Computer Programming and Information Technology Diploma Program, Computer Sciences

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The Computer Programming and Information Technology Diploma allows students to combine comprehensive software development skills with hardware expertise. Areas of focus in various programs include computer graphics and image processing, digital hardware, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and networking.

This program is designed to be completed over two years with 10 courses completed in each academic year.

This program is available to International Students. Our Designated Learning Institute (DLI) number is 0111010246767.

Domestic Apply

Use this process to apply to Portage College if you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident (landed immigrant) or a protected person (refugee).

Domestic Funding Options

Browse through funding options available to students at Portage College to see what may be available to you.

Domestic Information Request

If you would like to receive more information about this program please use the Info Request Form linked here.

International Student Apply

International students, once you have chosen your program and checked the admission requirements you are now ready to apply for admission.

International Student Study Permit

Your study permit is the document that allows you to stay in Canada and study. It is different from a student visa, which is the document that allows you to enter Canada.

International Information Request

Our international student representatives are happy to answer your questions about programs, services and any immigration related questions that you may have. Please use the form link provided.

More international students are choosing Portage College to start or complete their studies because of the personal attention they receive and the high standard of instruction.

International Website

Learning Technology Support

Career Potential

Graduates of our Computer Programming and Information Technology Diploma program are able to join the workforce in exciting careers such as Computer Operations Support, Software Support Analyst, and Computer Programming or have the option to continue their studies in a degree program such as a Bachelor of Computer Sciences.

English Language Arts 30-1 or 60% in English Language Arts 30-2

Math 30-1 or 60% in Math 30-2

Transfers:

Transferable to other Alberta post-secondary institutions such as Athabasca University, Bow Valley College, the University of Alberta, and Concordia University. Please refer to Transfer Alberta for more detailed information based on the courses selected.

Certification

Diploma in Computer Programming and Information Technology

Program Start/End Dates

Year 1: August 28, 2025 to May 29, 2026

Year 2: August 28, 2025 to May 29, 2026

Application Deadline
Domestic: August 15, 2025
International Student: June 30, 2025 (Applications will be considered if you can obtain a study permit and all the relevant documents before July 15, 2025)

Delivery
Classes will be offered online, face to face, and hyflex.

Location
Lac La Biche Campus

TBD

Other purchases may be necessary in order for students to complete their courses/program.

Click here to view Other Fees for Service

Course Listing

CAREER INTERNSHIP 1

Course ID: INTD205

Name: CAREER INTERNSHIP 1

Hours: 130

Credits: 3

This unique, optional course provides students the opportunity to put classroom learning into practice in a 100-hour work experience. Students can apply their academic knowledge and skills to meaningful experiences in the workplace within their field of study and/or their career goals. This course involves 30 hours of employment training activities prior to entering the 100-hour placement. Students are responsible for securing an approved work-experience placement; the work experience is monitored and evaluated by the employer.

Pre/Corequisites: Completed 12 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (prior to enrolment) and permission from the Coordinator or designate
COMPUTER NETWORKS

Course ID: COMP247

Name: COMPUTER NETWORKS

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

COMP 247 is a university course designed to teach the essential principles and technologies of computer networking. To accommodate the needs of students who do not have enough programming background or are not interested in programming, requirements for coding have been removed from the course.

Pre/Corequisite COMP214
INTRO TO COMP PROGRAMMING (JAVA)

Course ID: COMP168

Name: INTRO TO COMP PROGRAMMING (JAVA)

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

COMP 168 is designed to introduce you to programming in the Java computer language. The course progresses from first principles to advanced topics in object-oriented programming using Java. The course builds on the basic elements of Java programming and culminates in a final project that incorporates the skills acquired in the course. Students are also required to reflect on their progress and learning throughout the course, and to engage in online discussions with their peers, in an effort to increase problem-solving and critical analysis skills.

Pre/Corequisite: COMP 105
INTRODUCTORY COMPOSITION

Course ID: ENGL102

Name: INTRODUCTORY COMPOSITION

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

This course helps students to develop the academic writing skills they use throughout their university studies. Students learn to identify good writing, and develop needed research, analytical, and organizational skills. Starting with building good sentences and paragraphs, the research essay is the most important genre in this course. By analyzing, summarizing, synthesizing, and critiquing a variety of texts, students learn how to develop their own analyses and arguments with appropriate and correctly documented primary and secondary sources. Readings by or about indigenous and minority peoples form no less than 50% of the readings in this course. A review of grammar and sentence structure is a key component of this course. Students are advised to choose a research topic in line with their career goals.

