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Course outline.
ACP offers
a complete range of professional courses leading to recognised
qualifications. The courses have been designed to meet the changing
needs of the computer profession. Nowadays, it is insufficient to
study single subjects, such a programming or operating, when modern
business systems demand a combination of practitioner skills. ACP
courses reflect this need.
Certificate:
The first level of professional
qualification is the Certificate in Computer Programming. The
syllabus not only contains the practical elements of programming,
but also includes general computer theory and operating aspects.
Candidates enter three examinations and submit a project in order to
complete the course.
Diploma:
Graduates from the
Certificate Course may progress to the Diploma in Computer System
Design. Their basic skills are further developed into the areas of
systems analysis, software methodology and the study of computer
systems for small businesses.
Apart from the knowledge and
practical experience gained on the course, candidates extend their
capacity for sound judgement, which is essential to the successful
practitioner. The course has a marked emphasis on practical work, to
ensure that candidates reach a standard of programming competence
sufficient to commence employment.
During the course, candidates are
required to submit assignments which count towards their final
grade. In addition, three written examinations are taken at the end
of the course.
Advanced Diploma:
The Advanced Diploma course is the most valuable offered
by ACP. The course lasts an academic year and provides a wide base
of training to high academic and practical levels.
On successful completion of the
course, graduates are well-equipped to enter the many different
areas of employment in the computer industry. Candidates are
encouraged to develop specialist interests by the submission of a
substantial project in a chosen area of study, either theoretical or
practical. They are also required to pass three written examinations
covering the Principles of Information Processing, Systems Analysis
and Design; Programming, Computer Management.
The various examinations
are linked to the grades of professional membership of ACP, as is
the work experience of the individual. Given success in the
Association's examinations, or specific levels of employment
responsibility, individuals may progress from Student to Associate,
to Member within the ACP. In summary, ACP offers three main
advantages not found together in other professional bodies;
A pattern of career development through clearly defined
stages of qualification by examination.
Links to the membership grades of a professional body
based on experience and qualifications.
Practitioner training which is broadly based to meet
the demands of modern computer system management.
Course
Structure
It is
assumed that before entering an examination, each candidate will
have completed at least the hours of study shown below. The
following is a guideline to the amount of time it is suggested each
student devotes to a particular topic.
COURSE TOTAL PROJECT
Certificate 300 hours 50 hours (programming)
Diploma 200 hours 30 to 40 hours (6 assignments)
Advanced Diploma 600 hours 50 hours (programming)
120 hours (main project)
The 'Total Time' includes practical
work provided as part of formal lecturing, such as instruction for
word-processing, database and spreadsheet packages.
The 'Project
Time' is the students' time devoted to the project and is regarded
as separate from related instruction, such as learning dBase for a
Diploma project using a well-known database package. For the
Certificate level project students must use a high level programming
language such as BASIC, COBOL, Fortran, Pascal, etc..
It is
essential that candidates have each experimented with running their
programs on a computer, such as would be found in a professional
environment. The importance of a candidate testing and amending
his/her own programs should be stressed and provision should be made
to allow students sufficient access to hardware.
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