Applied Software Development (ASD)

​Students with no prior computer programming experience are introduced to using Python to write simple programs. This hands-on introductory computer programming course is the foundation for all BCIT Computing Flexible Learning programming courses. COMP 1516 is not a Python development course, it is the first step in a series of three (3) applied programming fundamentals courses. Students must provide their own current model Windows capable PC, i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Topics include: Data structures, data modelling, programming constructs, lists, strings, sets and maps. Labs and exercises focus on writing code for projects, assignments, and activities. Participants will design, implement, test, and debug simple programs that incorporate: variables, expressions, assignments, I/O, conditional and iterative control constructs, functions, and parameter passing. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. Students may have an average total time commitment of 15 hours per week; 3 hours of class time, a 1-hour online component and 10+ hours of homework each week. COMP 1516 is required for the Applied Software Development (ASD) and the Applied Computer Information (ACIS) Associate Certificates, as well as the Computer Systems Certificate (CSC). Upon completion, successful students will have a basic understanding of computer programming and be prepared to move on to COMP 2501 –Programming Fundamentals Part 2.​
Prerequisite(s):

• COMP 1002

Students who already understand how to write simple programs in Python will focus on best practices in computer programming and explore problem-solving skills. This second-level computer programming course follows on from COMP 1516 - Programming Fundamentals Part 1 (Python). COMP 2501 introduces application programming interfaces (APIs) and how to transition from Python to Java. This is not a Java development course, it is the second step in a series of three (3) applied programming fundamentals courses where Java is introduced. Students must provide their own current model Windows capable PC, i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Topics include: an overview of object-oriented programming constructs including basic introductions to: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and exceptions. Labs and exercises demonstrate problem solving; writing automated tests, and practicing design before implementation. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. Students may have an average total time commitment of 13+ hours per week; 3 hours of synchronous class time, and 10+ hours of homework each week. COMP 2501 is required for the Applied Software Development, ASD and the Computer Systems Certificate, CSC. Upon completion, successful students will be able to write robust computer programs. They will be prepared to move on to COMP 2511- Procedural Programming with C and/or COMP 2601- Programming Fundamentals Part 3 (Objects).
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 1516

This hands-on, third-level computer programming fundamentals course follows on from COMP 2501– Programming Fundamentals Part 2 (Java). Students who already understand how to write computer programs in Python and Java will focus on object-oriented programming (OOP) best practices and design in preparation for higher-level software development courses. COMP 2601 introduces debugging intermediate-level programs with an OOP language specifically Java. It is the third step in in a series of three (3) applied programming fundamentals courses. Students must provide their own current model Windows capable PC, i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Topics include: language syntax, data abstraction, with a deeper focus on encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and exception handling. Design Patterns and collections will be applied to appropriate problems. Labs and exercises demonstrate concepts of design, development, and testing. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. Students may have an average total time commitment of 13+ hours per week; 3 hours of class time, and 10+ hours of homework each week. COMP 2601 is required for the Applied Software Development, ASD and the Computer Systems Certificate, CSC. Upon completion, successful students will be able to plan, write, and test significant OOP programs in Java. They will be able to apply design patterns and prepared move on to higher level application development courses in specific languages: Java, C# and C++.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2501

Business Analysis and Systems Design is the study of concepts, processes and tools that professionals use to plan and develop information systems to industry standards. Computer Systems Certificate, CSC students must complete COMM 1103 or COMM 1106 prior to COMP 2831. This course assumes that all participants have strong English communication and interpersonal skills. Students must provide their own current model PC, i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Beginning with an introduction to the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), students work in teams to initiate the system process, analyze problems, discover requirements and create a logical design. Participants will work in groups to ask implicit questions in order to make better decisions. They will then document detailed communication plans prior to developing an information system. COMP 2831 provides the foundation for all BCIT Computing development credentials. Topics include: techniques used in the discovery of business requirements, traditional approaches to data and process modelling. There is an overview of Object-Oriented Modelling techniques using the Unified Modelling Language (UML) as well as an introduction to Project Management. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are mandatory. Students may have an average total time commitment of 13+ hours per week; 3 hours of synchronous class time, a 1-hour online component, plus 9+ hours of homework each week. Participants work in groups, to provide detailed written materials and to make presentations of their designs. Upon completion, successful students will be able to use industry standard tools and methods to analyze, design, document, present, implement information systems and move on to COMP 2833 Agile Methods and the Scrum Framework. ​ This course may be eligible for students to receive funding through the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant at www.bcit.ca/financial-aid/strongerbc-future-skills-grant. Students register themselves into the course, then apply for the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant to cover payment, if eligible.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2501 or 60% in COMP 1630

