As more and more of yesterday's industries give way to new ones, it is becoming less uncommon for older students to go back to school to learn a new trade. In that regard, this trend has helped to fuel the growth of online educational opportunities. For those interested in a career in web development, there are many online web development degree options. These online degree programs offer the flexibility of going to class at days and times that work for your busy schedule. This allows older students to maintain their day job while training for a new career in their off hours.

If you have experience with web design, an interest in website coding, servers, or company intranets, an online web development degree program is worth considering. Such degrees provide a more in-depth education than simple website design. Website design focuses on the design elements of a website. These are the things site visitors see when they land on a particular website. That includes color schemes, graphic images, tables, sitemaps, and navigation menus. On the other hand, web development encompasses all of these things and more. Students study databases, scripts, mark ups, coding, server technologies, network security protocols and configurations, and much more.

For those looking to change careers, there are promising trends in the area of web development that make online web development degree programs even more appealing. In the ten years between 1995 and 2005, the number of web development companies grew from less than 1,000 to over 30,000 nationwide. That does not include the number of web development professionals hired as part of in-house staff for large corporations, government agencies, and other organizations. This growth in web development demand is due, in part, to consumers demanding more interactivity from websites and stronger security for their personal information.

Given that new media continues to grow exponentially every year, with developments in social networking and media sharing, smart phones, mobile computing devices, and other technological advancements, consumers will continue to expect more from even the most basic websites. Whereas ten years ago a company only needed a simple, static website with 10 pages or less, today's websites boast videos, instant downloads, encrypted security protocols, multimedia presentations, and the ability for visitors to customize their experience. This means that those who invest in their education through online web development degree programs are well positioned for a sustainable and often lucrative career change.

Completing an online web development degree program does not guarantee future success. However, not completing the program guarantees decided lack of success as a web developer. Granted, there is much available to teach non-students about web development and it is conceivable that a student could find alternate sources to self-educate. However, there is no way to prove this experience or education. Whereas years ago computer experts of all shapes, sizes, and specialties were all self-taught, it is simply not practical in today's competitive job market. Self-taught skills are not valued as much as certifications, diplomas, and degrees which provide proof of skills.