UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

WEB DESIGN

Bolster your web design skills, and learn how to build and style an interactive, optimised website

Duration

10 weeks, excluding
orientation

Effort

7–10 hours per week,
entirely online

Learning Format

Weekly modules,
flexible learning

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH:

1

The skills to build well-designed, mobile-responsive websites.

2

A foundational understanding of different coding languages.

3

Your own fully functioning four-page website, critiqued by your peers in group sessions.

4

Recognition of your new web design skills in the form of a certificate from Africa’s leading university.1

1 QS Top Universities (Jan, 2020).

COURSE CURRICULUM

Over the duration of this online short course, you’ll work through the following modules:

MODULE 1 Introduction to Web Design
An introduction to the basics of web design and the history of the internet.

MODULE 2 Planning a Website: Content and Structure
Gain insight into the planning phase of the web design process.

MODULE 3 Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
Explore how to write HTML code and use a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) to build a basic web page.

MODULE 4 Image Optimisation for the Web
Discover how to edit and optimise graphics for web use.

MODULE 5 Visualising a Website: Colours, Images, Fonts, and Layout
Learn how to use design elements to establish the mood of a website.

MODULE 6 Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
Learn how to style a web page using CSS.

MODULE 7 Styling HTML5 with CSS
Learn about HTML5, the web standard.

MODULE 8 Responsive Web Design
Develop a basic understanding of JavaScript, jQuery, and CSS3 for interactive and responsive websites.

MODULE 9 Writing Web-Optimised Copy and Linking Pages
Learn how to link web pages to create a website and how to write web-optimised copy in keeping with SEO best practices.

MODULE 10 Testing, Publishing, and Maintaining a Website
Create, test, and publish a responsive website.

Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.

COURSE CONVENOR

Dr Ronald Irwin

Senior Lecturer, Media Studies and Production, The Centre for Film and Media Studies, UCT

Dr Irwin is a professional lecturer and writer. He was the writer-in-residence for UCT’s prestigious Master of Arts in creative writing in 2008, after teaching in the programme for 10 years. He has taught in the Centre for Film and Media Studies since 2009. Irwin is the author of the novel Flat Water Tuesday, and has written dozens of online and offline articles for outlets such as CNN, Men’s Health, and Brandchannel.

Ask a question about the course.

AN ONLINE EDUCATION THAT SETS YOU APART

This UCT course is presented in collaboration with GetSmarter, part of edX. GetSmarter collaborates with the world's leading universities to select, design, and deliver premium online short courses through a people-mediated model with a data-driven focus on learning gain.

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Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from an international selection of universities and institutions, entirely online and in your own time.

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Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.

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Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.

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