Computer Programmer.

[Donny]

Hello, I've been looking into colleges for a Computer Programming course, I found one at Algonquin, it's relatively close to where I live, the program looks to be promising, and I was just wondering. Does anybody know what skills I will have when I complete the course? Will I have an advanced knowledge of a programming language or will I just have guidelines on how to learn one and I pick one that I fancy? What will I be able to produce after? Will I need to self train after to write a game? (My ultimate goal) Thanks for your consideration, btw This is my first post.

[z_cross_fire]

Have a look here:
http://www2.algonquincollege.com/sat/program/computer-programmer/

[Tony]

You should probably read the course description and (better yet) previous year's assignments (if such are available) to get a better idea of what the course is about, but...

Donny @ Fri Apr 15, 2011 6:50 pm wrote:

Will I have an advanced knowledge of a programming language

Definitely not.

[Donny]

Could you perhaps expand on the Definitely not? What knowledge would I have?

[Tony]

It mostly depends on what kind of effort you put into the class. Some students manage to get by with just enough to get a passing grade without learning anything useful enough to stick after the final. Others continue improving themselves beyond the classroom.

Some students benefit from a structured learning environment; others use classes and deadlines as an artificial motivation to force themselves to study. But the important stuff is ultimately up to you. Programming and language mastery comes from practice, not lectures (which could be thought of as a presenter reading tutorials out loud).

[DemonWasp]

Tony @ Fri Apr 15, 2011 11:17 pm wrote:

Some students manage to get by with just enough to get a passing grade without learning anything useful enough to stick after the final. Others continue improving themselves beyond the classroom.

It's also possible to choose "neither" or "both" from those options. I like to think that I'm in the "both" category, though the only category I'm definitely in is the "...just enough to get a passing grade..." bit.

[Alexander_]

From the curriculum of the course I can assume it was meant as a gateway to teach the general dynamics of development (working with multiple languages, operating systems or platforms, debugging, team work).

It will certainly be a fundamental learning experience, although I agree with what has been said before as there is no emphasis on a single language or specialty that can be used on the market, examples may include topics such as database management systems, object oriented programming, software analysis and integration, concurrency, graphics, mathematics and algorithms, server/client programming or networking.

Generally those would be prerequisites for IT certifications that jobs would look for, although are not always the "access card" to a job.

[Donny]

So goto college or just read the java books I have? I just started one called Thinking in Java, pretty interesting so far, I've got loads more that I'm going to read. I just thought going to college would be better for me because I seem to learn better from a teacher explaining it rather than me just going at it myself. But if it's just auditory tutorials I might as well save my money.

[2goto1]

If you just want to write a game as your ultimate goal, then depending on the complexity of the game, you probably would need to do your own training outside of the college course.

If you find that you enjoy programming your game and want to consider it a career path, your chances of having a successful career could be dependent on having a related post-secondary education.

[md]

If your thinking of Algonquin College take the "Computer Engineering Technology - Computing Science" program instead - much more industry experience (which is how you end up getting a job) and there is a much wider range of things covered.

You're still basically on your own for learning anything advanced though.

[Donny]

md, that program is a lot more what I want, thanks.

[md]

You're most welcome.