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These Certificate Programs are Offered Entirely Online

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The Associate Certificate is now eligible for student loans. For more information, see Part Time Assistance for Credit Courses at BCIT.

This is a certificate program of 21 courses designed to help you become a professional Web designer. The courses are entirely online and are delivered by a fully accredited Canadian post-secondary institution. This series of courses is basically designed as a part-time program for people who work full time. However, some students have managed to turn this into a full-time program by taking more than 1 course per term. Courses in the program may be taken individually, or courses can be taken concurrently if you have the time to devote to them.

Normal BCIT terms are Fall (September-November), Winter (January-March), Spring (April-June), and Summer (July-August). Because the summer term is so short, only selected courses are offered in that term. All courses are offered entirely on the Internet using the Desire2Learn learning interface, which is an e-learning industry standard.

This program includes training in all aspects of website design. Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for entry-level positions as Web professionals. If you have a flare for design and a desire to become a Web professional, BCIT's online Web Technologies Certificate Programs are for you.

For detail on the Associate Certificate program link to http://www.bcit.ca/study/programs/6420acert and for the Certificate Program, link to http://www.bcit.ca/study/programs/6420cert.

For technical requirements, link to System and Software Requirements.

Click on the button below to download Adobe Reader (free) in order to view the course outlines.

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MDIA 1205: Weaving the Web — Level I
MDIA 1206: Weaving the Web with Dreamweaver — Level I
MDIA 2205: Weaving the Web — Level II
MDIA 3201: An Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
MDIA 3204: Working with Photoshop
MDIA 3205: Imaging Technologies for Web Publishing
MDIA 3206: Audio and Video Technologies for Web Publishing
MDIA 3207: Using Scripting Languages on the Web
MDIA 3208: Using New Media on the Web
MDIA 4205: The Business of Web Design
MDIA 4206: Major Project

MDIA 4303: Advanced Web Design
MDIA 4304: Advanced CSS
MDIA 4305: Using XHTML and XML in Web Publishing
MDIA 4310: Advanced Flash Web Design
MDIA 4315: Using ASP in Web Publishing
MDIA 4320: Using Java in Web Publishing (click on the link to read special note)
MDIA 4321: CSS, DHTML, and AJAX (under development)
MDIA 4325: Using PHP in Web Publishing
MDIA 4330: Web Application Development Using Coldfusion
MDIA 4345: Final Project

Associate Certificate Courses

MDIA 1205: Weaving the Web — Level 1

This course will introduce students to the creation of Web pages using the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Students will learn to code Web pages both manually and with the assistance of the open-source HTML editor Nvu (formerly Netscape Composer and available free from http://www.nvu.com). Students will learn to analyze commercial websites in order to gain insight into the design and storyboarding of their own pages. The course will also deal with publishing, marketing, and maintaining an Internet or intranet site. This course is offered entirely on the Internet. Students must have access to the Internet, a personal e-mail account, and a PC Pentium or Macintosh PPC or Pentium with 64 or 128 megs of RAM.

NOTE: The courses MDIA 1205 and 1206 are identical except for the software. You elect only one of these courses for the Associate Certificate.

Special system, software, and textbook requirements: Nvu HTML Editor (http://www.nvu.com), Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/), Netscape Communicator (http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/), and Internet Explorer (http://www.microsoft.com/).

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 1206: Weaving the Web with Dreamweaver — Level I

This course will introduce students to the creation of Web pages using the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Students will learn to code Web pages both manually and with the assistance of the HTML editor Macromedia Dreamweaver (available at academic prices at the BCIT bookstore http://www.bcit.ca/bookstore/). Students will learn to analyze commercial websites in order to gain insight into the design and storyboarding of their own pages. The course will also deal with publishing, marketing, and maintaining an Internet or intranet site. This course is offered entirely on the Internet. Students must have access to the Internet, a personal e-mail account, and a PC Pentium or Macintosh PPC or Pentium with 64 or 128 megs of RAM.

NOTE: The courses MDIA 1205 and 1206 are identical except tfor the software. You elect only one of these courses for the Associate Certificate.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: Macromedia Dreamweaver, Firefox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/), Netscape Communicator (http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/), and Internet Explorer (http://www.microsoft.com/).

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 2205: Weaving the Web — Level II

This course is an extension of MDIA 1205 and/or 1206. It introduces the XHTML coding syntax, UTF-8 character encoding and the more advanced XHTML functions involved in creating interactive forms using CGI, frame-based websites, and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). See MDIA 1205 or 1206 for technical requirements.

Prerequisite: MDIA 1205 or 1206, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 3201: An Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)

This course provides a basic introduction to the language and syntax of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) as it applies to the styling of HTML and XHTML Web pages. In this course we will cover the fundamental CSS properties for styling fonts, colours, text blocks, margins, padding, borders, media types, and units of measurement. Advanced topics will be covered in a subsequent course.

