The Computer Programmer, two-year diploma program offers students the opportunity to study current trends in software development. This intensive, two-year program concludes with a work term for eligible students.
Web technology topics include HTML5, CSS5, JavaScript, jQuery, Bootstrap, React and others to develop user interfaces. Students work with server-side programming languages including Microsoft C#.NET, Python and Java. In the database components, students perform all aspects of database design and work with SQL/NOSQL on several database management systems (DSMS). Students demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing solutions to real world, three tiered (client, server, database) problems.
Major coursework is assigned as term projects that span entire terms allowing students to actively engage in the evaluation, design and implementation of real world software applications. As a result, student develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication skills.
In addition, general education, business, math and communication courses help students expand their organizational, critical thinking and communication skills.
The widespread use of computer technology in all industries, from manufacturing, transportation, construction, education, health and financial institutions means that computer programmers are the key people shaping the solutions of today and tomorrow.
Fall 2023 Delivery Format
Term 1 classes will be delivered in person and students will be required to be on campus for the duration of the term. The 2023 Fall term begins on September 6. However, to allow for travel delays, classes will be remote until September 16. Students must be on campus to join in-person classes starting September 18, 2023.
This Lambton College program is licensed to and delivered by Cestar College (PDF), a licensed private career college in Toronto, Ontario. Students that are registered at Lambton in Toronto are students of a public college and as such, will receive full credit from
Lambton College for all Lambton College courses completed at the Cestar College campus in Toronto. Students who meet program graduation requirements will graduate with a credential from Lambton College. Students may be scheduled to have classes on Saturdays.
See Course List
Admission Requirements
O.S.S.D. or equivalent with a minimum grade of 60% in the following:
- Grade 12 English C or U
- Grade 11 or 12 Mathematics C or U
The admissions process is competitive and meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.
Lambton College reserves the right to alter information including admission requirements and to cancel at any time a program or course; to change the location and/or term in which a program or course is offered; to change the program curriculum as necessary
to meet current competencies or changes in the job market; to change the pathways third-party certification bodies; or to withdraw an offer of admission both prior to and after its acceptance by an applicant or student because of insufficient applications
or registrations or over-acceptance of offers of admission. In the event Lambton College exercises such a right, Lambton College’s sole liability will be the return of monies paid by the applicant or student to Lambton College.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
Applicants must demonstrate language proficiency by submitting one of the following scores:
- IELTS of 6.0
- or -
IELTS of 5.5 + Completion of EAP-3106 (English for Academic Purposes) during first term of study.
- TOEFL iBT 69
-or-
TOEFL 60 + Completion of EAP-3106 (English for Academic Purposes) during first term of study.
- Passed Lambton Institute of English placement test
Please Note: IELTS is the only proficiency score accepted by the Study Direct Stream (SDS) program. Additional country-specific requirements may also be applicable.
Meeting the minimum English requirements does not guarantee admission. Students with higher English proficiency scores will receive priority in the admission assessment process.
Not all students will qualify for EAP-3106 in place of the required IELTS or TOEFL test scores.
Technology Requirements
In order to keep pace with the requirements of each and every course in your program, it is mandatory to own a reliable laptop to complete tests and assignments.
Course List
CSD-1103: Front-End Web Development I
Students integrate modern web technologies to (1) create web pages using HTML; (2) implement Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to format web pages; and (3) design and publish a website. As a term project, students complete all phases of website development and publish their website to an IBM cloud server.
CSD-1133: Problem Solving/Program Logic
Programming logic and problem solving - without them, software development skills are learned but soon forgotten. A language-independent approach introduces students to various components common to all programming languages without assuming any previous programming experience. Students (1) design, test, and debug programs using a top-down modernized approach; (2) control the flow of a program with decision and repetitive structures and functions; (3) implement array processing; and (4) develop programs that process data from files including control break processing. Students develop software solutions using pseudocode and flowchart software tools with an emphasis on problem solving and structured programming techniques.
