Can you help me find an online programming class?

May 2, 2006 2:06 PM

Can you help me find an online programming class that will fulfill my prerequisite for graduate school?

In order to start graduate school in the fall, I need to have taken a programming class. This means that I need to take the class over the summer. I am looking for an online class to fulfill this requirement. My problem has been twofold. First of all, I need a class that requires no prerequisites. I only want to take one class for programming this summer as I have other classes to take. So I don't have time to take any classes that require another class to be taken first. (I did take a math class and a general computer applications class (ie. Windows, Word, Excel) to fulfill my undergraduate requirements. Other than that I have not taken any other classes that would fulfill the prereqs for a programming class.) I need a class that teaches me the basics of programming without any other strings attached. My second problem is that it needs to be some sort of online class, not just a tutorial or a book. I need to be able to show the graduate school some sort of proof that I finished this course so it needs to be able to provide me with a transcript or something like it. All of the online classes that I have found so far fail to qualify for one of the two conditions. Here is the Graduate School's requirements for the prerequisite programming class I must take:
"Proficiency in a programming language such as C, programming methodology and style, problem analysis, program structure, algorithm analysis, data abstraction, and dynamic data. Normally met through an introductory course in programming in C, C++, Pascal or JAVA, that requires the student to write programs of about 300-lines of code from scratch. "
Thanks in advance for your help!

posted by D Wiz to computers & internet (7 comments total)

I'd recommend Champlain College. I took some econ courses online there last year and it was great. They also well know in Vermont for their programming classes.
posted by k8t at 2:13 PM on May 2, 2006

Most bigger schools offer an basic C++ or Fortran course for their engineers and scientists. These have no prerequisites, and are more valuable than "Intro to BASIC" as a programming course. I'd say check each of the Big 10 websites to find their world campus or online campus program.

Don't bother at Penn State though, I just checked and we don't offer Comp Sci online. Sorry :P
posted by Loto at 2:58 PM on May 2, 2006

What are you going to grad school for?

This may sound an odd question, but particularly in the sciences, there are different programming languages of favor for different disciplines. If you have to take a class, might as well see if we can make it a useful one....
posted by gage at 4:25 PM on May 2, 2006

In my career showing that you can do something rather than saying you know something has worked great. I got a bit confused when reading your description about exactly what you need to have done. If it's just telling someone that you've completed an online C course, then hey, sign up with me and I'll happily print you out a certificate of greatness ;)

Nowadays when friends talk to me about learning how to code I always recommend Flash to them. C like syntax, no seperate compiler or ide to download. It is extremely lax and lets you get away with lots of stuff. I firmly believe when you're learning not being punished for silly stuff like leaving a semi-colon off of a line is important. Writing code and seeing stuff work is key.

Learning to program isn't about allocating memory, casting variables, creating classes, tightening loops. It should be about telling your computer to do something cool, and seeing that displayed on screen.

I wish Windows had some sort of built in BASIC or C compiler I could show to people. If my old computers didn't have BASIC compilers built in I'd have never learnt how to code.
posted by toby\flat2 at 8:21 PM on May 2, 2006

(sorry, i went off on an unrelated tangent there... good luck with your course! (bah!))
posted by toby\flat2 at 8:21 PM on May 2, 2006

Community college is good and cheap. Looks like our CSIS 45 would work for your needs. It is offered online this summer.
posted by gemini at 10:12 AM on May 3, 2006

Thanks for all the replies!

k8t- I followed your link and I can't find any programming classes online at Chaplain. If you know of one that I somehow missed then please link to it.

Toby/Flat2- I don't know if they accept flash. I can find out. Do you know of any good online classes?

Gemini: Looks promising. I will check it out. Thanks!
posted by D Wiz at 12:00 PM on May 3, 2006