Prerequisites:MDIA 1205 OR 1206 AND 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None.

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 3204: Working with Photoshop

This course proves a basic introduction to the Adobe Photoshop interface and tools. Topics covered will include the basics of color and images; painting and editing tools; making selections; using layers; working with type, using paths, channels and masks; correcting digital colour; and using filters. The course will end with the process of optimizing images for delivery on the Internet.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 OR 1206 AND 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: Adobe Photoshop (with ImageReady included); Text: Robert Shufflebotham. Photoshop CS2 in Easy Steps (Barnes & Noble, 2005)

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 3205: Imaging Technologies for Web Publishing

This course covers all aspects of preparing images for publication on the Internet, including image file formats, browser-safe colors, transparency, tiling, typography, scanning, animations, image mapping, and graphical layout. The course will be offered entirely on the Internet.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206 and 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: Adobe Photoshop (with ImageReady included) plus freeware/shareware utilities.

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 3206: Audio and Video Technologies for Web Publishing

This course deals with the procedures and processes involved in publishing audio and video material on the Internet, including audio file formats, audio sample rates, audio resolution, audio compression, video file formats, and video compression. Students must have access to hardware capable of digitizing sound as well as an audio digitizing software package such as Audacity, SoundForge (for the PC), or BAIS Peak (for the Macintosh), and QuickTime Pro and Real Producer (free). Assignments will not require the digitization of video.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206 and 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: Audio digitizing software such as Audacity, Sound Forge for the PC (Sound Forge Audio Studio — the "lite" version Sound Forge — is sufficient) or Bias Peak for the Macintosh (the shareware software Amadeus II is sufficient), QuickTime Pro, and Real Producer (free).

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 3207: Using Scripting Languages on the Web

This course concentrates on using and modifying commercial and/or freeware JavaScript routines to enhance the content of Web pages. To fully understand how JavaScript scripts work and how they may be modified, students will be asked to create short JavaScript routines using manual coding.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206 and 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 3208: Using New Media on the Web

This course concentrates on using new media such as Flash to enhance Web Pages. While utilizing Shockwave/Flash will form the basis of this course, students will be encouraged to employ other new media, as it becomes available.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206 and 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: Macromedia Flash, Ulrich, Katherine. Flash for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide (Peachpit, Press)

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4205: The Business of Web Design

Topics for this course will include: online shopping, enhancing your business with the Internet, the virtual storefront, setting up a company in British Columbia, creating a business plan, demographic research, targeting your population, designing an e-commerce site, serving an e-commerce site, using credit cards, security in e-commerce transactions, marketing and promotion, (including advertising considerations, using the print media, search service submissions, banner advertising and banner exchanges, trade links, and cross-linking), Internet malls and portals, maintaining your site, locating clients, client consultation, and services and fees. The content of this course will articulate closely with MDIA 4206 and the two may be taken concurrently.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206 and 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4206: Major Project

This course is the culmination of the Associate Certificate program and will concentrate on the development of a comprehensive Web site for a real client. Students will be encouraged to locate a volunteer organization desiring a Web site or use some organization or business with which they are closely associated. In addition to locating the client, other tasks will include designing and storyboarding the site in consultation with the client, articulating the content of the site as dictated by the client, creating a domain name, mounting the site using a commercial ISP, registering the site with search services, cross linking the site with other similar organizations and maintaining and testing the site for a period of 6 weeks. The tutor will be constantly available for consultation during this process. The course may be taken concurrently with MDIA 4205.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206 and 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

Advanced Courses for the Certificate

MDIA 4303: Advanced Web Design

This course will deal with three broad design areas: website usability, website accessibility (for those with physical disabilities), and collaborative Web design. The course will also cover the theories behind design, navigation, layout, and the effective use of colour. The assignments will be specifically designed to simulate situations learners will encounter in the working world, both in a designer/client relationship and working collaboratively as part of a design team. By the end of the course, learners will have the tools to turn your sites into functional works of art that also meet all of the current design guidelines for usability and accessibility.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206 and 2205, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4304: Advanced CSS

This course will focus on advanced Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) techniques and will build upon the skills learned in MDIA 3201. In this course we will cover advanced page layout functions, floats, how to apply curves to box corners, learning the shorthand properties to minimize your CSS file length, how to deal with browser bugs and designing for a variety of media types.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 OR 1206 AND 2205 AND 3201, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4305: Using XHTML and XML in Web Publishing

