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Software Engineering and Quality
Putting quality first
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certificate Description
Learn QA methodologies. Build a strong SQA team. Save on costs.
Software errors cost companies millions of dollars. The longer it takes to discover bugs, the more costly the corrective action. When you study quality assurance in the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Software Engineering and Quality certificate program, you learn to methodically and thoroughly test and manage software projects. You learn to minimize defects early in the life cycle and influence product development to improve the customer experience.
Our rigorous approach to quality assurance complements the latest and established practices in software engineering and user experience design with proven techniques in software testing.
Three QA focus areas
We offer three focus areas for your studies to help you prepare for your next software quality assurance job.
Software Engineering
A focus on software architecture, software system design, and modeling
Quality and Testing
A study of software test automation and quality assurance methods
User Experience Design
The practices and methods required to create successful user experience for software across various platforms
Software Engineering and Quality certificate program objectives
- Demonstrate competence in the software development lifecycle, from requirements to release
- Design and model software systems using object orientation
- Develop test plans and quality assurance strategies that minimize defects in software systems
- Apply accepted software development techniques, such as Agile, in planning a software system’s development
- Design clean and consistent user interfaces
Our Students
The students in our Software Engineering and Quality certificate program include:
- Software developers who want to build a foundation in software engineering, architecture, and developmental process.
- Software QA and test professionals seeking adaptive SQA and testing knowledge and skills.
- Software project leaders and managers overseeing their team’s on-time delivery of high-quality products.
Recent online events
How to get a job in software
Pick up some great tips for your job search and career advancement from two instructors in our Software Engineering Quality certificate program. (May 2023)
Program Overview
Estimated Cost: $4,625–$6,000 + est. course materials: $500 (You pay only for courses you enroll in.) | International Tuition Cost
Program Requirements: 5–7 courses (minimum 14 quarter units). Take 3 core courses (6.5 units) and 3–4 electives (minimum 7.5–9 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.
Courses
| Course | Quarter Units | Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Required Course(s):
| |||||
| Managing Software Projects | 1.5 | Fall Flexible | Winter Flexible | ||
| Object-Oriented Analysis and Design | 3.0 | Fall Online | Winter Live-Online | Spring Online | Summer Flexible |
| Software Quality Assurance and Testing | 2.0 | Fall Flexible | Spring Flexible | ||
|
2. Electives: Software Engineering
| |||||
| Advanced DevOps Technologies | 3.0 | Winter Flexible | Summer Flexible | ||
| Data Structures and Algorithms Using Python | 3.0 | Fall Flexible | Winter Flexible | Spring Flexible | Summer Flexible |
| Designing, Building and Integrating RESTful API | 2.0 | Fall Flexible | Spring Flexible | Summer Flexible | |
| DevOps Technologies | 3.0 | Spring TBD | |||
|
3. Electives: Quality and Testing
| |||||
| Agile Software Development using TDD/BDD and Python | 3.0 | Winter Flexible | Summer Live-Online | ||
| Quality Management for Enterprises, Products, and Programs | 2.0 | Summer Flexible | |||
| Web Applications Testing, Comprehensive | 3.0 | Fall Live-Online | Spring Flexible | ||
|
4. Electives: User Experience Design
| |||||
| Mobile Interface Design and Gen AI | 3.0 | Winter Live-Online | Summer Live-Online | ||
| User Experience Design Fundamentals | 3.0 | Winter Flexible | |||
|
5. Completion Review:
| |||||
| Software Engineering and Quality Certificate Completion Fee | None | Fall Online | Winter Online | Spring Online | Summer Online |
Meet Our Instructors
Certificate Inquiry Form
Recommended Course Sequence
Flexible course sequence
Courses may be taken in any order provided the prerequisites are met.
Substitutions
Shared credits
Some Engineering and Technology courses may be listed in more than one program. However, only one course may be shared between two E&T certificate programs unless otherwise noted.
To receive your certificate
Advisory Board
Certificate Program Chair
ALKA JARVIS, M.B.A., is a global software quality process/performance excellence officer at Hitachi ABB. A Distinguished Quality Engineer and former senior director, she retired from Cisco Systems after 25 years with the company. She is an Exemplar Global certified auditor and a recognized industry leader in software engineering principles, quality assurance, and testing with an emphasis on customer experience, process improvement, and total quality management. Learn more.
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.
Required. Experience with a programming language is required as well as a degree in computer science or engineering or equivalent experience in software development, testing, QA, or project management.
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.