Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Computer and Related Technology

A. Identify current trends and developments in technology.

B. Apply the traditional definition of a computer system to newer, non-traditional computer configurations.

C. Describe the ever-increasing importance of the Internet to all types of societal infrastructures.

D. Discuss how the digital revolution and digital convergence are forever changing the way citizens work and live.

II. Computer Hardware and Software

A. Identify and describe the various hardware components of a computer system.

B. Explain the concept of digitization.

C. Propose new applications for emerging hardware.

D. Categorize and describe various types of application software and their licensing options.

E. Identify the functionality of various types of system software, including operating systems and utilities.

III. Computer Networks

A. Articulate the advantages and disadvantages of a computer network.

B. Identify and define basic network hardware.

C. Compare and contrast wired and wireless networks.

D. Explain how IP addresses and domain names work.

IV. World Wide Web

A. Identify and describe the basic elements that make up the World Wide Web.

B. Identify and analyze features and functions of web browsers and their extensions, evaluating the productivity potential of each.

C. Describe how to search the Web for trustworthy information.

D. Explain the difference between the World Wide Web and the Internet, as well as the services each offers.

E. Define e-commerce and explain how the Web is used for commercial transactions.

V. Web-based Applications

A. Differentiate between past and current generations of web-based applications.

B. Discuss the social and technological developments that advance web-based applications.

C. Describe and compare several of today's most prevalent types of web-based applications.

D. Use and evaluate several of today's most prevalent types of web-based applications.

E. Demonstrate how to manage social media for professional success.

1.  Identify common features of social networking applications.

2.  Extend social media functionality with applications.

3.  Discuss privacy issues related to social networking applications.

4.  Explain how businesses use social networking to enhance customer relations.

5.  Plan for or create professional social media accounts and profiles.

F. Create a new web-based application using existing cloud-based data.

G. Hypothesize about the functionality that may be provided by the next generation of web-based applications.

VI. Computer and Data Security

A. Identify and describe the many factors that may damage data, software, or computer hardware

B. Identify ways to protect data and computers.

C. Recommend an appropriate balance between data privacy and national security for all citizens.

VII. Ethical Use of Technology

A. Explain personal ethical standards regarding legality, common good, and personal well-being.

B. Explain professional ethical standards owed to customers, co-workers and employers.

C. Describe the ethical standards citizens should hold their governments accountable for, including keeping each person safe and minimizing the socioeconomic digital divide.

VIII. Word Processing Application Software

A. Format document text, including paragraphs, alignment, spacing, tabbing, and indents.

B. Enhance document text using bullets, numbering, borders, shading, and hyperlinks.

IX. Presentation Application Software

A. Create slides and incorporate design themes.

B. Utilize various methods of adding text.

C. Insert, modify, rearrange, merge, edit and duplicate shapes.

D. Align and group multiple objects.

E. Utilize slide footers.

X. Spreadsheet Application Software

A. Create a spreadsheet with appropriate data.

B. Use formulas and functions to enhance data analysis.

C. Format a spreadsheet.

D. Create, format and edit charts using spreadsheet data.

XI. Database Application Software

A. Create databases, tables and primary keys.

B. Create relationships between tables.

C. Enter and edit data.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Software Development Careers and Software Applications