CSD-1233: Python Programming
This course uses the Python programming language to reinforced programming logic and problem solving skills taught in CSD 1133, Problem Solving/Program Logic. Students implement Python programs to (1) design, test, and debug programs using a top-down modernized approach; (2) control the flow of a program with decision and repetitive structures and functions; (3) implement array processing; and (4) develop programs that process data from files including control break processing.
CSD-2206: Database Design and SQL
An introduction to relational database design and Structured Query Language (SQL). Students (1) analyze user requirements and construct data models using entity-relationship diagrams (ERD), normalization, and relational data models; (2) use Data Definition Language (DDL) to create and alter database objects and implement database constraints; (3) use Data Manipulation Language (DML) to add, delete, and modify data in database tables; (4) develop single-table and multiple-table database queries; (5) implement views and indexes; and (6) prepare technical documentation for a database project. As a term project, students design and implement a multiple-table database based on typical business requirements.
BUS-1203: Workplace Communication Applications and Analysis
CSD-2103: Front End Web Development II
As a continuation of Front-End Web Development I, JavaScript and jQuery are introduced. Students (1) implement JavaScript and jQuery to enrich the user experience; (2) employ AJAX to allow server-side requests to exchange data with a Web server; (3) employ JSON as an over-the-network data format; and (4) implement APIs from popular websites to enhance a web page. Students add to their term project from Front-End Web Development I by designing and implementing MVC applications that includes client-side, server-side, and database processing.
CSD-2354: Programming C# .NET
The C# programming language is introduced. Students (1) create, test, and debug programs using a top-down modernized approach; (2) implement decision and repetitive structures and functions to control program flow; (3) formulate object-oriented designs using classes, instance variables and methods and constructors; (4) evaluate, create and analyze objects including strings and arrays. Microsoft Visual Studio is used for program development.
CSD-3464: Programming Java SE
Various components of the Java object-oriented programming language are introduced. Students (1) develop solutions using data types, I/O, and control structures; (2) use arrays and collections to store and work with single and multidimensional data; (3) create programs that adhere to the object-oriented paradigm; and (4) build standalone GUI applications that interface with a database.
CSD-4203: Database Programming
Students explore SQL and PL/SQL database programming as it relates to the Oracle database environment. Students (1) create PL/SQL blocks that include program control structures, embedded SQL, cursors, and exception handling; (2) create stored procedures and functions; (3) create packages; and (3) implement database triggers. Oracle Application Express (APEX) is used for PL/SQL development. Concepts relating to the Oracle PL/SQL certification exam have been incorporated into this course for those students wishing to pursue certification.
MTH-1163: General Mathematics I
This general course in mathematics reviews and enhances topics in arithmetic, algebra, linear graphs, measurement, and statistics. A problem solving approach is used throughout the course, and there are many practical applications.
COM-1113: Workplace Communications
This course focuses on skills required in any organization or position: writing business documents, responding to realistic scenarios, and speaking in an organized and vibrant manner. Students will practice professional communications skills by producing, revising, and editing short business documents and engaging in verbal interactions and presentations.
CSD-3103: Full Stack JavaScript
As a continuation of Web Technologies II, students design and implement component-based web applications using JavaScript and JavaScript frameworks. This course introduces students to the MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node) web stack. Students (1) develop software using modern JavaScript standards (ES6+); (2) develop web applications that maintain a NoSQL database; (3) implement applications adhering to the microservice architectural pattern by developing web API endpoints, and (4) develop applications that run on a variety of computing platforms. Students add to their term project in Web Technologies II by designing and implementing component-based applications that include client-side, server-side, and database processing.
CSD-3354: Web Applications Using C# .Net
The C# programming language is expanded upon and ASP.NET is introduced. Students (1) implement web applications that follow the MVC architecture pattern by leveraging the ASP.NET MVC framework; (2) build web applications that interface with databases through the use of Entity Framework; (3) manage project dependencies with NuGet package manager; and (4) test applications with unit tests.
