Northern Valley Regional High School students will now have the opportunity to enroll in a brand new online computer science course, “Java Certification,” that is designed to prepare them to take an industry standard credentialing test. The development of the course is funded through an Advanced Computer Science Grant that was recently awarded to the school district.
The new course will be delivered online and taught by NVRHS staff member Mr. Paul Capuzzo in conjunction with “AP Computer Science A,” a course already in place throughout the year. At the end of the program, students will be encouraged to take the corresponding examination, “Oracle Certified Associate, Java.” Successful students will earn a certification that should give them an edge if they choose to pursue a paid career and/or further education in computer science.
The Advanced Computer Science Grant that funded the development of this program emphasized the importance of recruiting students that are typically underrepresented in advanced computer science courses, including females and students with special needs. NV Old Tappan Class of 2016 graduate Seo Choe recently spoke with prospective female student enrollees to tout the benefits of the program and certification. These benefits include:
• Higher Income—Java certified professionals often get a better salary and package than their counterparts with the same skill set but who lack certification.
• Better chance for promotion and growth in the career field.
• Additional skills to add to their resumes and college applications.
• Confidence boost—Students will know the Java programming language better, which will be reflected in their internship, job, and college interviews.
“We are continuously looking for innovative ways to open new doors for our students,” said Superintendent James Santana. “Our career and technical education programs are especially honed in on equipping our kids with the skills that they need to be successful and competitive in the industries they’re most passionate about. That’s exactly what our new Java Certification course is designed to do.”
The online course began Jan. 27, 2020 and will run through the end of the school year for current 11th and 12 graders.