A. Describe different types of careers available to software developers.

B. Identify real-world applications that are based upon computer programs.

II. Data Representation

A. Convert characters to and from ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) code.

B. Convert among binary, decimal and hexadecimal numbers.

C. Identify the representation of a zero and one as electrical voltages in volatile memory.

III. Problem-Solving Techniques for Software Development

A. Represent problems and solutions.

1. Use flowcharts to represent logical flow

2. Use pseudo-code to represent algorithms

3. Use hierarchy charts to represent relationships among modules

B. Implement top-down design by breaking a larger problem into smaller, more manageable units.

C. Explain the software development life cycle.

D. Use elementary strategies to test solutions.

E. Trace program flow manually.

IV. Fundamental Statements and Processes

A. Create variables by assigning values.

B. Differentiate among data types.

C. Build expressions with arithmetic, relational and logical operators.

D. Implement one-way, two-way and multi-way if statements.

E. Simplify logic using De Morgan’s Law.

F. Use while and for loops.

G. Process user input.

H. Generate user output.

I. Create and manipulate lists.

J. Create and manipulate dictionaries.

V. Functions

A. Call built-in and user-defined functions.

B. Pass parameters.

C. Process returned values.

D. Write functions.

VI. Object-Oriented Programming

A. Identify advantages of object-oriented techniques.

B. Utilize built-in objects and methods.

C. Create elementary user-defined classes.

1. Create and utilize constructors to initialize instance variables

2. Create and call methods

D. Instantiate objects from classes.

VII. Event-driven Programming

A. List different types of event triggers.

B. Use built-in classes to capture events.

C. Write event handlers to process events.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Information Systems Today

A. Describe the primary roles that information systems play in organizations.

B. Provide examples of how businesses, nonprofits and governments depend on information systems.

C. Provide examples of how information technology departments depend on information systems.

D. Discuss the increasing obligation of all employees to harness the power of information systems and minimize risk.

E. Identify several research areas in the discipline of management information systems (MIS).

II. Information Systems Components

A. Describe the main components of an information system and the role that each plays.

B. Distinguish between data, information and knowledge.

C. Describe the business value of information.

III. The Role of Information Systems in Globalization

A. Describe how enterprise information systems empower organizations to expand globally.

B. Explain the role the World Wide Web plays in globalization.

C. Illustrate the role business intelligence plays in data-driven decision making about global customers.

D. Describe how collaborative technologies enable global, virtual teams.

E. Describe an organization’s ethical concerns, privacy issues and security complications introduced by globalization.

IV. Information Systems as Competitive Advantage

A. Identify Porter’s five competitive forces that shape industry competition.

B. Explain the effect of disruptive innovations, government policies and complementary products/services on the competitive forces.

C. Describe the value chain and where it offers opportunities for strategic information systems.

D. Distinguish between the business use of information systems for competitive advantage and competitive necessity.

V. Information Systems Infrastructure Components

A. Identify and describe the various hardware components of a computer system.

B. Identify and cite examples of the two major types of software.

C. Describe how software is created.

D. Describe the major types of networks and the transmission media they use.

E. Give examples of network protocols.

F. Explain the importance of enterprise architecture.

G. Describe how enterprise architecture has evolved over time.

VI. Databases and Data Warehouses

A. Explain the nature of information resources in terms of structure and quality.

B. Discuss how metadata can be used to describe these resources.

C. Compare file processing systems to databases and explain the database’s advantages.

D. Describe how a relational database is planned, accessed and managed.

E. Describe how the normalization process works.

F. Explain why multiple databases emerge and how master data management addresses the challenge of integration.

G. Describe how a data warehouse is created.

H. Explain the challenges and value of big data.

I. Explain how the human element and ownership issues affect information management.

VII. E-Commerce and M-Commerce

A. Explain how an organization identifies its desired Web strategy.

B. Provide examples of different website information architectures, including the importance of usability and accessibility.

C. List the prevalent software tools used for Web development.

D. Differentiate between e-commerce and m-commerce by explaining how each work.

E. Explain the various ways organizations market their websites.

F. Discuss how the Web continues to evolve by incorporating emerging technologies.

VIII. Collaborative Business Technologies

A. Describe prevalent collaborative technologies and the features that each offers for communications and productivity.

B. Describe Web 2.0 technologies that facilitate collaboration.

C. Explain how unified communications contribute to collaboration.

D. Recognize the features of online environments that can affect human behavior and group dynamics.

E. Identify strategies to make virtual teams more productive and successful.

IX. Business Intelligence

A. Define business intelligence.

B. Describe the three levels of decision-making that business intelligence supports.

C. Identify the major sources of business intelligence and provide examples of their usefulness.

D. Explain several approaches to data mining and analytics that improve data-driven decision making.

E. Explain why Web analytics is valuable for understanding customers.

F. Describe how business intelligence is visualized through dashboards, portals and mashups.

G. Explain the role that the human element plays in business intelligence initiatives.

X. Enterprise Information Systems

A. Explain the role that financial and asset management information systems play in an organization.

B. Discuss the importance of financial reporting and the increasing burden of compliance.

C. Define human capital management and identify its major components.

D. Describe several metrics used to quantify aspects of human capital.

E. Define supply chain management.

F. Describe the metrics, technologies and information systems that support supply chain processes.

G. Define customer relationship management and its role in an organization.

H. Describe the metrics and information systems that support customer relationship management.

I. Explain the importance of enterprise resource planning systems.

J. Describe how enterprise resource planning systems are created, integrated and implemented.

XI. Development and Acquisition of Information Systems

A. Illustrate the seven phases of the systems development life cycle.

B. Describe three major software development strategies.

C. Explain why organizations choose one software development strategy over another for particular projects.

D. Explain how organizations decide whether to build or buy an information system.

E. List the steps used to buy an information system.

F. Identify several ways in which the human element is important for systems development and procurement.

XII. Information Systems Security

A. Describe information privacy and strategies to protect it.

B. Explain how organizations identify threats and assess vulnerabilities.

C. Discuss how organizations develop administrative and technical controls to mitigate risks.

D. Explain why human behavior is often the weakest link for security and provide strategies for counteracting this weakness.

