Computer Information Systems Advising Handbook, 2012-2013 Page 12

Computer Information Systems Advising Handbook, 2012-2013 Page 12

Cal Poly Pomona

Computer Information Systems Dept.

Student Handbook

2012 - 2013

http://www.cba.csupomona.edu/cis/

(909) 869-3235

Building 164-1022
Table of Contents

Topic Page Number

Welcome from the Chair 3

Career Opportunities in CIS 3

Computer Needs 4

Course Requirements 4-6

Ethical Issues 6

Academic Standards 6-8

‘Two Strikes’ Policy

Academic Holds

Repairing Your GPA

Academic Advising 8

Staff Advisor

Internship Advisor

CIS Student Organizations 8-9

MISSA, SWIFT, FAST

General Information 9-10

Course Prerequisites

Computer Labs

Email Accounts

Study Assistance

CIS Core Courses Flow Chart 11

Minor Overview 12

Welcome

Welcome to the Computer Information Systems (CIS) department at Cal Poly, Pomona. CIS is an option for the degree of business administration. The CIS department participates in several graduate degrees including the MBA program and a specialized Master’s Degree in Information Systems Auditing (MSBA).
The CIS program gives students a broad business foundation with a deep specialization in information technology. Consequently, our students are highly recruited by industry and have great earning potential. The CIS program has a ‘learn-by-doing’ approach to teaching where students participate in technology-based projects through service-learning, internships, and a mandatory group senior project with industry.
When asked about our graduates, it is often said that they ‘hit-the-ground running’, ‘have a can-do attitude’, ‘are great team leaders’ and ‘are not afraid to work’.

Carlos Navarrete, Ph.D.

Department Chair, CIS

Career Opportunities in CIS

A CIS degree can lead to unlimited career opportunities. Cal Poly Pomona’s combination of leading-edge technology and hands-on work experience makes our graduates an extremely valuable resource. Our top students may expect multiple offers, often from such companies as Hewlett Packard, Accenture, Intel, IBM, and consulting organizations such as KPMG, Deloitte, E&Y and PwC.

One reason for our success is our advanced classes in Application Software Development, Business Systems Analysis, Web Design, Information Assurance, or Telecommunications and Networking.

A second reason is our internship program. Students are encouraged to get work experience in the computer field while studying towards a CIS degree. Internships often lead to career opportunities, whether directly, through a job offer, or indirectly, through the networking opportunities that come from being in the ‘real world’.

A third reason is our required Systems Development Project class (CIS 466). Designed to be taken near the end of a student’s coursework, CIS 466 allows students to gain real-world experience by working on real projects with industry clients. The student teams manage all aspects of their chosen project, from the analysis and design stage, all the way through implementation.

Computer Needs

It is not really possible to get through the CIS curriculum without a computer. Lab space is extremely limited. In addition, solving programming problems seems to require lots of late night and weekend work. The CIS Department is a PC based program. We currently recommend that the student who wants a computer that will ‘last’ have at minimum 4GB of RAM and a hard drive of at least 100 gigabytes. In addition, an Internet connection will be needed, as much of the software used in the courses is downloaded from the Internet.

The California State University has a system-wide contract with Microsoft. Many Microsoft products are available to students, either free or at a discounted price. The Bronco Bookstore has more information on the program. They can be reached at (909) 869-3280. We also list on our department website additional information about the Microsoft Academic Alliance Program at http://cba.csupomona.edu/cis/

Laptops are not required in the CIS program. They can be useful, especially in programming classes or as you move into the more group-project oriented tracks.

Course Requirements for CIS Majors

CIS Core

The CIS core is a linked series of courses designed to introduce students to the different aspects of the CIS field. Starting with Object-Oriented Programming, and ending with the real world Systems Development Project, the core gives CIS students a thorough grounding in Information Systems. A grade of ‘C’ or better is required in each of these courses. Those students who fail to earn a ‘C’ or better letter grade on the second attempt of enrolling in a core course will be required to change majors. See the CIS Core Flow Chart in the Appendix for more details.

