Program Requirements
Typical Program
Degree/Certificate: Associate in Science
HEGIS Code: 5101
SUNY Code: 0532
Major Code: COMP
The Career
Computer Science is a tremendously rich and broad field, but ultimately is about employing the computational power of computers to solve problems. Computer Science requires the ability to program (or, “write software”) but is so much more than just programming. Your career will require the ability to work both independently and in teams, to communicate effectively with co-workers and customers, to research solutions to unsolved problems. You will rely on theoretical knowledge, intuition, creativity, and plain hard work. Computer scientists work on applications ranging from business to medical to national defense and homeland security, to scientific exploration, and more. In fact, the entertainment field drives many of the most cutting edge advances in the design of computer hardware and processing algorithms. Can a machine be taught to be make good decisions - for example, can a car drive itself safely in rush hour traffic? Such research falls within the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Can computers learn to recognize faces, even when the face is partially obscured, turned slightly, or changed due to age? Neural computing, utilizing processing techniques motivated by the anatomy of the human brain, is used to attack complex problems such as these; problems which are nearly unsolvable using traditional techniques. The list of specialties that fall within the field of Computer Science are too extensive to enumerate here, but these few serve to highlight how dynamic, challenging, and rewarding this field can be.
The Computer Science field has a consistent and growing demand for graduates who earn their associate degree and transfer to a four-year college to complete their baccalaureate degree requirements. Based upon data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, eight of the 30 fastest-growing careers are in computer science or computer science-related fields. Career choices include systems architect, systems software developer, applications programmer, computer engineer, operations research analyst, system/security administrator and database administrator.
The NCCC Approach
The Computer Science program is intended to prepare students for transfer to a four-year college or university. Our dual admissions and articulation agreements ensures that our graduates can successfully transfer and complete graduation requirements for a Baccalaureate Degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Mathematics or Information Systems.
Students will have access to the college’s modern computer facilities which includes the use of a personal computer for each student to use during class. Computer labs are also available for students to complete work outside of class and are located at convenient locations around the campus.
Admission
Students admitted in fall, spring and summer.
Because of the sequencing of courses, it may take more than four semesters of full-time study if a student begins this program in a spring semester.
Dual Admissions
Medaille College
SUNY at Buffalo
SUNY College at Brockport
SUNY College at Buffalo
SUNY College at Fredonia
Articulation Agreements
SUNY at Buffalo
SUNY College at Brockport
SUNY College at Buffalo
SUNY College/Empire State
SUNY College at Oneonta
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 develop in students the ability to think critically, and to develop creative and systematic approaches to problem solving
- To assist students in meeting the SUNY General Education Requirements
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of all required courses, the student is able to:
- Design, implement, test, and debug programs that employ fundamental programming constructs
- Utilize the three basic principles of object-oriented design: encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism
- Work as a team member in a problem-solving situation
- Design, analyze and understand the relationship between digital components forming the building blocks of modern digital devices
- Design and implement efficient solutions utilizing appropriate algorithms and data structures
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