Southwestern College Professional Studies

Is a Computer Programming Major For Me?

The computer programming technology major at Southwestern College is designed to provide professional programming skills. Learners are taught necessary skills to effectively research, document, and develop program applications within the Microsoft Windows environment and beyond. The complete dynamic programming environment is stressed from developing initial algorithms, documenting code, coding, testing, applying and maintaining the designed application.

Computer programming technology is offered both in the classroom and online.

Required and Core Courses

Required Major Courses

COT 220 Microsoft Access
CPT 432 Visual Basic.Net Programming Essentials I
CPT 433 Visual Basic.Net Programming Essentials II
CPT 322 SQL Fundamentals
CPT 323 VBA, the Internet, and Microsoft Office Applications
CPT 421 Java Programming Principles I
CPT 431 Java Programming Principles II
CPT 422 Hypertext Markup Language Programming Techniques
CPT 423 Project: Designing And Programming and Application
CAPS 493 Senior Capstone

Required Core Courses

HRD 210 Building Academic Success
CLO 320 Critical Thinking
CLO 340 Ethics in Today’s Organization
CLO 410 Decision Sciences
CLO 415 Professional Communication
CLO 499 Responsibility for the Future

Recommended Electives

COT 312 Database Development
CPT 441 Active Server Pages Programming
CPT 444 XML (Extensible Markup Language)
CPT 390 PHP Programming with MySQL
CPT 400 C#
CPT 410 Java Servlets and JSP
CPT 420 Scripting
HRD 325 Developing Workforce Talent
SOCS 320 Adults in Transition
All classes are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.

Course Descriptions

COT 220 Microsoft Access

This course covers the basic steps of database application development. Using Microsoft Access database software, the student develops database tables, queries, forms and reports to create a working Access database application.

CPT 432 Visual Basic.Net Programming Essentials I

Includes the essentials of Visual Basic.Net applications programming within Microsoft’s Visual Studio.Net Integrated Development Environment. Students learn how to develop object-oriented programs, test and debug applications, produce active Windows controls, develop multi-form applications, enhance the graphic user interface and manipulate dates and strings within the .Net platform.

CPT 433 Visual Basic.Net Programming Essentials II

Using Microsoft’s Visual Basic.Net Integrated Development Environment, students learn advanced concepts on how to work with arrays and collections, structures and files, and XML to build robust business solutions. Advanced skills in object-orientated programming are presented for developing database applications using ADO.Net to produce bound controls and parameterized queries to develop Web forms and services.
(Prerequisite: CPT432 Visual Basic.Net Programming Essentials I or equivalent.)

CPT 322 SQL Fundamentals

Using SQL server students retrieve information from various relational databases. Beginning with simple queries that retrieve selected data from a single table, it progresses to advanced queries that summarize data, combine it with data from other tables, and display the data in specialized ways.

CPT 323 VBA, The Internet and Microsoft Office Applications

Course focuses on using Visual Basic for Applications programming to support applications in Microsoft Access and Excel. Students use the Object Model for both Access and Excel and produce programs that include declaration and assignment of object, string, date and numeric variables, selection statements, repetition statements, custom dialog boxes, and ADO data exchange. (Prerequisite: COT 220 Microsoft Access)

CPT 421 Java Programming Principles I

Presents Java object oriented programming logic and fundamental techniques from the basic concepts of primitive data types, operations, control statements to user defined methods, objects, classes, class inheritance and GUIs to construct robust business solution.

CPT 431 Java Programming Principles II

The course progresses from programming business applications using arrays and strings through advanced inheritance and composition to handling exceptions and events. Advanced GUIs and graphics are presented with recursion being introduced. (Prerequisite: CPT 421 Java Programming Principles I)

CPT 422 Hypertext Markup Language Programming Techniques

A course designed to have students leverage the power of JavaScript coupled with HTML to build company business sites that deliver state-of-the-art interactivity and use tools such as image maps, forms and style sheets to integrate JavaScript and HTML language to design exquisite sites.

CPT 423 Project: Designing and Programming an Application

The student learns through the design of a complete application how to establish a robust, scalable and secure business solution using the development and programming tools learned throughout previous computer programming courses.
(Prerequisite: 4 CPT courses)

HRD210 Building Academic Success

Introduces academic success topics and tools that are intended to establish and strengthen understanding of the learner and academic success coach relationship, critical thinking and reading, institutional policies and procedures, and the basics of online research and academic writing while experiencing the Southwestern College Professional Studies course format on the way to becoming a Southwestern College Moundbuilder.

CLO 320 Critical Thinking

This course prepares learners to critically interpret, synthesize, analyze and evaluate information. It is designed to introduce learners to complex problems and help them come to well reasoned conclusions and solutions.

CLO 340 Ethics in Today’s Organizations

This course will utilize the expertise of professionals working in the various disciplines as well as the moral reasoning of ethicists. An approach to the ethical challenges of a modern society is developed.

CLO 410 Decision Sciences

This course introduces the learner to utilizing and applying both quantitative and qualitative methods for individual, organizational, and societal decision making. A variety of tools and techniques will be examined as the foundation for the development and interpretation of attributes and variables in addition to the use of data sources for the purpose of improving processes and organizational environments.

CLO 415 Professional Communication

A study of the communication processes in situations encountered in organizations and professional environments. Analysis of simulated and real life situations will include the creation of professional documents and various functions of written, oral, and interpersonal communications.

CLO 499 Responsibility for the Future

Seniors with various majors will share learning and approaches from their different disciplines toward dealing holistically with issues that shape the future, seeking to integrate disciplines and to synthesize knowing, caring, and doing.

CAPS 493 Senior Capstone

Learners will be required to develop a portfolio project that demonstrates their knowledge, skills, and abilities in their major discipline. Particular attention will be given to the presentation of evidence and artifacts from their major courses as well as recent research relevant to their specific program outcomes. The purpose of the final portfolio project is to document learner achievement and to ensure learning outcomes are met.

All classes are 3 credit hours unless otherwise indicated.

Admission Requirements

Entering students must have earned at least 30 college credits from previous college coursework or ACE evaluated military training, a GPA of 2.0, and have three years of work experience. Transfer hours accepted for Professional Studies admittance should include English Composition I and II, and mathematics (college algebra preferred). These courses may be considered in transfer or completed at Southwestern College.

Contact a program representative to evaluate your options.

Meta

The Computer programming technology major at Southwestern College is designed to provide professional programming skills. Learners are taught necessary skills to effectively research, document, and develop program applications within the Microsoft Windows environment and beyond.