The popular video game Minecraft, Google, and Amazon all have one thing in common: Java. This high-level programming language was developed by Sun Microsystems in 1995 and has since played a pivotal role in many of the platforms we know and use every day. Even NASA used it to navigate its rover over the rocky terrain of Mars, the fourth planet away from the sun, two decades ago.
Its wide number of use cases, versatility, and resilience, coupled with its only semi-complex learning curve, make it a marketable resume-boosting skill. In fact, there are more than 344,000 Java-related job postings on LinkedIn. So, if you’re a working professional looking to learn Java to upgrade your resume, you can do so through a Bootcamp.
4 Java bootcamps
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for software developers is expected to grow 25% through 2032. With the help of a bootcamp, you can gain the necessary skills to get into the industry as a junior-level Java engineer in just a matter of months. Here’s an alphabetized list of a few bootcamps to consider.
Coders Campus: Full Stack Java Bootcamp
For over a decade, Coders Campus has taught aspiring programmers with its comprehensive full-stack Java bootcamp. The program balances personalized student support, extensive coursework, and a post-graduation job guarantee.
Students dive into a diverse curriculum, starting with HTML/CSS in the first week, progressing to Java fundamentals in the second, and culminating in advanced topics such as multi-threading, Spring Framework, JavaScript, MySQL, and professional resume writing towards the program's conclusion.
Price: $12,000–$17,000; payment is determined after a scheduled coaching session.
Time commitment: Part-time at 20 hours per week over 9 months.
Best for: People looking to make the career switch or get started in coding as fast as possible.
Pros
- Financing options
- Scholarship options
- Job guarantee
- Resume help and mock interviews
- Daily check-in calls
- Live weekly office hour video calls
- Slack community access
- Lifetime access to course content
- Leave with a well-rounded portfolio
Cons
- Admission is not rolling
- Application-based admission
The Tech Academy: Java and Android Developer Bootcamp
The Tech Academy’s Java bootcamp mainly covers Java and Android app development. But also taps into programming languages like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL.
The program consists of ten courses plus a Capstone Project totaling 600 hours of learning content. The Java and Android developer course takes up 160 of those hours, teaching syntax, design patterns, object-relational mapping, and all of the terms and best practices needed to land a job. By graduation, students are prepared for junior-level software, website, and Android app development positions.
For the Capstone Project, the school attempts to “replicate what it’s like to do the actual job” by assigning tasks like debugging, self-teaching, and using Scrum, Agile, and DevOps. The project then gets posted online for peer review.
Pros
- Financing options
- Part-time and full-time options
- Instructor-supported but mostly self-learning
- Leave with a well-rounded portfolio
- Job placement course
- Pro-rated refunds
- Referral program
Cons
- No scholarship options
- No job guarantee
- Application-based admissions
Udemy: The Complete Java Development Bootcamp
The Complete Java Development Bootcamp from Udemy provides beginners with hands-on experience and Java best practices through more than 30 hours of video and 100 coding exercises. The course focuses on Java 17, which is widely used in Android and web development.
Students will learn various Java concepts, from booleans and conditionals to loops, arrays, and multithreading. The program is delivered by multiple instructors and organizations, including Learn The Part Inc., Rayan and Jad Slim, Jose Portilla, and Peierian Training.
With a 4.7 rating from more than 8,000 ratings, this 41-lesson bootcamp equips learners with the skills needed to succeed in Java development and stands out as a comprehensive and highly-rated program on Udemy.
Price: $109.99 or subscribe to Udemy for $20 monthly to access more than 11,000 other courses.
Time commitment: Self-paced; more than 33 hours of content
Best for: People who learn by doing will enjoy this instant-access course for its many projects.
Pros
- Financing options
- Leave with a well-rounded portfolio
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Lifetime access to course content
- Promo codes are automatically applied
- Available in 18 languages
Cons
- Fully asynchronous
- Last updated 1/2024
- No scholarship options
- No job guarantee
ZTM: Java Programming Bootcamp: Zero to Mastery
ZTM's Java bootcamp offers a thorough education in clean code writing, covering object-oriented programming, exception handling, file I/O, and functional programming. The program includes 80+ exercises and 18 quizzes, culminating in the development of games like Wordle, Hangman, Tic-Tac-Toe, and Trivial Pursuit.
Taught by Maaike van Putten, a skilled software developer, and BrightBoost founder, the course caters to beginners and provides certificates upon completion, with ongoing monthly course updates.
Price: $23 per month, $279 per year, or $999 once to access all of ZTM’s courses, live career advice, and a Discord forum with more than 400,000 members.
Time commitment: 30 days; 12 hours of learning material
Best for: People who know nothing of Java and want to become full-blown backend developers. Plus, a subscription to this site—included in the payment—gives you access to life skills, design, Web3, and other bootcamps.
Pros
- Financing options
- Live interactive virtual classes
- Part-time and full-time options
- Leave with a well-rounded portfolio
- Access to other programs
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- No scholarship options
- No job guarantee
Frequently asked questions
Are Java bootcamps worth it?
Yes, a Java bootcamp is worth it. Bootcamps are intense, hyper-focused spurts that can catch students up to speed and help them enter the workforce, oftentimes faster and cheaper than pursuing a multi-year degree.
Can I learn Java in 9 months?
Yes, you can learn Java in 9 months. Learning the basics of Java might take some time, but you should be able to get a good grip on the language by the end of one of these bootcamps. It’s important to remember that mastering a skill from top to bottom can take a lifetime.
