Students will learn the foundational knowledge for web development including the history of the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW), the technologies for the web, and the range of careers in web development. Students will also learn the basics of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) which form the structure and visual presentation of web pages.

Level: UG

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn the current methodologies, techniques, and tools for web systems analysis and design. Students will learn how to determine and analyze user requirements, perform logical and physical design of a web system using an object-oriented approach. Students will also learn to use the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to document the deliverables of each phase in the web systems development life cycle.

Level: UG

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn relevant digital design and prototyping tools to create visual assets for front-end development, applying best practices for file management. They will develop a foundation in visual literacy by applying the elements and principles of design to creative exploration for user interface contexts. Students will further learn techniques for lateral thinking and practical approaches to understanding and responding to project briefs.

Level: UG

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn the principles of user interface (UI) design to strengthen their understanding of the relationship between UI design and UI (front-end) development. They will apply visual design principles, heuristics evaluations, and systems-based problem-solving to front-end design challenges. Students will further learn how to prototype and document common UI patterns as part of a shared design system.

Level: UG

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will be introduced to the principles of user experience (UX) design, including design research methodologies, user flows, site architecture, prototyping, and user personas and their relationship to product design decisions. They will better understand the end-to-end workflows associated with interactive applications, from concept to launch, as well as the opportunities for front-end developers to collaborate on successful project delivery.

Level: UG

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn the core programming concepts and skills for creating a visual and interactive front-end for web applications. Students will learn to use Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript to create dynamic web page content. Student will also learn jQuery, which is a lightweight, cross-platform and feature-rich JavaScript library, to improve interactivity of front-end applications.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 1100

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn the programming concepts and skills for creating back-end web applications. Students will learn to use server-side scripting and packages to build software programs to handle requests from client-side programs. Students will also learn to use Application Program Interfaces (APIs) to allow database access at the back-end of web applications.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 1100

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn front-end web development frameworks and libraries for building component-based web applications. Students will learn the component life cycle and various types of components and their usage. Students will also learn the basics of JavaScript Syntax Extension (JSX) and use it to create front-end applications and reusable components.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 1100

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will examine design systems for front-end developers in depth, drawing from their user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) foundations, to learn about the practical application, design, and maintenance of reusable patterns and components for interactive applications. Students will further learn about the documentation and adoption of design systems across workflow contexts.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): All of: FDIT 1120, FDIT 1130 and FDIT 1140

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will apply their foundational design, user interface (UI), and user experience (UX) skills to prototyping responsive websites across screen sizes. Students will learn about the relationships among responsive breakpoints, content, and visual design principles including hierarchy, type scales, stacking and reflow, as well as integrate accessibility and user-centred needs into their decision-making.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): All of: FDIT 1120, FDIT 1130 and FDIT 1140

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn to create modern web designs and user interfaces for various deployment platforms using component-based frameworks and libraries. Students will learn advanced techniques in JavaScript Syntax Extension (JSX) and use them in manipulating the Document Object Model (DOM) which defines the logical structure of front-end applications. Students will also learn to implement event handlers and apply routing libraries to enhance user experience when interacting with front-end applications.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 1220

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn about project management strategies specific to interactive applications, including establishing product roadmaps, identifying potential risks, assigning tasks and deadlines, and collaborating on cross-functional teams. Students will also learn about quality assurance approaches to interactive applications, examining front-end strategies that focus on design accuracy, responsiveness to content, and performance.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 1110 and FDIT 1200

Co-requisite(s): FDIT 2140

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will work as a group to develop a full-stack web application which includes a front-end, a back-end and a database. They will integrate the concepts and skills learned in the first two semesters of the program to analyze project requirements and design the solution using an object-oriented methodology. Students will also learn to use version control systems to manage the programming codes for their web application projects.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): All of: FDIT 1110, FDIT 1200 and FDIT 1210

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn about motion design for interactive applications, applying visual design and scripting knowledge to user interface (UI) challenges. They will learn to create relevant and engaging experiences for users through transitions, animations, and interactions, integrating timing, sequencing, and storytelling techniques into front-end project workflows. Students will better understand the collaborative relationship between designer and front-end developer in developing animated features for interactive applications.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 1200 and FDIT 1230

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will apply their user interface (UI), user experience (UX), and front-end development knowledge to project-based design challenges in this user interface-focused integration studio. They will demonstrate the application of industry best practices and relevant project management skills to the design, testing, and validation of interactive applications, design systems, and documentation. Students will further integrate visual and verbal elements, animations, micro-interactions, and accessibility principles into their project work to create engaging and impactful user experiences.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 1230 and FDIT 1240

Co-requisite(s): FDIT 2110

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will investigate selected topics in web development. Topics include performance optimization, serverless architecture, custom Application Programming Interface (API), web security, and software design patterns. The student experience will be a combination of hands-on labs, seminar presentation and class discussion.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): All of: FDIT 1200, FDIT 1210 and FDIT 1220

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will investigate the current job market in front-end development and learn about personal branding, networking, and interview preparation toward a targeted position. Students will curate individual social media profiles, inventory skills, and participate in code challenges to learn the specific skills required for front-end developers. They will evaluate their design and development work to date and publish a portfolio of work to a personal website.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 2110

Co-requisite(s): FDIT 2240

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will learn about data visualization, information design, and visual design principles for interactive applications. They will focus on customer- and end user-value to create engaging, interactive, and accurate data stories. Students will further apply their front-end scripting knowledge to charting libraries, as well as evaluate current contexts for data visualization including business and marketing analytics.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): FDIT 1220 and FDIT 2130

Attributes: DESN, F2A4

Students will synthesize their front-end development, web design, and user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) skills into a comprehensive Capstone project. Students will pitch, design, and develop an interactive application that showcases both coding and front-end design, as well as knowledge of project management, quality assurance, and lifecycle assessment. Through rounds of testing, critique, and refinement with key industry touchpoints, students will apply industry best practices and innovative problem-solving to develop secure and performant project outcomes.

Level: UG

Prerequisite(s): All of: FDIT 2100, FDIT 2110, FDIT 2120, and FDIT 2140

Co-requisite(s): FDIT 2210

Attributes: DESN, F2A4