CISC Majors and Minors

ANNOUNCING: New Curriculum in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences

The Department of Computer and Information Sciences is pleased to introduce its new curriculum to students and allied departments. In the last two decades, there has been a growing family of computing related disciplines that have joined the initial field of computer science. We now offer five majors and two minors within the department, plus a fast-track to a Master’s Degree for those students who want to complete a Master of Science degree in five years through the Graduate Programs in Software department.

Major in Computer Science

Computer Science is a foundation for many different computing careers. Computer scientists design and build software and create efficient solutions to real-world problems in such fields as robotics, computer architecture, software engineering, and computer networking.

Major in Information Systems

Information Systems majors design computing solutions that provide companies, non-profit organizations, and governments with the information they need to make decisions and work collaboratively. They work with the life cycle of information systems, including efficiency and reliability, meeting customers’ budgets, proper testing, and maintenance.

Major in Information Technology

Professionals in IT are involved in solving, supporting, troubleshooting and designing everything from web sites to networks, in organizations ranging from business and government to schools and health care. Technology specialists help other computer users to do their jobs without having to know how the internals of computers work.

Major in Information Security

Information security studies the problem of protecting information stored on computing systems and travelling on computer networks. The discipline has emerged from a synthesis of software engineering, network technology, sociology of computing, and the mathematics of computer science. The curriculum fulfills requirements for information security education established by the US Government. This major prepares students in the areas of computer security, network security, cryptography, and information assurance.

Major in Information and Decision Theory

This quantitative program includes introductory statistics, applied statistics, how to collect data with a purpose, how to extract information from data, how to warehouse large quantities of data, how to make business decisions based on a collection of data, and how to make optimal decisions. As such, it includes the fields of statistics, operations research, and computer science.

Fast track to a Master’s Degree

The following is a track within the Computer Science major for those students who want to complete a Master of Science degree in five years through the Graduate Programs in Software (GPS) department. After obtaining their Bachelor's degree in CISC, students can go on and complete one more year in the GPS department and obtain a Master's degree.

Two minors are offered. See catalog copy for details.

• Minor in Computer and Information Sciences
• Minor in Information and Decision Theory

This table is shown with the previous QMCS courses in the left-hand column, and corresponding new course prefixes, numbers and names in the right column.

OLD CURRICULUM Previous Course	NEW CURRICULUM New Course No. & Name
QMCS 110	CISC 110 Introduction to Information Processing
QMCS 120	CISC 120 Computers in Elementary Education
QMCS 130 and 230 (sciences & engineering)	CISC 130 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences
QMCS 130 and 230	CISC 131 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving
QMCS 200	CISC 200 Introduction to Computer Technology and Business Applications
QMCS 201	IDTH 201 (2 credits) Introductory Statistics II
QMCS 216	CISC 216 (2 credits) Quantitative Techniques in Business
QMCS 220	IDTH 220 Statistics I
QMCS 238	CISC 238 Software Design Using Business Languages
QMCS 281	CISC 230 Object-Oriented Design and Programming
QMCS 295, 296 QMCS 297, 298	CISC/IDTH 295, 296 (2 credits) CISC/IDTH 297, 298 (4 credits)
QMCS 300 and 340	CISC 340 Computer Architecture
QMCS 310	CISC 270 Web Management
QMCS 320	IDTH 320 Statistics II
QMCS 342	CISC 342 Computer Applications in Experimental Sciences
QMCS 350	CISC 231 Data Structures Using Object-Oriented Design
QMCS 360	CISC 310 Operating Systems
QMCS 370	CISC 370 Computer Networking
QMCS 380	CISC 440 Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
QMCS 410	IDTH 410 Operations Research I
QMCS 411	IDTH 411 Operations Research II
QMCS 419	CISC 419 Accounting Information Systems
QMCS 420	CISC 320 Systems Analysis and Design I
QMCS 421	CISC 321 Systems Analysis and Design II
QMCS 425	CISC 325 E-Commerce
QMCS 450	CISC 450 Database Design I
QMCS 460	CISC/IDTH 460 Senior Project
QMCS 475, 476 QMCS 477, 478	CISC/IDTH 475, 476 (2 credits) Experiential Learning CISC/IDTH 477, 478 (4 credits)
QMCS 483, 484 QMCS 485, 486	CISC/IDTH 483, 484 (2 credits) Seminar CISC/IDTH 485, 486 (4 credits)
QMCS 487, 488 QMCS 489, 490	CISC/IDTH 487, 488 (2 credits) Topics CISC/IDTH 489, 490 (4 credits)
QMCS 491, 492 QMCS 493, 494	CISC/IDTH 491, 492 (2 credits) Research CISC/IDTH 493, 494 (4 credits)
QMCS 495, 496 QMCS 497, 498	CISC/IDTH 495, 496 (2 credits) Individual Study CISC/IDTH 497, 498 (4 credits)
NEW	CISC 210 Information Security
NEW	CISC 410 Information Security Analysis
NEW	CISC 430 Information Technology Management
NEW	CISC 451 Database Design II
NEW	CISC 605 Technical Communications
NEW	CISC 610 Software Engineering
NEW	CISC 625 Software Project Management
NEW	CISC 630 Database Design
NEW	IDTH 400 Data Mining and Machine Learning

