Computer Information Systems, AS

Contact Information

Degree/Certificate

Associate in Science

HEGIS Code

5101

SUNY Code

1171

Major Code

CIS

The Career

All organizations rely on computer and information technology to conduct business and operate more efficiently. The rapid spread of technology across all industries has generated a need for highly-trained workers to help organizations incorporate new technologies. The U.S. Department of Labor statistics project computer information systems related occupations to be among the fastest growing occupations through the year 2014. Employment is expected to grow at a much faster than average rate (27 percent or more) as organizations continue to adopt and integrate increasingly sophisticated technologies. Job increases will be driven by very rapid growth in computer system design and related services, which is projected to be among the fastest growing industries in the U.S. economy.

Workers in the occupation should enjoy favorable job prospects. The demand for networking to facilitate the sharing of information, the expansion of client–server environments and the need for computer specialists to use their knowledge and skills in a problem-solving capacity will be major factors in the rising demand for information systems specialists.

Career choices for students in this curriculum include computer programmer, systems analyst, information systems specialist, information technology specialist, network administrator and database administrator.

The NCCC Approach

The Computer Information Systems program is designed to provide students with the first two years of a baccalaureate Computer Information Systems program. Programs to which students may transfer include Computer Information Systems, Information Technology, Management Information Systems and other computer-related disciplines.

Students will have access to the College’s modern computer facilities which include a personal computer for each student to use during class. Computer labs are also available for students to complete work outside of class and they are located at convenient locations around the campus.

Admission

Students are admitted in September and January.

The Computer Information Systems program is offered as a full-time program, a part-time program or an online program. All required courses are offered in both a traditional classroom setting and online. Students can choose from courses offered in the classroom, online, or choose a combination of both to best suit their needs.

Dual Admissions

Buffalo State College - Computer Information Systems
Medaille College - Computer Information Systems
State University of New York at Buffalo - Management Information Systems

Program Goals and Objectives

• To prepare students for transfer into a computer related curriculum (Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Information Systems, Computer Information Science or Management Information Systems) at a four-year institution.
• To assist students in meeting seven of ten SUNY General Education Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of all required courses, students will be able to:

• Identify computer security risks and the safeguards associated with them.
• Design and create a spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel that includes formulas, functions, and charts.
• Design and create a relational database using Microsoft Access that includes reports and queries.
• Describe computer hardware that is currently being used; the operations of computer components (including bus and memory) in the context of the instruction and execution cycle; how I/O modules interact with rest of the computer, and basic networking concepts.
• Design and implement an algorithm to solve a problem.
• Design, implement, test and debug a program that uses each of the following fundamental programming constructs: Basic computation, simple I/O, standard conditional and iterative structures, and the definition of functions.
• Design, implement, test, and debug programs in an object-oriented programming language.
• Demonstrate the ability to use technology to perform statistical analysis in descriptive and inferential statistics.