Overview
The Applied Software Development (ASD) Associate Certificate covers best practices and industry standards in application development. Learn to program with Python and move on to Java, business analysis and systems design. Electives include application development with C, Java, C#, and C++, plus Agile scrum methods, QA, and software testing.
About the program
- 3 intakes: September, January, and April
- Classes at night after 6pm and on weekends
- Course-by-course registration, pay as you go – you could complete this program in as little as 2 years with 1 course per term
- Includes 6 of the most popular programming languages
- May be completed concurrently with Applied Computer Information Systems (ACIS), which offers complementary skills in computer and file management, web development, mathematics, database and communications
- Provides the foundational skills to move on to advanced software development – ASD is a sub-set of the CST FLEX Diploma from BCIT Computing and only functions as an entry-to-practice credential for those with other post-secondary IT education or related work experience
See the Program Details to learn more.
Who should complete the ASD Associate Certificate?
This program might be for you if you:
- You are a legacy programmer upgrading to current development environments in C, Java, C++, and C#
- You have post-secondary education in Computing and IT and want to learn programming languages for application development
- You are also completing ACIS on route to the CSC and CST Diploma.
- You enjoy problem-solving, communicating, and working in teams
If any of these sound like you, please check the ASD Entrance Requirements.
What Applied Software Development graduates can do
By earning your ASD, you will have gained hands-on skills in software development in multiple programming languages.
You will be able to:
- Use best practices to create software applications to industry standards
- Design code using the most popular programming languages: Python, Java, C, C#, and C++
- Contribute and communicate effectively as a member of a software development team
- Apply logical, critical, and creative thinking to effectively solve Computing and IT-related problems
- Learn independently and adopt new tools, current technologies, and methods to stay on top of the latest technologies
- Be admitted to the Computer Systems Certificate (CSC) or the advanced Web and Mobile Application Development (WMA) Associate Certificate, if you already have a diploma or degree – ASD students moving on to the Computer Systems Certificate (CSC) should choose electives accordingly, starting with COMP 2511 and COMP 2833
Learn industry standards to create scalable and secure software applications.
Start with just one course: COMP 1516 – Programming Fundamentals Part 1 (Python)
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Entrance Requirements
Prerequisites:
- COMP 1002 or equivalent knowledge managing files on a PC
- BC High School Grade 12 English and Grade 12 Math, or equivalent knowledge.
ASD alone is not designed for those students just out of high school with no other education or work experience, those students should consider completing a Diploma or Degree in order to be well-positioned in the job market.
Mature students with other post-secondary education, or related work experience who do not need a diploma, may use ASD to upgrade with new skills for increased job opportunities,
Start with just one course:
COMP 1516 – Programming Fundamentals with Python.
NOTE: If you achieve less than 70% in COMP 1516 then you should repeat COMP 1516 before attempting COMP 2501. After completing COMP 1516 with 70% or better you may register in COMP 2501 for the following term.
After successfully completing COMP 1516 with 70% you may apply for ASD program approval.
Prior to submitting a program declaration, those on limited timelines who require a program letter (e.g. with student loans or limited sponsorship) must first contact the department directly to receive a signed Course Planning Document, which they will be required to attach to their online declaration. Otherwise, students must first complete COMP 1516 with 70% or better before declaring ASD.
Application processing
This program is open to declarations beginning:
- February 1st* for the January intake
- May 1st* for the April intake
- October 1st* for the September intake
Entrance requirements
Declarations submitted for program intakes beginning April 1, 2025 or later will be evaluated using the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement below.
- English language proficiency: Category 2 – English Studies 12 (67%) or equivalent
International applicants
This program is not available to international students. View available programs.
Program declaration
Declaring your Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) program ensures that BCIT is aware of your intent to complete a program as it is currently outlined and provides you the opportunity to apply for transfer credit.
To submit your declaration:
- Answer all questions completely.
- If required, convert transcripts and documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Declare Now
Upon approval, a program plan letter will be sent to you confirming your program of study. Please allow approximately eight weeks for processing.
Learn more about program declaration
Scheduled Intakes
Ongoing Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) intakes: January, April, and September.
