Overview
Northampton's Computer Information Technology program prepares you for employment upon graduation. The first year of the program is designed to provide a strong foundation in basic PC applications, operating systems and client-side scripting. You can then choose from several options for specialization, depending upon your area of interest.
The associate's degree in Computer Information Technology may be completed in two years of full-time study with day and evening classes, or in three or four years of part-time study. If you wish, you can also complete multiple specializations. For example a student can complete both the networking and security options. Doing so will add an additional one year of full time study. In this example, a student will finish with two associate's degrees. The program also offers a specialized diploma for those students who may already have college degrees but are now seeking to retrain for the Information Technology workforce.
Narrative
The Application Development option provides the educational foundation you need to build proficiency with computer equipment, operating systems, productivity software, and programming languages, as well as skills necessary for web development such as client-side and server-side scripting and web server administration. The first year of the program is designed to provide a strong foundation in basic PC applications, operating systems and client-side scripting. In the second year you will learn additional languages, server-side scripting, web server administration and database systems. In addition, the second year of study includes object-oriented programming and development of Windows applications.
Completion of this program prepares you for entry-level web developer, programmer and database programmer positions. Depending on your plans and available time, you can complete this program in two years of full-time study with day and evening classes, or in three or four years of part-time study.
Career Potential: Entry Level Programmer, Entry Level Database Programmer, Software Developer, Web Developer, Web Administrator
Courses
First Semester
| CISC100 | Computer Technology I | 4 credits |
| CMTH102 | Speech Communication | 3 credits |
| ENGL101 | English I | 3 credits |
MATH
| Mathematics Elective (QL) + | 3 credits |
| General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Second Semester
| CISC104 | Microcomputer Applications | 4 credits |
| CISC105 | Desktop Operating Systems | 4 credits |
| CISC128 | Client-side Scripting | 4 credits |
| | |
| ENGL151L | English II | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| ENGL151R | English II | 3 credits |
| OR | |
| ENGL151T | English II | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Third Semester
| BUSA221G | Business Communications | 3 credits |
| CISC158 | Server-side Scripting | 4 credits |
| CISC270 | Data Base Systems | 4 credits |
| CISC278 | Web Server Administration | 4 credits |
| General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Fourth Semester
| CISC208 | Mobile Development | 4 credits |
| CISC150 | Object-oriented Programming | 4 credits |
| General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Total Credit Hours: 63
* Students have a choice of ENGL151L (Literature option), ENGL151R (Report Writing) or ENGL151T (Technical Writing). Contact your advisor for guidance.
+ Mathematics Elective options: MATH140, MATH145, MATH150, MATH160, MATH165, MATH175, MATH176, MATH180, MATH181, MATH202, MATH210, MATH211
- For the General Education Electives, students must take three courses from at least two of the following areas: Arts & Humanities (AH); Social Science: Society and Institutions over Time (SIT) or Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior (SSHB).
- One course should be designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
- Completion of BUSA221G satisfies the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement.