Computer Programming
Certificate Program

Computer Programming

Language fluency for innovation

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certificate Description

Know your code—the foundation of innovation

Understanding how to write and test code has become a foundational criteria for tech jobs across most industries. In the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Computer Programming certificate program you learn front end and back end web development technologies, gaining a strong foundation in software development. You learn to apply coding skills across platforms—from computers and mobile devices, to web development and the cloud.

Computer Programming certificate program objectives

  • Demonstrate the ability to develop logically structured software solutions through the use of a high-level programming language
  • Design object-oriented systems
  • Implement optimal solutions for software systems using advanced concepts of algorithms and computer science theory

Our Computer Programming students

  • Entry-level programmers or people changing careers
  • Software developers who want to enhance their programming knowledge
  • Non-technical professionals who want programming training to expand their career options
  • Hobbyists who need to learn programming to build their own applications
  • Project managers who want to communicate more effectively with programmers and better manage software projects
   

   

Generative AI in 2024

Technology instructor Hien Luu introduces the world of generative AI—the architecture of ChatGPT and its variants. Learn about prompt engineering, the best approach to AI tools, resources, and practices in building generative AI models. (December • 2023)

   
   

   

Programming with Generative AI

Technology instructor Bineet Sharma talks about the latest developments in AI and how programmers can apply new technology to create great code more efficiently. (August • 2023)

   

Program Overview

Estimated Cost: $4,530–$5,500 + Estimated Course Materials: $250 (You pay only for courses you enroll in.) | International Tuition Cost
Program Requirements: 5–7 courses (minimum 14 quarter units). Take 2 required courses (6 quarter units) and 3–5 electives (minimum 8 quarter units). End with certificate of completion review.
Minimum Hours of Instruction: Minimum 140 hours of instruction.
Estimated Duration: A full-time student can complete the certificate in 9–12 months.
Modality: You can complete this program fully online, in person, or choose a mix of course formats.
Special Programs: This program is approved for workforce and international students.
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Courses


1. Required Course(s):

Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

09-10-2024 to 12-10-2024
$980.00
SEQA.X401.(818)

01-10-2025 to 03-14-2025
$980.00
SEQA.X401.(28)
See complete class schedule here.
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me

2. Core Course(s): (Choose 1)

CMPR.X404
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
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Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-16-2025 to 03-20-2025
$980.00
CMPR.X413.(29)
See complete class schedule here.
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

09-10-2024 to 12-10-2024
$980.00
CMPR.X416.(842)

01-07-2025 to 04-08-2025
$980.00
CMPR.X416.(843)

02-15-2025 to 03-15-2025
$980.00
CMPR.X416.(57)
See complete class schedule here.
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me

3. Electives: Programming Languages

CMPR.X404
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
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CMPR.X400
Quarter Units: 2.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

09-10-2024 to 12-10-2024
$620.00
CMPR.X400.(835)

01-07-2025 to 04-08-2025
$620.00
CMPR.X400.(836)
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
CMPR.X401
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
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CMPR.X412
Quarter Units: 2.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

10-08-2024 to 02-04-2025
$625.00
CMPR.X412.(853)

01-07-2025 to 04-08-2025
$625.00
CMPR.X412.(854)

03-04-2025 to 06-03-2025
$625.00
CMPR.X412.(855)
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-16-2025 to 03-20-2025
$980.00
CMPR.X413.(29)
See complete class schedule here.
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me

4. Electives: Scripting Languages

Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-07-2025 to 03-11-2025
$980.00
CMPR.X425.(19)
See complete class schedule here.
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

09-10-2024 to 12-10-2024
$980.00
CMPR.X416.(842)

01-07-2025 to 04-08-2025
$980.00
CMPR.X416.(843)

02-15-2025 to 03-15-2025
$980.00
CMPR.X416.(57)
See complete class schedule here.
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 2.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

09-10-2024 to 12-10-2024
$750.00
CMPR.X420.(810)

02-03-2025 to 03-31-2025
$750.00
CMPR.X420.(25)
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Quarter Units: 1.5
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

09-10-2024 to 12-10-2024
$580.00
CMPR.X415.(830)

11-05-2024 to 02-04-2025
$580.00
CMPR.X415.(831)

01-07-2025 to 04-08-2025
$580.00
CMPR.X415.(832)

01-13-2025 to 03-03-2025
$580.00
CMPR.X415.(40)
See complete class schedule here.
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me

5. Electives: Mobile Device Programming

Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-06-2025 to 03-24-2025
$850.00
CMPR.X422.(11)
See complete class schedule here.
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Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
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6. Electives: Adv. Programming and Concepts

Quarter Units: 1.5
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID
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Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-14-2025 to 03-18-2025
$960.00
DBDA.X424.(14)
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me
Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-14-2025 to 03-18-2025
$980.00
AISV.X400.(40)
See complete class schedule here.
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Quarter Units: 3.0
Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

01-14-2025 to 03-18-2025
$800.00
CMPR.X426.(2)
Want to enroll or get the estimated cost of future sections? Notify Me

Completion Review:

Start / End Date
Cost
Instructor
Location
Section ID

Meet Our Instructors

Arun Saha
Software Engineer & Computer Scientist, Cisco
Avnish Aggarwal
Independent Technology Consultant
Bineet Sharma
Director/Assoc. Professor, Univ. of Silicon Valley|Chair/Instructor UCSC SV
Danesh Forouhari
Senior Software Engineering Manager of Infrastructure, Khan Academy,
Edwin Mach
Director of Product Management and Head of Product Stream Processing Splunk
Hemil N Patel
Principal Engineer, CDK Global
Irv D Kalb
Technology Author | Instructor
Marilson B Campos
Senior Staff Engineer - ML Platform, Apixio
Preetpal Kang
Vice President of Firmware, Sibros
Radhika S Grover
Founder, Trainer & Consultant, SPEL Technologies
Sara Saatchi
Professor
Satyen Kansara
Head of Data and Visualization, Illumio
Siddartha Punj
Healthcare Data Analysis Consultant
Venkat R Mavram
Director of Engineering
Wayne L Fenton
Backend Platform Architect, Upwork
Xi "Bill" Chen
Senior Software Engineer, Meta

What students are saying

Certificate Inquiry Form

Contact Us
Speak to a student services representative.

Call (408) 861-3860

Envelope extension@ucsc.edu

Requisite Knowledge

Please review the course descriptions to ensure that you have taken necessary prerequisites or meet the requirements through job experience or previous education.

Advisory Board

sharma-bineet_2020.jpg

Certificate Program Chair

BINEET SHARMA, M.S.C.S., is a seasoned technologist with more than 30 years’ experience in technical architecture, upper level management, professional teaching, and entrepreneurship. He has held a variety of leadership roles in all aspects of the software development life cycle, including CEO of CashonAd, a mobile advertising app platform; and co-founder of OnTick, a technical analysis tool for stock market data positions. Previously he held management and technical positions at F1Soft International, Soffront Software, Concuity, National Data Corp., and Epiphany. He is also the founding president of the Computer Association of Nepal, which focuses on regional training, education, and technical support to Nepalese communities in need. Sharma has master’s degrees in both computer science and mining engineering from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and is a certified ScrumMaster. His passion for teaching technology has inspired more than 100 computer classes throughout Silicon Valley and the greater Bay area on topics ranging from operating systems, data structures and C to Visual C++, and Java programming. He has served as program chair of the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Computer Programming certificate program since 2019.

Certificate Program Advisory Committee

BINEET SHARMA, M.S.C.S.
Chair/Instructor, Computer Programming Program
UCSC Silicon Valley Extension, Santa Clara, CA

IGNACIO TERRIZZANO, M.S.
Senior Research Software Architect, IBM Research
San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Establish Candidacy

Grade Requirements

Please note that only letter grades of C or higher may be applied to a certificate, and in some programs, students may have more stringent requirements. Students in most employer- and government-sponsored payment programs, such as workforce development, as well as international students on F-1 visas, need to maintain a B average to meet their requirements. Personal Financial Planning students have additional grade requirements for individual courses to attain a certificate.

See Grading and Credits Policy for further information.