Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, Software Development Concentration
Select appropriate courses according to the chosen minor. Approved minors are listed in the catalog’s description of the major below.
Coursework must include at least 30 credit hours earned at 300-level or above, of which 12 credit hours must be in the major.
See 4-year major guides for recommended order in which to take courses.
https://www.lander.edu/academics/registrars-office/major-guides.html
General Education Requirements
(For approved courses see General Education: www.lander.edu/gen-ed.)
| Core Academic Skills |
9 |
| ENGL 101: Writing and Inquiry I |
3 |
| ENGL 102: Writing and Inquiry II |
3 |
Mathematics: Choose one of the following:
MATH 121, MATH 123, MATH 141 |
3-4 |
|
|
| Humanities and Fine Arts |
6 |
| (6 hours selected from 2 different disciplines) |
|
|
|
| Behavioral and Social Perspectives |
6 |
| (6 hours selected from 2 different disciplines) |
|
| If you already have credit for HIST 111, do not take HIST 111R; if you already have credit for HIST 112, do not take HIST 112R; if you already have credit for POLS 101, do not take POLS 101R. |
|
|
|
| Scientific and Mathematical Reasoning |
7 |
MATH 212: Statistical Methods II
Or
MATH 142: Calculus II |
3-4 |
| PHYS 203: Electronics |
4 |
|
|
| Founding Documents of the United States |
3 |
HIST 111R: United States History to 1877
Or
HIST 112R: United States History since 1877
Or
POLS 101R: American National Government
|
|
| If you already have credit for HIST 111, do not take HIST 111R; if you already have credit for HIST 112, do not take HIST 112R; if you already have credit for POLS 101, do not take POLS 101R. |
|
|
|
| World Cultures |
3 |
|
|
| LINK 101: Leadership, Involvement, Networking and Knowledge |
1 |
| TOTAL GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS |
35 |
If all of the General Education requirements are met and/or waived, and the credit hours do not add up to at least 30, the General Education requirements are not complete. If below 30, additional General Education courses from any category must be taken until the total hours add up to at least 30 hours.
Major Program Requirements
Major Program Core Requirements
| CIS 120 | Fund of Inform Systms & Techn | 3 |
| CIS 130 | Problem Solv/Program Methods | 0-4 |
| CIS 230 | Computer Programming Prin I | 0-4 |
| CIS 231 | Computer Programming Prin II | 0-4 |
| CIS 234 | Intr to C/C++ Programming | 1 |
| CIS 240 | Introduction to Data Comm | 3 |
| CIS 320 | Information Systems/Practice | 3 |
| CIS 321 | Analysis and Design | 3 |
| CIS 335 | Cmptr Organiz & Architecture | 3 |
| CIS 360 | Database Design | 3 |
| CIS 499 | Project Implementation & Mgmt | 3 |
Major Program Concentration Requirements
| CIS 102 | Application Software | 3 |
| Or | |
| Successful completion of exemption exam | 0-3 |
| Or | |
| CIS 202 | Computer Appl for Engineers | 3 |
| | |
| CIS 250 | Introduction to E-Commerce | 3 |
| CIS 330 | Sftw Dvlpmt: Fundmntls&Technqs | 3 |
| CIS 498 | Design and Implementation | 3 |
Major Program Additional Requirements
And one of the following (3-4 hours)
Total Credit Hours: 52-56
Additional Electives (29-33 hours)
(Including required minor)
Up to 9 credit hours may need to be 300-level or above.
The remaining hours may be at any level.
Browse entire course list here.
Total Credit Hours: 120
Computer information systems are prominent in the modern world. The Computer Information Systems (CIS) major allows students to develop the knowledge and skills required to understand these systems and participate in their creation and maintenance.
The computer information systems major at Lander has three components: core courses, a concentration within CIS, and a minor outside CIS. The core requirements form the basis of the program by providing the fundamentals necessary for advanced study. The concentration allows a student to develop a specialization within computer information systems. The minor provides a domain where CIS can be put into practice.
The curriculum and courses are designed and updated to accomplish the following program goals. All students graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems will demonstrate:
- the skills needed to solve CIS problems;
- effective oral and written communications skills;
- the ability to independently research and complete a CIS project; and
- an understanding of the legal and ethical issues they may encounter as CIS professionals.
The CIS core includes courses in problem-solving and programming skills (CIS 130, CIS 230, CIS 231, CIS 234), productivity tools, (CIS 102), information management (CIS 120, CIS 320), data communications (CIS 240), computer organization (CIS 335), analysis and design (CIS 321), and database design (CIS 360). It also includes the senior level capstone experience (CIS 499).
Students can choose a concentration in software development, in networking, or in computer engineering. The software development concentration requires advanced courses in emerging environments and software development. The networking concentration covers data communications and computer networking in depth.
The computer engineering concentration is part of Lander’s dual-degree program with Clemson University. Students in the computer information systems/computer engineering dual-degree program must complete specific mathematics and science courses at Lander in order to meet the program requirements of Clemson University. Students completing this program will be awarded both a BS in computer information systems from Lander University with a minor in mathematics, and a BS in computer engineering from Clemson University.
The computer information systems major requires that each student complete a minor. This minor provides competency in a secondary area where CIS can be applied. Students may choose from a number of minors, as indicated in the following table. Other minors (or a second major) offered across campus are eligible for consideration as well. The mathematics minor is suggested for students interested in pursuing graduate studies and is required for students in the computer engineering concentration.
|
Minor
|
Software Development
|
Networking
|
Dual Degree
|
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Mathematics
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
|
Business Administration
|
X
|
X
|
|
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Healthcare Management
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
Sociology
|
X
|
X
|
|
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Psychology
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
Political Science
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
Music
|
X
|
|
|
|
Cybersecurity
|
X
|
X
|
|
|
Data Science
|
X
|
X
|
|
In order to complete a computer information systems degree program in a timely fashion, students should complete the problem solving and programming skills sequence (CIS 130, CIS 230, CIS 231), along with CIS 102 and CIS 120, by the end of their third or fourth semester.
A grade of “C” or better is required in all computer information systems courses applied to the major, with the following exception: a grade of “D” will be allowed in at most one CIS course at the 300- or 400-level. Courses in oral and/or written communication skills (SPCH 101 and COM 275) are strongly encouraged.
All students pursuing a degree in computer information systems are required to participate in program assessment activities and an exit interview with the computer information systems faculty during their final year at Lander University.
The program requirements for the CIS major and the dual-degree program are articulated on the individual program worksheets. A successful graduate in the computer information systems major will have competency in the following areas:
- Information System Principles. This includes systems theory and concepts, information systems in organizations, decision support systems, and evaluation of systems performance.
- Programming Principles. This includes problem solving, algorithm development, and application programming using structured and object-oriented approaches that stress abstraction, programming style, two or more high-level languages, and various software development environments.
- Data Organization and Management. This includes data and file structures, access methods, algorithm design and analysis, and relational database organization and design.
- Computer Organization. This includes logical organization of computers, levels of abstraction, machine and assembly languages, data representation and addressing, and memory management.
- Data Communications and Networking. This includes networking and telecommunications concepts and standards, distributed computing, networked information technologies, protocols, and e-commerce.
- System Development Methodology. This includes requirements specifications, analysis, design, implementation, and testing. Also, software tools, system prototyping, robustness of systems, documentation, efficiency, ethics, human computer interaction, and software development in a team environment.
- Information Systems Applications. Each student will have demonstrated competency in an approved application area through completion of a minor or second major in that area.