The pathway below represents an efficient and effective course taking sequence for this program. Individual circumstances might require some changes to this pathway. It is always recommended that you meet with an academic counselor to develop a personalized educational plan.
The courses have been intentionally placed and should be prioritized in
the order
in which they appear. If you are unable to take all the courses in
a semester, you
should prioritize enrolling in the courses in the order below.
Some courses have
been noted as “Appropriate for Intersession” 
. Should you need (or want) to take
classes
in the summer and/or winter intersessions,
the program recommends these courses as appropriate for the condensed
schedule of
the intersessions.
Some pathways combine a “Certificate of Achievement” and an “Associate
Degree”. If
you are pursuing only the Certificate of Achievement, you are only
required to take
the courses marked “Program Requirement” 
.
All pathways include at least one “Gateway Course” 
which introduces you to the program and/or field of study and helps you
decide if you want to continue with this Academic and Career Path.
Most Associate degrees (though not Associate Degrees for Transfer)
require satisfying the SMC Global Citizenship requirement. If the Program
Requirements do not include a “Global Citizenship course” 
, be sure to select a General Education course that also satisfies Global Citizenship.
Effective Fall 2023
A computer programmer is a professional who is skilled in writing medium to large-scale computer applications. This requires theknowledge and practice of a multitude of areas in Computer Science. This certificate focuses on learning and using advanced programming techniques to build software applications. In addition, it covers core computer science concepts such as Operating Systems and Database Theory.
Upon completion of the program, students will:
- Upon completion of this program, students will design, code, test, and debug computer programs. They will understand and use the Internet and World Wide Web, application software, the components of the system unit, input, output, storage, operating systems and utility programs, communications and networks, database management, information systems development, and project management. Students will also explain the social implications of technological development, and understand the capabilities of current day computers and the possibilities for the future.
General Education
Available Online
