PGCP-AC Course Overview & Structure
The Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Advanced Computing (PGCP-AC) (formerly known as PG-DAC) is C-DAC’s flagship curriculum, running for over 25 years. It is designed to prepare engineering and computer science graduates for professional careers in enterprise software development.
The course is structured as a 24-week full-time intensive programme covering enterprise Java, Microsoft .NET, relational and NoSQL databases, modern frontend engineering, and cloud deployment practices.
Core Modules & Assessment Stages
| Module Code | Module Name | Curriculum Scope | Examination Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOD-01 | C++ Programming | Modern C++ (C++11/17), OOP, STL, Memory Management | CMCE Exam |
| MOD-02 | Database Technologies | SQL, MySQL, Normalization, Transactions, MongoDB | CMCE Exam |
| MOD-03 | Concepts of Operating Systems & SDLC | Process Management, Memory, Agile, Version Control | CCEE Exam |
| MOD-04 | Object Oriented Programming with Java | Core Java, Collections, Multithreading, Streams, I/O | CMCE Exam |
| MOD-05 | Algorithms & Data Structures using Java | Complexity Analysis, Trees, Graphs, Sorting, Hashing | CMCE Exam |
| MOD-06 | Web Programming Technologies | HTML5, CSS3, Modern JavaScript, DOM, React.js | Continuous Assessment |
| MOD-07 | Web-based Java Programming | Servlets, JSP, Hibernate ORM, Spring Boot, REST APIs | CCEE Exam |
| MOD-08 | Microsoft .NET Technologies | C#, ASP.NET Core MVC, Entity Framework, Web API | CCEE Exam |
| MOD-09 | Aptitude & Problem Solving | Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning | Placement Readiness |
| MOD-10 | Effective Communication & Soft Skills | Technical Presentations, Interview Skills | Placement Readiness |
| MOD-11 | Industry Capstone Project | Full-Stack Application Engineering & Viva Voce | Final Evaluation |
First Half Modules: CMCE Exam Focus
1. C++ Programming
- Modern C++ features, references vs pointers, dynamic memory management
- Object-oriented concepts: encapsulation, inheritance, runtime polymorphism, virtual destructors
- Exception handling, templates (function and class templates)
- Standard Template Library (STL):
std::vector,std::list,std::map, lambda expressions, smart pointers
2. Database Technologies
- Relational database management systems (RDBMS) design & Normalization (1NF to BCNF)
- Complex SQL: Subqueries, Joins, Aggregations, Grouping
- Stored Procedures, Functions, Triggers, Views, and Transactions (ACID properties)
- NoSQL fundamentals and MongoDB document operations
3. Object-Oriented Programming with Java
- JVM architecture, bytecode execution, Garbage Collection mechanics
- Classes, interfaces, packages, abstract classes
- Collections Framework: Lists, Sets, Maps, Comparators
- Java Multithreading & Concurrency: synchronization, Executor framework
- Modern Java features: Streams API, Lambdas, Functional Interfaces
4. Algorithms & Data Structures using Java
- Asymptotic analysis: Big-O, Big-Omega, Big-Theta
- Linear data structures: Linked lists, stacks, queues, priority queues
- Non-linear structures: Trees, BST balancing, Graph representations and traversals
- Algorithmic techniques: Divide and Conquer, Greedy algorithms, Dynamic Programming basics
Second Half Modules: CCEE Exam Focus
1. Web-based Java Programming
- Servlets, JSP lifecycle, session management
- Object Relational Mapping (ORM) with Hibernate: mappings, HQL, caching
- Spring Framework: Inversion of Control (IoC), Dependency Injection (DI), Spring MVC
- Enterprise RESTful API development with Spring Boot
2. Microsoft .NET Technologies
- C# language constructs, delegates, events, LINQ
- ASP.NET Core MVC architecture, middleware pipeline, dependency injection
- Entity Framework Core: Code-First migrations, DbContext, LINQ queries
- Building RESTful Web APIs with authentication and Swagger documentation
3. Operating Systems & Software Development Methodologies
- Process management, CPU scheduling, thread synchronization, deadlocks
- Memory management: virtual memory, paging, segmentation
- Software development lifecycles: Agile/Scrum methodologies, Git version control, CI/CD fundamentals
Industry Capstone Project & Evaluation
Students work in collaborative teams to architect and deploy a production-grade, full-stack application:
- Backend Services: Spring Boot (Java) or ASP.NET Core (C#) REST APIs
- Frontend Client: React.js with modern state management
- Data Persistence: Relational database (MySQL/PostgreSQL) and NoSQL stores
- Security & Delivery: Role-based access control, token authentication, Dockerization, and cloud deployment
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total duration of the CDAC PGCP-AC programme?
PGCP-AC is a 24-week full-time intensive programme combining classroom lectures, daily hands-on lab sessions, and an industry capstone project.
What is the difference between CMCE and CCEE exams in PGCP-AC?
CMCE (Centralised Mid Course Examination) evaluates first-half modules like C++, Java OOP, DSA, and Databases. CCEE (Centralised Course End Examination) evaluates advanced second-half modules including Web-based Java, .NET Core, and Operating Systems.
Practice Mock Tests with Real C-CAT Pattern
Prepare with exam-level timer, negative marking simulation (−0.25 penalty), and section-wise analytics built by Sunbeam toppers.