File: mist4600coursedescription.html
URL: www.terry.uga.edu/~jaronson/mist4600/
 


MIST 4600: Computer Programming in Business
JE Aronson
September 2007 In Athens

(September 2007 in Athens, GA)
Course Description
This course is an introduction to computer programming. The course covers fundamentals of computer program development and object-oriented program development using top-down design; structured programming and debugging, testing and implementation; and elementary data structures. The Java programming language is used as the software tool for you to learn about the fundamentals of programming for business applications. The course also covers some basic concepts of problem solving. You must understand a problem and work out a solution approach before applying any tool (computer or otherwise) to it.

Java is an object-oriented programming system. Java requires the program developer to object-think. We will work our way from programming fundamentals  toward object-think.

Programming courses typically take a lot of time, involve a certain amount of frustration, but you will have a strong sense of accomplishment when your programs work as designed. Programming understanding and skills are also a key building block in the MIS major as you work toward an ability to understand business requirements, design information systems to meet those requirements and implement those systems. The course will probably be a lot of work, but should be fun as well.

Do not fall behind. If you don't do any outside work in this class for the first couple of weeks, it is nearly impossible to catch up. As a matter of fact, if you don't do any outside work for any couple of weeks, it may be impossible to catch up. As another word of caution: students who have failed to keep up in the first couple of weeks often say that they didn't do this, as they start the course for the second time.

Prerequisites:

 The only formal course prerequisite is

MIST 2090: Introduction to Information Systems in Business (or equivalent)
This means that you have completed credit for both aspects of the course (if you did not take the course at UGA): computer literacy and Microsoft Office packages.

We also assume that you are computer literate for a business major. This means you know computer history, computer technology, and some business applications. You are familiar and competent in using PC-compatible computers, the Windows Operating System, Microsoft Office productivity software (Excel, Word, Access, Powerpoint, and others), and the World Wide Web. These prerequisite topics, and others, will be assumed, since you are registered in this course. That means, for example, if your Instructor starts using Excel in class, you must be able to understand and use it competently.

Page maintained by JE Aronson
Last modified: December 29, 2008