Our Program

Academy Pittsburgh’s Developer Bootcamp is a diploma-based program that prepares students to enter the technology workforce in a variety of entry level positions, including front end developers, user interface/user experience (UI/UX) developers, full stack developers, UX designers, application (app) developers, data scientists, and web developers.
Students and instructors of Session 8 posing while holding up 8 fingers.

Why Academy?

At Academy, learn the skills you need to teach yourself to code. Work collaboratively with like-minded individuals and top-tier instructors. ISA options allow students to pursue instruction with no upfront tuition costs in a diverse classroom setting.

1

Coding for All

Half of the seats in each class are reserved for people underrepresented in tech.

2

No upfront tuition cost

Academy's Income Share Agreement (ISA) funding options mean no tuition fees until after you start your new career.

3

Learn and Connect

Learn to code Ruby, C#, JavaScript, HTML/CSS and more through project-based learning and gain connections to the larger tech community in Pittsburgh.

Meet our Graduates

We've had quite a few incredible students pass through our doors over the years. Here's a small cross-section of some of our amazing graduates and what they've been up to since Academy.

Coursework

Dig deeper into our syllabus and see what you'll encounter on a week-by-week basis as an Academy student.

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1

Week

1

Introduction to Programming (in C#) (1 or 1-O)

Students will learn the basics of computer programming using a strongly typed, compiled language. Students will learn to use the Integrated Development Environment to assist in making programs that use variables, conditionals, loops, and arrays to complete complex tasks.

Skills

Back End
50
Front End
5
Design
5
Soft Skills
20
User Experience
10
2

Week

2

Continued Programming (in C#) (2 or 2-O)

This course introduces students to organizational features of programming, including functions and classes, using C# as the first language.

Skills

Back End
55
Front End
5
Design
5
Soft Skills
30
User Experience
20
3

Week

3

Programming (in Ruby) (3 or 3-O)

This course will solidify students’ understandings of concepts from their introduction to programming in C# by repeating concepts and exercises in another language. Students will learn to write and run programs in Ruby, and also to think about programming outside the bounds of a single language. They will repeat the concepts and exercises from the previous two weeks in this week, in a new programming language.

Skills

Back End
60
Front End
5
Design
5
Soft Skills
40
User Experience
20
4

Week

4

Testing (4 or 4-O)

This course will introduce students to automated unit testing and Test Driven Design (TDD). Students will learn about why developers write unit tests, the testing framework Rspec, how to write and run unit tests in Ruby, and the practice of writing tests first (TDD). As they practice unit testing, they will further solidify their understanding and competence with classes, functions, and programming fundamentals. Students will also learn about unit testing in C# and the idea of other kinds of testing.

Skills

Back End
50
Front End
5
Design
5
Soft Skills
40
User Experience
40
5

Week

5

Databases (5 or 5-O)

Students will learn the design and use of relational databases, using both file based Structured Query Language (SQL) and server based SQL. Students will learn how to design databases, query using SQL, and use databases in the use of programs.

Skills

Back End
70
Front End
5
Design
5
Soft Skills
40
User Experience
30
6

Week

6

Git and Code Review (6 or 6-O)

Students will learn the usage of Git as source control and how to perform code reviews. Students will also be introduced to industry best practices in working with both source control and code reviews.

Skills

Back End
40
Front End
5
Design
5
Soft Skills
80
User Experience
20
7

Week

7

Programming for the Web (7 or 7-O)

Students will learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Students will discuss and practice User Experience and User Interface (UX/UI) design.

Skills

Back End
10
Front End
80
Design
40
Soft Skills
40
User Experience
20
8

Week

8

MVC (8 or 8-O)

Students will learn the file organization and layout of Microsoft Model-View-Controller (MVC) projects, the MVC pattern, and creation of data backed websites.

Skills

Back End
40
Front End
40
Design
10
Soft Skills
60
User Experience
30
9

Week

9

Ruby on Rails (9 or 9-O)

Students will learn the file organization and layout of Ruby on Rails projects. They will continue their learning of the MVC pattern, and the creation of data backed websites.

Skills

Back End
30
Front End
40
Design
10
Soft Skills
50
User Experience
30
10

Week

10

React (10 or 10-O)

Students will learn how to use ReactJS to make single page applications. Students will also learn how to connect to external Application Program Interfaces (APIs) and create user interactions in React.

Skills

Back End
20
Front End
90
Design
50
Soft Skills
70
User Experience
30
11

Week

11

Capstone Project, Week One (11 or 11-O)

During this two week course, students will learn real world workflow in an agile environment, practicing standups, backlog grooming, UX/UI mockups, source code control, and customer interaction as they work together to create a final product for an actual client.

Skills

Back End
90
Front End
90
Design
80
Soft Skills
90
User Experience
90
12

Week

12

Capstone Project - Week Two (11 or 11-O)

During this two week course, students will learn real world workflow in an agile environment, practicing standups, backlog grooming, UX/UI mockups, source code control, and customer interaction as they work together to create a final product for an actual client.

Skills

Back End
90
Front End
90
Design
80
Soft Skills
90
User Experience
90

A Day in the Life

Take a closer look at a typical day in Academy Pittsburgh.

Student sitting on couch and working on laptop, very sassy.
Classroom with two projector screens, students, instructor is lecturing.
Student at shared screen explaining code to other students.
Students and instructors sitting in a circle, talking.
Students sitting at desks, talking. Large windows in background.
Students working around a laptop
Selfie with instructor and many students

9:00 am

9:30 am

11:00 am

12:00 pm

1:00 pm

3:00 pm

5:00 pm

9:00 am

As students trickle in, we begin work on a coding kata. A Japanese term popular in martial arts, a kata, meaning “form,” requires students practice a particular set of movements or syntax relevant to the day’s instruction, and is an excellent way to get into the coding mindset before class begins.

