Computer Science (COMP) 501

Overview

COMP 501 provides an industrial-strength coverage of Java programming, including the important core packages; however, one cannot cover all aspects of Java in a single course in any depth. Those areas that are not covered in great depth compose core elements of other courses. For instance, the material for programming in a server environment (networking, distributed systems, enterprise beans, servlets, JSP) is limited. However, these areas will be covered in courses covering e-commerce, website technology, and distributed systems.

COMP 501 is recommended for all students wishing to enroll in graduate courses that require Java programming or an understanding of Java programming, and who do not have Java programming experience.

After completing COMP 501, you will be expected to program well and independently in Java, and be able to pick up new packages and classes as required. Other courses in the MSc(IS) curriculum are dependent upon these skills. Students may come into COMP 501 at different levels of object-oriented programming expertise, but all are expected to leave as competent Java programmers.

Course Objectives

• Provide the background for and practical applications of Java programming, skills which will be required by courses in the graduate program.
• Review the basics of Java as an OOP language.
• Explore the features of Java programming, such as GUI programming, component programming (beans), networking and distributed programming, and multimedia (Java 3D and Java Media Framework).
• Explore several areas of emerging Java technology through a review of the learning materials, as well as a significant self-directed study project in one of the following areas: Java Beans, Java 3D, Java Media Framework, Design Patterns, and XML.

Outline

• Unit 0: Preparation
• Unit 1: Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals
• Unit 2: First Program and Program Control
• Unit 3: Object Orientation and Re-usability
• Unit 4: Exceptions, Collections, and I/O
• Unit 5: Type Information and Threads
• Unit 6: GUI Development
• Unit 7: Java Beans
• Unit 8: Java 3D
• Unit 9: Selected Topic Readings and Programming

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to

• apply the basic and advanced features of Java to continue with the graduate study courses that require Java programming.
• understand the concepts of objects, data abstraction, inheritance, polymorphism, runtime mechanism, and Java threads to apply in Java applications.
• create new packages or reuse existing packages, as required.
• perform GUI programming, component programming (beans), networking and distributed programming, and multimedia (Java 3D and Java Media Framework).
• analyze the areas of emerging Java technology through a review of the learning materials and a significant self-directed study project in one of the following areas: Java Beans, Java 3D, Java Media Framework, Design Patterns, and XML.

Evaluation

In order to receive credit for COMP 501, you must achieve a cumulative course grade of "B-" (70 percent) or better, and must achieve an average grade of at least 60 percent on the assignments and achieve a grade of at least 60 percent on the Final Exam. Your cumulative course grade will be based on the following assessment.

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.