This table shows the courses in the new curriculum in the left-hand column, and corresponding previous QMCS courses in the right column.

NEW CURRICULUM New Course No. & Name	OLD CURRICULUM Previous Course
CISC 110 Introduction to Information Processing	QMCS 110
CISC 120 Computers in Elementary Education	QMCS 120
CISC 130 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving in the Sciences	QMCS 130 and 230 (sciences & engineering)
CISC 131 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving	QMCS 130 and 230
CISC 200 Introduction to Computer Technology and Business Applications	QMCS 200
CISC 210 Information Security	NEW
CISC 216 (2 credits) Quantitative Techniques in Business	QMCS 216
CISC 230 Object-Oriented Design and Programming	QMCS 281
CISC 231 Data Structures Using Object-Oriented Design	QMCS 350
CISC 238 Software Design Using Business Languages	QMCS 238
CISC 270 Web Management	QMCS 310
CISC 310 Operating Systems	QMCS 360
CISC 320 Systems Analysis and Design I	QMCS 420
CISC 321 Systems Analysis and Design II	QMCS 421
CISC 325 E-Commerce	QMCS 425
CISC 340 Computer Architecture	QMCS 300 and 340
CISC 342 Computer Applications in Experimental Sciences	QMCS 342
CISC 370 Computer Networking	QMCS 370
CISC 410 Information Security Analysis	NEW
CISC 419 Accounting Information Systems	QMCS 419
CISC 430 Information Technology Management	NEW
CISC 440 Artificial Intelligence and Robotics	QMCS 380
CISC 450 Database Design I	QMCS 450
CISC 451 Database Design II	NEW
CISC 605 Technical Communications	NEW
CISC 610 Software Engineering	NEW
CISC 625 Software Project Management	NEW
CISC 630 Database Design	NEW
CISC/IDTH 295, 296 (2 credits) CISC/IDTH 297, 298 (4 credits)	QMCS 295, 296 QMCS 297, 298
CISC/IDTH 460 Senior Project	QMCS 460
CISC/IDTH 475, 476 (2 credits) Experiential Learning CISC/IDTH 477, 478 (4 credits)	QMCS 475, 476 QMCS 477, 478
CISC/IDTH 483, 484 (2 credits) Seminar CISC/IDTH 485, 486 (4 credits)	QMCS 483, 484 QMCS 485, 486
CISC/IDTH 487, 488 (2 credits) Topics CISC/IDTH 489, 490 (4 credits)	QMCS 487, 488 QMCS 489, 490
CISC/IDTH 491, 492 (2 credits) Research CISC/IDTH 493, 494 (4 credits)	QMCS 491, 492 QMCS 493, 494
CISC/IDTH 495, 496 (2 credits) Individual Study CISC/IDTH 497, 498 (4 credits)	QMCS 495, 496 QMCS 497, 498
IDTH 201 (2 credits)	QMCS 201
IDTH 220 Statistics I	QMCS 220
IDTH 320 Statistics II	QMCS 320
IDTH 400 Data Mining and Machine Learning	NEW
IDTH 410 Operations Research I	QMCS 410
IDTH 411 Operations Research II	QMCS 411

