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WHAT: COBOL programming by the Internet
WHY: COBOL is still the standard business programming language. There
are millions of lines of COBOL in businesses, and the demand for
COBOL programmers exceeds supply. In particular, many businesses
are faced with conversion of programs to meet year 2000 specifications
in COBOL!
WHO: Students desiring a degree in Information Systems; Professionals
who want to update their COBOL skills; Professionals who want to
learn COBOL; Business people who want a job change to the computer
field and want to learn a vital course
WHERE: Instructional materials will be sent to your computer by electronic
mail and by world wide web pages.
WHEN: In a convenient delivery method designed to fit your schedule, in a
semester format
HOW: Three basic components: (1) electronic mail; (2) world wide web;
(3) textbook with Microfocus COBOL Compiler
The goal of this course is to produce quality COBOL
programmers and computer analysts. COBOL as an evolving language
will continue to change and programmers need to be able to use
all aspects of the language plus additional to meet the needs of
business and industry.
COURSE EXPECTATIONS:
Overview:
This is a distance / Internet course. A course delivered in such a format takes a lot of individual discipline. There will be times when you may be frustrated and can't find your answer in the textbook and the instructor is not as available as you would like. It is NOT like a regular class, where you go to class, take notes, ask questions, and do the work. The burden of learning is placed primarily on the student. If you do not work well independently, this may not be the best course for you.
On the other hand, it allows an enormous flexibility for students. You are not bound to attend a campus classroom (with the problems of fitting a class into your schedule, finding a parking place, etc.). You can work on your assignments any time of the day or night - as it fits your schedule. It is a fairly easy way to pick up additional skills while working full time.
This is a course in COBOL programming. COBOL is
the COmmon Business Oriented Language and is a standard
programming language in business. COBOL is enjoying renewed
interest with excellent microcomputer resources, including
Microfocus COBOL, Ryan-McFarland COBOL, AcuCOBOL and others. We
will be using Microfocus COBOL which is becoming a standard in
the microcomputer COBOL market. It is available with the
textbook. We will be working with the Microfocus animator.
Microfocus/Merant also makes "Net Express" a version where COBOL can
interface with HTML pages and with Internet databases and legacy applications.
To learn a programming language, you have to write programs. This
course will have 18 programs - or generally one program a week.
These programs will supplement material in the course textbook
and will be done at home and submitted electronically to the
instructor.
In addition, there will be two tests and possibly other
assignments, quizzes and activities.