Information Systems Colleges are facing numerous challenges to develop and keep their curriculum current. Including certification objectives in IS courses give IS colleges the edge needed to remain competitive. Java, a modern object oriented programming language, has become a critical component of IS curricula because of its platform independence. This paper shows how to integrate objectives of the Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 certification into a programming course. Current Java textbooks emphasize problem-solving concepts and do not cover certification objectives. After careful review of numerous textbooks, a textbook is selected to maximize coverage of the course and certification objectives. A detailed master syllabus is developed to optimize coverage of the certification objectives while maintaining consistency of the course. Upon completion of the course, students have the knowledge to take the certification exam and can demonstrate to employers that they have mastered the necessary skills to be productive.