QMCS Major from UST Catalogs prior to 2008 –
Map to new course numbers

For students graduating with the QMCS major from previous catalogs, the new course numbers for those requirements are shown in (parentheses) right behind the old course number. You are allowed to continue with this major path if you wish, or you can choose one of the new majors. However, if you choose one of the new majors, you must comply with the rules about “Catalog of Record” – stated in part, here:

Catalog of Record

The catalog of record may be a catalog that appears only online if changes occur between printed versions of the catalog. The catalog in effect at the time of matriculation is usually considered the catalog of record and

determines the student’s graduation requirements. However, a student may wish to choose a later catalog issued before being graduated to take advantage of a revision of a major, for example.

Choosing the new catalog means accepting all changes in that catalog from the former one. If there is a change in core curriculum requirements, for example, the student will be responsible for those changes or will

need to petition for a waiver. Generally speaking, the student may choose any catalog in force during the time the student is enrolled for a degree.

Students should contact the office of Academic Counseling if they wish to change their catalog of record.

This means that if there are any CORE changes for the 2008 catalog, students would also need to follow those changes if they want one of the new majors. 

A major in Quantitative Methods and Computer Science under previous catalogs required the completion of thirteen courses selected from three component areas: core requirements, courses within a selected path, and allied requirements. Students who entered under a catalog previous to the new 2008 catalog can elect to complete this major.

Those course requirements in the component areas are outlined below:

Core Requirements (seven courses):

• QMCS 220 (IDTH 220) – Statistics I

• QMCS 230 (CISC 130 or 131*)- Software Design using the Java Language (*131 preferred)

• QMCS 281 (CISC 230) - Object-Oriented Design and Programming

• QMCS 350 (CISC 231) - Data and File Structures

• plus two elective (CISC or IDTH) courses numbered 300 through 450 (Students should consult with their department advisor in choosing the most appropriate courses.)

• plus one elective (CICS or IDTH) course numbered 100 through 499

Plus a set of three courses in one of the following three paths (CS, CIS, QM)

1. COMPUTER SCIENCE (CS) A traditional computer-science path that emphasizes low-level computing fundamentals as well as high-level design issues.

• QMCS 420 (CISC 320)- System Analysis and Design I

• QMCS 450 (CISC 450)- Database Design:

plus one of the following:

• QMCS 300 ( CISC 340) - Computer Organization (formerly QMCS 240)

• QMCS 340 ( CISC 340) - Digital Electronics and Microprocessors

2. COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS (CIS) A management information systems path emphasizing high-level design issues and designer/user interaction.

•. QMCS 420 (CISC 320) - System Analysis and Design I

• QMCS 450 (CISC 450)- Database Design:

plus one of the following:

• QMCS 421 (CISC 321)- System Analysis and Design II

• QMCS 425 (CISC 325)- Information Resource Management

• QMCS 410 (IDTH 410)- Operations Research I:

plus two of the following:

• QMCS 320 (IDTH 320)- Statistics II

• QMCS 411 (IDTH 411)- Operations Research II

• QMCS 420 (CISC 320)- System Analysis and Design I

• QMCS 450 (CISC 450)- Database Design

Allied Requirements (three courses):

• MATH 128 Introduction to Discrete Mathematics:

plus one of the following:

• MATH 109 Calculus with Review II

MATH 111 Calculus for Business and Social Science

MATH 113 Calculus I:

plus one of the following:

• COMM 100 (COJO 100) Public Speaking

COMM 105 (COJO 105) Communication in the Workplace