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Computer Science Fundamentals, Certificate

The Computer Science Fundamentals Certificate is a bridge to our MS in Computer Science and will help you transition to a new career in the region's booming tech industry. No prior programming experience is required—individuals from all undergraduate backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

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About this Program

Seattle University's Certificate in Computer Science Fundamentals helps you start a new career in the region's fiercely competitive tech industry with no prior programming experience required. If you’ve already completed your undergraduate degree—regardless of your major—you’re encouraged to apply. After successful completion of the certificate, qualified students can continue directly into our MS in Computer Science program. For students who have not completed prior programming coursework, our summer or winter programming Boot Camp allows you to learn Java, providing you with the same foundational experience as your peers.

Programming Boot Camp

  • Boot Camp is completed during the first quarter of the certificate program. If you have no prior programming experience in Java, it is required. Boot Camp consists of two accelerated computer programming courses that meet three times per week and require 15-20 hours of work per week outside of class.
  • If you've completed courses equivalent to Programming I and Programming II, you can request a Boot Camp waiver by providing a syllabi course description during the application process.
  • Boot Camp is offered over the course of 10 weeks in both the summer and winter academic quarters, with start dates in June and January respectively. Upon completion of Boot Camp, you progress to the next quarter of the certificate program.

Admission Requirements

  • Completed application for graduate admission.
  • Bachelor's degree earned at a four-year, regionally accredited institution; typical candidates have a 3.0 or higher GPA, but there is no minimum GPA to apply—your admissions decision will be evaluated based on your entire application.
  • A cover letter explaining your interest in the program.
  • To waive Boot Camp, you should provide evidence of coursework (or other experience) equivalent to the undergraduate courses Programming I and Programming II.
  • The GRE is not required for most applicants.
  • International students have additional requirements beyond the general application; for more information, please visit the Graduate Admissions page and the International Student Center.

Deadline to Apply

This program has no application deadline and applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Completed applications are typically evaluated within four weeks of submission. 

Program Requirements at a Glance

The Certificate in Computer Science Fundamentals from the Department of Computer Science can be completed in 3-4 academic quarters (18-24 credit hours), depending on whether you participate in Boot Camp.

  • CPSC 5001 - Programming Boot Camp I
  • CPSC 5002 - Programming Boot Camp II

Students may waive one or both of these preparatory courses if they have prior equivalent coursework.

First Quarter

  • CPSC 5005 – Data Structures
  • CPSC 5021 – Databases

Second Quarter

  • CPSC 5011 – Object-Oriented Concepts
  • CPSC 5041 – Computing Systems Principles I

Third Quarter

  • CPSC 5031 – Algorithms
  • CPSC 5042 – Computing Systems Principles II

What You’ll Learn

Explore the classes you’ll take as a student here.

A Fit for Every Student

Hear from students on how the Certificate in Computer Science Fundamentals helped them bridge the gap and make a meaningful career change.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Certificate in Computer Science Fundamentals is for any person interested in a tech career, regardless of their undergraduate background. This program provides a foundation in computer science and offers a bridge into SU's Master of Science in Computer Science program.

Yes! From 2017-2021, more than 65% of certificate graduates have gone on to enroll in the MS in Computer Science (MSCS) program at Seattle University.

Merit scholarships are awarded upon admission into the program. These awards are allocated across three academic quarters, not including Boot Camp.

All students enrolling in Boot Camp or the certificate program are required to have a laptop.

Recommended specifications:

  • 16GB memory
  • 512GB SSD minimum disk space
  • 64 bit quad core processor (Core i5/i7, 8th generation or higher)

Minimum specifications:

  • 8GB memory
  • 256GB SSD minimum disk space
  • 64 bit dual core processor (Core i5/i7, 8th generation or higher)

Boot Camp is held during the summer and winter academic quarters. Students can enter the certificate program in the fall or spring quarters, and it can be completed over three academic quarters, not including Boot Camp. Completion timelines vary by entry term.

Summer/Fall Cohort

  • Summer: Boot Camp
  • Fall: Data Structures and Databases
  • Winter: Object-oriented Concepts and Computing Systems Principles I
  • Spring: Algorithms and Computing Systems Principles II

Winter/Spring Cohort

  • Winter: Boot Camp
  • Spring: Data Structures and Databases
  • Fall: Object-oriented Concepts and Computing Systems Principles I
  • Winter: Algorithms and Computing Systems Principles II

Qualified students who complete the certificate will be eligible to start the MSCS program in the subsequent quarter.

Certificate courses meet twice per week from 6-8:40 p.m.

The Boot Camp meets three times per week from 6-8 p.m.

Most Boot Camp courses are taught in Java, and the data structures course is taught in C++. Other programming languages may be introduced in other certificate courses.

Your cover letter should address three topics:

  • Why are you applying for the Certificate in Computer Science Fundamentals?
  • What undergraduate computer science coursework have you completed?
  • How will participating in this program enable you to reach your career goals?

These topics can typically be addressed in 1-2 pages.

When the number of qualified applicants exceeds the capacity of the program, a waitlist will be created at the end of the admissions process. If you are placed on the waitlist, you will be offered admission on a rolling basis as space becomes available.

If you have not completed the undergraduate courses Programming I and Programming II (or the equivalent), you must complete Boot Camp unless you have completed past computer programming coursework. Outside coursework used to waive the Boot Camp requirement needs to be completed at an accredited institution with a grade B or better. You cannot use non-accredited, non-credit courses (e.g. Coursera) to waive prerequisite courses.

Please contact the program director, Sheila Oh, to discuss waiving Boot Camp without prior coursework. It is uncommon for someone to be granted a waiver without coursework, but if you’re already employed as a software engineer or in a similar role, you may be able to waive the Boot Camp requirement through testing.

Due to the condensed time frame of the programming Boot Camp, courses meet three times per week with 15-20 hours of work outside of class. Attending Boot Camp while working full time is possible, but you should anticipate an intense schedule for the 10 weeks of Boot Camp.

Boot Camp is a more intense time commitment than the remainder of the certificate program. Certificate courses meet twice per week with 8-12 hours of work outside of class per week. Most of our full-time working students choose to complete the certificate on a half-time schedule with one course per quarter.

Get in Touch

We’re here to help. For information about computer science graduate degrees and certificates at Seattle University, contact:

Computer Science Department