Curriculum

The Computer Information Science Department in the School of Mathematics, Computer Science and Engineering conducts a program designed for students who are developing computer programming skills in preparation for professional careers and/or transfer to a four-year college or university. Courses are intended to meet the needs of students at various levels of competence, from the novice to the expert. The department acquaints students with the presently available methods of computer science that are useful in solving problems of science, industry, and government; prepares students for the additional formal education and self education required in this ever-developing field; and fosters students’ abilities to solve computer science problems.

The Major

Students may take individual courses to gain expertise in specific areas, or they may take courses collectively to earn the Associate in Science degree or Certificate in Computer Information Science with a concentration in any one of three different areas. Students seeking to develop programming skills may pursue either the Computer Languages emphasis, which introduces a variety of programming languages and each language’s many applications; the Business Programming emphasis, which concentrates on programming for business applications; or the Systems Analysis emphasis, which explores the structured design and implementation of software systems. Students seeking immediate workplace competencies also have the option of completing the 15-unit Certificate of Competency in Database.