Overview
Powering the digital world’s backbone, one code at a time
Back-end development forms the foundation of seamless digital experiences, handling data and functionality behind the scenes. Mastering JavaScript, web databases, and their smooth integration is your ticket to unlocking flawless website and application performance.
- Complete three flexible online courses to earn a Certificate of Professional Learning while growing your professional network, or pursue a Diploma in Full-Stack Development
- Highlights API incorporation in web design, and web development principles for functional back-end code
- Learn core competencies and skillsets that every back-end and full-stack development professional needs to get ahead in today’s workforce
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Program highlights Learn More
- In-demand skills to stand out in the growing field of Back-End Development
- Fully online program to fit your life
- Earn a Certificate while networking with industry expert instructors
Back-End Development program features:
- Earn a Certificate of Professional Learning to enhance your professional profile and expertise
- Flexible online courses allow you to continue working a full-time job while attaining in-demand skills
- Learn from instructors currently working in the field of Back-End Development
- Grow your network as you learn alongside other aspiring Web Developers
What you'll learn Learn More
- Critically analyze the future of full-stack development through the lens of AWS and Shopify
- Demonstrate how to run queries from a back-end database
- Develop expertise in JavaScript coding
Through our Back-End Development program, you’ll learn to:
- Demonstrate how a server interacts with a database
- Demonstrate how to use API software
- Identify the role and tasks of a back-end developer as part of the website development process
- Understand what an API is and how it is incorporated into website design
- Apply web development principles to build functioning back-end code
Learn more about the Back-End Development program
- Anyone interested in pursuing a career in Back-End Development
- Anyone with a background in graphic design, multimedia, communication, or web analytics seeking coding skills
- Anyone seeking personal and/or professional development in the principles and practices of back-end website development
- Professionals with an interest in e-commerce, servers and databases
Earning a Certificate of Professional Learning in Back-End Development can lead to a rewarding position as:
- Back-End Web Developer
- Back-End Application Developer
- Back-End Engineer
- Technical Writer
- Back-End Architect
Upon completion of this program, learners will:
- Demonstrate how a server interacts with a database
- Develop expertise in JavaScript coding
- Demonstrate how to use API software
- Critically analyze the future of full-stack development through the lens of AWS and Shopify
- Demonstrate how to run queries from a back-end database
- Identify the role and tasks of a back-end developer as part of the website development process
- Understand what an API is and how it is incorporated into website design
- Apply web development principles to build functioning back-end code
Check out our latest Info Session webinar recording to learn more about the Back-End Development program
What our recent graduates say
Rudy Singh
Project Management
This program has equipped me with the skills and confidence to succeed in my career, regardless of the industry I’m in.
Beyond professional applications, Rudy underscored the broader relevance of project management skills to daily life. Drawing parallels between project management principles and personal endeavours, he highlighted the program’s transformative potential in cultivating discipline, excellent organizational skills and a mindset of continuous growth and adaptability. To read Rudy’s story, click here!
Rudy Singh
Project Management
Tyson
Business Administration - Marketing graduate
The instructors worked in the marketing field and taught us real-life experiences.
Obtaining an education with McMaster Continuing Education helped me reinvent my career. I was a former banker and I wanted a career in marketing. Through this program, I was able to bridge that gap and get into the career that I wanted. The instructors were working in the marketing field, teaching us real-life experiences and that was very valuable to me.
Tyson
Business Administration - Marketing graduate
The flexibility of the course helped me a lot to balance my work.
The flexibility of the course helped me a lot to balance my work. Our field in data is continuously changing. I found that sweet balance in terms of the focus of the course. It’s a life cycle of how the data is coming in all the way to make it a service or a product. The course gives you that 360 spectrum.
Zaki
Big Data graduate
This program has equipped me with the skills and confidence to succeed in my career, regardless of the industry I’m in.
Beyond professional applications, Rudy underscored the broader relevance of project management skills to daily life. Drawing parallels between project management principles and personal endeavours, he highlighted the program’s transformative potential in cultivating discipline, excellent organizational skills and a mindset of continuous growth and adaptability. To read Rudy’s story, click here!
Rudy Singh
Project Management
The instructors worked in the marketing field and taught us real-life experiences.
Obtaining an education with McMaster Continuing Education helped me reinvent my career. I was a former banker and I wanted a career in marketing. Through this program, I was able to bridge that gap and get into the career that I wanted. The instructors were working in the marketing field, teaching us real-life experiences and that was very valuable to me.
