Putting Java to work
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| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
This course teaches the industrial programming language Java. It provides a good grounding in many of the advanced facilities of this object-oriented language including inheritance, polymorphism, class libraries and the Java human-computer interface. It concludes with two case studies which use the full power of the language. By completing this course you will be well equipped to work on small-scale industrial software projects. All development will be carried out using the NetBeans development environment supplied by the OU. The course assumes basic programming skills: for example you must be familiar with the main control constructs of a modern programming language.
Course content
Since its introduction, Java has become one of the most widely used computer languages. Initially riding on the crest of the rapid expansion of the internet, Java has established itself as a tremendously versatile programming language.
The underlying theme of this course is that Java is everywhere; not just in the sense that it is a highly portable programming language, but also in the sense it is able to run on a wide range of platforms.
In this course you will learn how Java can be used to build systems that power many applications, ranging from ecommerce and online banking to online games and downloadable music. Java runs on servers, PCs, mobile phones and PDAs (hand-held computers). Java can be found in TV set-top boxes, embedded devices (forming part of larger systems such as cars, robots or printers), smart cards and even in wearable computers.
The course will show you how, through the concept of Java Editions, Java can be used in all of the platforms mentioned above. For example, Java Editions can cater for the different needs and resources of large international ecommerce systems running on extensive networks with many servers, as well as the smaller requirements of games software running on mobile phones with limited hardware resources. The course‘s main focus is on the Java 2 Standard Edition (J2SE) but you will also be introduced to the Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME), which is designed for use on smaller systems with limited resources such as mobile phones.
The course begins with the assumption that you already have some basic knowledge about object-orientation and programming languages, either from a previous course, from your work, or perhaps from something you have read independently. From this basic understanding, the course will provide a broad coverage of Java. Although the course concentrates on producing stand-alone applications, it also shows you how the skills and knowledge you develop are directly transferable to other systems: for example web-based systems through the use of applets, and mobile-phone systems through the use of MIDlets. The course will also touch on topics such as Java on servers (servlets) and that of Java code roaming the internet through the use of aglets.
Entry
M257 is a Level 2 course and you need a good knowledge of the subject area. You should be familiar with the following concepts: objects; objects interacting by the exchange of messages (or invoking methods); data types; classes; control structures; inheritance; and simple object-oriented design. This knowledge could have been obtained either from studying Building blocks of software (M263), Object-oriented programming with Java (M255) or the discontinued course M206, or from equivalent work at another university. The first three units of the course revise the above concepts. However, because we expect prior knowledge, you are expected to study these units at a rapid rate.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Qualifications
M257 is a compulsory course in our
- BSc (Honours) Computing (B29)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Computing and Mathematical Sciences (B14)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Computing and Statistics (B34)
- BSc (Honours) Computing and Systems Practice (B33)
- BSc (Honours) Computing with Business (B35)
- Foundation Degree in Computing and its Practice (G06)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Computing and its Practice (E41)
- BSc (Honours) Computing with Psychological Studies (B49)
M257 is an optional course in our
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Course texts are available in electronic format. The course may be challenging if you have impaired sight as many diagrammatic models are involved, though descriptions of the diagrams are available. M257 uses the software package NetBeans version 4.1. Much of the software can instead be run from a command line although there are some practical exercises that require the ability to analyse visual information that appears on a computer screen.
You will need to make use of a personal computer and the internet. The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. The books are available in a comb-bound format. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting Your Needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, other printed materials, website, CD-ROM-based software and exercises.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you can use an Apple Mac or Linux computer if you can run Windows using Boot Camp or similar.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day-schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
The first assignment is divided into two parts. Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Professional recognition
This course may help you to gain recognition from a professional body. You can download our Recognition leaflets 3.3 Professional Engineering Institutions and 3.7 Computing or ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service for a copy.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2009 and February 2010. We expect it to be available in February and October each year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Computing and ICT.
Study explained
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Student Reviews
I was disappointed with some of this course. The first part of this course was basically a review of M255 ...
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As a java developer I found this course relatively straightforward, ranging from the basics up to intermediate level. Java is ...
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