Online Certificates for Non-Degree Seeking Individuals

The USU Computer Science department provides a variety of learning opportunities for non-degree seeking individuals to earn certificate specializations through USU’s online program. All the courses needed to earn these certificates are available online, meaning you can live anywhere and work on these certificates.

Contact Info

Caitlin Thaxton, Academic Advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator

Certificate Information

Certificates are complementary, meaning that completing one certificate is also progress towards completing another. Students who wish to pursue multiple certificates will benefit greatly from this. For example, a student who completes the Software Development certificate only needs to complete 2 more classes (6 credits) for the Web & Mobile Developer certificate. The Cloud Developer certificate only requires two classes (3 credits) on top of the Software Development certificate.

Certificate students are encouraged to apply for the Fall semester admission.
Apply to the University

Required Courses

  Spring Fall Summer
CS 1030 Online Online  
CS 1400 Online (First 7 weeks)
& In Person (Full Semester)		 Online (First 7 weeks)
& In Person (Full Semester)		 In person (First 7 weeks)
CS 1410 Online (Second 7 weeks)
& In Person (Full Semester)		 Online (Second 7 weeks)
& In Person (Full Semester)		 In person (Second 7 weeks)
CS 2410 Online & In Person In Person  
CS 2420 Online & In Person In Person  
CS 2610 In Person Online & In Person  
CS 3200 Not Offered Online  
CS 4350 Online Not Offered  
CS 5250
CS 5260		 Not Offered Online  

Available Certificates

Computer Science Teaching – Level 1
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) recognizes the Computer Science Teaching certificates. These certificates qualify teachers to teach CS in high school, allowing students to earn college credit through AP or Concurrent Enrollment CS classes. Specific skills and outcomes as a result of this teaching certificate include:
  • An ability to analyze a problem, identify, and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solutions.
  • An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, social issues, and responsibilities.
  • A basic ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  • An ability to use the Python programming language.
  • An ability to use the Java programming language.
  • Learn methods for teaching computer science to high school students
Required Courses

Computer Science Teaching – Level 2
Expected Outcomes:
  • All those listed for the Computer Science Teaching – Level 1 certificate.
  • Improve rational thinking, problem solving, and decisions.
  • Gain factual knowledge, theories, fundamental principles, generalizations, and skills related to event driven programming and user interface development.
  • Learn about algorithm analysis techniques, asymptotic notation, data structures, sorting algorithms, and graph algorithms.
Required Courses

Computer Science Software Development
This certificate targets displaced workers from other fields and gives them a realistic pathway for obtaining an entry level position as a software programmer or tester, as well as providing a foundation for other certificates or for a future BS degree in computer science.
Expected Outcomes:
  • An ability to analyze a problem, identify, and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solutions.
  • An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, social issues, and responsibilities.
  • A basic ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  • An ability to use the Python programming language.
  • An ability to use the Java programming language.
  • Learn about algorithm analysis techniques, asymptotic notation, data structures, sorting algorithms, and graph algorithms.
Required Courses

Computer Science Web & Mobile Developer
This certificate provides breath in the development of web and mobile applications. For students looking to stack credentials, this certificate builds on the Software Development certificate. A particular focus on event-driven user interfaces comes first, followed by specific application areas for web and mobile computing. This certificate enables one to have the necessary skills for an entry level position as a web or mobile software developer.
Expected Outcomes:
  • An ability to analyze a problem, identify, and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solutions.
  • An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security, social issues, and responsibilities.
  • A basic ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  • An ability to use the Python and Java programming languages.
  • Learn to develop secure, dynamic, database-driven web applications.
  • Learn to create web pages and mobile applications featuring interactive capabilities using client and server side technologies.
  • Gain experience in applying techniques of information representation, storage, retrieval, and transmission in Internet-based environments.
  • Gain skills in using tools and practices of professionals for designing, developing, debugging and delivering web and mobile applications.
Required Courses

Computer Science Cloud Computing
The Cloud Computing certificate introduces students to the tools, techniques, and skills necessary to build “cloud computing” applications. These are applications that utilize cloud computing resources such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure. Students earning this certification are prepared to design and implement reliable, durable, scalable, and high-available software applications.
Expected Outcomes:
  • All those listed for the Computer Science Software Development certificate.
  • Learn about the different types of cloud services for computation, information storage and retrieval, communications, security, software development, and more.
  • Develop skills with at least one suite of services in sufficient detail to know how to apply those services to create real solutions for real problems.
Required Courses