XIII. Information Systems Ethics

A. Define ethics.

B. Describe ethical frameworks.

C. Explain the relationship between ethics and the law.

D. Explain how intellectual property and plagiarism challenge information ethics.

E. Describe technologies that control access to digital content.

F. Explain why human behavior is often the weakest link for ethics and privacy, and provide strategies for counteracting this weakness.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Computer Systems

A. Describe systems hardware and peripherals.

B. Define operating systems, development and applications software.

C. Outline memory management, disk management and device management.

II. UNIX History, Features and Components

A. Report on the history, versions and standards.

B. List and describe software components.

1. Describe the kernel.

2. Compare and contrast various shell flavors.

3. Describe commands, utilities and applications.

C. Describe UNIX Features.

1. Define portability and device independence.

2. Define multitasking.

3. Define multiuser.

4. Explain the concept of programmable shells.

5. Explain built-in security.

D. Explain the file system.

1. Describe the hierarchical directory structure.

2. Describe file attributes.

3. Describe path names.

III. UNIX Access and Commands

A. Access the system.

1. Log in to UNIX.

2. Change passwords.

3. Log out of UNIX.

B. Employ special shell and file characters.

C. Utilize UNIX commands.

1. Manage files and directories.

2. Manage processes.

3. Manage devices.

4. Implement multitasking.

5. Create and modify data and script files with the “vi” editor.

6. Run UNIX utilities.

IV. UNIX Shell Scripts

A. Employ control structures.

B. Implement stream input and output.

C. Manage, automate and schedule processes.

D. Develop scripts for networking.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Introduction to Mobile Applications
   A. Discuss the landscape of mobile applications including the major
companies involved, the hardware/software used, and statistics related to
mobile application market share and prevalence.
   B. Describe the unique functionality presented by mobile devices.
   C. List the steps involved in installing and configuring a mobile
application development environment.
   D. Open and explore a mobile application development environment.

II. Interface Design and Development
   A. Discuss the design challenges for small and varied screen sizes.
   B. Discuss optimal screen design including usability considerations.
   C. Create screen layouts that include menus, textboxes, buttons, and
images.
   D. Configure screen layouts to account for differing mobile devices.

III.  Code Development
   A. Discuss and implement coding standards.
   B. Write code using common coding constructs such as variables,
selection statements, loops, arrays or lists, and objects.
   C. Create applications that process user input to perform simple
tasks.
   D. Create applications built upon a common application programming
interface.
   E. Run and debug applications using a device emulator.

IV. Data Storage and Retrieval
   A. Create applications that store and retrieve data from a text file.
   B. Create applications that query and update databases.

V. Network Connectivity
   A. Create applications that connect to the Internet.
   B. Create applications that retrieve and process Internet data.

VI. Application Deployment
   A. Transfer a completed application to a mobile device.
   B. Test the application on the mobile device.
   C. List the steps in global application deployment.
   D. Discuss the challenges and potential cost in global application
deployment.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. The Java Programming Environment
   A. Install the Java compiler and tools.
   B. Navigate the Java directories.
   C. Compile and run Java programs.
   D. Use editors to create graphical applications.

II. Advanced Applications with Java Class Libraries
   A. Build applications using trees.
   B. Employ tables in applications.
   C. Create programs using progress monitors, sliders and tool bars.
   D. Create shapes and drawings.
   E.  Manipulate images.
   F.  Utilize advanced printing techniques.
   G. Program data transfer between applications with the
clipboard.
   H. Program data transfer with drag and drop.
   I. Create user interaction through menus, buttons and acceleration
keys.

III. Data Structures
   A. Program for data using vectors and bit sets.
   B. Employ hash tables, linked lists and stacks.

IV. Exceptions and Debugging
   A. Catch errors and throw exceptions.
   B. Use a debugger.

V. Input and Output Streams
   A. Create programs using file objects, reader objects and writer
objects.
   B. Create programs using file dialogs.
   C. Open, read, edit and update files.

VI. Multithreading
   A. Describe and use thread properties, priorities and groups.
   B. Program thread synchronization.
   C. Create programs with animation using threads.

