Course Info

Course Descriptions

Intro to Computer Programming

This course will introduce students to computer programming. Students will learn how to program in a variety of languages that are being used in many career fields. Emphasis will be placed on learning how to logically process a problem and design a solution as well as how to create and manipulate objects, classes, and structures. Some time may be devoted to designing apps. Included in the year are projects that enhance the learning of each programming language and foster creativity and innovation.

2D Game Design

The 2D Game Design course is designed to be an introduction to the rapidly expanding market of game creation. Students will learn to design and program games using GameSalad Development Environment. They will learn industry standard programming constructs while creating a wide variety of two-dimensional games. Students will learn input method handling, animation, collision detection, game physics and basic artificial intelligence. Creative problem solving will be key as students plan the logic for contests that will challenge audiences of different ages. Graphic design and storyboarding will be used in conjunction with GameSalad to create applications that can be deployed in both the Apple and Android markets while also publishing online using HTML. After successfully completing this course, students will have the knowledge to create custom games from their original idea to final testing.

Honors Computer Programming I:

AP Computer Science A (AP)

Students will gain familiarity with basic syntax, classes, objects, and data types in the Java language. These programming skills will be expanded on to other languages in year two of the program. AP Computer Science A includes items covered in most college entry-level computer science courses. The curriculum follows the outline for AP Computer Science A developed by the College Board. Topics covered include problem solving using logic, programming methodology, procedural abstraction, and the use of algorithms and data structures.

Systems Analysis and Design (Honors)

Students will learn theory and practice of software/application development. This will prepare them to collaboratively develop software with co-workers in a rapidly-growing and high-paying industry. Specifically, students will develop skills such as data flow diagramming, troubleshooting, documentation and use case analysis. These concepts will give the student a strong foundation to be able to create effective, complex applications during the rest of the program.

Honors Computer Programming II:

Web Development (Honors)

In this course, students will develop the skills to design and develop visually-appealing and interactive websites and web applications. More and more software is moving to the web, and this course will prepare students to participate in this growing industry. This course focuses on the front-end of websites that will connect with the back end students develop in the concurrent Honors Database Administration course. Students will learn about and use the newest releases of the programming languages HTML, CSS and Javascript as well as related libraries and frameworks. Web protocols such as FTP, TCP/IP, and HTTP will also be addressed. These skills can also be applied toward obtaining a Web Developer certification.

Database Administration (Honors)

Databases are a vital component of many websites, apps and enterprise solutions. Students will develop foundational skills to administer and manage these databases. Students will learn about user rights and responsibilities, concurrency security, reliability, backup and recovery. Students will design, extract and transform data ensuring data quality. Knowledge and skills relating to reporting systems, data warehouses, and data mining will be developed. In combination with the Honors Web Development course, students will develop web sites and web applications with a database and server backend. These skills can also be applied toward a lucrative Database Administrator or Database Specialist certification.