Prerequisite 60% in ELA 30-1
INTRO TO COMPUTING AND INFO SYSTEMS

Course ID: COMP105

Name: INTRO TO COMPUTING AND INFO SYSTEMS

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

COMP 105 is a three-credit course that covers the fundamentals of information systems. The course covers basic hardware concepts; the structure (or architecture) of computers; the software hierarchy, from systems software to application programs; as well as concepts and development of the field. The course is the pre-requisite for higher-level computer science courses.

Students in this course will be expected to use a combination of locally installed and external electronic materials to develop the skills needed for further study in the field. These skills include downloading, installing, and using specialized software tools, and setting the paths to allowing programs to access their components and files. Because COMP 105 is a preparatory course for further study in computer science, the level and difficulty of technical content are fairly high.

Prerequisite 60% in Math 30-1 or 30-2
INTRO TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

Course ID: COMP106

Name: INTRO TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

COMP 106 is designed to introduce you to programming in the C++ computer programming language. The course progresses from first principles to advanced topics in object-oriented programming using C++.

Pre/Corequisite COMP105
INTRO TO GAME DESIGN

Course ID: COMP218

Name: INTRO TO GAME DESIGN

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

This is an introductory course in game design and development. This course covers many of the concepts involved in game design, beginning with the history of gaming and an examination of the software engineering aspects of game design. Other topics include the programming environment, game hardware, mathematical concepts, physical concepts, and graphics. This course will prepare students for advanced courses in game design.

Pre/Corequisite COMP 105
INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS & RESEARCH METHODS

Course ID: STAT141

Name: INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS & RESEARCH METHODS

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

This introductory statistics course provides students in a variety of disciplines with basic knowledge regarding the theory and application of statistics. Prerequisites: 50% in MATH 30-1 or Math 30-2 at 60% and 60% in ELA 30-1
INTRODUCTION TO WEB PROGRAMMING

Course ID: COMP166

Name: INTRODUCTION TO WEB PROGRAMMING

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

COMP166 is a beginners’ course in programming using JavaScript, together with some HTML and CSS. It follows a problem-based approach that requires the student to design and create a website of ever-increasing sophistication as the course progresses while creating design documentation and reflecting on the process. The output of the student’s work is presented as a website.

Pre-Requisite: Students are expected to be proficient users of the Internet and to be able to use word processors, text editors, and file manipulation tools (including zip compression) effectively. If you do not have these skills you will not succeed and we highly recommend that you should take COMP 105 or equivalent before starting this one.
OPERATING SYSTEMS

Course ID: COMP214

Name: OPERATING SYSTEMS

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

COMP 214 introduces the fundamental concepts, principles, and structures of operating systems. An operating system is software on a computer that orchestrates the hardware components of the computer. The operating system provides the user/programmer with efficient and convenient service and a high degree of machine independence in writing programs, executing programs, and managing system resources. It is assumed that students taking this course are familiar with the basic structure and the main hardware components of a computer.

Pre-Requisite: COMP 106 or COMP 168, or an equivalent university-level programming course
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

Course ID: COMP261

Name: SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

System analysis and design deal with planning the development of information systems through understanding and specifying in detail what a system should do and how the components of the system should be implemented and work together. System analysts solve business problems through analyzing the requirements of information systems and designing such systems by applying analysis and design techniques. This course deals with the concepts, skills, methodologies, techniques, tools, and perspectives essential for systems analysts. The practical component of COMP 261 is object-oriented and use-case-driven, requiring students to go through the steps of system analysis and design to solve a real-life business problem.

Pre-Requisite COMP 105, or instructor’s permission which is based on the student’s basic knowledge of programming, object orientation, and databases.

