Web Development
Web presence today means more than simply putting a navigable site out on the web. Developers must plan strategically, creating dynamic, user-friendly sites while organizing content to maximize impact. The Web Development post-baccalaureate certificate program enables students to develop the technical competencies that are required to plan, develop, and implement websites that are both appealing and useful.
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Previous programming experience is not required, but some knowledge of HTML is helpful.
Post-baccalaureate students at Northwestern's School of Professional Studies pay per course. For more information about financial obligations and tuition, please visit the Tuition page.
In addition to completing an online application, you'll also need to submit a few supplemental materials. A list of requirements for admission including application deadlines and tips on how to apply can be found on the Admission page.
Whether you're a first-time registrant or current and returning student, all students register using our online student registration and records systems. Important information about registering for courses at SPS, including registration timelines and adding or dropping courses in which you are already enrolled, can be found on the Registration Information page.
| Program Courses: | Course Detail |
|---|---|
| Tools and Technologies of the Web <> CIS 130-CN | This course introduces students to the current tools and
technologies used for designing and developing interactive
websites. Students will explore the basic design principles of page
layout and navigation. Students will also learn how to develop
webpages using the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML5), describe page
presentation using the Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) language, and
develop facility with useful web development applications such as
Adobe Dreamweaver. The primary focus of this course will be on
client-side technologies. In addition to learning webpage
components, structures, and design, the course will discuss the
JavaScript programming language and the Document Object Model (DOM)
and their role in creating interactive webpages. Through the use of
JavaScript and its jQuery library, students will be introduced to
programming concepts, event-driven programming, and entry-level
object-orientation. Other Web technologies such as DHTML, XML, and
XSLT will be briefly introduced. View CIS 130-CN Sections |
| Human Computer Interaction <> CIS 330-CN | Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is an area of research that encompasses usability, design, information architecture, psychology, ethnography, and software engineering. In this course, we draw on these disciplines to understand how people interact with technological systems in everyday life. The main focus of this course will apply a user centered design approach to iteratively develop and evaluate a prototype. Course topics include: contextual interviews, design process, prototype construction, and evaluation techniques. While no prior programming experience is required the student will benefit from experience with computing conventions as well as appreciation and willingness to learn. View CIS 330-CN Sections |
| Information Architecture <> CIS 380-CN | This course introduces students to the concepts, foundations and
components of information architecture (IA) in the digital
environment of the World Wide Web. The focus will be on
understanding user needs for creating and structuring content and
developing interactive solutions that best address these needs.
Through case studies, activities, and projects, students will learn
various strategies for representing, organizing, retrieving, and
managing structures of large-scale website information. Core topics
include website organization and navigation schemes, search
systems, evaluating various aspects of information representation
and usability of existing websites, and using IA strategies for
designing effective and usable information systems that maximizes
the user experience. At the end of the course, students are
expected to design, diagram, and document an enterprise Information
Architecture for a large website based on user requirements, and
implement this design using a contemporary Content Management
System (CMS). Prerequisites: CIS 110, CIS 130. Students should have
familiarity with at least one programming language (Java, Python,
etc) before taking this course, as well as familiarity with HTML
and CSS. View CIS 380-CN Sections |
| Programming for the Web CIS 385-CN | In this project-based course, students gain an understanding of
how to build a modern full-stack web application using the MEAN
framework (MongoDB, Express, AngularJS and Node.js). Students also
learn how to deploy their web applications to both Amazon AWS and
Microsoft Azure, the two largest cloud hosting providers. Finally
how the npm package manager and third-party and open source modules
can extend their web applications will be covered. Collaboration is
paramount to a successful product, website and/or mobile
application. However, students will be responsible for completing
their own project/web application and submitting independent
assignments. View CIS 385-CN Sections |
