About this Program
When you talk to your mobile device or car navigation system — or it talks to you — you’re experiencing the fruits of developments in natural language processing. This field, which focuses on the creation of software that can analyze and understand human languages, has grown rapidly in recent years and now has many technological applications.
In this three-course certificate program, we’ll explore the foundations of computational linguistics, the academic discipline that underlies NLP. You’ll delve into the various technical principles of language processing techniques, gain expertise in specialized NLP algorithms, and consider the wide variety of applications for these cutting-edge skills.
DESIGNED FOR
Technically oriented professionals with some programming and statistics background who work with language and technology, or who want to enter the field.
See Requirements
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree
- At least two years of programming experience including knowledge of Python
- Knowledge of probability and statistics (equivalent to STAT 394 at the UW)
- Knowledge of data structures and algorithms (equivalent to CSE 373 at the UW)
English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, you should have at least intermediate English skills to enroll. To learn more, see English Language Proficiency Requirements – Credit Programs.
International Students
To enroll, international students must have a visa that permits study in the United States. This program does not enable students to obtain or maintain F-1 visa status. For more information, see Admission Requirements for International Students.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
- Access to a computer with a recent operating system and web browser
- SSH client (available from Mac OS X, Linux, Cygwin and UWICK tools)
- High-speed internet connection
- Headset and webcam (recommended)
Earning the Certificate
You earn a certificate of completion by adhering to the program's attendance policy and successfully completing all required courses. For more information, see Earning the Certificate.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
- The science behind predictive text messaging, grammar checkers, dialogue systems and information extraction
- Techniques and algorithms for associating surface-level structures and information with natural language corpora
- Probability and statistics as they relate to the discipline
- The fundamentals of technologies that have applications in biomedical informatics, litigation support, media and advertising, and other fields
Earn Credit Toward Your Master's Degree
By completing this certificate program, you can earn up to 12 graduate credits toward degree requirements should you later be accepted into the Master of Science in Computational Linguistics. To use these credits, you must obtain graduate nonmatriculated status before you register for the first course of the certificate program.
OUR ENROLLMENT COACHES ARE HERE TO HELP
Connect with an enrollment coach to learn more about this offering. Or if you need help finding the right certificate, specialization or course for you, reach out to explore your options.