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The Certificate 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 option into the Master of Science in Computer Science program.
Admission requirements include:
- A completed Application for Graduate Admission
- Official undergradaute/post-secondary transcripts
- A cover letter explaining your interest in the program
Complete information regarding admission requirements may be found on the Admission Requirements page.
There is no minimum GPA for admission, but successful applicants typically have a 3.0+ cumulative GPA. Students with a <3.0 cumulative GPA may still apply, and all applications will be evaluated for admission on a case-by-case basis.
International Students: In addition to the general application requirements, international applicants are required to submit an agency evaluation of their transcript(s), a declaration of finances, and a demonstration of English proficiency. Please contact the International Application page for further information specific to international applicants.
Yes! Since 2017, 89% of Career Change Certificate graduates enrolled in the MSCS program at Seattle University.
Students who successfully complete the Certificate program, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA and a C or better in all Certificate courses, qualify for admission the MSCS program. Other application requirements, including GRE score submission, recommendation letters, cover letters, and application fees, are waived for students applying from the Certificate program. Students only need to submit an updated online application.
Please contact the certificate program director, Sheila Oh (ohsh@seattleu.edu) for more details.
All courses in the program are 3 credits, totaling 18 credits for the Certificate program and up to 6 credits for the Programming Boot Camp. Tuition is billed per credit. Tuition information may be found on the Graduate Admissions page.
Scholarships are available. Please visit our Scholarships page for more information. Scholarships for Certificate students are allocated once a student has completed Programming Boot Camp.
The Boot Camp is held during the Summer and Winter Quarters. The Career Change Certificate begins in the Fall Quarter or the Spring Quarter and runs for three quarters.
Qualified students who complete the certificate will be eligible to start the MSCS program in the subsequent quarter. For more information on dates and quarter breaks, please visit the Registrar's page.
The Certificate consists of 18-24 credits. These credits are spread over 6-8 courses. Students take two courses each quarter.
Students enrolled in the Programming Boot Camp will complete the whole 24 credits.
The Certificate is a part-time program that meets twice a week. Currently there are two sections student may choose from, with courses offered from either 3:45-6:25pm or 6:00-8:40pm.
For applicants with no programming backgrounds, please see the Programming Boot Camp for schedule details.
After completing or waiving the Boot Camp, the Certificate contains 6 three-credit courses. Students will enroll in two courses every quarter.
See the university catalog for detailed course descriptions.
Primarily Java and C++
Your cover letter should address three topics:
These topics can typically be addressed in 1-2 pages.
No. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, and there is no formal deadline. Completed applications will typically receive admissions decisions within 4 weeks of submission. If circumstances allow, we can also attempt to expedite evalutions as start dates get closer.
When the number of qualified applicants exceeds the capacity of the program, a waitlist will be created at the end of the admissions process. Students on the waitlist will be offered admission on a rolling basis as space becomes available. Seattle University encourages all students to apply in a timely manner.
Students who have completed Programming I and Programming II (or equivalent courses) may apply for admission in the Fall Quarter or Spring Quarter - this is an application to waive the Boot Camp. Students without this background should apply for the the Programming Boot Camp start dates in Summer Quarter or Winter Quarter.
The Program Director, Sheila Oh (ohsh@seattleu.edu), approves all Boot Camp course waivers. If you are applying to waive the Boot Camp, please be prepared to discuss your past coursework wtih Prof. Oh during the application process.
The Programming Boot Camp condenses the courses Programming I and Programming II into a single quarter (Summer or Winter). The boot camp consists of 2 courses, each worth 3 credits. Classes are held Monday through Thursday with class meetings offered from either 3:30-5:35pm or 6:00-8:05pm. Visit the Programming Boot Camp page for more information.
Students who have not completed Programming I and Programming II must complete these prerequisites before they can begin the Certificate courses. It is possible to fulfill these courses either by enrolling in the Programming Boot Camp (available to all admitted certificate students) or at a local college or university.
Students submitting outside coursework to waive the Boot Camp requirements typically need to have completed their courses at an accredited institution with a grade B or better. Please note that non-accredited, non-credit courses (e.g. Coursera) are not considered equivalent prerequisite courses.
Please contact Computer Science Fundamentals Certificate Program Director Sheila Oh (ohsh@seattleu.edu) to discuss your specific circumstances.
Due to the condensed time frame of the Programming Boot Camp, courses meet 3x/week and there is 8-10 hours of work outside of class. Attending the Boot Camp while working full-time is possible.
Please note that the Programming Boot Camp is a more intense time commitment than the Certificate program itself. The Certificate program meets 2x/week, with 8-10 hours of work outside of class per week.
Please contact the Computer Science Fundamentals Certificate Program Director, Sheila Oh (ohsh@seattleu.edu) to discuss waiving Boot Camp courses without prior coursework. Please note that it is uncommon for someone to be granted a waiver without coursework, but applicants already employed as software engineers or in similar roles may be able to waive Boot Camp courses through testing.
Once admitted to the program, you will receive an email from Graduate Admissions, welcoming you to the program, and asking you to confirm your admission to the certificate program. You have two weeks to confirm your admission. If you do not confirm by that deadline, your space in the program may be given to a student on the wait list. If you have any questions on confirming your admission, you may contact Graduate Admissions.
You must confirm your admission to the program before you’re able to register for classes. Once you have activated your SU email address and SU Online account, you will be able to register for your courses. Please note that confirmation in the program guarantees a spot in the appropriate Programing Boot Camp and Certificate courses.
International Students: To maintain full-time status (F-1 visa), you will need to enroll in 6 credits per quarter. The schedule for both the Boot Camp and Certificate programs is 6 credits per quarter, so international students will not need to take additional courses to remain on an F-1 visa.
All students enrolling in the Boot Camp or Certificate program are required to have a laptop. Please check the program page for recommended minimum specifications.
All admitted students are invited to attend a new student orientation. This will allows you to get familiar with the campus, buy books at the bookstore, and ask any outstanding questions regarding enrollment. An additional graduate orientation will take place the week before Fall quarter courses start. This orientation is required for all graduate students. All CS graduate faculty will be in attendance and program expectations will be addressed.
The graduation application deadline for a Certificate is the first week of the term in which you plan to complete the coursework for the Certificate. For most students, this is before or during the first week of their final quarter. This application can be completed via SU Online:
Once you have submitted your Application for Graduation, a Student Academic Specialist will audit your records and work with your academic advisor to clarify the remaining requirements you need to complete your degree. You will receive notification of your final graduation requirements via email.
After successful completion of the program with a minimum 3.0 GPA and a C or better in all Certificate courses, you may apply for graduation and your physical Certificate will be mailed to you.
Most certificate students apply for the MSCS program before their final quarter. Students need meet certain requirements, including maintaining a B average in their Certificate courses, to qualify for admission the MSCS program.
Students who 1) start their programs in Summer or Fall intakes, and 2) are performing at a high level through Winter Quarter, may have the opportunity to register for MSCS coursework during the final quarter of their Certificate program.