Computer Information Systems (BAS)

College of Science and Technology (formerly known as College of Information Technology)

Major Requirements (36 credit hours)

(Click a course name below to view course details)

Core

• CIS 305 Management and Design of Database Systems

  The major focus of the course will be the relational model with a brief discussion of the hierarchical and network models. Database design using E-R Diagrams will be presented. Relational terminology and the theoretical concepts of the model, such as normalization, will be discussed. The Sequel Query Language (SQL) will be used to manipulate the model. Students will prepare a small application using a Commercial Relational Database Management Systems.

• CIS 310 Information Systems

  This course provides a foundation for the managerial considerations of acquiring and operating information systems. Students are introduced to existing and emerging information systems and their impact on competitive advantage, reengineering business processes, and decision making.

• CIS 321 Structured System Analysis and Design

  This project-based course focuses on the use of tools and methodologies applied to structured system analysis and design. Emphasis is placed on the traditional approaches, for example, system flow charting and entity relationship diagrams. Students will complete a variety of analysis design specifications and a project implementation plan for a simulated business system.

• CIS 340A Business Telecommunications

  Students learn the fundamental technical principles of telecommunications and computer networks and then examine the business challenges of managing communications resources.

• CIS 406 Information Security

  This course is designed to provide an introduction to information security. Current trends in information security will be explored. Students will be introduced to sources of threats and vulnerabilities as well as methods for optimizing system security. Legal and ethical issues associated with information security will be examined, as well as how those issues are addressed within the context of an organization.

• CIS 436 Ethics for IT Professionals

  This course discusses ethical issues inherent in the field of information technology. Topics covered focus on the balance between the individual and society, including computer privacy and security, computer crime, software piracy, intellectual property, patent and copyright law, and social issues such as free speech and expression, as well as netiquette. The course also discusses moral responsibility for computer professionals.

• CIS 456 Service Component

  This course is designed to provide students with a monitored structure which can be used to apply the concepts and technologies acquired throughout their course of study to a real-world problem or situation that will be proposed and developed by each student. This can be accomplished by way of a faculty approved project, research study, certification or internship. The faculty sponsor will evaluate and approve a student’s proposal and objectives prior to any work being done. Each student will develop and prepare a plan for completion of the approved component and will document the attainment of the objectives by way of milestones, oral or written reports, specified deliverables or satisfactory reports on completion of objectives by the manager of an intern. Students may accomplish the Service Component when they have completed 24 credit hours of the required major courses.

You will need to complete one of the following emphases.

For each emphasis, there will be five additional required courses as follows:

Business Emphasis

• CIS 237 Elementary Web Scripting

  This course instructs students in the process of writing scripts which will be used to support a Web server environment. Web scripts may take advantage of several kinds of supporting applications, so the installation and configuration of those applications is covered during the early stages of the course. Students learn to create Web forms, collect and process information obtained from them, and to retrieve and update information contained in databases. Prerequisite: A working knowledge of HTML

• CIS 351 Networking Structures and Desktop Operating Systems

  This course provides a foundation networking concepts, describing networking hardware and communication terminology and contrasts the different types of networking structures. This class introduces the concepts of address, network traffic, and administration of local and wide area networks.

• CIS 405 E-Commerce

  This course is designed for both technical and business students. Students will explore the core technologies and business practices that support commerce using the Internet. The course equips the students with the knowledge necessary to understand and evaluate electronic commerce business models and projects.

• CIS 433 Information Technology Project Management

  This course provides students with an introduction to program management as it relates to Information Technology. Students develop formal project plans based on actual problems provided by industry. Emphasis is placed on the nine knowledge areas specified by the Project Management Institute (PMI) in the publication, A Guide to Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®Guide). Both discover-based and team-based activities are used to focus on program management as a discipline.

• CIS 468 Accounting for IT Professionals

  This course is designed to provide an introduction to business issues associated with Information Technology. The course includes an introduction to financial and managerial accounting concepts as they apply to IT issues, including budgeting, costing, budgeting control, and performance evaluation.

Information Security Emphasis

• CIS 311 Network Security

  This course provides an introduction to the goals, functional processes, tools, and techniques associated with network security. Discussion includes devices such as firewalls, intrusion detection mechanisms, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Telecommunications and networks security protocols used to prevent, detect, and correct potential vulnerabilities associated with both the outsider and insider threat are also explored.

• CIS 312 Securing Access Control

  This course provides an introduction to the concepts associated with configuring identification and authentication. Discussion includes comparison of various access models, and how passwords, smart cards and biometric devices can assist in securing system access and ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. Other technologies such as remote authentication and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) are also explored.

• CIS 313 Cryptography

  This course provides an introduction to the fundamental components of encryption. Topics include the history of cryptography, public key and private key systems, hashing, and digital signatures. Topics also include the development of the Advanced Encryption Standard, the use and functionality of Pretty Good Privacy, and the Secure Socket Layer.

• CIS 411 Assessments and Audits

  This course explores the principles of risk assessment, vulnerability analysis, and auditing. Discussion includes the use of these principles to evaluate the effectiveness of information security controls. Topics include threat and asset identification, countermeasures and safeguards, acceptable risks, and vulnerabilities. The auditing concepts of technical, physical, and administrative controls are also introduced along with how these controls are measured for effectiveness.

