Computer Science

Computer Programming Essentials focuses on the fundamentals of computer programming, as well as user interface (UI) design. Students will work individually to create personalized programs that emphasize core programming concepts using Javascript-based languages. Students explore UI design by designing and proposing original applications. Students will also discuss how academic integrity and plagiarism play a role in the world of computer science.

10th grade Computer Programming Essentials explores the theory and practice of object-oriented programming. Students will work individually, as well as in groups, to create unique programs written in Java. Through the use of an integrated development environment (IDE), students will gain a foundational knowledge of programming concepts such as object/class relationships, modularization, abstraction, parameter passing, method calling and declaration. Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I

Data is everywhere around us. Our computers, phones, cars, and even thermostats constantly pump out massive amounts of information, creating an increasingly digitized world. With so much information out there, we need to develop efficient, scalable systems to process and break down the data into useful, manageable pieces. This course will outline the basic techniques used in data analytics, as well as some of the ethical conversations inherent to the field.

Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials

Narrative game design has become increasingly popular in recent years with an influx of sophisticated, graphically appealing game titles. This course will explore cross-platform game development through Unity (a cross-platform game design environment), and Blender (an open-source 3D modeling application). Students will gain an advanced understanding of Javascript and C# as they build feature-rich gaming environments. User experience plays a major role in game development, and this course will explore how to create musical elements, appealing user interfaces and graphical elements in tandem with programming.

Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I, Computer Programming Essentials II, iOS Development I, iOS Development II; departmental approval required.

Data structures are amongst the most fundamental ingredients in the recipe for creating efficient algorithms and good software design. Knowledge of how to create and design good data structures is an essential skill required in becoming an exemplary programmer. Data Structures are the programmatic way of storing data so that data can be used efficiently. Almost every enterprise application uses various types of data structures in one or the other way. . This course will explore the process of organizing data into useful structure models that can be searched and sorted to create efficient and powerful applications. Further, this course will analyze the manner in which algorithms are designed in order to most efficiently utilize the available processing power of the host computer. Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I

This course will explore the process of designing and programming unique virtual instruments through Max/MSP and Logic Pro. Students will learn how to build Max patches (self-contained programs) from the ground up, while designing a portfolio of sound controllers, sequencers, synthesizers, samplers and a wide array of sound processors. Max patches can be used for live performance, as well as complementary sound libraries in compositional projects. Max patches will be used directly within Logic Pro to build unique musical projects that are built through the lens of programming.

Students will learn the basics of digital filmmaking, from writing dialogue and crafting a story, to the fundamentals of cinematography and, finally, editing and post-production. We’ll turn to classic films and filmmakers of the past as we analyze acting, sound and special effects. Students will become literate in the language of cinema and will use that newfound literacy in creating final video projects that put all of our skills together. There are no prerequisites for this course.

This course will explore the process of discovering and protecting exploits that are present in various computer systems and networks. Ethical hacking is used as a common and favored process to analyze the security systems and programs of an organization. This unique learning experience will utilize Kali Linux to perform penetration testing. In addition to teaching students about the latest ethical hacking tools and techniques, students will apply these techniques to hardened computer systems on a closed, private network. Given the increased reliance on cloud-based storage systems, it is becoming increasingly important to proactively test and secure network vulnerabilities.

Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I

This introductory course in iOS development will explore the application design process through Xcode, Apple's professional integrated development environment (IDE). Students will gain a foundational understanding of Swift, the default programming language for Apple devices, and associated application frameworks. Students will work individually and in teams to build various iOS applications that can be deployed to iPhones

Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I, Computer Programming Essentials II

This course will continue the exploration of iOS development and dive more deeply into the various application programming interfaces (APIs) and frameworks that are available in iOS application development. Through advanced study of Swift, students will learn how to build database-driven applications, create hybrid applications for iPhone and iPad, leverage remote data sources, and study the art of design to build visually appealing applications. Students will learn how to incorporate third-party frameworks to build feature-rich applications of their design and choosing.

Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I, Computer Programming Essentials II, iOS Development I

This course will explore the process of designing, developing and packaging a custom Linux-based operating system based on the work of Linus Torvald. Students will gain an advanced knowledge of various shell scripting environments such the Bourne Again Shell (BASH), KornShell (KSH) and Z Shell (ZSH). Through an open source, package-based approach, students will build a custom operating system from the Kernel level and will add packages that include a networking stack, file system management and graphical user environments (GUI) utilizing GNOME and KDE. Each operating system will be entirely unique to the student designer.

Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I, Computer Programming Essentials II, iOS Development I, iOS Development II

This course will discuss the process of interactive and responsive web development. Students will explore front-end and back-end design, web application development and deployment. To facilitate this, students will gain a foundational knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP, and Javascript. This course culminates with a portfolio of work that includes a fully-functioning, unique website. Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I

This course will build upon the foundational principles of web development that were explored in Responsive Web Development I. Specifically, students will explore more advanced web programming through HTML5, Javascript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), and PHP. Further, students will incorporate MySQL databases into their dynamic web applications and build themes for common content management systems (CMS) such as Tumblr and Wordpress. Prerequisites: Computer Programming Essentials I, Responsive Web Application Design, Development, and Deployment I