9:30 am

We start group instruction with announcements, including networking events and other tie-ins to the coding and tech community as a whole. We then move into our subject for the day, which is within our larger weekly framework. We work through this new topic with prepared slides, whiteboarding, live demonstrations and plenty of Q+A.

11:00 am

After some initial instruction, students break off into groups to continue work on the topic of the day. In addition to our full-time instructors, TA’s are available to assist students with questions that arise.

12:00 pm

Some weeks, we bring a guest speaker to speak with students over lunch, to share their technical expertise or talk about their life experience and career in tech. Students are welcome to bring their own lunch or go out to eat. Afterward, take a quick break and read, play a game, or continue to work on a project.

1:00 pm

After lunch, we continue the same group project. Students share progress, resources, and memes in our group chat.

3:00 pm

Groups reconvene and discuss what they’ve developed with the class. Students will whiteboard their code, look over each others’ work, and more Q+A follows. Someone, inevitably, makes more coffee.

5:00 pm

Class is dismissed! Often we will travel as a group to a relevant community event. Some students will stay back to ask specific questions, while instructors upload videos to allow for more practice at home.
Students working together on a laptop.
Students working together on a laptop.
Students working together on a laptop.

Meet our Instructors

Get to know our experienced coding instructors.

Jean Lange

Instructor

Jean worked as a dev for 12 years and often found herself teaching, then jumped at the chance to come work for Academy Pittsburgh in the spring of 2019. She loves Ruby, testing, git, retrospectives, and helping people figure out how to get [over|under|around|through|past] problems.

John Lange

Director / Instructor

John worked in the tech industry for over 20 years before starting Academy Pittsburgh. He generally works in C# and JavaScript, but is also happy working in whatever language someone wants to work in. He doesn't get mad at computers, but sometimes he is very disappointed.

Application Process

Ready to apply? Here's a step-by-step breakdown of what comes next.

1

Read our sample participation agreement.

Before applying, make sure you understand and accept all of the expectations, terms and conditions explained on this page. Be sure that you review, our sample participation agreement. If you are admitted into the next session you will have to sign a similar document, though the terms and conditions of participation may differ. A completed application creates no binding agreement between potential participant and Academy Pittsburgh, LLC.

2

Fill out the application.

We'll ask you for basic demographic information, financial need, and all the other basic information you might expect. The application includes logic questions, as well as uploads to Github and YouTube. Don't worry, you can save your progress and don't have to complete the whole thing all at once.

3

Schedule an in-person interview.

Thanks for applying! We'll be in touch in a few days' time, and may ask you to schedule an in-person interview.

4

Start your rewarding new career training.

Congratulations, you made it!  Tell your friends and loved ones and get ready for some of the most transformative weeks of your life.

Payment Options

There a few different ways to pay for Academy. Please reach out to learn more.

a

Pay up front

Get us a check for $10,000 before the first day of class - you're done!

b

Income Share Agreement

Academy Pittsburgh uses ISAs to allow more and different people to pursue a career in tech while growing Pittsburgh’s emerging technology industry. Don't pay tuition fees until after you've secured a new career. Our program includes protections including a minimum income threshold equivalent that must be met before payback is required, as well as a maximum time window that ends the obligation even if less than the initial funding amount was paid back. With this option, you'll end up paying between $0 and $16,000, depending on how much money you make after you graduate.

C

Apprenti

Apprenti is a local program run through the Pittsburgh Tech Council that works to connect emerging talent to companies that will hire them and schools to train them. If you apply to Apprenti and are accepted, you'll be hired by a company before starting at Academy Pittsburgh, and you will be responsible for paying for Academy Pittsburgh, your new employer will pay for your training. In fact, you'll receive a stipend during class, and have a job immediately upon graduation.

Find out more and apply

FAQs

Have further questions? We're happy to hear from you, but first, see if your question is already answered below.

Do you offer remote classes?

We do not offer remote classes, but are in the process of applying for a license to do so. Depending on construction and licensure, our next class might be online or in person. Let us know what would work better for you.

How can I learn more?

Send us an email. Sit in on a class. Talk to a graduate. Attend an open house. We want to answer whatever questions you might have, and are happy to arrange a visit or call with our staff or alumni. Start by contacting info [at] academypgh.com, and we'll get in touch as soon as possible.

Do you offer any night or weekend classes?

Not yet, but we are looking into the feasibility of launching night and/or weekend sessions. Please let us know if this is something you would be interested in attending, so that we can better gauge interest and inform anyone interested when it begins.

Why Academy? Why not another developer bootcamp?

Academy Pittsburgh is locally owned and operated by Pittsburgh residents with decades of experience and connections to the region's tech community. Moreover, we care about each and every one of our students, personally and professionally, and we genuinely want them to succeed.

How successful have your graduates been?

Over 80% of our graduates have been hired, with an average starting salary over $55 thousand dollars.

Why do you teach the things you teach?

At Academy, we teach students how to teach themselves to code, so that they can master new skills in the future and languages as technologies and preferences evolve. The specific skills and languages we teach are because they are the ones employers are asking for in the Pittsburgh region. In essence, we teach an array of what's in-demand, allowing for an easier transition into a breadth of possible careers.

How can I pay for Academy? What's the cost?

See our Payment Details section above to learn about how to pay for Academy. Additionally, as a school licensed by the PA State Board of Private Licensed Schools, we also accept certain grants. Get in touch with questions about specific grants.