The Treehouse Techdegree program allows students to earn a verifiable certification to show potential employers. The program is for those interested in entering the programming workforce after graduation.
We know you have a lot of of questions about this new program, so we put together a guide to help you get acquainted.
What Is the Techdegree Program?
Techdegree is an alternative to traditional schooling and certification programs. Upon completion of a Treehouse Techdegree you will have a certification that can be used to gain employment in the development world.
Simply put, it’s an educational program that employs programming projects, mentorship opportunities, code reviews, and a final proctored exam.
Ultimately, once you’ve earned a Techdegree in a subject you have all the necessary tools required to enter the workforce.
How Do I Sign Up?
Unfortunately, the Techdegree program is only open to a select group of Treehouse students at the moment. It will be opened up for everyone at a future date, which the Treehouse team has yet to disclose.
This means if you are an existing Treehouse student – with an active subscription – you get first dibs.
Treehouse claims they “only have a limited amount of space,” so hurry and sign-up if you’re interested in being one of the pioneers.
What Topics or Languages Can I Choose?
At the moment, there are Techdegree course for the following languages:
- Front End Web Development (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript)
- Full Stack JavaScript
- Python Web Development
- iOS Development
The Treehouse may expand the list with additional topics later.
How Long Does a TechDegree Program Take to Complete?
The length of time it takes to complete a Techdegree depends on the topic. Certain languages require more time to master.
The general pattern is this: Students submit projects every two weeks for a review. If the project passes on the first try and doesn’t require further editing, you can move on to the next project in the curriculum.
If you master every project on the first try, you could complete a Techdegree in about six months. Because it’s unlikely that you will master every project, you should plan to attend the course for longer.
The Treehouse team estimates:
- Front End Web Development will take 150-190 hours
- Full Stack JavaScript will take 240-280 hours
- iOS will take 220-260 hours
- Python Web Development will take 190-230 hours
How Are the Courses Different from Regular Treehouse Courses?
Interestingly, they’re not. The Techdegree courses are the same courses you can take with a standard Treehouse subscription. Yet, there are differences that make Techdegree courses ideal for aspiring developers.
For starters, every Techdegree course has a final proctored exam. These exams last for a total of two hours and will test your knowledge of everything you learned. If you pass the exam, you earn a certificate that you can show employers. You can not earn a certificate for completing a standard Treehouse course.
In addition, Techdegree courses have extra projects you must complete throughout the course. You can add these to your professional portfolio as examples of your technological prowess.
Since one of the first things employers look for is experience, this will help you land a job faster after completing the program(s).
These are the extra features that separate the Techdegree program from standard Treehouse courses:
- One-on-one mentorship opportunities
- 12 unique projects with personalized reviews and feedback
- Exclusive Slack channel for community support
- Proctored final exam
- Verifiable certificate for those who pass the course
- Learn to code with real-world tools such as in IDE or development studio
As a bonus, if you already completed a course with the same Treehouse account you use to sign-up for the Techdegree, then it will also be completed for the program. So, you can skip lessons that you’ve already completed if you’re a regular Treehouse member.
How Much Does a TechDegree Cost?
Treehouse now has a flat rate of $199 per course!
It’s also important to remember that you only need to pay (per month) while you are enrolled in the Techdegree program. Once you have earned your certificate you are no longer required to pay the monthly fee.
Front End Web Development: $199/month
Full Stack JavaScript: $199/month
iOS Development: $199/month
Python Web Development: $199/month
If you’d like more information about Treehouse Techdegrees head to the official portal.
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
