COURSE OVERVIEW
The Core Curriculum
The Core Curriculum of King's College is designed for all students, regardless of major.
Central to all undergraduate degrees at King's, it lays the foundation for a liberal education that will be reinforced in the major program.
Core courses provide a common educational experience.
Core courses are broadly based so that fundamental human issues and problems can be approached from diverse viewpoints represented by a variety of disciplines.
This emphasis on breadth offers students the opportunity to become familiar with different methodologies and to see the unity of knowledge rather than viewing it as unrelated pieces of information.
The required Core courses are divided into nine categories, several of which mandate sequencing of courses, thus providing greater depth than would be possible in many general education programs.
The Core focuses in a deliberate and systematic manner on the skills of liberal learning: Critical Thinking, Effective Writing, Effective Oral Communication, Library and Information Literacy, Computer Competence, Creative Thinking and Problem Solving, Quantitative Reasoning, and Moral Reasoning.
Core courses initiate the college-level development of these skills, which are further refined in courses required in major programs.
B.S. in C.I.S. Curriculum
Mr. John Rakowski, Director
There is hardly any area of endeavor that has not in some way been affected by the computer.
One can say we are living in the age of the computer.
No other technical development or human concept has brought such rapid change and is having such profound and far-reaching effects on our everyday lives.
The computer has also had a significant effect on the manner in which businesses function.
The computer is involved in literally all aspects of a business enterprise, ranging from accounting and marketing functions to controlling production processes and distribution of goods.
Today's businesses would not be able to function competitively without the information provided by the computer.
The information function is a fundamental resource of a business organization.
Information systems principles are as basic to the operation of current and future business organizations as economic and other business principles were in the past.
The CIS curriculum is primarily concerned with the application of the systems development life cycle to business-oriented, computer-based information systems.
As such, its subject matter involves the study of systems analysis, systems design, database management, and computer programming, along with other technical and business study areas pertinent to the development and implementation of information systems in a variety of operational and administrative settings.
Graduates of the CIS program will be prepared for career opportunities in programming and systems analysis and design which often lead to careers in database administration, telecommunications, and managerial positions.
Basically, the systems analyst works closely with users of the computer and formulates logical statements of business problems, decides what data is needed, designs a system to solve the problems, and selects packaged software when appropriate.
The programmer is involved in the planning, writing and testing of computer instructions which will solve the processing problem.
The CIS curriculum promotes the value of technical/business competency for entry-level success and for career growth and development.
The major sequence requirements are listed below.
Each semester's schedule, to be selected with the advice of a departmental adviser, will consist of five courses; the major sequence, selected Minor/elective sequence courses, and Core selections.
Junior and senior CIS majors may participate in an approved CIS internship for which credit will be granted.
A CIS major or minor must attain a minimum C grade in all required CIS courses.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
(20 courses - 60 credits)
ACCT 110 Basic Principles of Accounting I (3)
ACCT 120 Basic Principles of Accounting II (3)
CIS 111 Microcomputer Principles I (3)
CIS 112 Microcomputer Principles II (3)
CIS 116 Visual BASIC Programming I (3)
CIS 241 Visual BASIC Programming II (3)
CIS 244 Structured Programming (3)
CIS 351 Systems Analysis, Design, and Implementation I (3)
CIS 352 Systems Analysis, Design, and Implementation II (3)
CIS 355 Advanced Microcomputer Systems (3)
CIS 356 Database Management Systems (3)
CIS 385 Telecommunications (3)
CIS 470 Object Oriented Programming (3)
CIS 472 Project Management (3)
MATH 122 Calculus II (3)
One of the following:
CIS 471 Applied Software Development Project (3)
CIS 499 Internship (3)
One of the following:
ECON 221 Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics I (3)
MATH 126 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (3)
Nine (9) credits of department approved electives*
*CIS Majors have the opportunity to earn a Minor in selected disciplines by carefully planning and successfully completing the Minor requirements of departments within the School of Business as well as the College of Arts and Sciences.
It is strongly recommended that the student majoring in CIS consult with his or her Academic Advisor regarding the selection of these electives.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
CIS 111 Microcomputer Principles I (3)
An introduction to computers and information systems concepts. Topics include microcomputer applications software dealing with spreadsheets, word-processing, database management systems, multimedia, and telecommunications.
CIS 112 Microcomputer Principles II (3)
A continuation of the concepts and techniques dealing with computers and information systems concepts. Topics include integrating microcomputer applications software dealing with spreadsheets, word-processing, database management systems, multimedia, and telecommunications. Prerequisites: CIS 111, CS 115 or equivalent experience.
CIS 116 Visual BASIC Programming I (3)
The Visual Basic programming language is used to develop special purpose applications in the Windows graphical user interface environment. The essential aspects of Visual Basic application building techniques are illustrated using practical problems. Topics include multiple forms, controls, event procedures, declaration procedures, functions, control arrays, and links to databases.
CIS 118 Structured Programming I (3)
Program design and development using the COBOL programming language to illustrate structured programming techniques. Topics include data organization, file processing, control structures, I/O functions, control break concepts and table handling. Prerequisites: CIS 111, CS 115 or equivalent experience.
CIS 231 Structured Programming II (3)
A continuation of program design and structured programming techniques using the COBOL programming language. Topics include table handling, multiple dimensional arrays, indexed files, random access and file update and maintenance logic. Prerequisite: CIS 118 or equivalent experience.
