Graduate TESC or……CIS?CS?

[ternzer]

Hi, i am back for 1 last question. i am about 1/2 done with the 15 credits i need to complete.
i took the DSST MIS, completed the KCTCS cis120 program design and analysis, and will start the nis213 Server 08 admin class this weekend. plan to take the tecep next week.
btw, i will write up a kctcs guide when i an done, it is a great straighterline alternative for those on a CIS/CS track.

anyway, my question:
i only need one last elective in my plan.
i already have pascal programing from years ago (tesc already approved) so i dont need another programing course, but i could elect one.
so do i take a programing course (C++ or Java) or do i take a class like database design or it security? i am leaning toward dumping programing for DB design.
any other suggestions?
thanks

[dcan]

If you write up a KCTS guide please PM me just in case I miss the thread when you post it. I'm very interested in adding that to the wiki as another source of credit.

Regarding your last elective I think it comes down to your goals. Depth or breadth? If you want more depth take another programming course. If you want more breadth the DB design course.

Personally I think the DB design course could be more beneficial for you. If you aren't going to spend your time doing a lot of direct technical work then knowing how a database operates will pay off big-time, especially when you can throw the BS flag in a vendor's face and save your company ca$h.

I do think learning Java on your own, and tinkering a bit with J2EE to better understand enterprise development, will also be incredibly beneficial. But since a Java course would probably not be anything more than a "Teach Yourself Java in 21 Days" kind of book would teach you, I'd opt for the database class. Relational thinking is different and a structured course with application work would be a much better way to learn that than trying to learn relational algebra and normalization from a book.

[ryoder]

Whatever you pick you will probably learn from it and enjoy it.
Java is an excellent programming language to learn and is much easier mechanically than C++. You can learn much more about object oriented design with Java than with C++ because with C++ you end up fighting with header files, make files etc.

I do Java programming every day so if you have a question feel free to email me.
I have about 3 years of professional C experience and 2 years of C++ programming experience along with 5 years of C#. I have been doing Java for about 13 years and its a pretty good language.