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How to Apply

Currently accepting applications Next program starts: Winter 2009 Program location: Bellevue Next information meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 4 (see details >>) Sign up to receive e-mail updates >> Contact a program representative >>

• Admission Requirements
• Technology Requirements
• Application Process
• Fees and Tuition
• Earning the Certificate
• Single-Course Enrollment

If you are familiar with the program and application process, you can print an application form now.

Admission Requirements

There is an admissions process to ensure that all students begin the program with comparable experience. Admission requirements:

• High school education or GED;
• UNIX, PC or Mac literacy (e.g., use of e-mail, files and directories, and command-line shell environments);
• Working experience with basic file I/O (reading and writing text and/or binary files) in at least one language; and
• One to two years of recent programming experience in an object-oriented or procedural language (e.g., C, C++, C#, Perl, Python, FORTRAN, BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, Smalltalk, Ada)
• Working experience with using basic data structures (arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues)

English Proficiency: Students who are non-native English speakers are expected to have adequate English language proficiency. For details, see English Language Guidelines.

International Students: This program does not qualify as full-time study, and therefore does not meet requirements for an F-1 visa. However, if you are an F-1 student currently enrolled full-time in another program, OR you are in the U.S. on some other type of visa (not F-1), you may be eligible to take a certificate program or course. For complete details, or to contact an adviser, see Visa Information.

Technology Requirements

The Java Development Kit (JDK) 1.5.x is required. For Windows and Solaris (Sun Microsystems Unix) platforms, the JDK may be obtained for free from the Sun Microsystems JavaSoft Web site. If you are planning to use another platform, Sun provides a listing of many of the ports of the JDK to other platforms. The first quarter will require the use of the Eclipse IDE, in subsequent quarters the student may continue to use Eclipse, another IDE or simply a text editor of their choice. Additional tools that will be used are JUnit (a unit test framework), MySQL (relational database server), Ant (built utility) and a web server. Acceptable web servers include Apache, Tomcat and IIS. All of these tools are freely available.

Software supporting the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is recommended. Your instructor will provide information on available options.

Application Process The 2009 program begins in January 2009. Applications are now being accepted and will be reviewed in the order they are received starting October 13 through Nobember 30, 2008. After November 30, 2008 you are encouraged to call 206-685-8936 or e-mail us to learn if a program is still accepting applications.

To Apply: Please submit one copy of the application form with a $50 certificate program fee* and two stapled application sets, which include the following clearly labeled documents:

1. A typed (250-word maximum) letter of application describing a) your relevant work and volunteer experience, and/or transferable skills and knowledge of the field, and b) how you expect the program will help you meet your professional goals**
2. Your résumé listing education and applicable programming experience**
3. Applicants who have received degrees in countries where English is not the native language must submit official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Michigan Test International. A score of 580 or higher (paper-based) or a score of 237 or higher (computer-based) is required on the TOEFL exam. A score of 90 or higher is required on the Michigan test.

Application Review: Applications are evaluated by a review committee designated by the advisory board. Selection of program participants is based on admission requirements. Applicants receive written notification of their acceptance or non-acceptance within two weeks after their application is received.

Enrollment: Applicants accepted to the program receive enrollment information for the first-term course and are encouraged to make their fall tuition payment early. Enrollment in the program is on a first-come, first-served basis, upon receipt of the first-term tuition payment.

Waitlist: Some programs maintain a waitlist for applicants accepted after the program has reached enrollment capacity. If space becomes available, waitlisted applicants will be notified and given an opportunity to enroll. If space does not become available, waitlisted applicants will be offered a space in the next program offering.

* The certificate program fee is not refundable and does not guarantee admission to, or enrollment in, the program.

**Individuals who have successfully completed the UW C Programming Certificate Program, the UW C++ Certificate Program, the UW Perl Programming Certificate Program, or the UW Visual Basic Programming Certificate Program are automatically accepted, and are not required to submit résumés or letters, but must provide the application form, indicating successful completion of the prerequisite certificate program, and the $45 nonrefundable certificate program fee.

Fees and Tuition

Tuition is payable on a term-by-term basis. Tuition for the entire program is $1,872, excluding certificate program and registration fees and textbooks. There is a $50 nonrefundable certificate program fee to apply to this program and a $35 nonrefundable registration fee each term. First-term tuition of $624, plus the nonrefundable registration fee, is due two weeks prior to the first day of class.

Optional fees for a Uniform Access computer account are $55 (quarterly) for the classroom-based format. The University's tuition exemption policy does not apply to this program. Fees and tuition are subject to change.

Earning the Certificate

Participants are evaluated in each course on the basis of standards established by the advisory board and instructors. At the end of each course, participants are notified of successful or unsuccessful completion. Because courses are arranged sequentially, participants need to successfully complete classes in the previous term before they advance to the next term.

Once you are accepted into the program, you have one year to complete it.

When the required courses are completed in these noncredit programs, participants earn a certificate, which is presented at the annual UW Extension awards ceremony.

Single-Course Enrollment

Interested in taking just one class? Some courses in this program (those courses designated by a ) are open for single-course enrollment to those who do not wish to earn the certificate. Because some courses require prior knowledge and experience in the field, those interested in taking individual courses need to submit these materials:

1. A completed application for single-course enrollment;
2. A résumé listing your work-related experience, and a typed (250-word maximum) letter of application describing your experience/knowledge and how it was acquired.

Please note that courses taken as a non-certificate student are not automatically applied toward a certificate of completion in the program. Single-course enrollments are on a space-available basis. No certificate program fee is necessary; tuition is not accepted until you are notified of eligibility.

UW Extension reserves the right to cancel programs or classes with low enrollment.