Making the difference: Udayan Das, center, is Program Director of Computer Science at Saint Mary's and strives to emphasize the fundamentals of computing alongside "an awareness and attention to ethical concerns." / Photo by Francis Tatem
Saint Mary’s New Online Computer Science Certificate Provides a World-Class Computing Education—in Less Than 12 Months
Entirely virtual. The flexibility to work full or part-time. And providing the skills, knowledge, and credentials to seek out jobs at name-brand tech companies, startups, or even the FBI.
With the new Online Computer Science Certificate, Saint Mary’s is offering a premiere education that’s more accessible—and streamlined—than ever.
Launching in fall 2024, the one-year certificate program is designed for anyone seeking a foundational understanding of computing and programming. And that really means anyone: current undergraduates, working professionals, or those planning to pursue graduate studies in Computer Science. Entirely virtual, the program offers students the flexibility to work full or part-time and still complete the certificate in less than 12 months. They will learn essential, in-demand skills, including Python and Java Programming, data structures, and algorithms.
Courses are taught by industry experts like Udayan Das, researcher and Program Director of Computer Science at Saint Mary’s. Das has sought to build a “world-class” program with “an explicit focus on social justice, ethics, the intersection of technology with society.” He and colleagues strive to emphasize “an awareness and attention to ethical concerns…In addition to, of course, being highly skillful in all things computing.”
The Full-Scale Computer Science Program
Located in the San Francisco Bay Area—a world-renowned hub for established tech juggernauts and rising startups—Saint Mary’s offers plenty of hands-on opportunities. Along with the Online Computer Science Certificate, SMC also offers undergraduates the option to major in Computer Science. Jayson Matsuura ’23, one of the first graduates of the Computer Science program, stepped right into a job as a Computer Scientist for the FBI.
For Matsuura, there was a direct line between what he learned at Saint Mary’s and applying those skills to criminal justice. “At the end of the day, it comes down to making sure I help people,” he said, as he looked toward how he might use his degree. “But the way we help people matters, right?”
Ultimately, the new Computer Science Certificate will deliver students the skills and competitive edge to succeed in a tech-driven industry. They’ll gain a world-class education—and in a time and schedule that meets a broad range of needs.
