User:Charlesmcsweeney




 * Charles McSweeney


 * University of Belize


 * Belmopan, Belize

=== I am a lecturer of Information Technology at the University of Belize. I am stationed on the Belmopan Campus.

I have been tutoring at the UWI centre in Belize City for about three years. I enjoy teaching and find academia to be a great place to meet people and to make an impact on the society.

I am thrilled to be part of this wiki-education effort. I am hoping to stretch myself quite a bit and to learn even more.

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I am focusing the my efforts for the Wiki Educator (VUSSC Bootcamp - Singapore) on the OLD Bachelor Degree Program designed at the University College of Belize. This program became one of the programs offered at the newly amalgamated University of Belize in 2000.

THE UNIVERSITY

OF BELIZE

Bachelor Of Science Degree in Information Technology


 * Revision August 2001


 * Description		Page


 * Contents		                       2
 * Introduction		                       3
 * Goals and Objectives		               4
 * The Student, The Degree, The Program		5
 * Program Layout		               6


 * Program Sequence 		               8
 * Appendix A
 * Course descriptions 		12

Introduction

In 1992, acting in accordance with the UCB Act, 1988 (Article 3(2)), the University College of Belize – Belmopan Junior College ( UCB –BJC ) was established to offer Junior College programs which would address the demand for tertiary level education, primarily in the Cayo District, and which would articulate smoothly with the existing programs at the Belize City campus of UCB. The establishment of the UCB-Belmopan Junior College, provided UCB the opportunity to develop and implement a complete four-year baccalaureate programs, offering the first two years in Belmopan and the last two years on Belize City. The UCB-BJC is therefore an integral part of UCB.

In 1993, UCB conducted a study of the nation of Belize to determine the needs of the nation as articulated by people from all walks of life. Extensive interviews and discussions were held throughout the country. Results of that study revealed, among other things, that the nation of Belize was aware of the need for trained computer professionals, and was ready to entertain the notion of a degree in Computer Science. Five years later, in 1998, the first Associate Degree in Computer Science was launched at the UCB-Belmopan Junior College. The first intake of students numbered 17: five of these were young women.

The introduction of the Computer Science Associate Degree at the UCB - Belmopan Junior College, has drawn greater focus on the fact that, if the people of Belize are to be prepared to perform adequately in the international community of computer professionals, more training must be done. We need individuals within the community who can be trusted to take on computer oriented tasks and to lead teams of less qualified individuals through the necessary steps to ensure that these tasks are completed to the satisfaction of the client and that development, both human and physical is realized. For this to happen, we need to train Belizeans to investigate, interpret, analyze, design, develop and implement new ways of dealing with technology that is sent to us from outside. We are also responsible for training Belizeans to take on the responsibility for creating new and innovative technologies. These trained Belizeans must then be charged with the responsibility of sharing their knowledge with others at home and to set a stage for Belize to make its own mark on the international scene.

The University College of Belize has taken on the challenge of developing, as near as possible, a complete Information Technology Bachelor Degree package that will expose our students to a strong foundation in the understanding of underlying concepts and mechanisms that define Computer Science.

Goals and Objectives

Goals

This program aims to:

•	produce men and women whose preparation will enable them to acquire posts that demand that they work efficiently and independently •	graduate ideal candidates for further training to the Master's level or for specialized certification. •	provide students with an organized setting in which to conduct guided experimentation with and practical explorations of the physical machinery, the coded program, the designing strategies, the critical analyses and the ever important human interaction that characterizes the true computer scientist.

Objectives

A student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology will be able to :

•	Use, proficiently, current day-to-day office applications ( for example Microsoft Office). •	Utilize good programming techniques and methodologies irrespective of the programming language used. •	Develop programming skills that include modular and object oriented programming whether as a single person programming or as a team programming exercise. •	Demonstrate knowledge of the technology and mechanics of a computer. •	Use, manipulate, program and perform conversion tasks for programs and systems built on at least two different Operating Systems ( for example: Unix, Dos, Windows95/98/2000/NT). •	Investigate computer systems to make informed diagnoses, and prepare sound recommendations for the redesigning or removal of the current system. •	Design, develop, and implement database systems. •	Plan, cost and install computer network systems that demonstrate practical usage in Belize. •	Work with a team of computer professionals to design and develop small computer systems from scratch. This includes but is not limited to the researching, planning, costing, coding, and documenting of the entire system. •	Perform actively in the ethical approach to all aspects of computing.

Student Profile

Individuals admitted to this program may enter as High School graduates who have taken Mathematics and/or Science two of their four years of High School. The student must have received a satisfactory (as determined by the Information Technology department ) score on the ATLIB entrance examination.

Students coming into the program after completion of an Associate will be admitted and placed in the program based on an evaluation of their transcripts.

Due to the reality of the development of Information Technology in Belize, students will be advised to seek the challenge option for courses in which they can demonstrate proficiency. Applicants who are serious about studying this field will be taken through a series of experiences that should last four complete school years. Near to the end of the period of study ( senior year ), the institution organizes an internship that weighs significantly on the students graduation possibilities.

Graduate Profile

The graduate from this program will have demonstrated mastery of the subjects in the program and competence in core requirements set out by the University. A grade of C  (2.50 on a 4 point scale) must be achieved in the major and an overall grade of C+ (2.50 on a 4 point scale) with a minimum of 120 credits taken.

The Degree

The UCB Information Technology Degree will carry approximately135 credits. A student may wish to complete these credits in two two-year segments. The first segment may terminate in an Associate Degree (in accordance with the current Associate Degree Program). The last segment will then be those courses remaining to fulfill the requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree.

Program Plan

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology is scheduled to start in August, 2000. Student intake will be largely from those students who are currently in our Associate degree program. Invitations will be extended to computer professionals who lack training to qualify for the remuneration appropriate for the tasks they presently perform.

The Program is designed as a full four-year program but provides for students who already have an Associate degree in Computer Science to move into the degree as the next phase of their development.

PROGRAM LAYOUT

AREA I	HUMANITIES

Course ID		Description					CR ENGL 111		College English I………………………………	3 ENGL 112		College English II…………………………….. 3	ENGL 318		Technical Writing…………………………….. 3	SPAN 111		Intermediate Spanish…………………………. 3	HIST 201		Belizean History………………………………	3

AREA II	MATHEMATICS & NATURAL SCIENCES

Course ID		Description					CR MATH 121		Intermediate Algebra………………………… 	3 MATH 125		Advanced College Algebra………………….. 3	MATH 124		Trigonometry…………………………………	3 MATH 210		Differential Calculus…………………………	4 MATH 330		Discrete Mathematics…………………………	3 MATH 475		Numerical Analysis……………………………	5 MATH 480		Linear Programming………………………….. 4	NASC 210		Natural History of Belize……………………... 4	PHYS 241		General Physics 1……………………………... 4

AREA III	SOCIAL SCIENCES

Course ID		Description					CR PSYC 121		Introduction to Psychology……………….. 3	CMPS 248		Software in Society………………………. 3	Social Science Elective 		...…………………………	3

AREA IV	COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSES:

Course ID		Description					CR

CMPS 145		Introduction to Computer Systems.…………. 3	CMPS 146		Programming Foundations I…………………. 4	CMPS 155		Computer Technology and Architecture….…. 3 CMPS 156		Datastructures…………………….…………	3 CMPS 157		Systems Analysis………………….….…….. 3	CMPS 245		Database Management Systems……………. 3	CMPS 247		Networking I…………….………………….. 3	CMPS 255		Object Oriented Systems Development……. 4	CMPS 256		Operating Systems…………………………. 3	CMPS 261		Project I…………………………………….. 3	CMPS 312 		Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming……………………. 3	CMPS 314		Algorithms…………………………………. 3	CMPS 316 		Programming Languages……………………	3 CMPS 322		Digital Logic and Signal Processing……….. 3	CMPS 324		Software Engineering………………………. 3	CMPS 412		Advanced Computer Architecture…………. 3	CMPS 414		Networking II..……………………………... 3	CMPS 416		Compiler Construction…………………….. 3	CMPS 429		Senior Internship……………………………	9

AREA V	ELECTIVES

CMPS 330		PC Repair		……………………	3 CMPS 418		Linux Administration ………………………	3 CMPS			Geographic Information Systems……………	3 CMPS 328		JAVA Programming…………………………	3

AREA VI	OTHER

Course ID		Description					CR STSK 101		Study Skills……………………………………	1

Program Sequence

FIRST YEAR

SEMESTER 1

Course ID		Description					CR

ENGL 111		College English I…………………………. 3	SPAN 111		Intermediate Spanish…………………….. 3	MATH 121		Intermediate Algebra…..…………………	3 CMPS 145		Introduction to Computer Systems……….. 3	CMPS 146		Programming Foundations……………….. 4	STSK 101		Study Skills………………………………	1 Semester Total	17

SEMESTER 2

Course ID		Description					CR

ENGL 112		College English II…………………………. 3	MATH 124		Trigonometry………………………………	3 MATH 125		Advanced College Algebra ………………. 3	CMPS 155		Computer Technology and Architecture …. 3	CMPS 156		Datastructures………..……………………	3 CMPS 157		Systems Analysis……….…………………	3

Semester Total	18

Program Sequence

SECOND YEAR

SEMESTER 1

Course ID		Description					CR

HIST 201		Belizean History………………………….. 3	MATH 210		Differential Calculus………………………	4 CMPS 245		Database Management Systems.…………. 3	CMPS 246		Computer Architecture…………….……. 3	CMPS 247		Networking I………………………...…….. 3	CMPS 248		Software in Society…….…………………. 3

Semester Total	19

SEMESTER 2

Course ID		Description					CR

PSYC 121		Introduction to Psychology………………. 3 CMPS 255		Object Oriented Systems Development.…	4 CMPS 256		Operating Systems………………………	3 CMPS 260		Project……………….….………………. 3 Social Science Elective           ……………..……………………	3

Semester Total	16 Program Sequence

THIRD YEAR

SEMESTER 1

Course ID		Description					CR

ENGL 318		Technical Writing………………………….. 3	MATH 330		Discrete Mathematics………………………	3 CMPS 312		Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming………...…………. 3	CMPS 314		Algorithms…………..……………….……. 3	CMPS 316		Programming Languages…………...…….. 3

Semester Total	15

SEMESTER 2

Course ID		Description					CR

PHYS 241		General Physics………….………………. 3	CMPS 322		Digital Logic and Signal Processing…….. 3	CMPS 324		Software Engineering………………….…	3 CMPS 328		Database Management Systems II……….... 3 CMPS 412		Advanced Computer Architecture.………	3 1 Computer Science Elective 300 or 400 level				3

Semester Total	18

Program Sequence

FOURTH YEAR

SEMESTER 1

Course ID		Description					CR

MATH 475		Numerical Analysis….…………………….. 5	MATH 480		Linear Programming………………………	3 CMPS 414		Networking II………..……………….……. 3	CMPS 416		Compiler Construction….…………...…….. 3	Computer Science Elective at the 400 level……….………………. 3

Semester Total	17

SEMESTER 2

Course ID		Description					CR

CMPS 429		Senior Internship……………………….. 12

Semester Total	12

Total Credits in the Bachelor Degree					139

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/My sandbox/

/My sandbox2/

/Neat Stuff I did not know Before Singapore/

More of Me

Info on Belize