This intermediate-level course follows on from COMP 1451 or COMP 2501 and assumes significant prior knowledge of computer programming fundamentals. Topics include language syntax, common coding styles and idioms and the implementation of selected data structures and algorithms in C. Lectures and code examples are reinforced with hands-on labs, and assignments. Students must provide their own current model Windows capable PC, i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. COMP 2511 has two classes per week over ten weeks and uses the BCIT Learning Hub for quizzes, discussion boards, labs and assignments. Please Note: Attendance and participation in class are mandatory. Students may have an average total time commitment of 15+ hours per week; 6 hours of synchronous class time, plus 9-12 hours of homework each week. C Programming students will have improved application development abilities in other programming languages, as the C syntax is the basis for Java, C# and C++. This course is equivalent to COMP 2510 in the CST Full-time Diploma which has transfer credit to several universities. COMP 2511 is an elective in the Applied Software Development, ASD Associate Certificate. It is required in the Computer Systems Certificate, CSC and for the follow-on courses in C++ starting January 2022. Upon completion, successful students will be able to build and deploy modular multi-file C programs to industry standards.
Prerequisite(s):

• 50% in COMP 1510 or 60% in COMP 2501

​​This hands-on course follows on from COMP 2831 and begins with an in-depth overview of the goals of Agile, followed by hands-on Scrum implementations. Students will practice how to implement primary agile methods within the Scrum Framework. COMP 2833 assumes that all participants have strong English communication and interpersonal skills. In class exercises include: self-directed teams, writing of user stories, Agile estimating with relative sizing, co-location, metric reporting and test-driven development. Topics include: Scrum, and Lean/Kanban. Participants will experience the roles of Scrum Master, Scrum Product Owner, and Developer, both real-time in class and also online with a dispersed agile team. As an added bonus, this course helps students prepare to challenge the Professional Scrum Master™(PSM 1) certification exam from Scrum.org (additional cost). COMP 2833 is a required course in the Computer Systems Certificate (CSC) and an elective in the Applied Software Development (ASD) Associate Certificate. It is the prerequisite for the follow-on COMP 2836 - Agile Product Owner course in the Agile Development Associate Certificate from BCIT Computing. Upon completion, successful students will have gained significant experience forming and working in Agile teams. This course may be eligible for students to receive funding through the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant at www.bcit.ca/financial-aid/strongerbc-future-skills-grant. Students register themselves into the course, then apply for the StrongerBC Future Skills Grant to cover payment, if eligible.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2831

​This forth-level programming course follows on from COMP 2601 and assumes students have significant prior knowledge of object-oriented programming using Java. COMP 3601 starts with using Java core APIs and the Eclipse IDE with industry standard coding styles and naming conventions. Students practice how to build and deploy commercial quality Java applications with Event Driven Architecture. Labs and exercises use a variety of skills to debug programs and use design patterns to develop advanced applications in Java. Topics include: packages, inner classes, file I/O, an overview of database connectivity, user interfaces, model-view-controller (MVC) and other design patterns for standalone Java applications as well as Java web applications. Participants develop database enabled web applications and are introduced to Java web tier development. There is a focus on the design and how to build, deploy and distribute Java web applications into application servers. They configure and customize a simple web application server with Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) to create and edit data from Java Web Applications. Maven is used with Java Servlets as web application controllers and Java Server Pages (JSP) to build and deploy Java web apps on JEE containers, implemented by a WildFly application server. COMP 3601 is part of three BCIT Computing Associate Certificates; Applied Software Development (ASD), Advanced Java Application Development (AJD), a prerequisite for Web and Mobile Applications (WMA) and a recommended elective in the CST FLEX Diploma. Upon completion, successful students will be able to build and deploy well designed basic Java Web applications and be prepared to move on to COMP 4601- Advanced Java Web App Development. ​COMP3601 will be offered in the Spring (April) and Fall (September) terms.​
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2601

​This fourth-level computer programming course follows on from COMP 2601 and assumes prior knowledge of object-oriented programming using Java. COMP 3602 starts with an introduction to C# programming with Microsoft Visual Studio and the .NET Framework for application development. Labs and assignments are designed to reinforce Microsoft industry standard naming conventions and best practices. Topics include: Windows Forms and controls, event-driven programming, deploying a web service, asynchronous programming, working with SQL databases and effective application debugging. Students build graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and design Windows application software. ​​COMP 3602 is an elective in the Applied Software Development (ASD) Associate Certificate. It is a prerequisite for COMP 4602​. Both .NET courses are required in the Advanced .NET Development (AND) Associate Certificate, and are electives the CST/FLEX Diploma. Upon completion, successful students will be able to use C# to build and deploy cross platform software applications with the latest .NET technologies.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2601

