Online ExpertTrack in IT & Computer Science

Software Development Fundamentals

4.0 (5 reviews)

Develop the foundations of a digital technology career, from Agile project management to HTML basics.

438 enrolments

Created by

FutureLearnFutureLearn

Learn more

In collaboration with

MuleSoftMuleSoft

Learn more

Endorsed by

Coventry UniversityCoventry University

Learn more

Build your skills and understanding of software development as a practice

Would you like to move into a career in software development? This ExpertTrack has been created to provide a broad introduction to software development.

If there’s one certainty about the future, it’s that it will be even more digital than it is now. All of the largest companies will be software companies at their core, like YouTube, Spotify and Uber. Now, banking, retail, education and telehealth are also set to become more digital. This means the demand for software development skills is going to continue to grow. This course is designed for those who want to start a career in software development, as well as those who want to improve their understanding of software development to enhance their job performance.

Understand why developers use Agile vs Waterfall processes

This ExpertTrack will guide you through the foundations of the software development process, so that you’re able to define it, and compare various project management methodologies.

You’ll be able to compare Agile and Waterfall frameworks, and understand the benefits and drawbacks of each approach when creating and refining software.

Define programming languages, HTML, and CSS

Programming languages like Python, Java, C#, R, and PHP are the building blocks of software development. You’ll learn about the most popular ones and understand the applications and differences between them. You’ll also understand the applications of HTML in programming and CSS styling elements, so that you can begin to build your development vocabulary.

Get ready for your digital technology career

Grow the practical knowledge you need for a career within the tech sector. You’ll be introduced to Agile project management methodologies, and commonly used development tools, including cloud service models so you know what to expect in your first job.

By the end of this ExpertTrack, you’ll be better equipped to participate in development conversations and you’ll have the foundational knowledge, understanding and experience you need to start your career in digital technology.

Industry statistics

  • Median base salary

    £35,000
  • UK job openings/month

    1,841

Key skills you will learn

  • Software Development
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • Agile
  • Project Management
  • Product Development
  • Programming
  • Cloud computing

Learning outcomes

By the end of the ExpertTrack, you’ll be able to...

  • Define the software development process
  • Compare various project management methodologies
  • Apply HTML and CSS markup to online page design
  • Compare testing methods
  • Investigate approaches for deployment and maintenance
  • Compare cloud service models

Experience required

This ExpertTrack will give you the confidence to understand and participate in development conversations and have the foundations to enter a digital technology career.

No prior is experience required to succeed in this ExpertTrack.

Getting started

This ExpertTrack will grow your confidence in working with development teams and understand the challenges they face. It’s suitable for:

  • someone aiming to enter the digital sector
  • anyone looking to change careers into an entry-level role as a developer, or to establish foundations for a development career
  • established technology professionals looking to better understand software development and round out their skill set
  • an entrepreneur with a business or product idea that needs some basic understanding of software development to assess the viability of their idea

ExpertTrack course overview

  • Course 1

    4.0 (5 reviews)

    An introduction to project management and its role within software development.

    1 test

    4 weeks

    4 hours per week

    • Week 1

      Introduction to software development fundamentals
      • Introduction to the course
      • What is software development?
      • Weekly Wrap-up
    • Week 2

      Project management and Agile in software development
      • Introduction
      • Managing software development projects
      • Agile in action
      • Wrap-up
    • Week 3

      Designing software solutions
      • Introduction
      • Scope and Customer Requirements Definition
      • Weekly Wrap-up
    • Week 4

      Requirements and planning
      • Introduction
      • Backlog, User Stories, Personas
      • Development team and sprint planning
      • Course Wrap-up
  • Course 2

    Learn about software architecture and programming languages in this software development course.

    1 test

    4 weeks

    4 hours per week

    • Week 1

      Introduction to the course and software development
      • Introduction
      • Designing applications
      • Programming languages
      • Weekly wrap-up
    • Week 2

      Setting up a development environment
      • Introduction
      • Frameworks and language choice
      • Setting up a development environment
      • Wrap-up
    • Week 3

      Introduction to HTML and designing for the web
      • Introduction
      • Designing for the web
      • Getting started with HTML
      • Weekly Wrap-up
    • Week 4

      Advanced HTML elements and building your first application
      • Introduction
      • Advanced HTML elements
      • Course Wrap-up
  • Course 3

    Explore web accessibility and CSS styling sheets in this course created in collaboration with MuleSoft.

