COM271, Week 13

Where is Web Development Going in Academia

Syllabus | Table of Pages | Assignments | References and Useful Links

A Generalized Model for a Web Development Major

For purposes of discussion, we can consider the following array of courses, with approximate course code level and principle topics as outlined, as a curriculum in web development technology. I'm using WDT to stand for Web Development Technology, a fictitious course code.

• Programming
  • WDT 2XX: Client-side Web Programming
    • Extensible Hypertext Markup Language—XHTML
    • Cascading Style Sheets—CSS
  • WDT 3XX: Advanced Client-side Programming
    • Javascript
    • Client-side Forms and Validation Scripts
    • Dynamic Hypertext Markup Language—DHTML
    • Flash and ActionScripting
  • WDT 3XX: Server-side Web Technology—Microsoft
    • Active Server Pages—ASP3.0
    • Databases (Access/SQL Server)
    • Connectivity via Active-X Data Objects—ADO
    • Structured Query Language—SQL
  • WDT 4XX: Advanced Server-side Web Technology—Microsoft
    • The .NET Framework
    • ASP.NET for Professional Web Masters
    • Windows Server
  • WDT 3XX: Server-side Web Technology—Open Source
    • Personal Home Pages—PHP5
    • Databases (MySQL)
    • Connectivity and SQL
  • WDT 4XX: Advanced Server-side Web Technology—Open Source
    • MONO
    • Unix / Linux
    • Apache Server
• Management
  • WDT 4XX: Management of Website Design/Redesign
    • Client Survey
    • Components of a Project Proposal
    • Project Development and Management
    • Techniques for Client Relations
• Graphic Art
  • WDT 3XX: Graphic Art Technique for the Web
    • Drawing—Illustrator
    • Graphic Art—Photoshop
    • Web Art and Scripting—ImageReady
• Supporting
  • WDT 4XX: Advanced Server Management and Security
    • Hacking Techniques
    • Server Hardening Techniques
    • Internet Protocols and Vulnerabilities
    • Detection and Defending against Attacks
  • WDT 4xx: Multimedia Production Technology
    • Video
    • Streaming data
    • Audio
  • WDT 4XX: Apprenticeship I—Client-Side Site Development
  • WDT 4XX: Apprenticeship II—Server-Side Site Development

Web Development Minor at URI

Currently, URI offers only the equivalents of client-side programming (i.e., COM271), and the open source server-side programming (COM372) (PHP and MySQL database). There are three courses in graphic art (ART204 Digital Art and Design I, ART304 Digital Art and Design II, and ART306 Digital Art and Design III). Computer Science offers a database course, CSC436 Database Management Systems and a joint offering with engineering, ENG438 (or CSC 418) Information and Network Security. None of these courses is specifically intended to focus on web development technology (and indeed, there may well be a bias against such an application).

Although the University has been slow to accept web development as a pragmatic area of academic emphasis, the Department of Computer Science now recognizes the above art and computer science courses (along with COM271 and COM372) as an academic track for which recognition may be given in the form of a minor in web development. Contact Professor Henry in CSC for formal recognition of this minor if you are interested in the above courses. Both CSC and COM can also offer internship credits acceptable toward a web development minor. See professors Henry (CSC) or Logan (COM) for further information.