Language fluency for innovation
These courses are perfect for
- Entry-level programmers and career changers building a coding foundation
- Working professionals, non-technical individuals, and hobbyists seeking coding fluency
- Learners needing a flexible, career-aligned certificate that’s development-approved
Build your skills your way.
We invite you to strengthen your skills in our individual courses. Note that this certificate program is currently suspended. Courses may be applied to a certificate only if you are currently declared in a program.
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.
Courses
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Object-Oriented Analysis and Design | 3.0 | Flexible, Online Traditional |
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python for Programmers | 3.0 | Online Self-paced, Live-Online | |||
| C++ Programming | 3.0 | Live-Online | |||
| Java Programming II | 3.0 | Flexible |
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java Programming I | 2.0 | Online Self-paced | Online Self-paced | ||
| C Programming I | 2.0 | Online Self-paced | |||
| C++ Programming | 3.0 | Live-Online | |||
| Java Programming II | 3.0 | Flexible | |||
| C Programming II | 3.0 |
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Python for Programmers | 3.0 | Online Self-paced, Live-Online | |||
| Python Programming for Beginners | 1.5 | Online Self-paced | |||
| Python: Object-Oriented Programming | 2.0 | Live-Online | |||
| Data Structures and Algorithms Using Python | 3.0 | Flexible |
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Application Development - Android and iOS, Advanced | 3.0 | Flexible | |||
| Mobile Application Development - Android and iOS, Introduction | 3.0 | Flexible |
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Machine Learning | 3.0 | Flexible | |||
| Hands-On Data Engineering | 3.0 | Live-Online | |||
| Rust Programming Fundamentals | 3.0 | Live-Online |
| Title | units | Fall | Spring | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Programming Certificate Completion Fee |
1. Required Course(s):
- Flexible Attend in person or via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 07-10-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Fri, 07-17-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Fri, 07-24-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Fri, 07-31-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Fri, 08-07-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Fri, 08-14-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Fri, 08-21-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Fri, 08-28-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Fri, 09-04-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Traditional | ONLINE |
| Fri, 09-11-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
This class meets simultaneously in a classroom and remotely via Zoom. Students are expected to attend and participate in the course, either in-person or remotely, during the days and times that are specified on the course schedule. Students attending remotely are also strongly encouraged to have their cameras on to get the most out of the remote learning experience. Students attending the class in-person are expected to bring a laptop to each class meeting.
There will be asynchronous materials/instruction available on Canvas per the direction of the instructor.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text: Object Oriented Analysis & Design Cookbook: Introduction to Practical System Modeling, Edwin Mach, ISBN-10: 167094316X, ISBN-13: 9781670943163.
Recommended Text: UML Distilled: A Brief Guide to the Standard Object Modeling Language, 3rd Edition, Martin Fowler, Addison-Wesley, ISBN-10: 0321193687, ISBN-13: 978-0321193681.
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
2. Core Course(s): (Choose 1)
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 06-09-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 09-08-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on June 9, but you may still enroll until July 14. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on September 8, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text: Murach's Python Programming, 2nd Edition, Joel Murach and Michael Urban, Mike Murach and Associates Inc., 2021, ISBN-13: 9781943872749.
Recommended Text: The Quick Python Book, 3rd Edition, Naomi R. Ceder, Manning Publications, 2018, ISBN-10: 1617294039, ISBN-13: 978-1617294037.
Additional Information
AI*: This course introduces AI midway through the term as a supervised enhancement tool, helping students refine their own handwritten coding assignments and reflect on the insights gained, while also evaluating how different GenAI systems support their work.
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 07-11-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 07-18-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 07-25-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-01-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-08-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
3. Electives: Programming Languages
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 05-05-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 08-04-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
3/31/26: Course postponed by a few weeks. See full schedule for details.
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on May 5, but you may still enroll until June 16. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on August 4, 2026.
Note: This course includes a module on "Introducing Generative AI Assisted Programming."
This course fulfills the Java prerequisite for the Carnegie Mellon University: Master of Information Systems Management (MISM) program
Based on the requirements for special programs, such as CMU, students may complete this course early and receive a letter grade before the official end date. Click here for details.
Students are required to have a computer with the latest Java SE Development Kit (JDK) and Exclipse IDE for Java Developers or equivalent IDE, e.g. NetBeans, IntelliJ, etc.
Required Text:
Murach's Java Programming (6th Edition) by Joel Murach, Published January 2022, ISBN 978-1-943872-87-9
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 06-09-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 09-08-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on June 9, but you may still enroll until July 14. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on September 8, 2026.
Note: This course includes a module on "Introducing Generative AI Assisted Programming."