Tyson
Business Administration - Marketing graduate
The flexibility of the course helped me a lot to balance my work.
The flexibility of the course helped me a lot to balance my work. Our field in data is continuously changing. I found that sweet balance in terms of the focus of the course. It’s a life cycle of how the data is coming in all the way to make it a service or a product. The course gives you that 360 spectrum.
Zaki
Big Data graduate
Other programs you may be interested in
Certificate in Back-End Development
Certificate in Back-End Development
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Certificate of Professional Learning in Back-End Development Learn More
Earn your Certificate of Professional Learning in Back-End Development by completing all three required courses listed below
Through our Certificate of Professional Learning in Back-End Development program, you'll learn to:
Academic Credit – 9 units
- Demonstrate how a server interacts with a database
- Develop expertise in JavaScript coding
- Demonstrate how to use API software
- Critically analyze the future of full-stack development through the lens of AWS and Shopify
- Demonstrate how to run queries from a back-end database
- Identify the role and tasks of a back-end developer as
part of the website development process - Understand what an API is and how it is incorporated into website design
- Apply web development principles
Note: Students are recommended to have some background in web design and development, but it is not required.
Courses (complete all 3)
Discover our Full-Stack Development programs:
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Back-End Development Schedule
Back-End Development course schedules to help you plan your academic year.
Registration: Fall and Winter terms open in mid-July and Spring term opens in mid-March.
Program Requirements: Review certificate or diploma tab.
Time Zone: Courses run in the Eastern Time (ET) Zone.
Course Fees: A McMaster Part Time Student fee is included in the cost of academic credit courses. There is no tax on courses unless indicated at the bottom of the schedule chart.
Additional Fees: New students pay a one-time, non-refundable $39 activation fee for their first academic-credit course. Not every program or course requires textbooks. Learn more about textbooks.
Learning Formats: Visit Learning Formats to determine the best format for you.
Course Name (Course Code) | Cost | Units | Fall 2024 | Winter 2025 | Spring/Summer 2025 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Back-End Development (BDV 101) | $890.80 | 3.0 | Sep 9 - Dec 8 Format: Online | Jan 13 - Apr 13 Format: Online | — |
TBD | 3.0 | — | — | May 5 - Aug 3 Format: Online | |
Interactivity and Databases (BDV 102) | $890.80 | 3.0 | — | Jan 13 - Apr 13 Format: Online | — |
Advanced JavaScript through Node.JS (BDV 103) | $890.80 | 3.0 | Sep 9 - Dec 8 Format: Online | — | — |
TBD | 3.0 | — | — | May 5 - Aug 3 Format: Online |
The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.
To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
- Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent
- Be a mature student as defined in the Undergraduate Calendar of McMaster University or
- Be deemed an exceptional case
To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.
Language Requirements
If your first language is not English, you must meet the University’s English language proficiency requirements. Completion of TOEFL exam with a minimum acceptable score of 20 on each of the four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening), valid for 2 years.
Expandable List
- Visit continuing.mcmaster.ca/programs to find your program of choice
- Click on each tab on the program page to learn about credential options and requirements, schedule and fees, and a list of all courses in the program
- Select a course and then select an available offering, noting important information such as cost, delivery format, and start/end dates; then click ‘add to cart’
- Once you have added your courses, click the shopping cart icon at the top right-hand corner of the page (bottom of the browser screen on mobile)
- Review your cart and, once you’re ready to proceed with enrolment, click ‘proceed to checkout’
- As the next step, you will be redirected to Mosaic – McMaster’s Administrative Information and Enrolment system
- Once you are in Mosaic, select ‘new to McMaster’ or log in with your existing MacID and password (if applicable)
- Complete all required fields and select a program of study when prompted (i.e., a specific program or open studies for standalone courses)
- Finally, payment is required in full to secure a spot in your course(s)
A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.
For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.
- Payment must be made in full at the time of enrolment
- Online credit card or debit payments are preferred
- Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express
- Accepted debit cards: Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard
- Google Pay is available for faster checkout
- Payments can be made from a Canadian Financial Institution and can take 2 to 4 business days to arrive in your McMaster student account. Once payment has arrived, you can register for your course. Please note that if the amount of the course fees owing is more than what was transferred to your student account, you will be dropped from the course.
- Problem processing your payment? Please reach out to your credit card company if your payment was declined. Otherwise, wait two hours before attempting your registration again.
Ready to get started?
Visit the Schedule tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.