Build Real Programming Skills from Scratch
Six-month intensive program starting September 2025
Learning to code isn't about memorizing syntax or watching endless tutorials. It's about understanding how software actually works and building things that solve problems. Our program takes complete beginners through a hands-on journey where you'll write code from day one.
Most people think programming is some mysterious talent you're either born with or not. That's nonsense. It's a skill you develop through practice, feedback, and working through challenges that stretch what you know. We've designed this around how people actually learn, not how textbooks say they should.
Learn from Developers Who Actually Code
Ingrid Calloway - Lead Instructor
Ingrid spent twelve years building software for fintech companies before deciding to teach. She got tired of hiring junior developers who could recite algorithms but couldn't structure a real project. So she started training people the way she wished she'd been taught.
Her approach is straightforward. You learn concepts by applying them immediately. No theory without practice. No practice without understanding why. She's built this program around the mistakes she made learning to code and the patterns she's seen work across hundreds of students.
Mentorship That Goes Beyond Lectures
Dalmar Reznik - Technical Mentor
Dalmar works as a backend engineer at a logistics company during the day and mentors our students three evenings per week. He remembers struggling through his first programming job, wishing someone would just explain things in plain language instead of jargon.
His role is different from Ingrid's. While she teaches core concepts, Dalmar helps when you're stuck. He reviews your code, points out where your logic breaks down, and shows you how professionals think through problems. Students say his debugging sessions teach them more about real programming than any lecture could.
Real Projects, Real Feedback
Our Teaching Philosophy
We don't believe in toy exercises that teach you nothing about actual development. Every project you build serves a purpose. You'll create a task management system to understand databases. Build a weather dashboard to learn APIs. Develop a simple chat application to grasp how servers communicate with clients.
Each project gets reviewed twice. First by peers who are learning alongside you, which forces you to explain your decisions. Then by instructors who've seen these problems hundreds of times and can point out the subtle improvements that separate okay code from good code.
What You'll Actually Learn
Foundation Phase
Weeks 1-8
You'll start with Python because it reads almost like English and lets you focus on logic before worrying about syntax quirks. We cover variables, functions, loops, and conditionals through building small programs that do useful things.
- Write programs that process and analyze text files
- Build calculators that handle complex operations
- Create simple games to understand control flow
- Debug code by reading error messages properly
Data and Structure
Weeks 9-14
Most programs need to store and organize information. You'll learn how databases work, how to structure data efficiently, and how to retrieve exactly what you need when you need it.
- Design database schemas that make sense
- Write SQL queries to filter and aggregate data
- Build a contact management system from scratch
- Understand when to use lists versus dictionaries versus sets
Web Development Basics
Weeks 15-20
Shifting to JavaScript and learning how websites actually function. You'll build interfaces that respond to user actions and communicate with servers to fetch or save data.
- Create interactive web pages without frameworks
- Understand how browsers interpret your code
- Connect frontend interfaces to backend APIs
- Build a complete weather application using real data
Capstone Project
Weeks 21-24
You'll design and build a complete application that combines everything you've learned. This isn't a predetermined project - you choose what to build based on a problem you want to solve.
- Plan features and break them into manageable tasks
- Write code that other developers could maintain
- Handle edge cases and unexpected user behavior
- Present your work and explain technical decisions
Program Structure and Schedule
How Classes Work
We meet three times per week for three-hour sessions. Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 PM, plus Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM to noon. That's nine hours of direct instruction and practice time weekly.
Classes aren't lectures where you sit and take notes. Ingrid spends maybe thirty minutes introducing a concept, then you're coding. She walks around answering questions, pointing out common mistakes, sometimes stopping everyone to address an issue multiple people are hitting.
Between sessions, you'll work on assignments that typically take four to six hours to complete. Some weeks you'll finish early. Other weeks you'll struggle and need to reach out for help. That's normal and expected.
Class Size and Support
We cap enrollment at sixteen students. Any more and you lose the ability to get personalized feedback on your code. With sixteen, both instructors can review everyone's work and catch patterns in how you think through problems.
You'll have access to a private discussion forum where you can ask questions anytime. Dalmar usually responds within a few hours during weekdays. Other students jump in too, which often leads to better explanations than we could provide.
Start Date
September 2nd, 2025
Registration opens June 2025
Duration
24 weeks
Ending late February 2026
Time Commitment
15-18 hours per week
Including class sessions
What Happens After
This program teaches you to code. It doesn't guarantee you'll get hired as a software engineer next month. Some students land junior positions within a few weeks of finishing. Others need six months of building projects and studying for interviews. A few decide programming isn't for them after all, which is valuable to learn before investing years.
We help with practical next steps. Dalmar reviews your resume and portfolio. Ingrid does mock technical interviews. We connect you with our alumni working at local companies. But the actual job search is on you. We're honest about that upfront because false expectations help nobody.
Applications Open June 2025
We'll send program details, pricing information, and application requirements to everyone on our contact list. Getting in touch now doesn't reserve a spot, but we'll notify you as soon as enrollment opens.
Get Program Updates