Unisa Web Development Short Courses

UNISA offers a range of short courses designed to provide practical and theoretical skills in web development. These courses are ideal for individuals looking to build or enhance their expertise in the rapidly evolving field of web technology. Whether you’re a beginner or someone with some experience, UNISA’s web development short courses cater to various levels and aspects of web development, offering flexible learning options that can be done online.

Web Design and Development

The Web Design and Development short course at UNISA focuses on building a solid foundation in web development by covering essential skills for creating visually appealing and functional websites. This course introduces the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are the core languages used in web development. Learners will gain the ability to structure web pages effectively, style them with CSS, and add interactive elements using JavaScript.

Moreover, the course delves into more advanced topics, such as responsive web design and user experience (UX) principles, ensuring that students can create websites that not only look good but are also user-friendly across different devices. It also touches on web accessibility, ensuring the sites created are usable by all, including those with disabilities. The course emphasizes practical hands-on experience, allowing students to build their own web projects from scratch.

Front-End Web Development

The Front-End Web Development short course at UNISA is designed to provide in-depth knowledge and skills required for building interactive and visually stunning websites. This course primarily focuses on the development of the client-side of websites, which is everything that users interact with directly in their browsers. It covers essential programming languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but goes beyond the basics to teach advanced concepts and modern frameworks used in industry-standard web development.

In this course, students will learn:

1. HTML and CSS Mastery: How to structure content using HTML and enhance the visual presentation with CSS. This includes learning about HTML5 semantic elements and advanced CSS styling techniques.
2. Responsive Web Design: How to create websites that adapt to various screen sizes and devices, ensuring optimal user experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
3. JavaScript and DOM Manipulation: How to use JavaScript to make websites dynamic by manipulating the Document Object Model (DOM), enabling interactive elements like forms, animations, and pop-up windows.
4. Front-End Frameworks: Introduction to modern frameworks and libraries such as Bootstrap for responsive design and jQuery for enhanced JavaScript functionality.

Additionally, the course covers best practices in coding, debugging, and version control, giving students the ability to manage and maintain their codebases effectively. The emphasis is on creating websites that not only function well but are also efficient, accessible, and SEO-friendly. Students will have opportunities to build real-world projects, which will serve as a portfolio to showcase their skills to potential employers or clients.

Back-End Web Development

The Back-End Web Development short course at UNISA focuses on the server-side of web development, teaching students how to build the infrastructure that powers dynamic websites and web applications. This course is perfect for individuals who want to understand how the server, databases, and application logic work together to deliver content to the front-end. Students will learn how to design and implement the back-end architecture, manage databases, and ensure efficient server-side functionality.

The key topics covered in the Back-End Web Development course include:

1. Server-Side Programming: Introduction to server-side programming languages such as PHP, Node.js, and Python, enabling students to build dynamic web applications that interact with databases.
2. Database Management: How to design and manage databases using MySQL, MongoDB, or other database systems, and perform essential operations like CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) to manipulate data.
3. API Development: How to develop and consume APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), which allow for the interaction between different software systems, enabling features such as third-party integrations.
4. Authentication and Security: Understanding user authentication processes, securing web applications, and preventing common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).

Students will also gain knowledge in setting up web servers, such as Apache or Nginx, and managing hosting environments. The course emphasizes building scalable, secure, and efficient web applications, equipping students with the skills to handle the server-side challenges of modern web development.

Full-Stack Web Development

The Full-Stack Web Development short course combines both front-end and back-end web development, offering a comprehensive understanding of the entire process of building a web application from start to finish. Full-stack developers are capable of handling both client-side and server-side development, making them highly versatile and in demand. This course provides students with the skills required to design, develop, and maintain complete web applications, preparing them for a career as a full-stack web developer.

Key components of the Full-Stack Web Development course include:

1. End-to-End Development: Teaching the process of developing a web application from initial planning to deployment. Students will work on projects that involve both the user interface (front-end) and server-side functionality (back-end).
2. Front-End and Back-End Integration: Students will learn how to integrate the front-end with the back-end, using tools like RESTful APIs to ensure smooth communication between the two layers of the application.
3. Version Control with Git: Introduction to using Git for version control, allowing students to track code changes, collaborate with other developers, and manage multiple versions of their projects.
4. Deployment and Cloud Computing: How to deploy web applications to the cloud using services such as AWS, Heroku, or DigitalOcean. This includes setting up the environment, managing resources, and scaling applications as needed.