CSD-4464: Programming Java EE
As a continuation of Programming Java SE, students (1) manage databases using Java; (2) build two- and three-tier client-server applications; and (3) refine industry-standard coding practices. Students build a complete Web-based application that incorporates three-tier development including client-side, server-side, and database processing.
CSD-4503: DevOps: Tools and Practices
Modern software development is done with a high degree of velocity, often with software changes being released multiple times daily or weekly. This course introduces students to industry-standard tools and techniques that help manage the development and release of such software using Agile methodologies and DevOps principles. Students (1) evaluate technical and business background details related to DevOps;(2) evaluate Cloud platforms as a deployment option for applications; (3) evaluate responsibilities of operations teams and get familiar with their day-to-day operations;(4) evaluate CI/CD pipelines and their components and discuss micro-service architecture;(5) evaluate containers and containerization as the most up-to-date application delivery method. Throughout the term, students work in teams on a term project, to develop and deploy software with evolving requirements. Students will document these changes based on Software Requirement Specification standards.
JSS-1001: Job Search and Success
This course is designed to give the student an understanding of how to conduct a job search and how to succeed in the work place. This includes self-reflection, effectively designing a cover letter and resume, online job searches utilizing social media, behavioural based interviewing as well as marketing oneself effectively in a job interview. Job safety, successful work strategies and harassment and discrimination plan of action is also discussed.
GED-XXX3: General Education Elective
CSD-3423: Introduction to Project Management
This course provides a fundamental knowledge to manage people, workflows, and costs in project management. Students (1) analyze the project management landscape; (2) apply the project management knowledge areas, process groups, and traditional methods to IT projects; (3) apply agile methods to IT projects; and (4) use project management software to conduct project analysis, develop reports, and manage changes to IT projects. The group assignment and term project provides students an opportunity to incorporate and apply project management skills to solve real-world problems.
CSD-4523: Python II
This course is a continuation of Python programming. Students (1) develop applications using Object-Oriented Python; (2) access databases with Python; and (3) use Python libraries and frameworks.
CSD-4553: Cloud Computing
Traditionally, software applications were deployed on physical servers owned and maintained by the organization developing the software; however, over the past decade, there has been a shift from companies of all sizes towards leveraging cloud computing platforms over in-house servers due to a variety of economic and technical reasons. In this course students will (1) evaluate technical and fundamentals topics of cloud computing, (2) analyze various methods for cloud management, (3) evaluate cloud platform solutions including infrastructure as a service (IaaS) to install and configure virtual resources on the cloud platforms, (4) evaluate storage provisioning, networking, testing and deploying cloud technologies, (5) discuss cloud computing standards, security, the business in cloud computing and methods of planning for cloud integration, and last but not least, (6) discuss cloud deployment options and cloud DevOps.
GED-XXX3: General Education Elective
GED-XXX3: General Education Elective
CPL-1049: Work Term - Full-Time (optional)
Co-operative education provides students with the opportunity to apply classroom learning to the workplace, undertake career sampling and gain valuable work experience that may assist students in leveraging employment after graduation. For further information regarding co-op, please refer to: https://www.lambtoncollege.ca/co-op_and_career/
Program Maps
Students are required to follow their prescribed program map and are not allowed to take unscheduled breaks for any reason.
Current Students
Current students can view program maps from previous years on the mylambton website.
You will need to login with your C# and password in order to access your program map.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates use their problem solving and critical thinking skills to analyze business and industry requirements and design, develop and implement real life database-driven enterprise web applications.
A wide variety of rewarding career opportunities that are dynamic and challenging, offering a competitive rate of compensation are available to graduates. Courses prepare graduates for careers as computer programmers, software developers, programmer analysts,
mobile application developers, information systems specialists, web developers, client/server applications developers and support specialists. Graduates acquire sufficient foundation to allow them to advance in a variety of career paths appropriate
to their interests and abilities.
For information about post-graduate work eligibility for international students, please review the Post-Graduate Work Permit Program information.