Computer Information Systems

Computer Information Systems

A.A.S. Degree

Computer Information Systems

The computer helps people do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. Behind the scenes of every organization are dedicated men and women who develop computer systems to perform needed functions. The CIS program will prepare you for a career in many areas of the computer field including network support, computer programming, database design, web site design or user support.

The CIS program features coursework in several programming languages, systems analysis, network design, database design, and software applications. Additional business classes provide the necessary background in how computers are used in the workplace.

Computer information processing is among the fastest growing fields in business, industry, government, and education. The number of entry-level positions available in this field continues to exceed the number of qualified persons to fill them.

Careers on Career Coach

Graduates have been placed in many firms including Borg-Warner Automotive, The CBORD Group, Inc., Cornell Federal Credit Union, Cornell University, Enlyten, Inc., Ithaca College, Marietta Corporation, Monarch Machine Tool Inc., Pall Trinity Micro Corporation, Precision Filters, Inc., Thomas Associates Architects, Engineers, PC, and Tompkins Cortland Community College.

Select a career below to connect to Career Coach and find information about that career including median salary and job postings.

Explore more career options: A.A.S.

Program Chair

Ken Whitener

Associate Professor, Computer Science

Read more

Transfer Options

Although the computer information systems A.A.S. degree is not designed primarily for transfer, graduates have continued their educations at four-year institutions. Recent transfer institutions include:

  • University at Albany
  • Binghamton University
  • SUNY College at Cortland
  • SUNY Polytechnic Institute
  • Ithaca College
  • Rochester Institute of Technology

 

Degree Requirements

A.A.S.
Minimum Credits for Graduation: 62 credits

Fall Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
BUAD106, Foundations of Business, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CAPS121, Introduction to Spreadsheets, 1 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CAPS123, Advanced Spreadsheets, 1 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CAPS152, Web Page Design, 1 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL100, Academic Writing I, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Choose one from the courses listed below:
Minimum credits required: 3
CIS108, Introduction to Computer Information Systems Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CSCI160, Computer Science I Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

SUNY GEN ED Social Sciences Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ANTH201, Introduction to Anthropology, 3 cr.
ANTH202, Cultural Anthropology, 3 cr.
ANTH220, Applied Anthropology in a Globalizing World, 3 cr.
ANTH260, Culture Survey for Study Abroad, 3 cr.
ANTH295, Global Seminar, 3 cr.
COMM101, Mass Media, 3 cr.
ECON101, Introduction to Economics, 3 cr.
ECON120, Principles of Microeconomics, 3 cr.
ECON121, Principles of Macroeconomics, 3 cr.
ENVS107, Economy, Society & Environment, 3 cr.
ENVS108, Environmental Psychology, 3 cr.
ENVS110, Food Systems I: Introduction to the U.S. Food System, 3 cr.
ENVS295, Global Seminar, 3 cr.
GEOG120, World Regional Geography, 3 cr.
HSTY260, Topics in Modern Latin America, 3 cr.
HUMS206, Juvenile Delinquency, 3 cr.
IED260, Culture Survey for Study Abroad, 3 cr.
POSC103, American National Government, 3 cr.
POSC104, American State and Local Government, 3 cr.
POSC107, Economy, Society & Environment, 3 cr.
POSC260, Topics in Modern Latin America, 3 cr.
PSYC101, Psychology of Personal Growth, 3 cr.
PSYC103, Introduction to Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC108, Environmental Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC201, Social Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC205, Childhood Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC207, Adolescent Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC208, Adult Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC209, Abnormal Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC218, Educational Psychology, 3 cr.
PSYC263, Development Across the Lifespan, 3 cr.
SOCE121, Intro to Gender & Sexuality Studies, 3 cr.
SOCE201, Human Sexuality, 3 cr.
SOCE205, Organizational Behavior, 3 cr.
SOCI101, Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr.
SOCI201, Sociology of the Family, 3 cr.
SOCI203, Sociology of Race, Power, and Privilege, 3 cr.
SOCI205, Contemporary Social Problems, 3 cr.
SOCI206, Juvenile Delinquency, 3 cr.
SOCI207, Introduction to Criminology, 3 cr.
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Spring Term 1

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 17
CAPS131, Introduction to Databases, 1 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CAPS133, Advanced Databases, 1 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CIS132, Network Design, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CIS213, Programming in C++, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CIS214, Systems Analysis and Design, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL101, Academic Writing II, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

SUNY GEN ED Mathematics Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
The SUNY GEN ED Mathematics Elective must be MATH 120 or higher.
MATH120, College Algebra, 4 cr.
MATH122, Technical Mathematics, 3 cr.
MATH138, Precalculus Mathematics, 4 cr.
MATH200, Statistics, 3 cr.
MATH201, Calculus I, 4 cr.
MATH202, Calculus II, 4 cr.
MATH203, Calculus III, 4 cr.
MATH206, Differential Equations, 4 cr.
MATH216, Discrete Mathematics, 4 cr.
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Fall Term 2