Students will have the opportunity to work on real-world full-stack projects, which they can showcase in their portfolios. The course prepares students to take on roles that require a broad range of web development skills, making them capable of working on both the user-facing and server-side aspects of modern web applications.

Web Application Development

The Web Application Development short course at UNISA is designed for students who wish to learn how to create robust, dynamic, and secure web applications that can be accessed across various devices and platforms. The course focuses on both the technical and conceptual aspects of web application development, providing students with a deep understanding of how modern web applications are built and maintained. It covers key development frameworks, user authentication, data storage, and more, preparing students to build full-featured web applications.

In this course, students will explore:

1. Application Frameworks: An introduction to popular frameworks such as Angular, React, or Vue.js for building modern front-end applications, and Express or Django for the back-end.
2. Database Integration: How to integrate and manage relational and NoSQL databases to store and retrieve application data efficiently. This includes working with database systems like PostgreSQL, MongoDB, and SQLite.
3. Authentication & Authorization: Techniques for securing web applications, including how to manage user authentication (e.g., via OAuth or JWT tokens) and ensure proper authorization to restrict access to certain parts of the application.
4. Testing and Debugging: The importance of testing applications using unit testing and integration testing tools to ensure quality and reliability. Students will also learn how to debug web applications to resolve any issues that arise.

Students will work on hands-on projects, learning the process of developing, testing, and deploying a fully functional web application. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to build and deploy scalable web applications, making them well-prepared for a career in web development or software engineering.

Mobile Web Development

The Mobile Web Development short course at UNISA focuses on creating web applications that work seamlessly on mobile devices. With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, mobile-friendly websites and applications have become essential for businesses and developers. This course teaches students how to design and develop mobile-optimized websites and applications using modern technologies that ensure compatibility with a wide range of devices.

Key areas covered in the Mobile Web Development course include:

1. Responsive Design Principles: How to create websites that automatically adjust to various screen sizes using responsive web design techniques. Students will learn about fluid grids, media queries, and flexible images to ensure the site’s layout adapts to mobile screens.
2. Mobile-First Development: A focus on designing websites and applications with mobile users in mind, emphasizing performance optimization and minimalistic design to enhance the user experience on mobile devices.
3. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): Introduction to PWAs, which offer users an app-like experience in a browser. This includes learning how to implement service workers for offline functionality and push notifications.
4. Mobile-Optimized User Interfaces (UI): Best practices for designing mobile-friendly interfaces, including touch-screen navigation, optimized button sizes, and easy-to-read text to ensure a smooth user experience on small screens.

The course will provide students with the skills necessary to create high-performance, responsive web applications that are optimized for mobile users. Students will engage in practical exercises to develop mobile-first web projects, helping them build a portfolio of work that demonstrates their ability to meet the demands of today’s mobile-centric web development environment.

E-Commerce Web Development

The E-Commerce Web Development short course at UNISA is tailored for individuals who want to create and manage online stores. This course teaches students how to build functional and secure e-commerce websites that allow businesses to sell products and services online. By focusing on key e-commerce principles, payment gateways, and inventory management, this course equips students with the skills necessary to develop a successful online business platform.

Key topics covered in the E-Commerce Web Development course include:

1. E-Commerce Platforms: Introduction to popular e-commerce platforms such as WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento, and how to customize them for different business needs. Students will learn how to set up online stores, manage product listings, and configure customer settings.
2. Payment Gateway Integration: Understanding how to securely integrate various payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and credit card processors to facilitate online transactions. This includes implementing SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
3. Product Management and Catalogs: How to manage product catalogs, pricing, and categories. Students will learn how to implement features such as search filters, product recommendations, and inventory tracking.
4. Security and Compliance: Ensuring that e-commerce sites are secure for transactions, including implementing encryption techniques and meeting industry standards such as PCI-DSS compliance to protect customers’ sensitive data.

The course also covers essential topics such as SEO for e-commerce, user experience (UX) design for shopping platforms, and marketing strategies to increase conversion rates. Students will apply their knowledge by developing a fully functional e-commerce website as a project, which can be used as a portfolio piece when seeking employment in the e-commerce development field.