This is an introduction to using XHTML (EXtensible HyperText Markup Language) and XML (EXtensible Markup Language) to enhance Web page design and for e-commerce applications. Topics will include moving from HTML to XHTML, XHTML element structure, style sheets (including CSS and XSL), using JavaScript to display XML, using Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), and an introduction to XML DOCTYYPES and Schemas and their use. The course will include an introduction to using XML in a Web publishing environment.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206, 2205, and 3207, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4310: Advanced Flash Web Design

This course is designed to build on the skills learned in the introductory Flash course to help students make their Flash animations more interesting and interactive. Topics for this course include: controlling multiple timelines, changing movie clip properties, variables, conditional statements, preloaders, draggable objects, controlling the mouse, and Flash in HTML. By the end of the course students will be able to make fully interactive Flash movies and incorporate them into their HTML to bring their sites to the next level.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206, 2205 and 3208, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4315: Using ASP in Web Publishing

This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of creating dynamic, interactive Web pages using Active Server Pages (ASP) technology. Topics will include: an introduction to ASP, ASP syntax, an introduction to VBScript, the request, response, server, application, and session objects, working with components, and connecting databases to ASP pages. Projects for the course will include creating an interactive guest book, a virtual radio station, a chat room, a classified ads database, and a restaurant menu database. As part of the requirements you will set up a Personal Web Server (PWS) or Internet Information Server (IIS) on your own PC in order to test your code. A course server is available for Macintosh users to test their code, and for all learners to upload their assignments.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206, 2205 and 3207, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: You must be able to install a PWS (Personal Web Server) or IIS (Internet Information Server) on your PC. Microsoft Access or other ODBC software for creating databases is required.

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4320: Using Java in Web Publishing

This course has now been retired. If you require it for graduation, please contact digitalarts@bcit.ca.

This course will concentrate on preparing Java applets using one of Java's GUI frameworks, as well as the basic graphics features provided by the Java language. The students will be asked to prepare small applets with the help of the examples and the resource list in the course notes or from those found through other sources, such as textbooks, tutorials, and on the Web.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206, 2205 and 3207, or equivalent.

Special system, software, and texbook requirements: Java utilities (freeware/shareware) as required.

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

This course has now been retired. If you require it for graduation, please contact digitalarts@bcit.ca.

MDIA 4325: Using PHP in Web Publishing

This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of creating dynamic, interactive Web pages using PHP (Hypertext Pre-Processor) technology. Topics will include: an introduction to PHP, using variables, HTML forms and PHP, doing math in PHP, using strings, basic control structures, using arrays, employing regular expressions, creating functions, working with files and directories, using databases in PHP, employing cookies, creating Web applications, and debugging PHP scripts. As part of the requirements you will set up a PHP server (the software is free) on your own PC or Macintosh (OS X only) in order to test your code.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206, 2205 and 3207, or equivalent.

Special system and software requirements: You must have a server such as PWS (Personal Web Server) or IIS (Internet Information Server) or Apache server installed on your system; PHP server software (free); and MYSQL database software (free).
Textbook: Larry Ullman. PHP For the World Wide Web (Peachpit Press)

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4330: Web Application Development using ColdFusion

This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of creating dynamic, interactive Web pages and e-commerce applications using Macromedia ColdFusion technology. Topics will include: an introduction to ColdFusion, anatomy of a ColdFusion application, setting up a ColdFusion server, using databases, introduction to SQL, using forms, client and session management, and e-commerce applications. NOTE: You cannot set up a ColdFusion server on the Macintosh platform.

Prerequisites: MDIA 1205 or 1206, 2205 and 3207, or equivalent.

Special system and software requirements: You must have a server such as PWS (Personal Web Server) or IIS (Internet Information Server) or Apache server installed on your system; ColdFusion server software (free for a single user); and ODBC database software (Microsoft Access will work).
Textbook: Ben Forta, ColdFusion MX Web Application Construction Kit, Fifth Edition , Fifth Edition (Macromedia Press, 2003)

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).

MDIA 4345: Final Project

This course is the culmination of the Certificate in Web Technologies. The main goal of this course is to draw together all of the knowledge and skills that you have acquired in the Associate Certificate and Certificate programs and present them in terms of a personal online portfolio. You should consider this course in the same class as a visual artist's design portfolio. There will be 10 assignments (portfolio pages) and each assignment should focus on a specific skill or technique, although you will also want to include other design elements to create a well-balanced page. You should approach this course in terms of creating a marketing tool you can use demonstrate your background and skillset to prospective clients. There will be no notes for this course but you may feel free to draw upon the expertise of our entire team of instructors for assistance. Assignments for this course will be assessed by a minimum of 3 instructors from the Web Technologies program. The instructors chosen to do the assessment will be selected based upon the special skills/techniques selected for each assignment submission.

Prerequisites: All courses in the associate and full certificate programs or equivalent.

Special system, software, and textbook requirements: None

View the Course Outline (Adobe Reader required).