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The Certificate in Information Technology

Course Requirements for the Certificate: 23-24 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this certificate.

Applicants must qualify for admission to the program, and the program is not open to students majoring or minoring in Management Information Systems. Please consult with the chair of the Department of Business Information Systems for admissions criteria.

A grade point average of 2.5 must be earned for courses required for the certificate, with at least a "C" earned in each course.

Foundation Courses: 2 units

2 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
BSIS 101 Windows, Word Processing, and Presentation Software   1.0 INQ  
This course presents an overview of the Windows operating environment and a more in-depth look at Microsoft Word. In addition, Microsoft PowerPoint software is introduced. 1 hour discussion. Credit/no credit grading. (005811)
BSIS 102 Spreadsheets and Graphics   1.0 INQ  
This course covers the development of complex spreadsheets, including the preparation of charts and graphs, using Microsoft Excel. 1 hour discussion. Credit/no credit grading. (005812)

Certificate Core Courses: 18 units

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
BSIS 105 Introduction to Computers in Business   3.0 FS  
This course provides students with an introduction to what a business is and how one operates. The focus is on the global context of business. The course ensures that all freshmen possess introductory basic business survival skills such as computer literacy, information research competence, written, oral and electronic presentation skills, and team building skills. 3 hours lecture. (020421)
CSCI 101 Introduction to Computer Science   3.0 FS  
Students who have had limited experience with computers should take CSCI 101 before CSCI 111. CSCI 101 provides an overview of the fundamentals of computer science. Number systems and data representation are introduced. An overview of hardware, including the control unit, memory, the ALU, and I/O is provided. Software is introduced with an overview of operating systems, programming languages, applications, and software tools. Students are exposed to common operating systems and applications. Student also design and implement several programs. 2 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. (002280)

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
CSCI 111 Programming and Algorithms I   4.0 FS  
Prerequisite: MATH 109, MATH 119 (or high school equivalent), or MATH 120; or a passing score on the Math department administered calculus readiness exam.
A first-semester programming course, providing an overview of computer systems and an introduction to problem solving and software design using procedural object-oriented programming languages. Coverage includes the software life cycle, as well as algorithms and their role in software design. Students are expected to design, implement, and test a number of programs. 3 hours lecture, 2 hours activity. (002281)
MINS 325 Business Programming   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: BSIS 301 or MINS 301.
Introduction to the basic problem- solving skills needed to create and maintain business-oriented software. This course provides an overview of business information systems, their use in business contexts, and object-oriented design of applications. Coverage includes a survey of basic data structures and the standard algorithms used to manipulate and work with them. Students are expected to build and test a number of programs using an integrated development environment. 3 hours lecture. (005819)

4 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
BSIS 301 Enterprise Technology Integration   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: MINS 235 (may be taken concurrently).
This course introduces students to the concept of information systems as the application of technical resources to support organizational processes. Given this foundation, students build an integrative, process-oriented understanding of information systems and their deployment, management, and use within distributed and global organizations. Projects focus on introductory enterprise systems, client-server database systems management, corporate data networking, and advanced Web programming. For this course students are expected to have demonstrated proficiency in the use of microcomputers and office automation software, including word processing, spreadsheets, and desktop databases. A proficiency exam is given during the first week of each semester, and students are encouraged to take this exam in advance of the semester they intend to enroll in the class. 3 hours lecture. (001331)
MINS 235 Database Design   3.0 FS  
Study of fundamental database design principles and techniques, including data modeling with Entity-Relationship diagrams and normalization. Study of SQL (Structured Query Language) database management systems capabilities. Study of the relational data model and relational operations. Study of database security mechanisms. Introduction to PL/SQL. Application of concepts and techniques to practical business scenarios. 3 hours lecture. (005814)
MINS 346 Data Communications and Networking   3.0 FS  
An introduction to data communications and local area networks. This course provides a background in standards and protocols used in communications and their functions within a business information system environment. The class combines lectures, writing assignments, group work, and class discussion to develop a fundamental knowledge of data communications and its importance to the business information systems environment. 3 hours lecture. (021457)
MINS 350 Business Systems Analysis   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: MINS 235, BCOM 300W (for BSIS majors, may be taken concurrently).
An in-depth examination of tools, techniques, and processes used to support the systems analysis portion of the systems development life cycle. Emphasis is given to requirements gathering, gap-fit analysis, development of the business case for systems development projects, as well as tools and techniques that plan, identify, model and communicate conceptual systems to both end users and programmers. Both case studies and real projects are used to develop hands-on experience with conducting business analysis studies from object, data, and process perspectives. 3 hours lecture. (005818)

Elective Courses: 3 units

1 course selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
BSIS 496W Strategic Issues for Information Systems Professionals (W)   3.0 FS  W
Prerequisites: Graduating senior standing, completion of all courses in upper-division core.
Concurrent enrollment in or prior completion of all other courses in upper-division core. A senior seminar with an emphasis on strategy and management of adoption, implementation, and use of information systems in business. An integrative course serving to organize the information learned from earlier information systems and business school courses. The class combines lectures, directed structured and semi-structured readings, case analysis, writing assignments, group work, and class discussion to provide an understanding of key and current information systems topics. Legal, ethical, environmental, and cultural issues related to selection and use of systems are addressed. 3 hours lecture. This is an approved Writing Course. (001335)
BSIS 444 Systems Project Management   3.0 FS  
Prerequisites: BSIS 301 or MINS 301.
Application of Project Management (PM) concepts and tools to systems projects. Students work in teams and apply PM concepts to projects and actual problems in organizations. 3 hours lecture. You may take this course more than once for a maximum of 6.0 units. (001334)
MINS 335 Database Application Development   3.0 FS  
Prerequisite: MINS 235.
Study of database application development concepts and techniques. Advanced data modeling and SQL for complex business applications. Stored procedures and database triggers. Application of concepts and techniques to practical business information processing environments. Development of a fully integrated database application. Study of Web database interface capabilities. 3 hours lecture. (005821)
Catalog Cycle:20