Front-End Development for Interactive Applications
Diploma in Front-End Development for Interactive Applications at KPU – where innovation meets design, and code brings ideas to life.
Our Front-End Development program is designed to empower you with the skills and knowledge needed to create stunning, user-friendly websites and applications that leave a lasting impact.
Why Choose Our Front-End Development Program?
Blend of Design and Code: Our program is your gateway to the exciting intersection of design and code. Learn to craft visually appealing and interactive user interfaces while mastering the art of coding.
Hands-On Learning: Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into real-world projects. Our curriculum is crafted to provide hands-on, practical experience, ensuring you're well-prepared for the challenges of the ever-evolving tech industry.
Industry-Relevant Skills: Stay ahead of the curve with a curriculum that focuses on the latest front-end technologies, responsive web design, and industry best practices. Develop the skills that employers are looking for in today's competitive job market.
What Sets Our Program Apart?
Comprehensive Curriculum: From web fundamentals to the latest front-end frameworks, our program covers it all. You'll graduate with a well-rounded skill set, ready to tackle any project that comes your way.
Expert Faculty: Learn from industry professionals and experienced educators who are passionate about front-end development. Benefit from their insights, guidance, and real-world expertise throughout your learning journey.
Portfolio Development: We don't just teach you to code; we help you build a portfolio that showcases your talents to potential employers. Your portfolio will be a testament to your skills and creativity, setting you apart in the job market.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge of web development principles, creating responsive, performant, and secure front-end features.
- Apply responsive web design concepts and best practices to develop interactive experiences.
- Create responsive webpages using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, ensuring optimal performance and security.
- Analyze and troubleshoot web design issues, continuously enhancing the user experience through iterative testing and improvements.
- Develop complex, interactive web applications adhering to project management and collaboration principles.
- Prepare an industry-ready portfolio showcasing design and development skills, highlighting projects demonstrating your ability to create exceptional user experiences and maintain code quality.
Graduates of this program will be employable in both the public and private sector and can be self-employed, with potential job titles including, but not limited to:
- Front-end developer
- Web developer
- Front-end web developer
- Junior front-end engineer
- Junior full stack engineer
- Front-end/React developer
- Front-end software engineer
- UI/UX designer
- Interactive web designer
Registration in some course sections is restricted to students in particular programs. See Timetables - kpu.ca/registration/timetables - for current section information.
Visit the BC Transfer Guide - bctransferguide.ca - for information about course transfer in B.C.
FDIT 1100 3 credits
Web Development Foundations
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
FDIT 1110 3 credits
Web Systems Development Methodologies
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
FDIT 1120 3 credits
Design Foundations for Interactive Applications
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
FDIT 1130 3 credits
User Interface (UI) Foundations
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
FDIT 1140 3 credits
User Experience (UX) Foundations
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
FDIT 1200 3 credits
Front-End Web Programming
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
FDIT 1210 3 credits
Back-End Web Programming
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
FDIT 1220 3 credits
Front-End Development Frameworks and Libraries I
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
FDIT 1230 3 credits
Design Systems for Interactive Applications
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
FDIT 1240 3 credits
Responsive Design: Principles and Prototyping
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
FDIT 2100 3 credits
Front-End Development Frameworks and Libraries II
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
FDIT 2110 3 credits
Project Management and Performance
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
Co-requisite(s): FDIT 2140
FDIT 2120 3 credits
Web Applications Development Project
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
FDIT 2130 3 credits
Motion Design for Interactive Applications
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
FDIT 2140 3 credits
Design and Development Integration Studio
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
Co-requisite(s): FDIT 2110
FDIT 2200 3 credits
Special Topics in Web Development
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
FDIT 2210 3 credits
Professional Development
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
FDIT 2230 3 credits
Data Visualization for Interactive Applications
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
FDIT 2240 6 credits
Design and Development Capstone
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
Co-requisite(s): FDIT 2210
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