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Costs & Supplies
All Flexible Learning programs are course-by-course registration.
The current total cost of this program is approximately $ 4,000 depending on electives and if eBooks are chosen.
Students register and pay for available courses online, by clicking on the green block ‘Add to Cart’.
Follow the directions to obtain a BCIT student number if you do not already have one.
Note: Please register early to avoid disappointment, our programming courses are very popular and fill several weeks in advance.
Since there are limited seats, students in declared programs will have the opportunity to register first.
Students who have not completed the specific prerequisites will not be given the approval to register.
Tuition fees
Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) tuition is charged on a course-by-course basis. Please see the Flexible Learning Tuition & Fees page for more information.
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Courses
Important Notice: Please do not declare ASD until you have completed COMP 1516 with 70% or higher, and before moving on to COMP 2501.
After completing COMP 2501 with 70% or better you may move directly on to COMP 2511, and or COMP 2601.
Students who have completed COMP 2601 may move directly on to COMP 3601 or COMP 3602 or COMP 3603. Please do not attempt to register in multiple COMP 360x programming language courses at the same time.
The core of the ASD program provides students with an understanding of systems analysis, industry standards, methods, tools, communication, and group work.
Please consider COMP 2831 -Business Analysis and Systems Design, after any COMP 2500 level programming course.
Students who want COMP 2833 -Agile as an elective must complete COMP 2831 first.
Program matrix
Check current availability of courses for this program.
1. Required Courses: (14.0 credits) | Credits | ||
---|---|---|---|
COMP 1516 | Programming Fundamentals Part 1 (Python) | 4.0 | |
COMP 2501 | Programming Fundamentals Part 2 (Java) | 3.0 | |
COMP 2601 | Programming Fundamentals Part 3 (Object Design) | 3.0 | |
COMP 2831 | Business Analysis and Systems Design | 4.0 | |
Check Computing Flexible Learning Course and Program Changes for prior course equivalents. | |||
2. Complete a minimum of 7.0 credits from the following electives: | Credits | ||
COMP 2511 | Procedural Programming with C | 5.0 | |
COMP 2833 | Agile Scrum Methods | 4.0 | |
COMP 3601 | Application Development with Java | 4.0 | |
COMP 3602 | Application Development with C# | 4.0 | |
COMP 3603 | Application Development with C++ | 4.0 | |
COMP 3829 | Quality Assurance and Software Testing | 3.0 | |
COMP 3912 | iOS Mobile Application Development | 4.0 | |
COMP 4603 | Advanced C++ Application Development | 4.0 | |
Note: CSC and CST Diploma and Flexible Learning students who plan to ladder should complete all required courses plus COMP 2511 and COMP 2833 as electives. | |||
Total Credits: | 21.0 |
Check current availability of courses for this program.
Students are expected to complete course prerequisites and are advised not to take two different programming languages at the same time.
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
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Program Details
Software developers will also need to have Applied Computer Information Systems (ACIS) skills which include: computer and file management, web development, mathematics, database and communications.
Applied Software Development (ASD) is a part-time associate certificate program that was designed for delivery of one (1) course per term with completion in around two (2) years part-time. Those students able to complete two (2) courses per term could complete ASD and ACIS simultaneously in two (2) years, at night and on weekends.
Together ASD and ACIS can provide over 70% of the Computer Systems Certificate (CSC).
Each COMP course in this program requires a total time commitment of 12-15 hours per week or a minimum of 100 hours with homework. The ASD program requires a total commitment of over 1,000 hours for most students.
Note: Please choose only one (1) of any higher-level programming course per term and complete any higher-level programming language prior to COMP 2831.
There are subtle differences between Java and C# for example plus different development environments. Most students will need to focus on one language and IDE at a time for proficiency and long-term retention.
Flexible Learning was not designed for full-time delivery or for those on funding timelines.
International Students:
The ASD is not open to international students as the program cannot be completed with 9 credits per term. In order to maintain minimum credits for study permits, please consider CSC which is reopened to international students.
Computer hardware and Internet requirements
Students must provide a current model PC desktop or laptop with a webcam, microphone and have high-speed internet access. COMP courses may use two-way audio and video as well as group work outside of class.