Web Development with WordPress

The Web Development with WordPress short course at UNISA is designed for those interested in learning how to use the popular content management system (CMS) to create dynamic websites. WordPress powers a significant percentage of websites on the internet, making it an essential tool for web developers and businesses. This course covers everything from installing WordPress to creating and customizing themes and plugins, providing a comprehensive approach to WordPress web development.

Key areas of focus in the Web Development with WordPress course include:

1. WordPress Installation and Setup: How to install WordPress on a server, configure basic settings, and set up a functional website. Students will also learn about hosting environments and domain name registration.
2. Theme Customization: Understanding how to choose and modify themes to suit the design and functionality needs of a website. This includes customizing layouts, colors, typography, and adding custom CSS for more tailored designs.
3. Plugin Development and Integration: Introduction to WordPress plugins and how to extend the platform’s functionality. Students will learn how to install, configure, and customize popular plugins for SEO, social sharing, forms, and more.
4. Website Maintenance and Updates: Best practices for keeping a WordPress website secure and up to date, including managing backups, applying security patches, and optimizing website performance.

Students will gain practical experience through hands-on projects, where they will develop and manage WordPress-based websites. By the end of the course, students will be able to build custom websites, manage content, and integrate advanced features, making them well-prepared for careers as WordPress developers or site administrators.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Web Developers

The Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Web Developers short course at UNISA is designed to provide web development students with the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance the visibility and ranking of websites in search engine results. SEO is a crucial aspect of web development, as it helps ensure that websites are discoverable and attract organic traffic. This course covers both the technical and strategic components of SEO, focusing on how developers can implement SEO best practices directly into the design and functionality of a website.

Key areas of focus in the SEO for Web Developers course include:

1. On-Page SEO: How to optimize individual web pages for search engines. This includes understanding the role of meta tags, headers, keywords, image alt-text, and URL structure in improving page rankings.
2. Technical SEO: Students will learn about optimizing website speed, ensuring mobile-friendliness, creating XML sitemaps, and improving crawlability through proper use of robots.txt and structured data.
3. SEO-Friendly Coding: How to write clean, SEO-friendly code, such as using semantic HTML5 elements, ensuring proper internal linking, and preventing common issues like duplicate content.
4. SEO Tools and Analytics: Introduction to tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and other SEO plugins, which help track website performance, identify opportunities for improvement, and measure the effectiveness of SEO strategies.

The course also covers off-page SEO strategies such as link building, social media integration, and content marketing. Students will have the opportunity to implement SEO techniques in real-world projects, developing skills that will be highly valued in the job market and helping them become proficient in optimizing websites for better performance in search engines.

Web Security for Developers

The Web Security for Developers short course at UNISA is essential for anyone involved in web development, as it focuses on the best practices for protecting websites from security threats and vulnerabilities. Security is a growing concern in the digital world, with cyberattacks becoming more sophisticated and prevalent. This course equips students with the knowledge to safeguard websites and applications from common security threats such as hacking, data breaches, and malware.

Key topics covered in the Web Security for Developers course include:

1. Common Security Vulnerabilities: An introduction to common web vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and how to protect against them by implementing proper validation and sanitization.
2. Encryption and Secure Communication: How to use encryption techniques such as SSL/TLS for secure data transmission between the user and the server. Students will learn to implement HTTPS for secure connections and protect sensitive information.
3. Authentication and Authorization: Best practices for implementing secure user authentication and authorization systems, including two-factor authentication (2FA), password hashing, and role-based access control (RBAC).
4. Security Best Practices: Techniques for securing web applications, including secure coding practices, regular updates, secure hosting, and monitoring for potential security breaches or vulnerabilities.

By the end of the course, students will have gained a strong understanding of web security principles and how to apply them in practice. Through hands-on exercises, students will learn to identify vulnerabilities, secure web applications, and implement preventative measures to ensure the integrity and safety of both the website and its users.

User Experience (UX) Design for Web Developers

The User Experience (UX) Design for Web Developers short course at UNISA is focused on equipping students with the skills to design websites and applications that provide an exceptional experience for users. UX design is crucial for ensuring that a website or application is not only functional but also easy to use, visually appealing, and intuitive. This course teaches students the principles of user-centered design and how to apply these principles to create engaging digital experiences.

