half the time and be making a living at it sooner.
luck,
robert
Being that I am not going back to school anytime soon (and if I did I would enroll myself into the 5 moth program for underwater welding- yes, I am being for real)- what should I focus on?
PHP?
ASP?
MySQL?
Javascript?
CSS?
XHTML?
DHTML?
I feel comfortable with HTML
My goals?
To be able to get a job creating websites, with the UNIX Admin background I like working on the backend (the BIG plus- having to deal a lot less with end users), plus had some Oracle backend experience- and like the DB side of it as well. I LOVE ripping those machines apart and putting them back together, making them run faster, and I love making a website (making them "cool", functional, easy to use)
If you like the backend stick with the backend :) ... PHP, ASP, MySQL, Oracle etc. I'd eat up as much as possible about backend scrirpting if I were you.
There will always be people who call themselves "designers" just because they know HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver and Photoshop (the front-end stuff). They aren't though. Designers, IMHO, are the ones that understand the theory behind the visual ... ie. why a page works and the construction behind it. I am NOT a designer but I wish I was ...
No hurt in learning everything you possibly can -- just make yourself more employable by becoming an "expert" on the backend stuff.
My $.02 ....
