Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


South Carolina Offering Free Online Coding Courses for All Residents

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 11/08/18
SC Codes courses

SC Codes' course catalog

South Carolina has introduced free coding education for all of its residents through an agreement between the state's Department of Commerce Office of Innovation and Build Carolina, a nonprofit that generates internships, apprenticeships and other education endeavors in innovative fields. "SC Codes," as the program is called, currently provides basic online courses for JavaScript, command line basics, Ruby, Ruby on Rails and, soon, Java and React.js.

Beyond the training, the SC Codes website connects students with industry mentors, local events for coders and job openings in tech-related fields.

The program began with a pilot in 2016. The learning platform was created and made available by the former leadership of a coding bootcamp operator, Iron Yard Academy, which has since closed down.

"The beauty of the platform is that anyone who wants to learn to code can access educational resources that are specific to the needs of employers right here in our state," said Lelia King, executive director of Build Carolina, in a statement. "South Carolina is leading the charge when it comes to removing barriers to technical education, which will have a direct impact on our workforce, our innovative employers and our economy."

The statewide effort is in response to a robust technology industry, which grew by about 2,520 jobs last year and contributed some $10.8 billion to South Carolina's economy, according to COMPTIA's Cyberstates 2018 analysis. Tech jobs in the state number about 82,500, and the tech industry employs 62,500, the report stated.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Abstract neural network 3D illustration

    Intel® AI EmpowerED: The AI-Ready Campus, Delivered

    Artificial intelligence is transforming higher education, prompting institutions to rethink how they manage infrastructure, security, governance, and workforce readiness. Successful adoption requires a strategic, institution-wide approach that aligns AI initiatives with educational goals, faculty enablement, and scalable operational frameworks.

  • Minimalist binary data fragmentation

    Fragmented Data Is Quietly Undermining Student Success and Cybersecurity Hygiene

    Siloed tools, teams, budgets, and resources spread across departments and campuses generate massive amounts of data. However, fragmentation creates unnecessary exposure to security threats and inadvertently reduces student support because no one can see the whole picture.

  • broken digital lock and glowing chain

    Cybersecurity Researchers: AI Has Crossed into the Live Attack Chain

    AI is moving beyond assisting cybercriminals and beginning to operate within live attacks, according to a new report from Check Point Research. The technology is making sophisticated capabilities faster and more accessible while creating new security risks for businesses deploying their own AI systems.

  • Abstract background with digital shield made of data particles glowing blue blocking against cyber attacks

    Report: AI Attacks Push Organizations Toward Autonomous Cybersecurity Defense

    Artificial intelligence is raising the stakes of cyber conflict as attackers use the technology to accelerate reconnaissance, uncover vulnerabilities, and launch attacks faster than many security teams can respond.