Computer Science: Information Technology

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Bachelor’s degree programs in computer science encompass two distinct emphases: an information systems (or business) emphasis and a technical emphasis. While either emphasis will prepare a student for a computing career, there are important differences in the context of the work to be performed, the types of problems to be solved, and the types of systems to be designed and managed. For both emphases, starting positions include such titles as programmer, programmer-analyst, and network analyst.

The information technology (or business) track focuses on the use of computer technology and information management methods to solve business problems. This requires an understanding of both the organizational context of the problem and the technologies, methodologies, and tools available in a variety of business applications. Be sure to see a computer science adviser to select the appropriate emphasis for you.

Baccalaureate schools may have multiple computing degree programs, often located in different departments, which build on the recommendations for the computer science information systems emphasis. In addition to being found in departments named computer science, an information systems major may be located in a computer information systems department or in a variety of departments within a college of business.

Some schools may not require all of the courses listed below. Consult the baccalaureate schools you are considering and an adviser to select the appropriate courses for you. The following list of courses are designed for students choosing to begin their college career at Joliet Junior College and later transfer to another Illinois college.

Illinois Articulation Initiative Recommendations

Joliet Junior College participates in the IAI majors panels for the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science degrees to help students transfer major courses to an Illinois college or university that participates in IAI. Transferability of major courses is still dependent upon the transfer institution accepting the courses as major courses. An updated list of courses is available at www.itransfer.org/iai/majors and www.itransfer.org/iai/articulationTables. Students should also check the transferability of courses through u.select (formerly known as CAS), which can be found at www.itransfer.org/uselect. Always consult the four-year college or university to which you plan to transfer and work with a counselor or an adviser at JJC. Note that students do not graduate with a transfer major from a community college but rather the community college prepares students to have the flexibility to transfer and to choose a major from a number of different areas. Students must be responsible to seek information to make good curriculum choices. Students should recognize that, even though they may be admitted to a four-year transfer institution, they may need to meet that institution’s separate requirements to be admitted into a particular major.

Information Technology Requirements: 8-12 Semester Hours

It is strongly recommended that students take both CIS courses at the same school before transferring. It is also important that both classes be in the same language. Students may want to consult their choice of senior institution for requirements on language used in these courses as students will need to demonstrate mastery of the language used by the senior institution.

Information Technology Core Requirements

CIS 136 - PASCAL Programming
or
CIS 236 - Programming in C
or
CIS 261 - Java Programming
CIS 227 - Advanced PASCAL with Data Structures
or
CIS 246 - Advanced C Using C++
MATH 137 - Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
MATH 137 may be used to fulfill the General Education Requirements for Mathematics, however, then it cannot also be counted as a major course in the degree.

IAI General Education Recommendations: 38-41 Semester Hours

I. Communication: 9 Semester Hours

II. Social and Behavioral Sciences: 9 Semester Hours

Select courses from at least two different areas from IAI Social/Behavioral Sciences. ECON 103 and ECON 104 are strongly recommended.

III. Humanities and Fine Arts: 9 Semester Hours

Select one course from IAI Humanities and one course from IAI Fine Arts and one course from either IAI Humanities or Fine Arts.

IV. Physical and Life Sciences: 7-9 Semester Hours

Select one course from IAI Physical Sciences. Selecting PHYS 201 gives the student the option of changing to the technical emphasis. Select one course from IAI Life Sciences. Select at least one laboratory course.