Information Systems Technology-110103

The mission of the Information Systems Technology program is to offer students a well-rounded computer-based education that will equip them for entry-level software and networking positions or to help further their education. Students will receive supervised programming assignments, hands-on projects, training in computer hardware and operating systems, and an understanding of troubleshooting techniques. Program courses help prepare students for various industry-based certifications.

Students earning an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Information Systems Technology can choose from one of the following concentrations.

Networking

The concentration offers a core curriculum that is designed to provide the academic and technical background to prepare students for a career in network design and administration. Students have an opportunity to complete coursework and utilize hands-on experience in planning, design, implementation and maintenance of networks of different sizes. In addition to networking skills, this concentration includes coursework in security, operating systems, and servers in combination with other technology courses. Certifications applicable to this concentration may include CompTIA Network+, A+ and Cisco CCNA, among others.

Software

The Software concentration offers a curriculum that is designed to provide the technical background to prepare students for careers as programmers or software engineers and allows students the flexibility to choose from various course options aligned with their career direction. Emphasis is placed on object-oriented programming languages such as C++, C#, Java, Visual Basic or Python, the design and implementation of classes and objects, and the process of developing and maintaining software. The curriculum is designed to enable students to develop strong critical thinking skills and to learn by practice in a hands-on lab environment, along with real world internship experience. Career opportunities include applications programmer, product representative, maintenance programmer, programmer specialist, database programmer, programmer/analyst, web programmer, mobile applications developer, software developer and applications specialist.

Cloud Computing

The Cloud Computing concentration focuses on the fundamentals of building IT infrastructure on a cloud platform, cloud services management for building, deploying, and maintaining various cloud models, techniques for developing applications to take advantage of availability, security, performance, and scalability. Successful students will be able to optimize different services by understanding cloud-based solutions, exploring best practices for designing patterns for architecting optimal IT solutions on the cloud, and supporting cloud architecture challenges such as load balancing, auto scaling, configuration management, caching, adaptive virtualization, on-demand resources provisioning, and access control. Certifications applicable to this concentration may include AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner.

Cybersecurity Operations

This concentration provides students with the skills needed to manage an organization’s network security needs. Students will learn how to deploy offensive and defensive tactics needed to appropriately respond to cyber breaches. Successful completion of coursework will allow for students to earn in-demand certifications.

CIP Code: 110103
Program Type: Associate of Applied Science
Program Length: 60-62 Semester Credits

Program Learning Outcomes

• 2017-2018 (PDF)
• 2018-2019 (PDF)
• 2019-2020 (PDF)
• 2020-2021 (PDF)

*The A.A.S. in Computer Systems-Software and the A.A.S. in Computer Systems-Networking were repackaged into one A.A.S. Information Systems Technology program in 2017-2018. There was a teach-out period for the former degrees that attributed uncharacteristic completion percentages until the transition was concluded.