AGILE METHODOLOGY

Course ID: COMP245

Name: AGILE METHODOLOGY

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

The Agile Methodology course with a focus on Scrum and SCRUM Ceremonies provides students with a comprehensive understanding of Agile principles, Scrum framework, and the various ceremonies associated with Scrum. Students will learn how to implement Agile practices in software development projects, manage Scrum teams effectively, and conduct SCRUM ceremonies to ensure project success. Through a combination of theoretical lessons, case studies, and practical exercises, students will gain the skills necessary to work in Agile environments.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Course ID: COMP246

Name: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

Artificial Intelligence with Hardware Implementation is a comprehensive course that integrates theoretical knowledge of artificial intelligence with practical implementation on hardware platforms. Students will explore various AI techniques and algorithms, focusing on their application in both software development and hardware implementation. Through a combination of lectures, hands-on experiments, and projects, students will gain a deep understanding of AI concepts and their real-world applications.
CAREER INTERNSHIP 1

Course ID: INTD205

Name: CAREER INTERNSHIP 1

Hours: 130

Credits: 3

This unique, optional course provides students the opportunity to put classroom learning into practice in a 100-hour work experience. Students can apply their academic knowledge and skills to meaningful experiences in the workplace within their field of study and/or their career goals. This course involves 30 hours of employment training activities prior to entering the 100-hour placement. Students are responsible for securing an approved work-experience placement; the work experience is monitored and evaluated by the employer.

Pre/Corequisites: Completed 12 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.5 (prior to enrolment) and permission from the Coordinator or designate
CLOUD COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY

Course ID: COMP248

Name: CLOUD COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

Cloud Computing Technology is a comprehensive course designed to introduce students to the concepts, principles, and technologies of cloud computing. The course covers various aspects of cloud computing, including cloud service models, deployment models, virtualization, scalability, security, and management using Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). The course provides students with an understanding of cloud computing concepts, design standards, and architectural considerations essential for designing and implementing cloud-based solutions. Through theoretical lectures, hands-on labs, and real-world case studies, students will gain practical skills in designing, deploying, and managing cloud-based solutions.
DATABASE FUNDAMENTALS

Course ID: COMP207

Name: DATABASE FUNDAMENTALS

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

Data Analysis for Computer Science is a specialized course designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to analyse and interpret data within the context of computer science. The course emphasizes software-based data analysis techniques, incorporating statistical methods as needed. Students will learn how to extract, clean, manipulate, and visualize data using software tools commonly used in computer science applications. Through practical exercises and projects, students will develop proficiency in conducting data analysis tasks relevant to software development.
ELECTIVE

Course ID: ELEC200

Name: ELECTIVE

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

ELEC200
INTRODUCTION TO CYBER SECURITY

Course ID: COMP205

Name: INTRODUCTION TO CYBER SECURITY

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

Introduction to Cybersecurity provides students with a foundational understanding of cybersecurity principles, practices, and technologies. The course covers essential topics such as cybersecurity fundamentals, threats and vulnerabilities, cryptography, network security, and security policies. Through a combination of theoretical lectures, hands-on exercises, and case studies, students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to identify, assess, and mitigate cybersecurity risks.
INTRODUCTION TO PC HARDWARE AND SYSTEMS CONFIGURATION

Course ID: COMP206

Name: INTRODUCTION TO PC HARDWARE AND SYSTEMS CONFIGURATION

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

This course introduces the fundamentals of PC hardware. Students will open up machines, install devices such as hard drives, I/O cards, video cards as well as memory, CD/DVD ROM drives, install operating systems, explore a variety of different software packages, attach communications equipment and supporting software. Topics include system hardware (e.g., motherboards, processors, storage devices, memory), device drivers, operating systems (e.g., Windows, Linux), troubleshooting and maintenance of LAN (Local Area Network)-based PC, etc.
PROJECT CAPSTONE

Course ID: COMP212

Name: PROJECT CAPSTONE

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

The Computer Science Project Capstone course focuses on applying agile methodologies to solve real-world projects in the field of computer science. Students will work in teams to plan, execute, and deliver software projects using agile principles and practices. Through workshops and project work, students will gain practical experience in project management, teamwork, problem-solving, and software development using agile methodologies.
USER INTERFACES

Course ID: COMP211

Name: USER INTERFACES

Hours: 45

Credits: 3

This course is an introduction to the theory, design and programming of modern user interfaces. Topics will include human factors; interaction design; usability; software development with graphical user interfaces (GUI) for computers, game consoles and mobile devices; input and output devices (including game controllers).

We acknowledge that Portage College’s service region is on the traditional lands of First Nation Peoples, the owners of Treaty 6, 8 and 10, which are also homelands to the Métis people. We honour the history and culture of all people who first lived and gathered in these lands.