This course fulfills the Java prerequisite for the Carnegie Mellon University: Master of Information Systems Management (MISM) program
Based on the requirements for special programs, such as CMU, students may complete this course early and receive a letter grade before the official end date. Click here for details.
Students are required to have a computer with the latest Java SE Development Kit (JDK) and Exclipse IDE for Java Developers or equivalent IDE, e.g. NetBeans, IntelliJ, etc.
Required Text:
Murach's Java Programming (6th Edition) by Joel Murach, Published January 2022, ISBN 978-1-943872-87-9
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
4. Electives: Scripting Languages
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 06-09-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 09-08-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on June 9, but you may still enroll until July 14. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on September 8, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Text: Murach's Python Programming, 2nd Edition, Joel Murach and Michael Urban, Mike Murach and Associates Inc., 2021, ISBN-13: 9781943872749.
Recommended Text: The Quick Python Book, 3rd Edition, Naomi R. Ceder, Manning Publications, 2018, ISBN-10: 1617294039, ISBN-13: 978-1617294037.
Additional Information
AI*: This course introduces AI midway through the term as a supervised enhancement tool, helping students refine their own handwritten coding assignments and reflect on the insights gained, while also evaluating how different GenAI systems support their work.
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 07-11-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 07-18-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 07-25-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-01-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-08-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 06-09-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 09-08-2026 | 11:58pm | 11:59pm | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
Online Self-Paced courses have a structured learning environment where students are allowed to complete the work at their own pace. Students may complete the coursework early or use the entire duration of the course. This course is largely self-study with instructor guidance and includes online learning modules, assignments, and/or quizzes. All course materials and assignments will be available at the beginning of the course on Canvas, our learning management system.
For this section, student access begins on June 9, but you may still enroll until July 14. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on September 8, 2026.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Tools & Materials: Access to a computer with Python version 3.6 or higher and Jupyter Notebook is required. The recommended software to obtain the required tools for this course is Anaconda, free Individual Edition: https://www.anaconda.com/products/individual
Recommended Tools & Materials:
Learn to Program with Python 3: A Step-by-Step Guide to Programming, 2nd edition, Irv Kalb, Apress, 2018, ISBN: 9781484238783.
Murach's Python Programming (2nd Edition), Joel Murach, Michael Urban , Mike Murach and Associates, 2021, ISBN: 9781943872749.
Think Python, Allen B. Downey, O'Reilly Media, Inc., 2015, ISBN: 9781491939413.
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 07-09-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 07-16-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 07-23-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 07-30-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 08-06-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 08-13-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 08-20-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Thu, 08-27-2026 | 6:30pm | 9:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
This class is offered in an online synchronous format. Students are expected to log into this course via Canvas at the start time of scheduled meetings and participate via Zoom, for the duration of each scheduled class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Required Tools & Materials: Access to a computer with Python version 3.9 or higher is required (python.org is where to get the official version). You can use any Python development environment, as long as you can produce ".py" files. I will use both the default "IDLE" editor and "PyCharm" (free Community Edition) in class.
Recommended Textbook:
Object-Oriented Python, Irv Kalb, No Starch Press, 2022, ISBN 9781718502062. OPTIONAL - not required. The course covers about two thirds of the material in this book. I will provide notes for each class meeting.
|| Prerequisites: Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
5. Electives: Mobile Device Programming
6. Electives: Adv. Programming and Concepts
- Flexible Attend in person or via Zoom at scheduled times.
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 07-25-2026 | 9:00am | 2:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-01-2026 | 9:00am | 2:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-08-2026 | 9:00am | 2:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-15-2026 | 9:00am | 2:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-22-2026 | 9:00am | 2:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Sat, 08-29-2026 | 9:00am | 2:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
This class meets simultaneously in a classroom and remotely via Zoom. Students are expected to attend and participate in the course, either in-person or remotely, during the days and times that are specified on the course schedule. Students attending remotely are also strongly encouraged to have their cameras on to get the most out of the remote learning experience. Students attending the class in-person are expected to bring a laptop to each class meeting.
To see all meeting dates, click "Full Schedule" below.
You will be granted access in Canvas to your course site and course materials approximately 24 hours prior to the published start date of the course.
Programming Tools: Current version of Python with ability to install packages as needed.
|| Prerequisites: Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
Completion Review:
Please enroll in the Computer Programming Certificate Completion Fee only when all of the certificate requirements have been met and your final grades are posted.
Recommended course sequence
Courses are best taken in order of complexity—I, II, III; Beginners, Comprehensive, Advanced. Other courses may be taken in any order. You can learn more about each course in the Syllabus Library.
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.
Instructors
Related Courses