LaunchSchool: An online school for Software Engineers

The Slow Path for Studious Learners to a Career in Software Development

Structured Curriculum from First Principles

Our program is about slowly building up mastery of fundamentals, so you understand how higher level abstractions truly work from the bottom up. Our goal isn't to teach you how to use React or Rails, but to show you how to construct accurate mental representations of first principles in order to tackle fundamental engineering problems. Our goal isn't to help you find a job, but help you launch a career. Our goal isn't to teach you to code, but to teach you how to deconstruct and problem solve like an engineer.

By Software Engineers for Future Software Engineers

Launch School was founded by experienced software engineers. We know what it takes to not only break into software, but to build and grow a career as an engineer in the software industry. Our objective is to increase your lifetime earnings by millions of dollars. This is what makes Launch School unique and why we focus on the long-term results of a career. Our curriculum was created by software engineers for future software engineers — you.

Focusing on the fundamentals of programming in the beginning was so very worth it. When I started on the front-end of the curriculum, I was worried learning JavaScript was going to be a stumbling block. Learning about programming, problem solving and Ruby had been difficult for me. But because I did spend the time to master PEDAC and the fundamentals of programming I picked up JavaScript without too much difficulty. The focus on critical thinking and systematic problem solving has been a game changer to how I approach problems and given me confidence in my abilities to solve any challenge I face.

Stephanie Malek

All of my professional experience has been in recruiting, which is basically sales. When I first joined Launch School, I wasn't sure if I had what it took to solve technical problems. However, I trusted the process. I'm now astounded by some of the more difficult problems I'm able to solve. A good education is supposed to be transformational. Launch School delivers on that promise.

Hernando Delgado

I had many ideas for building web projects but didn't know where to start. After working through the fundamentals, I feel like I have built the necessary mental frameworks to build and launch those projects. What's more important is that now I know how to break down project ideas into database structure design and implementation details.

Genie Guo

I think the overall guided mastery-based approach has been the biggest, most helpful aspect of Launch School so far. My experience with programming before LS was mostly self-directed, and while I naturally approach challenges by pursuing mastery, the breadth of the field was very intimidating. The guidance and curriculum here has opened so many doors for me. Excited to continue!

Scott Hoecker

With the knowledge learned even just in the back-end portion, I feel confident enough that I could apply for software dev jobs now that I would have had no business applying for even three months ago; let alone, that I can write my own real-world applications now.

Nicole

My ability to maintain high-level and low-level technical conversations at work discussing everything from implementation to problem-solving has grown exponentially. It's made me closer to the engineers I partner with and broadened my capacity at work.

Nabil Kazerouni

"We're one of the oldest and largest coding schools in the world."

Our Learning Goals

The key to unlocking higher level understanding and skills that last a career is focusing on fundamentals. We designed our curriculum with the following learning goals.

Fundamentals first, fundamentals throughout
A focus on learning things that don't change
Learn slowly and deliberately

Learn to be proficient, not just build awareness
Learn to understand problems, not solutions
Learn in a circular fashion

Our students love us, and if you are committed to building a career in software development, you will too

Sienna Wood

Denver

Software Engineer

Experts always return to fundamentals because they are the foundation on which everything else is built. Launch School’s core program embodies this principle by emphasizing mastery of fundamentals through purposeful individual study.

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Steve Kolock

New York

Front-end Developer

I got a different role making significantly more than twice what I had been making as a 'web specialist', putting me firmly in six-figure

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Letladi Sebesho

Johannesburg, South Africa

Full Stack Developer at Co-Foundy

This programme opened possibilities for me that would have taken me years to reach

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Sunny Beatteay

New York City

Software Engineer

From the first glance, it was apparent that Launch School had been founded by industry veterans. I have never encountered a curriculum more in-depth and rigorous

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A Serious Training Curriculum That's Designed to Launch a Career

Core Curriculum

Mastery of Fundamentals

Capstone

Launch Your Career

Complete the Core Curriculum courses and pass their assessments, and you'll have mastered the fundamentals. Participate in our Capstone Program, and you'll launch a career.