Capstone Certificate in Computer Sciences for Professionals

The Professional Capstone Certificate Program offered by the University of WisconsinMadison Department of Computer Sciences is designed to help students transition toward a career as a qualified software developer. Students must possess a bachelors degree prior to admission. Depending on background, the program can be completed in four to six semesters. Designed for the working professional, several courses are offered in the evening, off campus, each semester. Students also have the option to apply for the Professional Master's Program, after completing the capstone certificate program, to obtain an M.S. degree in computer sciences in another one to one-and-a-half years.

Further detail, including tuition and other cost, is available at the program website or by contacting the department:

Professional Programs Coordinator
Department of Computer Sciences
University of WisconsinMadison
1210 West Dayton Street , Room 5378
Madison, WI 53706-1613
608-262-5601
[email protected]

1. Recognize and apply the core principles of Computing (abstractions and algorithms) to solve real-world problems.
2. Use fundamental and detailed knowledge, skills, and tools (e.g., specific algorithms, techniques methods, etc.) of computer science and develop the ability to acquire new knowledge, skills, and tools.
3. Design and implement software.
4. Can solve problems by applying a broad toolbox of knowledge and techniques

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school.

A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS. IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by paper.  Our office address is: UW-Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions, 232 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.  Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

Applicants are exempt if: