Computer Science

Computer Science courses are designed to meet the needs of students at various levels of competence, from the novice to the expert. Students may take individual courses to gain expertise in specific areas, or may take courses collectively to earn a Certificate of Proficiency, the Associate of Science degree or Certificate of Achievement in Computer Information Science with a concentration in Computer Languages or Systems Analysis.

This program introduces a variety of programming languages and the many applications of each language. Students will learn how to design and implement programs using each of the languages. The programs allows for an individual's flexibility and growth as students may choose among BASIC, COBOL, Pascal, "C", "C++", Assembly Language, HTML, Java, and Visual Basic programming courses. Advanced courses in many of these programming languages are also available. This certificate will be continually updated as new programming languages are introduced into industry.

  Computer Science Course Guide

  Computer Science Program Guide

COURSE GUIDE
Computer Science (CS) Certificate
Computer Languages Emphasis

Computer Languages Emphasis Certificate of Achievement

 Requirements:  Certificates of Achievement are granted for the completion of a specified program, or specified courses, whose total requirement is 18 units or more.  These state-approved certificates acknowledge workplace competencies and job readiness. The courses that comprise the Computer Lanugages Emphasis Certificate of Achievement program are the same as those that comprise the major requirements for the Associate in Science degree.

Students must complete all courses in the certificate program with a grade of “A,” “B,” “C,” “CR,” or “P.”  A minimum of 12 units in the certificate program must be completed at Irvine Valley College.

Waiver of Certificate Requirements:  Students with previous educational or vocational experience who wish to waive a required course in a certificate program will be expected to verify equivalency by examination.  Petitions for course waivers or substitutions are available in the Counseling Center.

Application for Evaluation:  Certificates are not awarded automatically.  Students who expect to earn a certificate from the college must file an application for evaluation with the Office of Admission and Records.  Responsibility for filing this application rests with the student, and transcripts for all college work attempted must be on file for the application to be considered.  Filing deadlines for each semester are posted in the IVC catalog and class schedule.

PROGRAM GUIDE
Computer Science (CS) Certificate
Computer Languages Emphasis – 25.5-28 units

Description: The Computer Science department offers a Certificate of Achievement in Computer Languages.  Students seeking to develop programming skills may pursue this certificate, which introduces a variety of programming languages, and each language’s many applications. 

Prerequisites/Preparation: None

Course Substitutions: Students may substitute equivalent or more advanced programming courses for the certificate requirements by filing a special petition with a counselor to be approved by the department.

Preparation for Career Related Exams/Certification: Jobseekers can enhance their employment opportunities by earning certifications, most of which are offered through private companies, with many related to specific products. Many employers regard these certifications as the industry standard. For example, one method of acquiring enough knowledge to get a job as a database administrator is to become certified in database management with a certain software package. Voluntary certification also is available through various organizations associated with computer specialists. Professional certification may afford a jobseeker a competitive advantage.

Associate of Science Degree: A student may earn an A.S. degree in Computer Languages from IVC if, in addition to certificate requirements, he/she also meets general education requirements posted in the IVC catalog, class schedule, or www.ivc.edu. 

Scholarships/Financial Aid: The Hispanic Engineers National Achievement Awards Conference gives scholarships from $500 to $5000 to those majoring in computer science, engineering, technology, math, and sciences.  Students may contact the IVC Financial Aid office for more information and additional opportunities.

Work Experience/Internships: Industry does recruit IVC students from the Computer Science department.  Instructors will announce these openings to their classes.  Students may also visit the Job Placement office for employment opportunities that may exist in the field.

Career Options:

• Computer Programmer
• Software Engineer
• Web Development

Job Descriptions: Computer Programmers write programs according to the specifications determined primarily by computer software engineers and systems analysts.  After the design process is complete, it is the job of the programmer to convert that design into a logical series of instructions that the computer can follow.  They then code these instructions in a programming language. 

Software Engineers working in applications or systems development analyze users’ needs and design, create, and modify general computer applications software or systems.  Software engineers can be involved in the design and development of many types of software including software for operating systems, network distribution, and compilers, which convert programs for faster processing.  In programming, or coding, software engineers instruct a computer, line by line, how to perform a function.  They also solve technical problems that may arise. 

The growth of the Internet and the expansion of the World Wide Web (the graphical portion of the Internet) have generated a variety of occupations related to the design, development, and maintenance of Web sites and their servers. For example, webmasters are responsible for all technical aspects of a Web site, including performance issues such as speed of access, and for approving the content of the site. Internet developers or Web developers, also called Web designers, are responsible for day-to-day site creation and design.

Employment Opportunities: Although they are increasingly employed in every sector of the economy, the greatest concentration of these workers is in the computer systems design and related services industry. Firms in this industry provide services related to the commercial use of computers on a contract basis, including custom computer programming services; computer systems integration design services; computer facilities management services, including computer systems or data processing facilities support services for clients; and other computer-related services, such as disaster recovery services and software installation. Many computer scientists and database administrators are employed by Internet service providers; Web search portals; and data processing, hosting, and related services firms. Others work for government, manufacturers of computer and electronic products, insurance companies, financial institutions, and universities. There are also opportunities for self-employment in this field.

Occupational Outlook for Orange County, CA: The computer scientists occupation is expected to grow 37 percent from 2006 to 2016, much faster than average for all occupations.  These occupations are projected to be one of the fastest growing over the next decade. Strong employment growth combined with a limited supply of qualified workers will result in excellent employment prospects and a high demand for their skills. Employment of these computer specialists is expected to grow as organizations continue to adopt and integrate increasingly sophisticated technologies. Job increases will be driven by very rapid growth in computer systems design and related services, which is projected to be one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. economy.
(Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/oco )

(Source:  California Occupational Guides, www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/occguides )

Job Related Skills in Coursework: Courses are designed to meet the needs of students at various levels of competence, from the novice to the expert.  The department acquaints students with the presently available methods of computer science that are useful in solving problems of science, industry, and government; prepares students for the additional formal education and self-education required in this ever-developing field; and fosters students’ abilities to solve computer science problems.  The main skills taught are program design and converting design documents to programs.

Personal Traits Desired for This Field: 

Professional Organizations/Websites/Publications in Field:
Association for Computing Machinery:  www.acm.org
      -offers a student membership
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers:  www.ieee.org
      -offers a student membership
Hispanic Engineers National Achievement Awards:  http://www.henaac.org

Club on Campus:  Computer Programmers Association

IVC Contacts:

Computer Science Certificates - Program Questions:

Professor Seth Hochwald
Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering             
949/451-5359                                     
shochwald@ivc.edu

Certificates - General Questions:

Updated: 10/9/09 CTE&WD-smk

For more information, see the Computer Science web page (School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering).