About

The Certificate in Computing provides fundamental skills in theory, design, development and application of software and systems that will support you and your work in a variety of scenarios.


Quick facts
  • Two-year certificate
  • Part-time program
  • You can enter this program directly from high school

What you will learn

This program provides a foundation for programming and software development. Although not intended to prepare students for careers in software development, you will learn many practical day-to-day programming and software development skills that will benefit you in your own problem-solving and technical abilities. You will better understand the technology used in most workplaces and have tools which will allow you to be more creative and productive in almost any area of employment.

CMPT 214.3: Programming Principles and Practice

A hands-on approach to software development at the individual and small team level. Application of software tools- including scripting languages, system utilities and libraries- for construction of small software systems. Integrated with and motivated by programming practices, system development, testing and maintenance issues.

CMPT 370.3: Intermediate Software Engineering

Principles and techniques for developing software combined with the practical experience of creating a mid-size software system as a member of a software development team. Includes: teamwork; projects, planning and process; users and requirements; use cases; modelling; quality; software architecture; testing; GUI design, design principles, patterns and implementation; ethics; professionalism.

CMPT 384.3: Information Visualization

This course will introduce visualization process for different datasets, design principals, techniques for developing effective visualizations, visualization algorithms and interaction techniques. The course is targeted to students interested in using visualization in their own work, as well as to those who are interested in developing visualization systems. Topics include: data abstractions, visualization process, design principles, visualizations of tabular data, geo-visualizations, cartographic representation, visualization for sets, temporal and hierarchical data (treemaps, radial layouts), network visualizations, visualization algorithms and software, interactions with large datasets, and a brief overview of visual analytics.


The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

Our faculty undertake primary research in the field and shares discoveries and processes with our students. They are excited about the dynamic discipline of Computer Science and explore new ways in which computing can change the lives of people everywhere. They provide solid classroom instruction and offer laboratory experience in state-of-the-art facilities.

Careers

Qualified computer scientists are in high demand and many professions need people who also have computing skills, especially those who work in technical fields or are involved in science and research. This includes engineers, scientists, business professionals and future educators who would be interested in teaching computer science at the K-to-12 levels. Successful completion of the Certificate in Computing will be an attractive complementary credential and give you an advantage in the job market.

Tuition estimates

Canadian students International students
Tuition $857.10 per 3 credit unit class $3,599.82 per 3 credit unit class
Student fees $1,089 per year $1,089 per year

Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay per class (2023-2024 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access. This estimate reflects the price you would pay if you are a full-time student.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 for this program.

Program options

Students hanging out in the Bowl in front of the Peter MacKinnon Building

The Certificate in Computing is offered by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science. You may earn the certificate on its own, while pursuing a degree, or after graduating with a degree.

If you are already enrolled at USask, consult your academic advisor regarding enrolling in this program.

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

Admission requirements and deadlines

Deadlines

Start term Application DeadlineInternational Deadline
Winter
January 2024
Dec 1, 2023
Documents due: Dec 15, 2023
Sep 1, 2023
Documents due: Oct 1, 2023
Spring
May 2024
Apr 1, 2024
Documents due: May 1, 2024
Feb 1, 2024
Documents due: Mar 1, 2024
Summer
July 2024
May 1, 2024
Documents due: Jun 1, 2024
Mar 1, 2024
Documents due: Apr 1, 2024
Fall
September 2024
Aug 15, 2024
Documents due: Aug 15, 2024
May 1, 2024
Documents due: Jun 1, 2024
Winter
January 2025
Dec 1, 2024
Documents due: Dec 15, 2024
Sep 1, 2024
Documents due: Oct 1, 2024

Ready to apply?

If you are a current USask student, consult your academic advisor regarding enrolling in this program.

To apply to this program as a new student, please apply for admission to any undergraduate program in the College of Arts and Science and after you are admitted, declare your plans to the college.

Explore related programs

If you are looking for graduate level (Master or Ph.D.) programs please consult our graduate students' website.

If you are interested in more information about this certificate, please contact student-advice@artsandscience.usask.ca