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
CIS215, Operating Systems, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CIS220, Database Concepts, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CIS223, Programming in C++ Advanced Topics, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Choose one from the courses listed below:
Minimum credits required: 3
ENGL201, Public Speaking Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
ENGL204, Interpersonal Communication Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

SUNY GEN ED Natural Sciences Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
ASTR101, Introductory Astronomy, 3 cr.
BIOL100, Human Biology, 3 cr.
BIOL101, Principles of Biology I, 3 cr.
BIOL102, Principles of Biology II, 3 cr.
BIOL104, General Biology I, 4 cr.
BIOL105, General Biology II, 4 cr.
BIOL112, Essentials of Medical Microbiology, 3 cr.
BIOL114, Essentials of Nutrition, 3 cr.
BIOL115, Field Natural History, 3 cr.
BIOL116, Tropical Field Natural History, 4 cr.
BIOL119, Botany, 3 cr.
BIOL131, Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 cr.
BIOL132, Principles of Human Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 cr.
BIOL201, Human Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 cr.
BIOL202, Human Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 cr.
BIOL211, Ecology, 4 cr.
BIOL216, General Microbiology, 4 cr.
CHEM101, Principles of Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM102, Principles of Chemistry II, 4 cr.
CHEM107, General Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM108, General Chemistry II, 4 cr.
CHEM205, Organic Chemistry I, 4 cr.
CHEM206, Organic Chemistry II, 4 cr.
ENVS101, Introduction to Environmental Science, 3 cr.
ENVS102, Technology and the Environment, 3 cr.
ENVS116, Soil Science, 3 cr.
ENVS141, Agroecology, 3 cr.
ENVS202, Integrated Pest Management, 3 cr.
GEOL101, Introductory Geology, 3 cr.
METR101, Introductory Meteorology, 3 cr.
PHSC104, General Physics I, 4 cr.
PHSC105, General Physics II, 4 cr.
PHSC211, Physics I (Mechanics and Heat), 4 cr.
PHSC212, Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism), 4 cr.
PHSC213, Physics III (Waves, Optics and Modern Physics), 4 cr.
 Use Schedule Search for electives

Spring Term 2

Minimum Total Semester Credits: 15
BUAD203, Business Communications, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CIS227, Web Programming & Design, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CIS230, Computer Information Systems Internship, 3 cr.
 Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
Choose one from the courses listed below:
Minimum credits required: 3
CIS225, JAVA Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi
CSCI165, Computer Science II Schedule: Sp, Su, Fa, Wi

Restricted Humanities Elective

Select a minimum of 3 credits from the courses listed below:
For the Restricted Humanities Elective, select from: ART 101, ART 102, ENGL 102, ENGL 103, ENGL 200, ENGL 233, ENVS 105, MUSI 101, PHIL 101, PHIL 201, and all Foreign Language courses.
ARAB@
ART101, Art History: Ancient to Early Medieval, 3 cr.
ART102, Art History: Renaissance to Contemporary , 3 cr.
ASL101, Beginning American Sign Language I, 3 cr.
ASL102, Beginning American Sign Language II, 3 cr.
CHIN@
ENGL102, Approaches to Literature, 3 cr.
ENGL103, Report Writing, 3 cr.
ENGL200, Screenwriting, 3 cr.
ENGL233, Film Analysis, 3 cr.
ENVS105, Environmental Ethics, 3 cr.
FREN@
GERM@
ITAL@
MUSI101, Music Appreciation, 3 cr.
PHIL101, Introduction to Philosophy, 3 cr.
PHIL201, Contemporary Moral Issues, 3 cr.
RUSN@
SPAN@
 Use Schedule Search for electives


SUNY General Education & Tompkins Cortland Liberal Arts courses

Note: The @ symbol represents any course number or discipline. For example, BIOL @ means any course with a Biology course prefix. An @ alone means one course in any course discipline with any course number.

Student Showcase

  • Jennifer Knowles

    Jennifer Knowles

    Why did you choose to attend Tompkins Cortland? I was ready to make a better future for myself and my family and I had heard that TC3 was a great Community College.

    Who at TC3 has had the greatest positive impact on your experience? I have earned 3 degrees from Tompkins Cortland so I can’t just choose one person along the way. Ken Whitener encouraged me to keep trying when I wanted to quit while working on my first degree; Computer Science. I figured out that I wanted to be in the CSS and CIS area so I could work with helping others and with technology; Patty V, Chris A, and Olivia H pushed me to finish these degrees and continue with my Bachelors.

    What were your involvements on campus as a student? I was a student tutor in the library’s tutoring center joined the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, but being the mother of 4 boys did not leave a lot of spare time to participate other than providing teats for bake sales.

    How did your student/employee experience at Tompkins Cortland prepare you for what you are going on to do? As the project assistant I was a major part of setting up and supporting the lecture capture smart rooms and got a lot of experience and with new equipment, troubleshooting and teaching others how to use it.

    What is the name of your (new) employer and job title? Technology Support Generalist at CBORD, a software company in Ithaca