CIS 457 Advanced Java Programming

Teacher: Adam Reed, EE, PhD, CTT, CJP (areed2@calstatela.edu)

Course Description:

This course builds on CIS 283, Introduction to Programming, in which Java was the primary instructional language, but the emphasis was on language-indepndent skills, concepts and techniques. CIS 457 Java adds more advanced Java-specific capabilities. Students who complete this course should be able to obtain Sun Microsystems certification as Certified Java Programmer.

Prerequisite:

CIS 283

Time demands:

This course requires, in addition to 4 hours of lab/lecture per week, between 8 and 16 hours per week in independent study and practice of programming. Students with prior Java programming experience will need about 8 hours per week in addition to class; students without prior experience in Java (for example, it you took the old C++ version of CIS 283) may need up to 16 hours per week in addition to class time.

Web Resources:

This Syllabus: http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/areed2/457java.html
Courseware: https://learningcenter-sai.sun.com

Courseware:

CIS 457 now uses, instead of a textbook, Java courseware from Sun Microsystems, the developer of Java technology. This saves you the cost of a textbook, which would have cost you over $ 100., and assures you of high quality materials: James Gosling, the inventor of Java, was himself the subject matter expert who led the development of the courseware you will use.

To start using the courseware, click above and click on "New Student". Then go through the registration, making sure to fill out all required fields (marked with asterisks) on the application. The user id and and password are case-sensitive, and may not include characters other than ASCII letters and digits.

After registration, log in at the same URL and click "Catalogue", then select the Java fundamentals courseware into your shopping cart and check out. Faculty and students will see the commercial price of the courses they select for their "shopping cart". At checkout a 100% discount will be applied and the resultant cost will be zero dollars. After checkout, log in and click on "my courses" to start.

Some course materials appear in windows that cannot be printed or resized. The work-around is to use the right-hand mouse button menu to open the frame in a new window. The new window can be resized and printed, but navigation buttons target the original window.

Tentative Schedule of Lessons by Week:

  1. Introduction to the Course
  2. WJ-2751-90
  3. WJ-2752-90, Modules 1, 2 and 3
  4. WJ-2752-90, Modules 4, 5 and 6
  5. WJ-2753-90
  6. WJ-2754-90
  7. WJ-2755-90, Modules 1 and 2
  8. WJ-2755-90, Modules 3 and 4
  9. WJ-2756-90
  10. Review of Practice Certification Exam

Grading:

The primary grading input is the final examination. Grades will be A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, and F. The final is the Sun Microsystems Certified Java Programmer examination; the highest grades (probably B+ and above) are reserved for students who qualify for the professional credential of Sun Certified Programmer. I will raise to an appropriate level, potentially including an A or A-, the grade of any student from whom I learn, by way of class participation or project, a new concept, insight, or technique. Concrete information about programs or bugs may also raise your grade somewhat, if it is useful and perceptive.

Homework:

The final will assume that you have completed ALL the exam preparation exercises and programming problems in the courseware.

Participation:

Questions from which students may benefit will be answered in class. I will not answer individual questions during breaks or after class. If you wish to discuss something during office hours, please send me e-mail at least a day in advance; if the answer to your question may be of general interest I will discuss it in class. Questions and insights during class are encouraged; if I learn something new to me from your question I may raise your grade accordingly.

Study Partners:

You are expected to select a study partner among your colleagues in the class (or two study partners, so that you will meet in a group of three). You will exchange telephone numbers and e-mail addresses among partners, and meet with your parner or partners each week to review your understanding of current course content. Please make sure to bring to class any issues that come up in reviewing matters with your study partner. If you miss any class work you are responsible for obtaining your study partner's notes and recollections, and for asking whatever questions you find necessary to fill out your understanding.