Language fluency for innovation
9 - 12 months
5613219
These skills 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
Program review underway
As we evolve our programs to reflect today’s technology landscape, the certificate in Computer Programming is under review and is not currently open for new enrollment. If you are enrolled in this certificate and are finishing up your courses, please reach out to us at extension@ucsc.edu. We will help you plan your journey.
After reviewing the current market conditions and engaging with industry, we are now offering new short programs, that are flexible paths to get the skills you need fast. During this time, our certificate programs continue to be under review and we are committed to assisting all enrolled students to finish the certificate programs. To learn more, visit our Short Programs page.
Courses are open to everyone
You are invited to enroll in individual courses to build your knowledge and develop new skills.
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.
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
Courses
Program Requirements
Total 5–7 courses (minimum 14 quarter units)
- 2 required courses (6 quarter units)
- 3–5 electives (minimum 8 quarter units)
- End with certificate of completion review.
1. Required Course(s):
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Summer
2. Core Course(s): (Choose 1)
CMPR.X413
$980
You may enroll in this offering at any time.
Sep. 22 - Dec. 15, Tue, 12:01am - 11:59pm
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
CMPR.X413.(835)
Schedule
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 09-22-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 12-15-2026 | 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 September 22, but you may still enroll until October 13. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on December 15, 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 Texts: None
Recommended Text:
Murach's Java Programming, 6th Edition, Joel Murach, Mike Murach & Associates, 2021, ISBN- 9781943872879.
|| Prerequisites:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
Fall
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Summer
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Fall
3. Electives: Programming Languages
CMPR.X413
$980
You may enroll in this offering at any time.
Sep. 22 - Dec. 15, Tue, 12:01am - 11:59pm
- Online Self-Paced Work online at your own pace.
CMPR.X413.(835)
Schedule
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 09-22-2026 | 12:01am | 12:02am | Online Self-Paced | ONLINE |
| Tue, 12-15-2026 | 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 September 22, but you may still enroll until October 13. All course work must be completed by 11:59 pm on December 15, 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 Texts: None
Recommended Text:
Murach's Java Programming, 6th Edition, Joel Murach, Mike Murach & Associates, 2021, ISBN- 9781943872879.
|| Prerequisites:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
Fall
CMPR.X412
$625
(Estimated Cost)
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Summer
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Winter
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Fall
CMPR.X401
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
4. Electives: Scripting Languages
CMPR.X425
$980
You may enroll in this offering at any time.
Sep. 19 - Oct. 17, Sat, 9:00am - 3:30pm
- Live-Online Attend via Zoom at scheduled times.
CMPR.X425.(25)
Schedule
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 09-19-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 09-26-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 10-03-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 10-10-2026 | 9:00am | 3:30pm | Live-Online | REMOTE |
| Sat, 10-17-2026 | 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.
Required Tools & Materials: PyCharm
|| Skills Needed:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
Fall
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Summer
CMPR.X415
$580
(Estimated Cost)
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Summer
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Summer
5. Electives: Mobile Device Programming
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Winter
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Spring
6. Electives: Adv. Programming and Concepts
AISV.X400
$980
You may enroll in this offering at any time.
Sep. 3 - Nov. 5, Thu, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- Flexible Attend in person or via Zoom at scheduled times.
AISV.X400.(47)
Schedule
| Date | Start Time | End Time | Meeting Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 09-03-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 09-10-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 09-17-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 09-24-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-01-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-08-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-15-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-22-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 10-29-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | Flexible | SANTA CLARA / REMOTE |
| Thu, 11-05-2026 | 6:00pm | 9:00pm | 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.
Required Tools & Materials: None
Recommended Programming Environment: Python, either local computer or Google Colab. Prefer GPU setup.
|| Prerequisites:
Prerequisites / Skills Needed
Fall
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Winter
Currently no classes scheduled. Would you like to be notified when a class is available?
Spring
Completion Review:
O-CE0114
$95
You may enroll in this offering at any time.
Schedule
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.
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.
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
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.
See Grading and Credits Policy for further information.
Establish Candidacy
Instructors
Program Chair
Bineet Sharma
Director/Assoc. Professor, Univ. of Silicon Valley|Chair/Instructor UCSC SV
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 and chair of the Java Development specialization since that program was founded in 2022.
Certificate Program Advisory Committee
BINEET SHARMA, M.S.C.S.
Instructor | Program Chair, Computer Programming Certificate Program, UCSC Silicon Valley Extension
IGNACIO TERRIZZANO, M.S.
Senior Research Software Architect, IBM Research
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