Tech college begins offering programming courses
Flint Hills Technical College
Friday, November 3, 2006
Beginning in the spring of 2007, the computer program design and development (CPD) program will be offered in the evenings from 6 to 9 Monday through Thursday.
Two different courses will be offered each semester, including the summer. After completing 30 credit hours of training students will receive a technical certificate in CPD. The program will take approximately three years of classes in the spring, summer and fall semesters to complete the 62-credit hour associate degree. The evening CPD program is open to all students, including high school juniors or seniors.
CPD Students learn computer-programming language skills such as C++, Visual Basic.NET, XHTML, Access and SQL Databases, Java, Macromedia Studio 8 which includes DreamWeaver, Flash, & Fireworks. They also learn game design development and research, digital electronics, network concepts, PC servicing and troubleshooting, and program logic and design with Alice 3D. Upon graduation, students will have earned either a technical certificate or an Associates of Applied Science degree.
Class time is about 20 percent lecture with the other 80 percent hands-on training. Course textbooks use actual business problems to build the necessary skills and also teach students how to create/design, debug, explore, and run programs.
Computer programmers are in high demand and those with strong skills are earning excellent pay and benefits. Computer program design and development students will apply object-oriented design principles to develop appropriate solutions for real-life programming problems.
The Alice system, used in the program logic course, uses 3-D graphical, object-oriented objects such as animals, humans, cars or toys to create programs. Each program is story-based and requires the students to use creativity. This program, which focuses directly on students who were raised on video games and PIXAR films, was pioneered by the Carnegie Mellon University and the National Science Foundation. Electronic Arts is collaborating with the developers of Alice to create more lifelike new models for the new Java-based version soon to be released. The program is free to instructors and students.
FHTC’s CPD program will be utilizing this new program for its freshmen. Students will learn to use current programming languages, as well as develop, utilize and apply a working knowledge of computer hardware, programming languages, and productivity software in order to develop solutions, troubleshoot problems, maintain, repair and support the appropriate technology based on business and industry needs.
The job market for a career in program languages is plentiful. This type of job does entail much seat time solving problems and debugging. Working in teams is prevalent and vital. as many programmers work together to combine their creativity, resourcefulness, and skills to invent complex programs used by insurance companies and banks, science groups and medical companies,the military, educational institutions and large corporations to name a few.
Computer programmers design all program software, application software and operating systems software. These three types of software are used by virtually everyone involved with computers. Few jobs or careers do not use some type of computer, so programmers have a nearly constant employment opportunity. Programmers design proprietary applications that are unique to a particular business such as banking or insurance, or they work for a proprietary company such aas Microsoft, Dell, Gateway, and IBM, as well as design public programs like Linux and Unix that all can use and change.
Salaries range from the mid $40,000s to the upper $100,000s depending on skill, experience, training, and certifications. Students need to be competent, thorough, and diligent.
Classes start Jan. 7. For more information on the computer program design and development program, contact Flint Hills Technical College at 343-4600 or 800-711-6947.
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