Computer Information Systems Degree

This course focuses on the fundamentals of telecommunications including data, voice, image, and video formats. Coverage includes the concepts, models, architectures, protocols, standards, and security for the design, implementation, and management of digital networks. Emphasis is on the IT infrastructure to serve organizational needs in a rapidly changing competitive and technological environment.

This course provides an introduction to the strategic use of information technology from a business perspective at the enterprise level. Emphasis is placed on the internal management of information systems services from the point of view of the Chief Information Officer. Alternative strategies and tactics available to management to achieve business goals are examined.

This course introduces the skills, techniques, tools and methodologies necessary to support information system analysis, design and implementation.

The major focus of this course will be the relational, dimensional and NoSQL models. Topics include relational and dimensional modeling, business intelligence, NoSQL databases and their application, SQL, application development using databases and emerging trends. Students will prepare a small application using a commercial database management system.

This course focuses on the architecture and security associated with cloud computing. Emphasis in placed on key drivers which lead to cloud computing adoption and issues associated with cloud computing governance. Additional topics will include infrastructure security, identity and access management, cloud services, data security and storage, and auditing and compliance. Prerequisites: Graduate Standing

This course examines the software development process, including the design and analysis of algorithms, programming concepts, and software development methods and tools. Current software development methodologies are introduced, with emphasis on foundational principles of software development. Topics are covered with consideration to platform-independence.

Data storage systems play a critical role in the IT Infrastructure. This course provides coverage of physical, cloud, converged, and virtual server storage technologies. Topics include storage architectures, storage networking, resource management, economics, replication, backup and recovery, and security. Virtual labs throughout the course provide additional opportunities for applied learning.

This course covers the theory and practice of software testing. Emphasis is placed on the software testing design process, planning, criteria, evaluation and testing methods. Hands-on practice developing and using test plans based on various testing techniques is included.

This course addresses the complex and unique issues related to effectively managing projects in an Information Technology context. Focus is placed on processes, teams, technology, and global project management. The course is grounded on the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) principles. Students will prepare project management deliverables based on actual problems provided within various business sectors and industries. The course provides students with an understanding of the problems inherent in managing integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, human resources, communications, risk, procurement, and stakeholders.

The subject of database management will be approached in its role as the back end of client/server technology. The focus will be relational database management with specific emphasis given to the use of relational database as an enabling technology in the area of Online Transaction Processing and Online Analytical processing. The use of SQL query language will be a second significant subject. Issues of databases including concurrency will also be covered. Prerequisite: CIS 535

This course introduces the design, best practices and engineering of data integration artifacts within the context of a data warehouse environment. Data integration design using both structured and unstructured data will be presented. Design patterns, error management, scalability, dynamic execution and deployment of data integration artifacts will be discussed and developed. A Data Mart using a Commercial Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) System will be engineered as a part of this course. Prerequisite: CIS 535

This capstone course encompasses and consolidates the concepts covered in the Computer Information Systems curriculum, with a significant project focused on the technical and professionals skills developed throughout the CIS Core and Database concentration courses. Capstone course projects will provide students with the opportunity to identify, research, develop, implement, and evaluate solutions to targeted, real-world problems. Prerequisite: CIS 605 and CIS 616 unless PD approval for concurrent enrollment.

This course is designed to teach principles of Object-Oriented (OO) programming using Java. Topics include the language syntax, OO concepts, and advanced features of the Java programming language. Topics include inheritance, polymorphisms, abstracts, exception handling, basic input and output. Students will gain an understanding of how to use good security practices in developing software.

This course introduces principles of programming for the World Wide Web (WWW) using Java technologies. The Java Spring and Spring Boot frameworks governing these principles will be examined in detail. Students will develop applications that utilize internal and external web services that call and listen for requests over the internet. Prerequisites: CIS 505 Intermediate Java Programming

This capstone course encompasses and consolidates the concepts covered in the Computer Information Systems curriculum, with a significant project focused on the technical and professionals skills developed throughout the CIS Core and Software Development concentration courses. Capstone course projects will provide students with the opportunity to identify, research, develop, implement, and evaluate solutions to targeted, real-world problems. Prerequisites: CIS 505 and CIS 530 unless PD approval for concurrent enrollment.

This course introduces complex techniques needed for profiling and exploring data. Students use programming and statistics-based inference to ask and answer insightful questions of data. Prerequisite: Recommend DSC 510 and DSC 520

Much like life, the data humans produce is infinitely variable in its structure, presentation, and scale. This course prepares students for this infinite variety of data. Students use Python, SQL, and other tools to acquire, prepare, clean, and automate dataset creation. Prerequisite: DSC 510 or equivalent and recommend DSC 530

Data scientists should be great storytellers, whether using visual, text, or other means. In this course, students explore the basic storytelling components of data science and apply them to different types of data for different types of clients and audiences. Presentation techniques, language use for different audiences, and visualization tools techniques are included. Prerequisite: Recommend DSC 630

This course covers the fundamentals of data infrastructure and how technologies fit together to form a process, or pipeline, to refine data into usable datasets. This course focuses on building a predictive modeling pipeline used by the various types of projects that are called, “big data.” Prerequisite: Recommend DSC 540

This course is designed as an overview of the investigative methods and tools associated with computer forensics. Topics include: processing crime and incident scenes, digital evidence controls, recovery of information, network forensics, data acquisition, and legal and ethical issues associated with investigations.

This course is designed as an overview of the fundamental processes associated with waging war in an electronic age. Topics include strategic planning and tactical analysis for target identification, reconnaissance, and tool selection. The intent of this course is to focus on individual, corporate and national forms of warfare.

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental components of security architecture. Topics include computer organization; hardware, software and firmware components; open and distributed systems; and protection mechanisms. Discussion also includes certification and accreditation; formal security models; and evaluation criteria. Assigned projects include designing a model secure system.

This course provides a technical study of offensive and defensive techniques for protecting cyber assets. Topics include security testing, risk mitigation techniques, and threat response. Discussion also includes penetration testing theory, techniques, and tools; networks, systems, and application vulnerability scanning; risk analysis and response; and intrusion detection and response. Emphasis is placed on identification of system vulnerabilities and threats and techniques for preventing attacks.

This course provides an opportunity for students to expand their learning by gaining new skills and experiences in the workplace. Program Director and Dean approval is required prior to enrolling in the course and any CPT activities must comply with other eligibility requirements.