Schools
MHCC Will Offer Programming Certificate This Fall
The 42-credit certificate will teach students numerous programming languages, helping prepare them for employment in the gaming industry.
GRESHAM, OR - From Mt. Hood Community College: Ready to build the next Fruit Ninja or Angry Birds mobile application game? Mt. Hood Community College will begin offering classes this fall for a new Computer Game and Mobile Applications Programmer certificate.
This 42-credit certificate will teach students programming skills in multiple languages — including Swift, Unity, Python, HTML, and JavaScript — while offering training in User Interface and User Experience to prepare graduates to work as entry-level programmers.
Median starting salaries for entry-level programmers range from $60,000 to $100,000 in the Portland area.
Find out what's happening in Greshamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“There’s a ton of potential here,” said Erika Ruhl, an instructor of Game Design at MHCC. “Students can use this training to fast-track into a programming career with one of the many industry employers in this region.”
“This certificate program can also provide great professional development to existing programmers, or it can prepare entrepreneurs to pursue their passions,” she added.
Find out what's happening in Greshamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to a forecasting report from App Annie, the app economy is expected to reach $101 billion globally by 2020, approximately doubling in size over four years.
In 2015, mobile games made up about 85 percent — or $34.8 billion — of the global app market revenue.
Students in the Computer Game and Mobile Applications Programmer certificate program begin with classes in interface design and beginner game programming before moving on to courses in iOS mobile applications development and small games programming.
Additionally, certificate earners can continue in their educations to complete an associate degree in Business Management: Mobile Application Development and Marketing at MHCC.
(Sign up for our free daily newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Gresham Patch)
This new two-year degree is aimed at preparing new programmers and providing enhanced training to existing workers.
“Almost every business and public organization needs a mobile presence, often in the form of an app,” added Ruhl. “With this certificate and degree, we want to train workers to serve in a rapidly growing field – an industry where the skills gap is increasing year after year.”
Interested in learning more? Visit mhcc.edu/ComputerGameMobileAppProgrammerCurriculum
Image via Mt. Hood Community College