Web Developer
180 ECTS credits
Study programme
This programme is designed for those of you who are interested in web development from different perspectives. You will learn how to technically develop websites and web-based systems by using current programming languages and techniques. You will also develop your knowledge of how systems can be evaluated and designed based on the user's needs (so-called interaction design). Throughout the programme, information systems runs as a common thread, i.e. the connection between and the combination of information technology (IT), businesses and people. Through the studies in the programme, you thus gain knowledge in web development, interaction design and system design.
Education level:
Basic level
Prerequisites
General admission requirements and Mathematics 2a or 2b or 2c and Civics 1b or 1a1 + 1a2.
While studying
Education
In the course of the training there is the opportunity to specialise in either programming for a web platform and/or interaction design. The latter involves specifying and evaluating the interaction potential of websites, apps, or other multimedia products.The first term includes foundational courses in systems development. The second term has a focus on web development. In the second year there is a 20-week web development project (term 3) and a 20-week period of elective courses (term 4), for instance, a term of studies abroad. In the third year students specialise further in, for example, interaction design with user focus or programming.
Form of Instruction
The studies involve fulltime job. The scheduled teaching varies and many courses include seminars and project work. Students are required to participate actively in the courses which also include independent studies.Theory is a vital part of the programme and theoretical studies alternate with production exercises, thus applying theory in practice.
Examination
Each course is assessed separately. Common examination formats are written exams, group assignments, reports, seminars and thesis projects. Examination usually takes place at the end of each course, module, or unit.Study Abroad
During your Web Developer programme, you have an opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad at one of Karlstad University's exchange partners, the fourth semester. A semester abroad builds upon the competences and knowledge you develop during your studies, you will enhance your communication skills and intercultural skills, and you may even select to study a new subject area - all of which improves your CV for future employers. Karlstad University has exchange agreements with over 200 partner universities, located in more than 35 countries. Students from Web Developer can spend the semester in universities such as the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, USA; Unversidade de Lisboa, Portugal and University of Siena, Italy. You may also complete aspects of your final thesis data collection abroad. To discover more about these opportunities, visit our Study Abroad website, link to the right.Professional Contact
As a Web Developer student, you have good opportunities to build your network, make contacts with professionals and meet future employers during your studies. Through SNITS (a Network of IT students and business), Kontaktgarantin (Karlstad Municipality) and ITQ (a network for women studying IT), you as a student have close contact with the IT industry. Among other things, you will have a opportunity to participate in lunch meetings, go on study visits, apply for a mentor and complete an internship and / or degree project at a company or organization.Professionals and guest lecturers regularly participate in our courses. You can also carry out traineeships and degree projects at organizations you contact yourself both here in Sweden and abroad. During the latter part of your programme starting term 4, there is the opportunity to connect with a mentor from working life.
Since the Web Developer program is part of Karlstad Business School, you also have an opportunity to connect with business contacts through the Business School's lunch meetings.
Karlstad University also offers activities to get in touch with working life, for example through the job fair Hotspot.
Course of study
| Semester 1 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Prototyping: To Explore and Communicate Design Concepts (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Enterprise and Information Technology (IT) (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Acquisition of Information Systems (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Introduction to programming (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 2 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Introduction to object-oriented programming (Obligatory) | 5 |
| HTML and CSS for Webdevelopment (Obligatory) | 5 |
| Systems Implementation Techniques (Obligatory) | 5 |
| JavaScript for Webdevelopment (Obligatory) | 5 |
| Portable Formats (Obligatory) | 5 |
| Serverside programming in JavaScript (Obligatory) | 5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 3 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Database Design (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Software Development (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Development of web applications (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Nosql databases (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
| Semester 4 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Information Systems - Smaller Thesis Work (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Web Design II (Optional) | 15 |
| C#.NET (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Business by Web and Web Analytics (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Information Systems: International Practical Placement (Optional) | 15 |
| Accessibility of Digital Services and Digital Documents (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Optional course (Optional) | 30 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
| Semester 5 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| User tests, prototyping and evaluation (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| Interaction Design (Obligatory) | 7.5 |
| App development for Mobile e-services (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Design Patterns, Java, and UML (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Informations Systems: Practical Training (Optional) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30*
| Semester 6 | ECTS credits |
|---|---|
| Information Systems - Bachelor´s thesis (Obligatory) | 15 |
| Systems Integration (Optional) | 7.5 |
| Software Testing Foundations (Optional) | 7.5 |
Total ECTS credits:
30
*Full-time study always equals 30 ECTS credits per semester (20 weeks).
Elective course: Students are free to choose among certain alternative courses, often depending on their choice of specialisation.
Optional course: Students are free to choose any course offered at Karlstad University or at other universities. Courses listed are examples of recommended or frequently chosen courses for a specific programme.
Läsårs- och programvärderingar
Start semester Autumn 2018
Start semester Autumn 2019
Start semester Autumn 2020
Future prospects
Employment Market
If you want to get into working life quickly, you can graduate with a higher education diploma after two years of study. For those of you who want to deepen your knowledge in interaction design, or web programming, there is the opportunity to continue to a third year and complete a bachelor's degree.There is a great need for qualified labour in both the IT industry and in other companies and organisations that use or provide IT solutions in various ways.
The web developer programme gives you good conditions for working as a web developer in companies and organisations or as a self-employed person in web and interactive media. If you choose to study for three years, you will also gain knowledge about usability and interaction design (User experience, UX). Consultants focused on usability, accessibility and interaction design are becoming an increasingly common professional group and are important both in the external web and in company internal intranet solutions.
Degree
Depending on whether you study for two or three years, the programme concludes with a Higher Education Diploma or a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Information Systems.Further Studies
Upon completion of the programme with a Bachelor's degree, you can go on to further studies at Master's level, such as a Master's programme (60 or 120 credits) in Information Systems.Karlstad University currently offers the following program that might be of interest:
Master Programme in Information Systems