CIS 234 Visual Basic Programming (3)
The Visual Basic programming language is used to develop special purpose applications in the Windows graphical user interface environment. The essential aspects of Visual Basic application building techniques are illustrated using practical business problems. Topics include multiple forms, controls, event procedures, declaration procedures, functions, control arrays, links to databases and file management issues. Prerequisites: CIS 231, CS 131 or equivalent experience.
CIS 241 Visual BASIC Programming II (3)
A continuation of Visual Basic application programming techniques. Topics include building ActiveX controls, creating classes and ActiveX DLLs, using ActiveX documents to create Web applications, creating VB macros for Microsoft Office applications and using collections, windows common controls and the Application Programming Interface Viewer. Prerequisite: CIS 116 or equivalent experience.
CIS 244 Structured Programming (3)
Program design and development using the COBOL programming language to illustrate structured programming techniques. Topics include data organization, file processing, control structures, I/O functions, control break concepts, table handling, multiple dimensional arrays, indexed files, random access and file update and maintenance logic. Prerequisite: Appropriate programming course.
CIS 351 Systems Analysis, Design, and Implementation I (3)
An introduction to the "top down" process of systems analysis based upon the four life-cycle phases of information systems. Emphasis is on introducing information systems development, the analysis of information requirements and starting the systems design phase. Prerequisites: CIS 112 and CIS 231 or CIS 112, 116, and 241 or equivalent experience.
CIS 352 Systems Analysis, Design and Implementation II (3)
A continuation of CIS 351, completing the design phase and continuing with the implementation phase and systems administration. Current systems design techniques are utilized in this course. Prerequisite: CIS 351 or equivalent experience.
CIS 355 Advanced Microcomputer Systems (3)
A hands-on approach to learning and using integrated software packages on the microcomputer. Emphasis is on effective user interfacing as well as microcomputer systems. Prerequisites: CIS 112 and CIS 231 or CIS 112, 116, and 241.
CIS 356 Database Management Systems (3)
A study of the necessary management, file, and data structures within the context of the design, implementation and use of a database management system. Topics include administration of data resource and program development in creating, maintaining, and accessing a database. Students will use current microcomputer application software within the database management system environment. Prerequisites: CIS 116, CIS 118 or CS 131.
CIS 385 Telecommunications (3)
An introduction to teleprocessing and communications networks. Topics include categories of transmission systems and communications lines, modes or transmission, network structures, and hardware/software considerations. Prerequisite: CIS 241 or CIS 244 or permission of chairperson.
CIS 470 Object Oriented Programming (3)
An introduction to OOP concepts and design using C++ programming language. Topics include I/O streams, classes, objects, inheritance, function and operator overloading, rules of scope, memory allocation, references, and class libraries. Prerequisite: CIS 241 or CIS 244.
CIS 471 Applied Software Development Project (3)
A practicum in systems development utilizing real projects that require the application of systems analysis, systems design, programming, and business and information systems concepts and practices. Open to senior CIS Majors only.
CIS 472 Project Management (3)
An introduction to the management of information systems in the modern business environment. The course focuses on the definition, development, and use of appropriate information systems for contemporary business needs. Systems components, organizational concepts, and management control issues are examined as they apply to operational, tactical and strategic decisions within the firm. Open to senior CIS majors only.
CIS 490 Special Topics (3)
This course is a forum for a variety of current topics within the information systems discipline. Students will be expected to supplement the traditional classroom work with additional research material in order to become familiar with the selected topic. Topics, selected by the CIS department, reflect changing contemporary methodologies, technologies, and research techniques that are not currently covered in other courses. Permission of the department chairperson is required.
CIS 497 Independent Study in Computers and Information Systems (3)
Advanced projects in a specialized area of Computers and Information Systems under the supervision of a CIS faculty member. Senior status required; open to juniors with permission of department chairperson.
CIS 499 CIS Internship (3)
Independent work-related experiential learning activity based on procedures established by the Center for Experiential Learning. Prerequisite: Junior status or permission of Department Chairperson.
ACCT 110 Basic Principles of Accounting I (3)
A survey of the basic principles, concepts and procedures used in financial accounting as applied to service and trading business. Topics include: the accounting cycle, financial statements, voucher system, receivables, payables, inventory control, plant, property and equipment, methods of internal control.
ACCT 120 Basic Principles of Accounting II (3)
A continuation of ACCT 110. Topics include: partnerships, corporations, managerial accounting, taxation, budgeting, investments, profit measurement and business performance. Prerequisite: ACCT 110.
MATH 122 Calculus II (3)
Topics include graphing techniques, antiderivatives; the definite integral; area between curves; derivatives and integrals involving exponential and logarithmic functions; growth and decay problems. Business applications emphasized. Prerequisite: MATH 121 or equivalent.
MATH 126 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis (3)
Basic methods of data analysis. Topics include measures of central tendency and dispersion; confidence intervals, the normal distribution; hypothesis testing; non-parametric methods. Closed to non-freshman mathematics majors as well as students who have taken or who are currently taking ECON 221, PSYC 331, or SOCS 261.
ECON 221 Quantitative Methods for Business and Economics I (3)
An introduction to statistical and mathematical methods used in business fields and economics. Topics include basic statistical concepts, sampling, probability, basic statistical distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, and introduction to regression analysis.