Claim Academy graduates have gone on to work at over 200 companies world wide.  This includes large, Fortune 500 companies such as Boeing, ABInBev, Mercy Health, IBM, Bayer-Monstanto, Scottrade, Carfax, Mastercard, FedEx, Centene, NGA, Daugherty, Eagle Technology, Clearant, and Equifax.

The most common roles for graduates to claim are full-stack software developer, software engineer, front-end engineer, back-end engineer, and quality engineer.  Depending on your course of study you could also be a cybersecurity specialist or a UI/UX designer.  Claim Academy also gives a good foundation for people who are interested in Agile and Scrum methodologies and want to be a project manager for a tech company.

Demand for programming jobs in America outstrips current supply by such a wide margin that companies of all shape and size are clamoring for entry-level talent. By 2020 the US Bureau of Statistics expects there to be 1.4 million technology jobs left unfilled. Many companies greatest need is for for entry-level talent. We’ve focused our curriculum on the needs the job market demands in technology.

Full-Time:

Most full-time courses take 12 weeks, Cybersecurity takes 14 weeks.

We expect students to be spending around 50-70 hours per week on Claim Academy work depending on the week. This includes both the nine or ten hours on-site at Claim Academy (if attending classes in person, not online) as well as time required outside of class to complete all assignments and projects.

Part-Time

Part-time courses take 20 weeks.

We expect students to be spending around 30-40 hours per week on Claim Academy work depending on the week. This includes both the 3 hours on-site at Claim Academy (if attending classes in person, not online) as well as time required outside of class to complete all assignments and projects.

For full-time Claim Academy students, this may be a typical day:

Block 1: Solo or pair programming.  Complete assignments and homework that was assigned the previous day by the instructor.

Block 2: Studying and work on projects.  During this time, students have access to a teaching assistant that can help them in areas where they are getting stuck.  Many students spend time watching online tutorials for reinforcement, reading the text book, quizzing each other and practicing recently introduced topics.

Block 3: Instructor led lecture.  Qualified engineers come in to teach students the object oriented programming principles and guide them through learning the basics of full-stack development.

Claim Academy also gives students the opportunity to interact with employers throughout their enrollment.  Employers come in to talk about their companies and the types of entry level positions they have available at least every other week.

There are also special student graduate presentations that occur every other week, where students have the opportunity to talk to recent graduates of Claim Academy, ask them questions about their time at Claim, what their job search was like, and how they are adjusting to their new jobs as software engineers.

So, you’re ready to apply to Claim Academy. Congratulations! We’re glad you’re interested in one (or more) of our classes. Our programs will prepare you for the tech jobs that St. Louis businesses need, and this is the first step towards your new programming career. Here’s a step-by-step guide through our application process:

• The initial interview provides you the opportunity to meet with a Student Affairs Advisor. The Student Affairs Advisor will ask basic questions to help determine if you are a good fit for the Claim Academy as well as an opportunity to see if Claim Academy is a good fit for you. Claim Academy recommends you begin applying for financial aid at this time.
• If you are found to be qualified to move to the next step you will need to register for pre-course work. The pre-course work is free and provides an opportunity for you to develop a level of confidence in order to see if this is something you are willing to invest your time and money into. This also provides Claim Academy an opportunity to initially assess your ability to successfully deal with the rigors of the program.
• After the you have successfully completed the pre-course work, you must arrange for a technical interview. During the technical interview, the instructor will ask questions about the solutions provided to assess the logic applied to your solution, and to verify that you were the one who provided the solution.
• When you have successfully defended your technical challenge, you will be encouraged to register for your selected program by completing the Claim Academy Enrollment Form and finalize payment arrangements before the start of the program orientation.

The prerequisite process allows students with the greatest potential to succeed in the program to move forward. Each student has a substantial financial and time investment in the program. This process provides the best opportunity for only students with the skills necessary for success to risk such an investment.

We currently offer classes in Java, C#/.NET, Javascript, and Cybersecurity.

Java and C#:
Both Java and C# are taught as frameworks based around a single object-oriented programming language. This includes work with the full stack of development tools available for each framework, from databases, to web deployment, to object-relation database mapping, to version control, to unit testing, everything that you’ll need to succeed as a developer! C#/.NET and Java are a good option if you are interested in how web applications work behind the scenes.  If you prefer using a framework that is heavily supported by a single company (Microsoft), C#/.NET might be for you. C#/.NET is used by many enterprise companies around the world.  If you prefer using open-source tools with a bit more flexibility in the developer stack, you might like Java more. Java is used by a lot of large companies as well as start-ups and Java developers have an easier time transitioning to mobile app development in the future.

Javascript:

According to a June 2019 Web Technology Surveys Report, JavaScript is used by over 95% of all websites. This course is specifically designed for students that are interested in diving into modern front-end development and exploring JavaScript React. In addition to basic programming principles, students will learn about state management, database modeling (using MongoDB), and how to write unit tests (using Mocha JS). Javascript might be right for you in you are more interested in making web applications looks their best.

Cybersecurity:

From individuals, to businesses, to the U.S. Government, employers are struggling to find qualified entry-level cybersecurity professionals to maintain secure systems and protect from cyber attacks. Students  learn how to implement security measures and controls by establishing protocols to protect digital files and information systems against unauthorized access, modification and/or destruction. Cybersecurity will cover topics such as full-stack development (in Python), security application, perimeter security, cloud security and wifi security.  Students in the Cybersecurity program also receive one free CompTIA Security+ examination as part of their tuition, so it’s possible to graduate with both the Claim Academy certificate and an accreditations from CompTIA Security+.  This course is a bit longer than our others, and students need to be prepared to commit to learning full-time for 14 weeks.  You might be a good fit for this course if you have a keen attention to detail and background or interest in security or information technology. 

All of our classes are built around jobs the market demands. If you’re looking to make a career as a programmer, any of these classes could be perfect for you.  There are plenty of jobs available locally in St. Louis or nationally.  Our classes are available full-time or part-time and can be taken in person at Claim Academy or online.  Now is a great time to start a new career as a software developer because the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be over 1.5 million unfilled software developer positions by the end of 2020. We provide you with the skills necessary to land an entry-level position in software development.

For details on the costs of Claim Academy, please visit our Tuition Page.  You can find details about class costs, financing options, and scholarships.

Yes. You will need a laptop that you can move easily between home and class. For Java, any operating system will work (except for ChromeOS/Chromebooks), be it Linux, Mac, or Windows. For .NET, Windows machines are required, preferably running Windows 7 or later.

It certainly helps to have a programming language already under your belt, but it’s not a requirement. The strongest candidates will have already used free online resources to learn as much programming as they could in their free time, will have built a few basic applications in some language, and have the drive and motivation to spend lots of time learning and developing a new skill.

Some candidates excel in the interview process without previous experience. The application process includes basic programming work. If you can handle the challenges we send you, you’ll do just fine in the class and in your future career as a programmer. Give it a shot!

Yes!  We are currently proud to be able to offer the following scholarships:

Women in Technology Scholarship: $500

Ethnic Minority Scholarship: $500

College Upgrade Scholarship: $1000 *Eligible within 1 year of high school graduation or GED receipt

Veteran Scholarship: $500 *Proof of veteran good- standing status is required.

If you’re a self-directed and driven go-getter with a passion for learning and technology looking to change careers into a full-time programming position, we’d love to see you in class.  If you are looking to make a change in your life, and have between 12-20 week that you can dedicate to improving your career and getting a higher salary, anyone can succeed at this program as long as you focus and stick with it.  Claim Academy has a variety of resources to help students succeed and land their dream jobs in technology.