Dev Degree: Behind the Scenes

Summary

Dev Degree is Shopify’s work-integrated learning program, designed to combine an accredited computer science degree with four years of continuous developer experience. Students take three university courses per semester while working 25 hours weekly, beginning with Shopify-led skills training before moving through four team placements across disciplines such as back-end, front-end, data, security, and production engineering. The program teaches tools and technologies including Git and GitHub, Ruby, Rails, React, TypeScript, and GraphQL, while emphasizing mentorship, feedback, personal development, and support from a multidisciplinary team working with university partners. The first cohort graduated on April 24, 2020, after adapting to program changes and remote learning during the pandemic; the post reports that 100% of graduates accepted full-time positions within six months.

Context

The program was created in 2016 as an alternative to the traditional co-op model, with the aim of helping students become work-ready employees through simultaneous university study and continual hands-on development experience. Its first cohort navigated experimentation, program changes, and pandemic-driven remote learning.

Approach / What changed

Students complete university courses alongside Shopify-led developer skills training and paid team placements. The first year establishes practical foundations before three years of placements, with mentorship, regular feedback, personal development time, and coordination among Shopify staff and university advisors.

Takeaways

• Students work 25 hours per week at Shopify while taking three university courses per semester, combining academic assessment by universities with practical development experience.
• The first year covers foundational skills such as command-line use, repositories and commits, front-end development, data, Git and GitHub, Ruby, Rails, React, TypeScript, and GraphQL.
• The post reports that 100% of graduates accepted full-time positions within six months, while Shopify continues using metrics and data to improve the program.

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