Overview
The Front-End Web Developer (FWD) program takes students with little to no knowledge of web development and gives them the skills necessary to develop websites for small- to medium-sized businesses or for large websites as part of a web development team in just six months. The goal of this short, fast-track program is to produce job-ready graduates who can work in the front-end web design and development field.
The program covers the following key areas:
- web design tools
- information architecture and user experience
- front-end web development
- web application development
By using a “best practices” approach to web development, you will create sites that are not only visually appealing but are also accessible, usable, and standards-compliant.
Upon completion of the FWD program, you will have a publicly accessible web portfolio showcasing your work created throughout the program along with your industry project.
You will learn techniques in application development, be exposed to several current web technologies, and apply system development best practices to design and develop usable and effective websites.
The program is delivered through classroom instruction, hands-on lab work and individual and team projects. Applicants for the Front-End Web Developer program should possess sound logical and reasoning abilities, as well as good communication skills – both written and oral. Applicants should also have a working knowledge of Windows or macOS and be comfortable working with files and folders (saving, copying, moving and renaming files and folders).
| BCIT Credential: | Certificate |
| Program Location: | Downtown Vancouver |
| Program Length: | 27 weeks, Full-time |
| Program Start / End: | May 15, 2023 – Nov. 24, 2023 |
Entrance Requirements
Application processing
This program is open to applications:
| Intake | Applications open | Intake delivery mode |
|---|---|---|
| January | September 26* | Online |
| May | January 18* | In person |
| September | May 23* | In person |
| October | June 20* | Online |
*or next business day
Applications are considered for a specific intake.
Entrance requirements
This program has a two-step admission process. Applicants must meet all entrance requirements and will be accepted on a first qualified basis as long as space remains.
Step 1: Pre-entry assessment
Applicants are required to complete the Pre-entry Assessment form [PDF] to review their prior experience and how they meet the entrance requirements.
Please email your completed assessment form to TPP@bcit.ca.
An approved pre-entry assessment form must be uploaded to complete your application.
Step 2: Meet the following entrance requirements
- English: two years of education in English in an English-speaking country with one of the following:
- English Studies 12 (50%) or
- English First Peoples 12 (50%) or
- Acceptable equivalent high school course or
- 3.0 credits of post-secondary English, humanities or social sciences (50%) from a recognized institution
What if I don’t meet these English requirements?
International applicants
The in-person delivery is available to international applicants. A valid study permit is required prior to starting the program.
The online delivery option is available to international applicants who will complete the program from outside Canada or who currently have a valid status in Canada other than study permit. International applicants accepted into the online delivery option are not eligible for a study permit.
Apply to program
To submit your application:
- Include proof of meeting all entrance requirements.
- Convert all transcripts and supporting documents to PDF files.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the application fee.
Apply Now
Scheduled Intakes
- In person intakes are offered in May and September each year.
- Online intakes are offered in January and October each year.
Please see the program overview for precise dates.
Costs & Supplies
Tuition fees
Please see the Full-Time Tuition & Fees pages for tuition fee amounts:
Books & supplies
Tuition fees include classroom materials and all required software.
Students are required to bring in their own laptop to class each day. Please refer to the Laptop Specifications [PDF] for requirements.
The instructions on installing the software on your computer will be provided on the first day of class.
Laptop costs vary depending on the configuration chosen but will likely range from approximately $1000 to $2000.
Financial assistance
Financial assistance may be available for this program. For more information, please contact Student Financial Aid and Awards.
Refund policy
If notice is submitted in writing and received by the TPP Program Office at least twelve (12) working days prior to the first day of classes, all tuition fees paid (less the $1,500.00 commitment fee) will be refunded.
If notice is submitted in writing and received by the TPP Program Office by 4:00 p.m. on the second day of class, all fees paid less $2,500.00 ($1,500.00 commitment fee and $1,000.00 penalty fee) will be refunded.
There will be no refund of fees issued after the second day of class.
Withdrawal for medical reasons, possible partial refund with doctor's medical note.
Courses
Class hours
9:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday (excluding statutory holidays)
Program matrix
| Required Courses: | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| FWDP 1000 | Web Development 1 | 4.0 | |
| FWDP 1100 | Web Design Fundamentals | 2.0 | |
| FWDP 1200 | UX Fundamentals | 2.0 | |
| FWDP 1400 | Web Scripting 1 | 5.0 | |
| FWDP 2000 | Web Development 2 | 4.0 | |
| FWDP 2200 | Web Design Process | 3.0 | |
| FWDP 2300 | Managing Web Projects | 1.0 | |
| FWDP 2400 | Web Scripting 2 | 5.0 | |
| FWDP 3400 | Web Scripting 3 | 4.0 | |
| FWDP 3600 | Content Management Systems | 5.0 | |
| FWDP 3700 | Online Stores | 2.0 | |
| FWDP 4000 | Web Portfolio Project | 4.0 | |
| FWDP 4500 | Capstone Project | 9.0 | |
| Total Credits: | 50.0 | ||
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.
Program Details
Program length
26 weeks, full-time
Grading
Students must obtain a minimum of 65% in each course in order to proceed to the next course. All courses must be passed in order to qualify for the final capstone project.
Program delivery
This program offers intakes in the following delivery modes:
- In person: The intake is delivered on campus.
- Online: The intake is delivered fully online.
This program is run as a cohort model with instruction in the morning and mandatory labs in the afternoon. All classes are held in a computer lab.
Program location
May and September intakes:
BCIT Downtown Campus
555 Seymour Street
Vancouver, BC
January and October intakes:
Online Learning
Graduating & Jobs
Sector snapshot
Job Opportunities
Graduates will find careers in a variety of industries including business, finance, government, health, information technology, telecommunications and independent consulting. Depending on previous academic and work experience, career paths for graduates may include but are not limited to:
- Front-end web developer
- Web application developer
- Web developer
- UX/UI Designer
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 2020-2022 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2019-2021 graduates and for Degree 2017-2019 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.
Faculty, Advisors & Staff
Faculty
Michael Whyte, FWD Program Head
Beata Kozma, FWD Faculty
Staff
Bal Lidhar, Program Coordinator
Advisory committee
BCIT is well-respected by employers for its ties to industry. In Computing, this connection is formalized through a Program Advisory Committee (PAC) comprised of experts in a range of roles from a cross-section of companies. The department consults regularly to ensure program currency and relevance.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this program, please send us an email.
You can also use the form below to make contact with our department, or other applicable departments at BCIT.
Questions or comments?
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