This hands-on computer programming software application development course follows on from COMP 2511 and COMP 2601. It assumes students have prior knowledge of both procedural programming with C and understand object-oriented programming fundamentals using Java or C#. COMP 3603 starts with a quick review of the language syntax that is common to C, Java, C# and C++. Students are then introduced to C++ classes, and how inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction and modularization all relate to the C++ language. Participants must provide their own current model PC, i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Labs and exercises focus on the coding style and naming conventions used to build and deploy commercial quality C++ applications. Topics include: C++ Stream Input/Output, operator overloading, templates functions and classes, exception handling, and introduction to the Standard Template Library. Multiple inheritance to model complex algorithms is also discussed. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are required. Students may have an average total time commitment of 16 total hours each week; 3 hours of class time, a 1-hour online component and 12+ hours of homework each week. COMP 3603 is the prerequisite for COMP 4603 – Advanced C++Application Development, starting September 2022. Both courses are electives in the Applied Software Development (ASD) Associate Certificate and both are required in the CST/PTS Diploma. Upon completion, successful students will be able to build and deploy well designed, entry-level C++ applications and be prepared to move on to COMP 4603- Advanced C++ Application Development.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2511 and 60% in COMP 2601

Following on from COMP 2831 - Business Analysis and Systems Design, this hands-on course introduces the concepts, tools and processes needed to be perform Quality Assurance (QA) and software testing. Students with some programming background are shown best practices and will focus on creating and executing test plans using test cases and test scripts. They will practice how to record and report results, as well as document identified issues. Exercises and labs will include using popular open source QA software testing and tracking tools. Topics include: Black Box, White Box and Grey Box testing techniques and all aspects of QA planning and execution. Automated testing topics include constructing a framework, scripting techniques, generating test data, test architecture, pre/post-processing, test maintenance, and job specific metrics. Successful participants will be able to understand effective software testing methods, create a Quality Assurance plan and a test plan as well as be able to monitor test processes, evaluate test results and conduct automated testing to industry standards.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2501 and 60% in COMP 2831

This hands-on application development course was designed for experienced object oriented programmers. Students must have prior experience developing a software application, they are also required to work in teams and participate in online activities. The focus of COMP 3912 is on the user interface components of current popular iOS business applications. In order to follow this course participants need to be avid users of iPhones. This is a bring your own devices (BYOD) course, students must provide their own Mac computer with OS X Catalina or higher, plus a current iOS mobile device, ideally an iPhone. BCIT Computing students who do not currently own a current MacBook are entitled to purchase one from Apple Canada at a student discount. Participants have access to Apple resources for the development and testing of iOS applications during this course. Students design and develop apps for the current iOS platform to Apple standards. Starting with an intensive overview of the Swift programming language, students are introduced to the iOS development platform via in class labs and exercises. Topics include; Xcode, Cocoa Touch API, Swift, SwiftUI, troubleshooting and debugging, Git source control basics, memory management, user input and gesture recognition. Additional topics include: Auto Layout, data persistence including Core Data, NSUserDefaults and Plists. Testing, networking, SpriteKit, Core Location and multi-threading are also discussed. Upon successful completion of COMP 3912 students will be able to design and build a commercial quality iOS application for iPhone. This course will be offered once per year in the spring (April or May) term.
Prerequisite(s):

• (50% in COMP 2522 or 50% in COMP 2526) or (60% in COMP 2613 or 60% in COMP 3601) or (60% in COMP 2614 or 60% in COMP 3602)

​​This hands-on advanced software application development course follows on from COMP 2511 and COMP 3603. It assumes students have solid knowledge of procedural programming with C, understand object-oriented programming and are able to write intermediate-level programs in C++. COMP 4603 starts with a quick review of writing and testing a well formed C++ program. Students are then introduced to best practices, common design patterns and features added to the C++ language up to C++ 20 to develop significant software applications to industry standards. Participants must provide their own current model PC, i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB of RAM minimum, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. Labs and exercises focus on building and deploying advanced C++ software applications for business and commercial use. Please Note: Attendance, participation in class and the BCIT Learning Hub are required. Students may have an average total time commitment of 16 total hours each week; 3 hours of synchronous class time, 1+ hour asynchronous activity in the BCIT Learning Hub. Participants should plan for 12+ hours of homework, reading and research each week. COMP 3603 and COMP 4603 are electives in the Applied Software Development (ASD) Associate Certificate and both are required in the CST/PTS Diploma. COMP 4603 – Advanced C++Application Development replaces COMP 2618 and will be offered starting September 2022. Upon completion, successful students will be able to build and deploy advanced C++ software applications to industry standards.​ ​COMP 4603 will be offered in the fall (September) and winter (January) terms.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2511 and 60% in COMP 3603