If you want to learn the essentials of Android or iOS app development but don’t have thousands of dollars to spend, there’s a new “Nanodegree” iOS and Android developer degree program that won’t break your bank account–each costs just $200. The programs are offered by online education portal Udacity, and require a commitment of six to nine months at a minimum 10 hours per week.
The Android degree program is the latest from Udacity, which created the program with Google. In less than a year since Udacity’s Nanodegree program started, it has grown to include iOS development, web development, data analytics, and programming.
Android degree program
Udacity announced the Android Developer Nanodegree in conjunction with Google’s recent I/O developer conference, where Google announced Android 5.1 “M”. The Nanodegree program covers everything from the fundamentals to advanced development skills, as well as Google Play services and Material Design. Your real-life projects might include designing a media player and using Google’s services to build apps, and you’ll be graded by one of more than 300 experienced developers.
After finishing the Nanodegree program, you’ll receive a joint certificate from Udacity and Google. Fifty students of the new program will be invited to Google for a three-day summit in Mountain View at the end of the year, though the criteria for picking these students is so far unclear. The Android Developer Career Summit will feature developer sessions, interactions with hiring engineers, and a “Hackathon” event.
You can learn more and register for Udacity’s Android degree program here.
iOS degree program
Udacity is also still offering its iOS Developer Nanodegree, which is sponsored by AT&T. In the iOS degree program, you’ll build five portfolio-worthy iOS apps using Swift, which is Apple’s custom programming language developed specifically for building iOS and OS X apps.
You can learn more about the iOS Developer Nanodegree and sign up here.
Your choice: Nanodegree vs. free
If $200 is still too much for your budget, you can still take all Udacity courses for free, without a degree given. The difference is that the iOS and Android degree program include a degree certificate, community support, and individual support time from your instructor, if requested.
You’ll also have the opportunity to prepare for your new career with reviews of your online presence (resume, LinkedIn, portfolio), prepare for interviews, take part in workshops covering topics like networking and salary negotiation as well as take part in a new program facilitating job placement. You can see a list of program benefits here.
More languages and degree programs coming
If English is not your first or best language, you’ll be happy to know that Google is working to offer Nanodegrees localized for many countries. So far, Google says it has worked with the government of Egypt to translate its Android degree program content into Modern Standard Arabic. As a part of this initiative, Google is offering 2,000 scholarships and hosting job fairs and sessions for students in Egypt.
In the coming months, Google and Udacity are planning to launch three more Nanodegree programs in advanced web development, cloud computing and entrepreneurship.
