Back-End Development Certificate

The Back-End Development Certificate at the University of Waterloo is a focused, advanced program designed to strengthen the skills required to build robust, well-architected back-end systems for web and mobile applications. Developed in collaboration with faculty from the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, the program delivers practical, in-depth training that helps learners develop expertise typically gained over years of professional experience. Emphasis is placed on systems reliability, maintainability, and high-quality coding practices across modern back-end frameworks.

Through hands-on, collaborative learning, participants design and build secure, scalable back-end systems using industry best practices. The program integrates modern development workflows, including cloud services, DevOps pipelines, and AI-powered tools, to accelerate development while maintaining code quality. By simulating real-world development environments, learners gain the ability to evaluate architectural trade-offs, avoid common pitfalls, and continuously improve their back-end development skills in professional settings.

Admission 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.

What You’ll Learn

• Design and build secure, well-architected back-end systems.
• Write reliable and maintainable code following industry best practices.
• Develop scalable cloud-based web services.
• Evaluate and choose between back-end architectural approaches.
• Use DevOps pipelines and modern AI tools to accelerate development.
• Improve coding quality through testing, review, and continuous improvement.