VII. Networking
   A. Connect to and implement servers.
   B. Send data to and retrieve data from a remote site.
   C. Describe Web security.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Fundamental Concepts and Project Planning

A. Describe the systems analyst role and responsibilities.

B. Explain the system development life cycle.

C. Illustrate the importance of feasibility analysis and how they are conducted.

D. Select appropriate project methodologies.

E. Articulate project management concepts.

II. Systems Analysis Tools and Techniques

A. Employ requirement elicitation techniques for different types of requirements.

B. Create use cases to document current and future system needs.

C. Create process models including Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) and Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERD).

III. System Design Tools and Techniques

A. Describe the components of architecture design.

B. Create a hardware and software specification.

C. Explain the process of user interface design.

D. Convert logical process models into physical models.

E. Compose program specifications.

IV. System Implementation

A. Classify the types of testing and when to use them.

B. Explain documentation and training needed for a project.

C. Select appropriate conversion strategies.

D. Conduct post-implementation activities.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Database Fundamentals
  A. Discuss the history of databases.
  B. Use information related to basic database concepts.
  C. Design and implement relations.
  D. Utilize keys.
  E. Discuss and utilize null values.
  F. Discuss and utilize functional dependencies and normalization.
  G. Create logical designs.
  H. Generate the Data Definition Language (DDL).
  I. Create physical tables from the DDL.

II. SQL Application to Practical Problems
  A. Discuss SQL concepts.
  B. Write SQL.
  C. Analyze SQL result sets.
  D. Analyze table properties.

III. Table Manipulation 
  A. Write code to connect to database tables.
  B. Write code to process database tables.
  C. Create triggers.
  D. Create stored procedures.

IV. DBA Issues
  A. Discuss concurrency.
  B. Discuss security.
  C. Discuss backup and recovery.
  D. Discuss locking and deadlocks.
  E. Discuss transactions.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Project Plan Development
   A. Determine technologies to be used.
   B. Interview business partners to determine system requirements.
   C. Develop an informal project timeline.
   D. Finalize an initial plan.

II. Project Implementation
   A. Create initial prototype.
   B. Demonstrate a working prototype to the class.
   C. Participate in code reviews of other teams’ code.
   D. Create detailed test plans.
   E. Execute test plans.
   F. Demonstrate prototype to business partners for feedback.
   G. Finalize all code.

III. Job Search and Interview Skills
   A. Tour the Career Development Center.
   B. Complete a resume.
   C. Participate in mock interviews.

IV. Communication Skills
   A. Write a research paper and present results.
   B. Present periodic project updates.
   C. Deliver a formal, final presentation to students, JCCC staff, business partners, local businesses and other interested parties.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Company or Organization Description
   A. Describe the mission and goals.
   B. Provide a general outline of the organizational structure and where the student fits into that structure.
   C. Identify and describe the products and services.
   D. Identify and describe the products and services with which the student was directly involved during the internship.

II. Work Activities Description
   A. Document activities and accomplishments.
   B. Submit periodic, reflective reports.

III. Classroom Experience and Related Knowledge
   A. Apply technical skills learned in coursework.
   B. Apply problem-solving and analysis skills.
   C. Obtain and apply new knowledge and skills.
   D. Complete non-trivial tasks.

IV. Workplace Skills
   A. Follow written and oral instructions.
   B. Demonstrate effective written and oral communication.
   C. Demonstrate interpersonal skills appropriate to a business environment.
   D. Participate in meetings and teams as assigned.
   E. Manage time and resources effectively.
   F. Follow the employer’s rules, regulations and policies.
   G. Demonstrate appropriate workplace ethics.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. The Web Development Framework 
  A. Discuss client-server architecture and interaction.
  B. Discuss core programming language and database features.
  C. Discuss and utilize an Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

II. Web Applications 
  A. Utilize Web forms and controls.
  B. Handle exceptions.
  C. Implement state management.
  D. Utilize markup languages.

III. Enhanced Web Applications 
  A. Perform validation.
  B. Demonstrate use of advanced controls.
  C. Enhance page design.
  D. Implement navigation.

IV. Data Integration
  A. Utilize core language support.
  B. Bind data to controls.
  C. Use data controls.
  D. Manipulate files, streams and tables.

V. Advanced Web-Enabled Database Concepts
  A. Discuss security fundamentals.
  B. Implement caching techniques.
  C. Discuss performance issues.
  D. Discuss deployment of Web applications.

Content Outline and Competencies:

Because of the nature of a Special Topics course, the course content outline and competencies will vary, depending on the special topic being offered. In order to maintain course consistency, rigor and uniqueness, each section of this course first must be reviewed and approved by the Computer Information Systems (CIS) faculty prior to its being offered. The  CIS Faculty, the program Chair and the Division Dean will review each Special Topics course to be offered, and approve the course content. The CIS Department will also determine when and if the course may be taught.