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ACP's syllabuses cover a full range of professional IT courses, which are normally taught on full-time courses, each comprising no less than 15-20 classroom tuition plus a minimum of 4-5 further hours of hands-on practical work per week, depending on the course duration.
The ACP Certificate in Information Technology & Programming
Unless a student has prior computing qualifications and/or experience, they will enter at the level of the 'Certificate in Information Technology & Programming'. At this level, emphasis is placed on the introduction, installation, operation and application of computers. Practical applications include databases, desk-top publishing, graphics, multimedia, networking, electronic communication, spreadsheets and web pages. Students will attend a course of at least 300 hours' duration, devoting a further 60 hours to project work.
The ACP Diploma in Information Systems Analysis & Design…
Successful examination candidates from the Certificate course may progress to the 'Diploma in Information Systems Analysis & Design'. During a further 6 month course, of no less than 300 hours' duration, students will develop their basic skills into the area of Systems Analysis & Design, Software Engineering and Business Information Systems. The course has a marked practical emphasis to ensure that candidates reach a level of programming competence sufficient to commence employment. During the course, candidates are also required to submit 6 Practical Diploma Assignments (2 for each subject at this level), typically requiring between around 16 hours for each assignment and using languages such as Java, Pascal or 'C'.
The ACP 'Advanced Diploma in Computer Science'
This course is open to successful graduates of the ACP Certificate and Diploma, or those who have been offered exemption from the lower levels on the basis of alternative qualifications and/or experience. The Advanced Diploma course lasts a further academic year (i.e. a minimum of 600 hours full time study, extending over 40 weeks). Skills learned at first year level are developed to a standard appropriate for more senior positions within the IT industry.
Students are required to submit 2 projects - a Programming Project in Java (the preferred choice, for reasons highlighted in ACP's syllabuses), Pascal or 'C' as well as an Individual Project in an approved subject. Each project can be expected to demand 60-80 hours' work by the candidate and will contribute to their overall examination result.
Suggested Weekly Course Timetable…
The suggested timetable below provides over 20 hours of theory per week and 4˝ hours of weekly supervised practical, together with the opportunity for students to make use of college hardware resources during an available period of over 6 hours each week. Additionally, provision is made in the suggested schedule below for students to complete their examination projects and coursework.
Suggested Weekly Course Timetable (15 weeks minimum + projects)
| Day | 9.00 - 10.45 am | 11.00 - 12.45 pm | 1.45-3.15pm | 3.30 - 4.45 pm | |||
| Mon | Theory | B | Theory | L | Practical | B | Study |
| Tue | Theory | R | Theory | U | Theory | R | Study |
| Wed | Theory | E | Theory | N | Practical | E | Study |
| Thur | Theory | A | Theory | C | Theory | A | Study |
| Fri | Theory | K | Theory | H | Practical | K | Study |
Following a weekly course timetable similar to the one shown above, the combined ACP Certificate Diploma course will cover a full academic year. The Advanced Diploma course will require a second academic year.
A suggested 1 or 2 academic year schedule…
In order to prepare students for ACP's Scheduled Examinations, the following course start dates are suggested. (Based on the 2007/8 and 2008/9 Academic Years - all dates are inclusive).
| Advanced Diploma Results out: | Mid to Late August 2009 | |
| Examination Re-Sit Entries in by: | 28th August 2009 | |
| Advanced Diploma Re-Sits: | 13th, 14th and 15th October 2009 | |
| Re-Sit Advanced Dip. Results out: | Mid to Late December 2009 | |
| University Applications in by: | 15th January 2010 |
|
| (15th October 2009 - Oxford or Cambridge) |
Information Technology courses require extensive practical work at all levels. In its syllabuses, ACP recognises this need and tests a candidate's skill through incorporating practical assignments and projects into the ACP examinations. ACP training centres need to be adequately equipped, both in quality and quantity of resources, to ensure that each student can absorb modern techniques on up-to-date hardware, using the latest software. Tutors are expected to teach current material which reflects developments in hardware, software and applications.
When equipping classrooms, centres should provide a sufficient quantity of personal computers to allow each student at least 4-5 hours hands-on access each week on full time courses. No less than 3 hours of these sessions should be supervised by appropriately qualified staff.
Our syllabuses express a preference for 'Java' as a programming language and we can support our centres by providing an effective teaching strategy guaranteed to sustain rapid student progress and guarantee results when delivered by appropriately qualified educators.