Deadline Nears to Apply for an IT Readiness Certificate Program in Rogers

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – People seeking information technology skills can apply by March 27 for a six-month training program designed to prepare workers for entry-level programming and coding jobs.

Participants can apply online for the IT Readiness Certificate Program. Classes begin March 30 and 31 at the U of A Global Campus in Rogers, 3300 Market St.

Participants will gather two nights per week and alternating Saturdays. The cost is $1,799 for Arkansas residents and $1,999 for out-of-state residents. Financial assistance is available to those who are eligible.

“Our network of industry experts and educational partners continue to play a vital role in the growth of the IT Readiness Program,” said Mark Berkowick, assistant director of workforce readiness for the Global Campus in Rogers. “IT Readiness partners hire our program graduates and help ensure that our programs align with the industry needs of Northwest Arkansas. We are excited for the next round of entry-level courses to start this spring.”

Learners can choose one of three paths:

• Back-End Web Development begins March 30. Participants will learn back-end web application development using Node.js and MongoDB. JavaScript will be used throughout the course to teach how to create APIs. Discussions will also hit on how front-end web applications will utilize APIs in production scenarios.

• Front-End Web Development begins March 31. Participants will learn several technologies, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript frameworks. Classes explore how front-end applications interact with APIs and other back-end technologies.

• Java Development begins March 30. Participants will learn how to program in the Java language and recognize object-oriented programming concepts that are applicable across languages. They will also learn how to create interfaces into programs via the console or web services.

The Global Campus and its industry partners in Northwest Arkansas launched the IT Readiness Program with entry-level programming and coding classes in 2015 through the support of a Regional Workforce Planning Grant. Additional grants from the Department of Higher Education in 2016 and 2018 enabled the Global Campus to add advanced training workshops.

A full list of training opportunities are showcased on the University of Arkansas Professional and Workforce Development website.

About the Global Campus: The Global Campus supports U of A colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online, distance and workforce education programs and courses. It provides instructional design services, technology services and assistance with marketing, recruiting and strategic academic development.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 3% of colleges and universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.