IBM COBOL Core

This course is part of IBM Mainframe Developer Professional Certificate

Instructor: LearnQuest Network

Access provided by Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government

4,819 already enrolled

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

65 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

65 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

COBOL (Programming Language)

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

3 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the IBM Mainframe Developer Professional Certificate

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.

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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
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There are 4 modules in this course

COBOL is a programming language that serves a wide range of businesses. Key aspects of COBOL are that it is scalable, mature, and self-documenting.

Welcome to COBOL Core. In this first module, we will explore some basic concepts and preview how the IBM Remote Lab Platform (IRLP) labs will work.

What's included

2 videos1 reading

Great to see you in Module 2! Labs are what make this course essential training, and in Module 2 you'll experience one session to get familiar with the Skytap and the IRLP, and then a lab session dedicated to Numeric Usage Types. This week we look at 3 levels of Editing and Branching. This is the most intensive module in the course, because we've created several opportunities for you to work with hands-on labs and review the demonstrations carefully. Pace yourself, and don't worry if this one takes a little more than a week!

What's included

6 videos7 readings1 assignment4 app items

6 videos Total 33 minutes

Mainframe Login with Skytap 4 minutes
Numeric Usage Types 4 minutes
What's Next in COBOL Core? 3 minutes
Editing and Branching 1 7 minutes
Editing and Branching 3 8 minutes
Editing and Branching 2 7 minutes

7 readings Total 120 minutes

Pre-lab Checklist: Using the IRLP 10 minutes
Understanding Numbers in z/OS 10 minutes
Lab 1A: Demo of Numbers 10 minutes
DO-UNTIL and DO-WHILE Loops in VBA 10 minutes
COBOL Core Lab 1 45 minutes
Combined Conditions 10 minutes
Hands-On Demonstration: Numeric Data, Functions, and Conditional Logic 25 minutes

1 assignment Total 20 minutes

Numeric Usage Types, Editing, Branching 20 minutes

4 app items Total 70 minutes

IBM Remote Lab Platform (IRLP) 15 minutes
IRLP for Comparison of Numeric Types Lab 15 minutes
IRLP for Core Lab 1 20 minutes
IBM Remote Lab Platform (IRLP) 20 minutes

We will discuss structured programming, testing, debugging, and reports, including, defining a calling program and called program, describing types and components of reports, listing steps for proper testing and strategies, recognizing and correcting unstructured code, describing the components of structured programming, and creating readable and maintainable code.

What's included

8 videos1 assignment

In the third module of this course, we will discuss table handling, sorting, and intrinsic functions, including, listing six types of intrinsic functions, describing the sort/merge process, using three examples of sequential search, and describing basic table terminology.

What's included

5 videos1 reading1 assignment1 app item

5 videos Total 32 minutes

Table Handling Part 1 8 minutes
Table Handling Part 2 7 minutes
Sort and Merging 9 minutes
Intrinsic Functions 8 minutes
Course Wrap Up 0 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

Hands-On Demonstration: Table Handling, Intrinsic Functions, and Calculated Data 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Table Handling, Sorting, Intrinsic Functions 30 minutes

1 app item Total 60 minutes

IRLP for Table Handling 60 minutes

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Instructor

Instructor ratings

(21 ratings)

LearnQuest Network

LearnQuest

201 Courses 965,055 learners

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IBM

LearnQuest

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Reviewed on Oct 2, 2025

I would have benefited from a few more examples, e.g., how to subscript a 2-dimensional table, and an example or lab with both input and output phases. There were no examples of MERGE or its purpose.

Reviewed on Jul 15, 2022

Excellent course to increase knowledge in Cobol Core.

Reviewed on Feb 9, 2025

Excellent material, very easy to understand and complete

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