Certificate in Programming

CERTIFICATE IN PROGRAMMING

The Certificate in Programming prepares current Yale undergraduates to program computers in support of work in any area of study. While the Certificate does not provide the same grounding in theory and systems that the computer science majors do, it does provide a short path to programming literacy that can be completed in a span of four terms.

To register for the Certificate, follow the instructions given here by the end of the fourth week of your last semester at Yale.

If you have questions about the Certificate, please check the FAQ below. If you do not find the answer there, consult the Certificate coordinator, Theodore Kim .

For the description of the Certificate in the Yale College Programs of Study, click here.

Requirements

The prerequisite for the Certificate is an introductory programming course (CPSC 100, CPSC 110, CPSC 112 or CPSC S115), successful completion of the AP Computer Science course, or equivalent programming experience.

The Certificate requires 5 course credits, not including the prerequisite:

Programming: One from CPSC 201 or 200.
Data Structures: CPSC 223.
Advanced Programming: One from CPSC 327 or 323.
Programming Elective: Either a CPSC course with CPSC 223 as a listed or implied prerequisite and a primary focus on programming (such as CPSC 424, 437, 439, 446, or 478; see below for the complete list); or a second course that satisfies the Advanced Programming requirement.
Applications/Algorithms Elective: Either a programming in context course that requires significant programming (such as CPSC 334, 335, 376, 431, 432, 474, 477, or LING 380); or a course in algorithms (such as CPSC 365, 366 or 368). See below for the complete lists.

Restrictions and Caveats

Students may not count any of the five required courses towards the requirements of any major, multidisciplinary academic program (MAP), or other certificate. If such a course is required for another program, the student must substitute another course from the same category or a more advanced one for the Certificate.

No course taken Credit/D/Fail may count toward any of the requirements; no course may be used to satisfy more than one of them.

If you take a course and its listed prerequisite at the same time, only the higher-level course may be used to satisfy a requirement.

Majors in Computer Science, in our joint programs with Economics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Psychology, or in Computing and the Arts may not pursue the Certificate.

Exceptions to the requirements, other than the substitution of a more advanced course from the same category for a required one, are limited. See below for a complete list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: May I count towards the Certificate a course that was taken Credit/D/Fail?
A: No.

Q: May I count a course toward both the Certificate and my major as I may with a double major?
A: No. There can be no overlap between courses used to complete the Certificate and the requirements of any major, multidisciplinary academic program (MAP), or other certificate. If a course required for the Certificate is also required for another major/MAP/certificate, you must either take a different course for the Certificate or take a different course for the other program.

Q: May I complete both the Certificate in Programming and a major in Computer Science, or in the joint programs with Economics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Psychology, or in Computing and the Arts?
A: No.

Q: May I count the same course toward more than one of the five requirements?
A: No.

Q: May a graduate or professional school student receive the Certificate in Programming?
A: No, the Certificate is only for undergraduates.

Q: Which courses satisfy the Programming Elective?
A: Either a CPSC course which has CPSC 223 as a listed or implied prerequisite and a primary focus on programming, one of:

CPSC 421 Compilers and Interpreters
CPSC 422 Design and Implementation of Operating Systems
CPSC 424 Parallel Programming Techniques
CPSC 426 Building Distributed Systems
CPSC 437 Introduction to Database Systems
CPSC 439 Software Engineering
CPSC 446 Data and Information Visualization
CPSC 478 Computer Graphics

or a second course that satisfies the Advanced Programming requirement.
Warning: Some of these courses have prerequisites that do not count toward the Certificate.

Q: Which courses satisfy the Applications/Algorithms Elective?
A: Either a programming in context course that requires significant programming, one of:

CPSC 334 Creative Embedded Systems
CPSC 335 Theory and Implementation Of Self-Driving Cars
CPSC 376 Advanced Computer and Data Science Applications for the Digital Humanities
CPSC 431 Computer Music: Algorithmic & Heuristic Composition
CPSC 432 Computer Music: Sound Representation and Synthesis
CPSC 474 Computational Intelligence for Games
CPSC 477 Natural Language Processing
CPSC 479 Advanced Topics in Computer Graphics
LING 380 Neural Networks and Language

or a course in algorithms, one of:

CPSC 365 Algorithms
CPSC 366 Intensive Algorithms
CPSC 368 Algorithms via Convex Optimization

or a second course that satisfies the Advanced Programming requirement.
Warning: Some of these courses have prerequisites that do not count toward the Certificate.

Q: Do any other courses, aside from the ones listed above, count towards the Certificate?
A: No.

Q: Can I substitute courses that are not listed above into any of the requirements?
A: No.

Q: When must I register for the Certificate?
A: By the end of the fourth week of your last semester at Yale.

Q: How do I register for the Certificate?
A: Follow the instructions here.

Q: How will the Certificate appear on my transcript?
A: Upon graduation the notation "Events: Certificate: Programming" will appear under your major(s).

Q: May I skip CPSC 100 or 112?
A: Yes, provided that you have taken the AP Computer Science course or have equivalent programming experience.

Q: May I skip CPSC 201 or 200?
A: Yes, provided that you can demonstrate sufficient programming experience to enroll in CPSC 223. However, you must take an additional Advanced Programming course or Programming Elective instead.

Q: Which substitutions of a more advanced course for a required one are permitted?
A: Current substitutions are:

An extra Advanced Programming Course or Programming Elective for CPSC 201 or 200
An extra Advanced Programming Course for CPSC 223.

Additional substitutions will be added as needed.

Q: May I take a course and one of its listed prerequisites at the same time?
A: Yes, but only the higher-level course may be used to satisfy a requirement. For example, if you take CPSC 201 and CPSC 223 concurrently, then only CPSC 223 will count toward the Certificate.

Version 2023/03/09.