Information Technology & Software Engineering
At a time when computer science affects how we work and live, the Computer Science class provides courses that empower students to become creators of real-world projects while partnering with companies.
The class uses a hands-on approach to work through problem-solving steps from the initial design to finished product. The students gain excellent teamwork, leadership, critical-thinking, and technical skills. The program’s interdisciplinary courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges. As students work together to design solutions, they learn computational thinking – not just how to code – and become better thinkers and communicators. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take. Graduates of the IT program are found in many different industries from hospitals to aerospace. Many IT careers are consistently found at the top of list for best jobs for growth, compensation, benefits, and work environment in America. Former Centerville IT students now have careers at the top companies in the country including Microsoft, Apple, NASA, and Amazon.
Curriculum
Foundation Courses
CompTIA A+ 220-901 and 220-902 (College Class) – This course carefully tracks technology evolution and its impact on the world of work. The course focuses on IT technical support and operations meeting the industry workforce needs. The content reflects the current knowledge and skills needed by today’s IT professional and includes the following topics:
- CompTIA A+ 220-901 covers PC hardware and peripherals, mobile device hardware, networking, and troubleshooting hardware and network connectivity issues.
- CompTIA A+ 220-902 covers installing and configuring operating systems including Windows, iOS, Android, Apple OS X, and Linux. It also addresses security, the fundamentals of cloud computing, and operational procedures.
Introduction to Programming - This course introduces computer programming and problem solving in a structured program logic environment. Topics include pseudocode, flowcharts, desk-check tables, language syntax, data types, program organization, problem-solving methods, algorithm design, and logic control structures, selection and iteration structures, functions and sub procedures, collections (arrays), sequential access files, user created structures, and classes.
HTML5 and CSS 3 Web Development (College Class) - This course also focuses on the new and advanced features of HTML5, covering how to create HTML5 and CSS3 markup that will work well on the widest possible variety of web browsers, mobile devices, and machine readers, such as search engines. The course also demonstrates how to use advanced HTML5 multimedia features such as video, audio, and animation. Students will work on projects to create and edit web sites along with using CSS to create pie charts, pull quotes, graphics, pseudo-elements, animated rollers, navigation menus, counters and resets, styling form elements and numbers lists, sortable tables, and HTML background video.
Advanced Courses
CompTIA’s Network+ N10-006 (College Class) – This course is a vendor-neutral, intermediate-level class designed to test the competency of network technicians in supporting and configuring TCP/IP clients. The course concentrates on providing knowledge in the areas of network design, cabling, hardware setup, configuration requirements, installation, and troubleshooting and support. Students will learn how to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and support a network. Students will also gain an understanding of and appreciation for various aspects of networking, such as the TCP/IP and OSI models, including the primary networking protocols and their position in the network-communications hierarchy. Finally, the course will build student knowledge of network components and understand where they function in that hierarchy.
Jquery / Jquery UI / Jquery Mobile - This course introduces jQuery, an open-source JavaScript library that simplifies the process of adding advanced functionality to web projects. First, students will learn how to use jQuery to extract and manipulate page content using CSS rules they already know. Next, students will learn to build new, dynamic page content on the fly, and use jQuery events to respond to user actions. Finally, students discover how to add animation and effects from jQuery's built-in library, and access remote data via AJAX. This course shows how to solve real-world design problems with jQuery. Topics include:
- Using selectors and filters to extract information
- Creating, inserting, and animating page content
- Handling events
- Understanding jQuery statement chaining
- Working with CSS
- Building event handlers
- Animating with jQuery: showing, hiding, and fading page elements
C# Programming / C# ASP.NET Programming - C# / ASP.NET is an object-oriented language designed by Microsoft and used by systems engineers, desktop programmers, and mobile app developers the world over. This course covers C#'s history, its core syntax, and the fundamentals of writing strong C# code. The course also covers the following topics:
- Declaring and initializing variables with a variety of data types
- Exploring operators, expressions, constants, and enumerations
- Controlling flow with conditional code and loops
- Handling exceptions
- Managing data collections (Arrays, ArrayList (List), Stacks, QUEUES, Dictionaries)
- Creating custom classes (Sealed, Abstract)
- Understanding inheritance
- Streams, reading and writing from Directories
- Polymorphism
- UML class Diagrams
- Working with delegates, functions, Interfaces, Structs, Constructors
- Methods (Overloading, Static)
JavaScript Programming - This course guides programmers through web application development using the JavaScript programming language. The content introduces key web authoring techniques with a strong focus on industry application. New coverage includes developing for touchscreen and mobile devices, and using the jQuery library. A real-world project, similar to what students would encounter in a professional setting, is developed in each section. Because professional web development jobs often require programmers to add features to existing sites, each project uses a professionally designed web site. After completing a course, students will be able to use JavaScript to build professional quality, dynamic web sites. Topics include:
- Working with Functions, Data Types, and Operators
- Building Arrays and Controlling Flow
- Debugging and Error Handling
- Working with the Document Object Model (DOM) and DHTML
- Enhancing and Validating Forms
- Using Object-Oriented JavaScript
- Manipulating Data in Strings and Arrays
- Managing State Information and Security
- Programming for Touchscreens and Mobile Devices
C++ Programming (CCP - College Class) – This course introduces students to modern program design techniques using C++. A study of programming constructs, techniques and fundamental control structures. Emphasis is on Object Oriented and modular programming. Coverage includes data types, expressions, selection structures, loops and files, functions, arrays (Searching and Sorting), pointers, Characters (C-Strings and String Class), Structured Data, advanced file operations, classes, Inheritance, polymorphism, virtual functions, exceptions, linked lists, stacks and queues, recursion, and binary trees.
Capstone
Real world course – In this capstone course, students work in teams to design and develop a project for a company incorporating an original solution to a technical problem that offers ROI(Return on Investment). After carefully defining the problem, the students research and create designs, build, and test their solutions while working closely with the actual company to provide a real work experience. The students then provide evidence of soft skills (i.e.: goals, timelines, professionalism, correspondence, resources, etc.) Finally, student teams present and defend their original solution to outside professionals.
Business Professionals of America – Students also participate in a professional organization to enhance professional, civic, service and social duty. Business Professionals of America students participate in activities that set goals of self-improvement, leadership development, professionalism, community service, career development, and public relations. Students also demonstrate their career skills in a regional, state, and national competitive competition.
Learn More
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