Key areas of focus in the UX Design for Web Developers course include:

1. Understanding User Needs: How to conduct user research through surveys, interviews, and usability testing to understand the target audience and their needs. This will enable students to design products that are aligned with user expectations.
2. Wireframing and Prototyping: Introduction to creating wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes that map out the structure and functionality of a website. Tools such as Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD are used to visualize the user interface (UI) and user flow before development.
3. Usability Testing: How to plan and conduct usability tests to gather feedback on the design and identify any usability issues that may affect user satisfaction.
4. UI and Visual Design: Best practices for designing user interfaces, including the use of color theory, typography, iconography, and layout to ensure a visually pleasing and consistent experience across different devices.

The course also emphasizes the importance of responsive design, ensuring that websites provide a seamless experience across devices of all sizes, from desktop computers to smartphones. Students will apply their knowledge by developing UX design projects, allowing them to create usable, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing websites and applications, which will be essential for any future role in web development or design.

Web Development Project Management

The Web Development Project Management short course at UNISA is designed for students interested in learning how to effectively manage web development projects from inception to completion. This course focuses on the key skills and techniques necessary for overseeing web development processes, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and meet the client’s requirements. Students will learn about project management methodologies, team collaboration, and the use of project management tools, which are essential in today’s fast-paced and complex web development environment.

Key areas of focus in the Web Development Project Management course include:

1. Project Planning and Scope: How to create detailed project plans, define project scope, set clear objectives, and identify key deliverables. Students will learn how to assess the feasibility of projects and break them down into manageable phases.
2. Agile and Waterfall Methodologies: Introduction to common project management methodologies like Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall. Students will understand when and how to apply each methodology depending on the project’s complexity, deadlines, and client needs.
3. Team Collaboration and Communication: How to manage and communicate effectively with project teams, stakeholders, and clients, ensuring everyone is aligned with the project’s goals. This includes learning how to assign tasks, track progress, and resolve conflicts that may arise during development.
4. Risk Management and Quality Assurance: How to identify potential risks to a project and develop mitigation strategies. Students will also learn the importance of quality assurance and testing to ensure that the final product meets the required standards.

The course includes hands-on projects where students can practice managing real web development projects, from planning and team coordination to execution and delivery. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead successful web development projects, making them valuable assets to any web development team or organization.

Cloud-Based Web Development

The Cloud-Based Web Development short course at UNISA introduces students to the modern approach of developing, deploying, and managing web applications using cloud computing platforms. As cloud technologies continue to grow, they provide developers with scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions for hosting websites and applications. This course teaches students how to leverage cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud to build and deploy web applications in the cloud, ensuring better performance, security, and manageability.

Key areas covered in the Cloud-Based Web Development course include:

1. Cloud Computing Fundamentals: An introduction to the core principles of cloud computing, including types of cloud services such as IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service), and how they apply to web development.
2. Cloud Deployment: How to deploy web applications in the cloud using popular services like AWS EC2, Azure App Services, and Google Cloud Compute Engine. Students will learn how to configure virtual machines, load balancers, and auto-scaling features to optimize application performance.
3. Cloud Databases and Storage: How to use cloud storage solutions such as AWS S3 or Google Cloud Storage for storing static assets, and cloud-based databases like Amazon RDS, Azure SQL Database, or Firebase for managing application data.
4. Cloud Security and Monitoring: How to implement security measures in the cloud, such as data encryption, identity and access management (IAM), and firewall configurations. Additionally, students will learn how to use cloud monitoring tools to track application performance, usage, and any potential issues.

This course will provide students with hands-on experience in developing cloud-based applications and managing them through various cloud platforms. By the end of the course, students will be able to create, deploy, and maintain scalable, secure, and cost-efficient web applications in the cloud, making them well-prepared for the growing demand for cloud-based solutions in web development.

In conclusion, UNISA’s web development short courses offer a comprehensive and practical approach to learning the essential skills needed in the fast-evolving world of web development. From foundational skills in front-end and back-end development to advanced topics such as cloud computing, mobile optimization, and security, these courses are designed to equip students with the knowledge and hands-on experience required to succeed in the industry. With a focus on real-world applications, students are not only introduced to the latest technologies and best practices but also given the opportunity to develop their own projects and portfolios, making them competitive in the job market.

Whether you’re looking to specialize in web design, e-commerce, user experience, or full-stack development, UNISA’s wide range of courses caters to diverse interests and skill levels. Completing these courses will not only enhance your technical expertise but also boost your confidence to take on complex development tasks. With web development continuing to be a cornerstone of the digital economy, these courses provide a solid foundation for building a rewarding career in one of the most dynamic fields today.