    1 test

    4 weeks

    4 hours per week

    • Week 1

      Developing your application further
      • Introduction
      • Accessibility
      • Styling your app with CSS
      • Weekly Wrap-up
    • Week 2

      Styling text and CSS layouts
      • Introduction
      • Styling text and CSS layouts
      • Weekly Wrap-up
    • Week 3

      Software testing
      • Introduction
      • Testing
      • Weekly Wrap-up
    • Week 4

      Deployment, maintenance, and working with the cloud
      • Introduction
      • Deployment and maintenance
      • Developing in the cloud
      • Course Wrap-up

Prove you're job ready

Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your ExpertTrack.

  • Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
  • Complete each course and pass assessments.
  • Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
  • Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
  • Make your career dreams a reality.

Download a PDF

How ExpertTracks work

Join an ExpertTrack to master new skills in your chosen specialist area. Work through a series of topic-focused courses at your own pace, and pass the final assessment to earn a digital certificate award which proves your expertise.

Join a free 2-day trial

Decide if the ExpertTrack is right for you with free access to the full suite of courses and assessments for a week.

Keep learning for $39/month

Pay a monthly subscription fee of $39 for as long as it takes you to complete the ExpertTrack. You can learn at your own pace and cancel at any time.

Earn digital certificates

Receive a certificate for every completed course and pass the final assessment to earn a digital certificate.

Become an expert

Use your specialist training to progress further in your career or build expertise in areas you’re passionate about.

World-class learning with FutureLearn

FutureLearn is a leading social learning platform and has been providing high quality online courses for learners around the world over the last ten years.

This ExpertTrack is in collaboration with MuleSoft

With insights provided by leading industry technology partner MuleSoft, learn to drive business success through software development.

This ExpertTrack is endorsed by Coventry University

This ExpertTrack is endorsed by Coventry University and delivered by FutureLearn as a quality professional development programme.

Meet your instructor

Lewin delivers high quality, scalable software that behaves predictably and fails gracefully. He understands how to make effective tradeoffs between new features, system complexity and technical debt.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

What are our learners saying?

Add a new skill or forge a new path

"I recommend Futurelearn to anyone looking to learn and upskill...If you are in the job market, you might want to add a new skill or forge a new path."

They bring the classroom right to you

"FutureLearn courses are always interesting and informative. They bring the classroom right to you and send you on a journey to explore new ideas and offer interesting topics."

Start learning today - free 2-day trial

After your free trial you can:

  • Pay $39 per month to keep learning online
  • Have complete control over your subscription; you can cancel any time
  • Work at your own pace and set your own deadlines at every stage
  • Only pay while you’re learning; the subscription will cancel automatically when you finish
  • Complete online assessments to test your knowledge and prove your skills
  • Earn digital course certificates and a final award that you can share online, with potential employers, and your professional network
  • Keep access to the content of courses you complete even after your subscription ends

FAQ

ExpertTracks are a series of online courses designed to help you master new skills in specialist areas. You pay a monthly subscription fee which includes access to all courses within the ExpertTrack, as well as assessments and the final digital certificate.

Each ExpertTrack comes with a 2-day free trial period. You may cancel your subscription at any time and your subscription will automatically cancel when you finish the courses and assessments in your chosen ExpertTrack.

Yes. All of our ExpertTracks come with a 2-day free trial. You may claim one free trial period per ExpertTrack.

You have two days before you will be charged your first monthly subscription fee. When you join an ExpertTrack you automatically receive a 2-day free trial period. You can cancel at any time during the trial period and no payment will be taken from your account.

Please see our full refund policy here.

No, all of our ExpertTracks consist of fully online courses. This means you can take an ExpertTrack from anywhere in the world.

No. ExpertTracks are designed for you to master new skills in a specialist area. You will earn a digital certificate that proves your learning, but it does not carry accreditation.

If you’re looking for certified or accredited courses, many of our microcredentials offer university credit or professional certification.

Have more questions about ExpertTracks? Read the ExpertTracks FAQs, or contact us.