Why I Learned HTML & CSS as an English Major in College
And some of the benefits of learning them even if you are not looking to become a web developer.
I recently graduated from college which a Bachelor of Arts in English. During my last semester, I took a course called Professional Writing. To be honest, I didn’t fully know what the course entailed because there was no course description at the time of my registration. I decided to give it a shot anyway and see what would come of it.
It turns out that the course was focused on HTML, CSS, and building websites. I walked into class in a panic and thought to myself, “I don’t know anything about this! I’m about to earn an English degree, not a computer science degree! I’m going to fail this class, for sure.”
Two major thoughts popped into my head, how would this help me in my career path and how would I be able to pass this course? At that time I was set on becoming a full-time writer, and the only courses I had taken up until that point were based around writing and literature. I decided to stick it out for at least the first couple of classes, and then I would let myself make a decision about whether I would drop the course.
Turns out that staying in that course was the best decision I could make. I learned how much I loved working with HTML and CSS and how much I loved the process of building websites. I am now enrolled in two courses where I am learning even more about what I need to know to become a front-end developer!
That’s not the only reason why I stayed in the course, though. After a couple of classes, I knew that learning HTML and CSS would provide me with other types of benefits as well. Here are just a couple of the reasons why I stuck with it, and why you should consider learning it too even if you aren’t looking to become a developer.
It is a valuable skill
Sometimes, as a college student, you can get so distracted with the courses that are needed for your major that you forget to expand your horizons. It is important to fulfill the requirements of your major, but it is also important to experiment with other classes that you may not have even thought of taking.
If you expand the subject matter of your courses to more than just your major, you can stumble upon some really valuable classes.
Learning HTML and CSS is one of those valuable skills and classes that you can take, whether you are in university or not. You don’t need to be an expert on the internet, you just need to have the willingness and dedication to learn it.
One of the many reasons why learning this skill is valuable is because you would be able to learn how to build a website. Building a website can be helpful to you in so many ways, in your professional life and your personal life. It can even be a way for you to make some income if you enjoy it enough!
It can set you apart in the job market
Let’s face it, we live in a digital age. With technology ruling over us, why not learn something that will set you apart in the job market? Technology is inevitably integrated into our everyday lives and is a major part of our careers, our personal lives, and our world.
HTML and CSS, in particular, can be a good skill to be able to show on your resume. It shows that you are not only aware of technology in your everyday life, but that you can also bring that knowledge to your job.
These types of skills are very appealing to employers and can give you an advantage. Even if you only have a basic understanding of these concepts, they can be an advantage especially if you are applying for jobs in business, technology, and even writing!
It will give you more insight into how the internet & the web works
We all use the internet, right? Taking a class in web development will give you a better understanding of this software that you use every day. Learning about web development can help you gain an even deeper understanding of how the internet and the web works.
Web development is more than just a career path, it is also a useful skill to learn. When I first started my web development course in college, I had no idea how complex the internet and the web really is. By taking this course I learned so much more than I could have imagined about web development, design, and more. Again, not only are these valuable skills but they can also set you apart in the job market.
Allow yourself to learn new things that may take you out of your comfort zone. Surprisingly, you may even find a new career path, too!
