This three-course program, developed in collaboration with faculty from Waterloo's David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, dives into the details of building a robust, well-architected back-end system for a website or mobile application. It is designed to level up developers with practical skills and knowledge that would otherwise require years to accumulate.
Learners will be trained in coding for systems reliability and maintainability while leveraging cutting-edge AI and other tools to accelerate the development process. The program emphasizes building gold standard coding skills, recognizing the commonalities and differences among various popular back-end frameworks, and avoiding the most common errors made by developers.
By the end of this program, learners will be able to design and build a secure back-end web system. Learners will get an opportunity to collaborate with peers, classmates, and simulate a real-world environment in the development of a back-end system from start to finish.
- Design and build a secure, performant web back-end system in accordance with industry best practices
- Create reliable, scalable cloud-based web services
- Use modern tools such as DevOps pipelines, LLMs, and other AI tools effectively to rapidly build high-quality software
- Recognize the trade-offs involved in choosing between back-end architectural alternatives
- Measurably improve coding practices and identify areas and strategies for continuous improvement
Course 1: Back-End Frameworks and Architecture |
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Course 2: Security, Database Design, and Concurrency |
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Course 3: Cloud Services |
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The certificate program is comprised of three courses, designed and developed to be taken in order for natural progressive learning.
Each of the three courses is 10 weeks in length and offer a blend of asynchronous and synchronous learning opportunities. The courses are designed for learners to work at their own pace and balance their own busy schedules. It features optional live sessions with real-time support and interaction.
By the end of the program, students will have mastered the skills necessary to excel in back-end development roles, and will have completed a project they can add to their portfolio to demonstrate those skills.
The courses are to be taken in the following order:
- Early-career developers who have a primarily front-end focus or have completed a general programming bootcamp and want to level up their skills.
- Front-end developers who want to accelerate their career progression with back-end skills and knowledge.
- Programmers with experience in JavaScript, TypeScript, or Python who want to learn how to build reliable, resilient back-end systems.
Academic requirements
- Programming experience: Prior experience with Python, TypeScript, or JavaScript
- Basic understanding of web development
- Familiarity with Git: Basic understanding of version control using Git
System requirements
- Visual Studio or your preferred IDE
- GitHub Classroom for coding assignments
Receive a certificate and badge from the University of Waterloo
Upon successful completion of all three courses, you will receive a professional education certificate and badge from the University of Waterloo. Learners must achieve a grade of 70 per cent in each course to earn the individual certificates and badges, and the cumulative Back-End Development certificate.
Larry Simon
Founder and Managing Director, Inflection Group
Larry Simon is an entrepreneur, management consultant, and angel investor with a specialization in IT strategy and data analytics. He is the founder and a managing director of Inflection Group, bringing over 30 years of experience in advising startups, global corporations, and government institutions.
Previously, Simon served as a Partner with Ernst & Young Consulting, where he held the positions of CTO and National Director of their strategy and delivery centres. His experience also includes serving on the faculty of the Rotman School of Management, acting as the Head Judge of the Canadian Information Productivity Awards (CIPA), and as a Councillor of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario.
Simon holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and a B.Math (Computer Science) from the University of Waterloo. His extensive experience and diverse roles demonstrate his commitment to the field and his ability to drive strategic initiatives.