• CIS 412 Organizational Security

  This course explores the concepts of developing and implementing security policy; business continuity planning; disaster recovery; and education, training and awareness. Assigned projects include developing security policies, writing business recovery plans, and participating in a security awareness exercise. The topics of physical security and organizational structure are also considered.

Programming Emphasis

• CIS 242 Introduction to Programming Using Java

  This course introduces the concepts of structured programming using Java. The course covers the basics of the Java programming language syntax, to include designing, coding, documenting, and debugging programs. Additional topics covered will be elementary data structures, input/output statements, selection, iteration, methods, and one-dimensional arrays. Students will write programs using all of the before-mentioned topics.

  
  OR
• CIS 243 Introduction to Programming Using C#

  This course is designed to introduce the concepts of structured programming. How programs and programming languages work, and the purposes and practices of structured programming are discussed. Designing, coding, documenting, and debugging programs using elementary data structures, input/output statements, selection and iteration, functions, and one-dimensional arrays are covered in detail.

  
  Plus the following
• CIS 355 Business System Programming

  This course builds upon an introductory programming class. Students will be immersed in language syntax and the interactive PC environment. Emphasis will be on solving problems by deriving and implementing appropriate algorithms using Object-Oriented concepts. Graduate Students will accomplish a programming project that will apply the concepts covered in the course.

• CIS 402A Intermediate Java Programming

  This course teaches the principles of Object-Oriented (OO) programming using Java. The course covers the Java programming language syntax and OO concepts, as well as more sophisticated features of the Java runtime environment. Additional topics addressed are the Java programming language’s implementation of graphical users interfaces (GUIs), multithreading and networking. This course is offered as part of the SUN Authorized Educational Alliance. Prerequisite: CIS 242 or CIS 251

• CIS 337 Web Scripting

  This course provides a broad coverage of Web tools needed to create well designed web sites. Students will learn the fundamentals of server-side scripting creating dynamic web pages that interface with a database while emphasizing vendor-neutral Web standards.

• CIS 434 ASP.NET

  This course explores concepts of building data-driven websites using Microsoft’s .NET technologies. C#, VB.NET and other technologies will be used to demonstrate a broad range of Internet disciplines. Prerequisite: Intermediate programming course or prior approval from advisor

Networking Emphasis

• CIS 240 Introduction to UNIX

  This course is designed to teach the fundamental concepts required for effective use of a UNIX operating system. During this course students learn to log in and out, navigate the file system, manipulate files, redirect and pipe the input and output of commands, hand file permissions, work with external devices, backup and restore of information, script in Bourne-again and C shells, and the configuring of network services. Hands-on demonstration and practical application play a prominent role in the course.

• CIS 341A Cisco Networking

  This course introduces Internetworking through the study of Cisco routing and switching. Students will learn how to install, configure, operate, and optimize networks that use Ethernet, TCP/IP, Wide Area Network protocols, and Cisco network hardware. This course follows the Cisco curriculum leading to testing for the Cisco Certified Network Associate certification. Prerequisite: CIS 340A or CIS 351

• CIS 348B Implementing and Managing Network Infrastructures

  This course provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to configure and manage a computer to operate within a client-server networking infrastructure. This class introduces the concepts of implementing, managing, and maintaining server networking technologies. These skills will include implementing routing, implementing, managing, and maintaining automatic addressing, domain and NetBIOS naming servers, securing traffic with Internet Protocol security (IPSec) and certificates; implementing a network access infrastructure by configuring the connections for remote access clients; and managing and monitoring network access of local and wide area networks. Prerequisite: CIS 357

• CIS 349B Implementing and Maintaining Active Directory Structures

  This is the fourth class in the Microsoft MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) program. In this course students will learn to successfully plan, implement, and troubleshoot a Microsoft Windows Server™2003 Active Directory® directory service infrastructure. Students will work with a Windows Server 2003 directory service environment, including forest and domain structure, Domain Name System (DNS), site topology and replication, organizational unit structure and delegation of administration, Group Policy, user, group, and computer account strategies. Students also will learn how to manage computer services structures within an organization and become familiar with human to computer interaction. Prerequisite: CIS 357

• CIS 357 Operating System Administration

  This course provides the knowledge and skills required to administer small to medium-sized networks in server environments. Hands-on demonstration and practical application of administrative tools, utilities, and configurations in server environments will be the most significant feature of the course. Issues dealing with security, troubleshooting, and configuration will be presented, discussed, and applied by the students in the classroom.

Recommended Electives

• CIS 302 Fundamentals of Mobile Application Development

  This course provides an introduction to the concepts associated with mobile technologies. Current mobile technologies are compared and contrasted. Topics include architecture, design, development, and deployment of mobile applications. Prerequisites: CSAS 207 or CIS 242 or CIC 243 or similar introductory computer programming course.

• CIS 303 Android Operating System Mobile Application Development

  This course provides an introduction to the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) Application Programming Interface (API) associated with mobile technology libraries for the Android operating system. Mobile applications are developed and tested using an Android emulator. Prerequisites: CIS 302 - Fundamentals of Mobile Application Development.