Participants must be computer literate in order to participate and complete each COMP course. Please contact the department via email: cstflex@bcit.ca if you have any questions.
ASD was not designed for full-time delivery or for those on funding timelines. This program was designed for part-time delivery of one or two courses per term. Most students will complete ASD in around two years part-time, at night and on weekends.
Note: Please choose only one (1) of any higher-level programming course per term and complete any higher-level programming language prior to COMP 2831.
There are subtle differences between Java and C# for example plus different development environments. Most students will need to focus on one language and IDE at a time for proficiency and long-term retention.
ASD is a sub-set of the Computer Systems Certificate (CSC) and CST FLEX Diploma program.
ASD program is focused on programming languages, designed and delivered by industry experts, and includes a variety of integrated software development environments.
Credit Overlap:
These three (3) advanced software development programs were designed for students not moving on to the CST Diploma. Program approval will only be granted for one (1) of these programs due to credit overlap.
Associate Certificates require a minimum of 25% unique credits. It is not possible to earn multiple BCIT credentials using all the same credits.
Program delivery
Blended: This program is delivered partly on campus and partly online.
This program may offer a choice of course deliveries: some courses are entirely on campus, others are blended, in-person on campus with required online components. A selection of courses are delivered synchronously online, but may require scheduled in campus exams.Program location
Courses may be offered at the following locations:
Burnaby Campus
3700 Willingdon Avenue
Burnaby, BC
Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
Continue your education
BCIT offers part-time students the opportunity to complete a series of credential programs, ultimately leading to a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science. These first three credentials ladder towards the CST Diploma and the first two Associate Certificates, ASD & ACIS may be taken simultaneously. If you apply and qualify, you can earn the following credentials:
Program abandonment
Students approved for a Flexible Learning (Part-time Studies) program are expected to register and complete courses on a continuous basis.
A student that has not completed a course from their approved program of study over a period of three consecutive academic terms will be considered to have abandoned the program.
Throughout the duration of the program, a student is permitted a maximum of five academic terms where they are not required to register and complete a course from their approved program of study. Students who exceed the five term maximum will be considered to have abandoned the program.
Students who have abandoned their approved program of study and wish to be reinstated will be required to apply for program approval for a current credential. BCIT cannot guarantee that courses taken prior to this reapplication will be credited towards the current credential.
BCIT Policy 5103 - Student Evaluation [PDF] permits a maximum of three attempts to successfully complete each course within a credential.
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Graduating & Jobs
ASD is a sub-set of the Computer Systems Technology, CST/PTS Diploma and follow-on Bachelors Degree, CST BTech.
ASD graduates may seek employment as entry-level systems analysts and software developers, however, most students will move on to higher-level credentials.
Please keep in mind that ASD students will be competing with CST Diploma and CST Degree graduates for programming jobs.
Depending on your skills and abilities, a BCIT Associate Certificate combined with other education, experience and connections may help you in your career.
Graduate outcome survey highlight
97% of grads were satisfied with quality of instruction [PDF]
Graduate employment outcomes
The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2019-2021 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website.
To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Apply for graduation
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, complete an Application for BCIT Credential [PDF] and submit it to Student Information and Enrolment Services.
Allow approximately six to eight weeks for processing.
All financial obligations to the Institute must be met prior to issuance of any credential.
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Faculty, Advisors & Staff
This program was envisioned and developed by Kevin Cudihee as Program Head with subject matter input from; Jason Wilder, Mike Mulder, Anca Datcu-Romano, Arash Ghavami, Charlie Blattler, Bob Langelaan, and Ed Rubuliak.
Administrative support is provided by:
- Joanne Atha, Operations Coordinator Computing Flexible Learning.
- Gustavo Montemor, Program Assistant
Please email cstflex@bcit.ca for administrative support in Computing Flexible Learning.
Advisory committee
The Computing Flexible Learning curriculum is coordinated by Kevin Cudihee in conjunction with industry experts, Flexible Learning instructors and the BCIT Computing Program Advisory Committee (PAC).
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