Overview
This course develops the knowledge and practical skills required to design, implement, test, secure, and deploy interactive web applications. Students examine web system architecture, HTTP and HTTPS, client-server communication, semantic HTML, CSS layout, responsive design, accessibility, visual organization, JavaScript, browser APIs, event-driven programming, form handling, asynchronous requests, JSON, and front-end component or framework concepts.
The course progresses from static interfaces to full-stack applications incorporating server-side programming, routing, middleware, RESTful APIs, authentication and authorization, sessions, tokens, secure password handling, relational or document databases, external services, input validation, error handling, logging, testing, version control, configuration management, and deployment. Security coverage includes cross-site scripting, SQL injection, cross-site request forgery, insecure authentication, dependency risks, and secure transport.
Students translate requirements into maintainable web interfaces and back-end components, apply accessibility and security principles, use collaborative development workflows, document APIs, test functionality, and deploy an operational application with persistent data.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze web application architectures and explain the roles of clients, servers, protocols, browsers, APIs, and databases.
- Design accessible, semantic, responsive interfaces using HTML and CSS in accordance with established usability principles.
- Implement event-driven client-side functionality using JavaScript, browser APIs, component concepts, form handling, JSON, and asynchronous requests.
- Construct server-side applications using routing, middleware, validation, error handling, logging, and RESTful API design.
- Integrate web applications with relational or document databases and external services while maintaining data integrity and appropriate configuration.
- Evaluate authentication, authorization, session management, token handling, password storage, and secure transport mechanisms.
- Identify and mitigate common web vulnerabilities, including cross-site scripting, SQL injection, cross-site request forgery, insecure authentication, and dependency risks.
- Apply testing strategies, version control, collaborative development practices, and configuration management to web application projects.
- Deploy and document a maintainable full-stack web application with persistent data, tested functionality, and a documented API.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Lab | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Semantic HTML, CSS, and responsive interface assignment | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Client-side JavaScript and asynchronous interaction assignment | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Server-side API and database integration assignment | 20.00% |
| Test | Practical application testing and security assessment | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Full-stack web application and documented API | 25.00% |
| Exam | Final written examination | 10.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