Advanced CIS Electives

The advanced CIS elective classes give students a chance to explore a specialized field of CIS. All students are required to take four courses or 16 units of advanced CIS electives.

Business Core

The Business Core is a general business education, shared by all in the College of Business Administration. These courses not only give you skills for managing a business, but also help you learn more about the needs of other areas. (It’s much easier to design an accounting system when you know what accounting is!)

General Education

All students at Cal Poly Pomona must take 68 units of GE, at least 12 of which must be taken at Cal Poly Pomona. This coursework is designed to help students become more informed citizens of a diverse world. Students have the choice of taking courses through the regular GE program, or, if they qualify, through the Interdisciplinary General Education program (IGE). IGE is a thematically linked series of courses that take approximately eight quarters to complete. Students who transfer with GE Certification will receive credit for lower-division GE coursework, but must still complete their upper-division GE here at Cal Poly Pomona.

Electives

Elective units (up to 8 units) are only required when:

·  The Microcomputer Proficiency Test has been passed instead of taking CIS101

·  A support class is used for GE purposes

Course Requirements for CIS Minors

Two minors are offered, one is Business Computer Programming and the other is Managerial Computing. The Business Computer Programming minor provides non-CIS students with the opportunity to acquire programming expertise in the area of business applications program development. The purpose of this minor is (1) to develop marketable skills for people with majors/options other than Computer Information Systems, (2) for those students majoring in technical fields that involve the use of the computer, and (3) for those students who wish to gain a much better understanding of the computer for personal use.

The Managerial Computing minor provides non-CIS students with the opportunity to acquire expertise in object-oriented analysis and programming concepts as they are applied in the World Wide Web application development. The purpose of the minor is (1) to develop marketable skills for people with majors/options other than Computer Information Systems and (2) to give students a much better understanding of World Wide Web application development.

See Minor Overview in the Appendix for more details.

Ethical Issues

Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism is taking another’s words, ideas, diagrams, or graphics, whether partially or completely, without giving credit to the creator. Examples of plagiarism may include:

·  Taking another’s ideas and representing them as your own

·  Using another person’s words in your paper, including paraphrasing

·  Copying and using another person’s images or computer code

·  Copying and using software that is registered to another person

·  Using programming code written by someone else

These are all plagiarism even if the other person has given or sold you the material!

Plagiarism is wrong for many reasons. First of all, it is stealing, by violating the other person’s copyright. Second of all, it is unethical. The person who did the original work worked hard, and you should do the same. Third, plagiarism defeats the purpose of education. When you are just regurgitating someone else’s ideas, then you are not doing any learning. Being caught plagiarizing can earn you an ‘F’ in a course, or even get you expelled from the University. There are many books and websites that can explain just what is and isn’t plagiarism. When in doubt, check first!

Cheating, whether on exams or class assignments, is also wrong. An incidence of cheating will result in a grade of ‘F’ for the assignment and potentially for the class. Further incidences may result in expulsion from the University.

Hacking

Hacking, or breaking into the computer systems of others, is unethical and illegal behavior. It is not tolerated at Cal Poly Pomona. Students are subject to University discipline, up to and including expulsion from the University.

Academic Standards

Students in the CIS program are expected to be self-starters and to work hard. While the average college course requires two hours of work out of class for every hour in class, CIS courses may require double to triple that amount of work. In fact, students taking the introductory programming course, CIS 234, are recommended to set aside at least 15 hours per week if they wish to succeed.

As a quarter system school, Cal Poly courses move quickly. Students who get behind will find it difficult to catch up. If you are having difficulties, you should seek help and speak with one of the CIS advisors immediately.

“Two Strikes Policy”

The CIS Department requires that all students master the CIS core before moving on to their track classes. Mastery is defined as earning a grade of ‘C’ or better in EACH of the following: CIS 231,234, 304, 305, 307, 311, and 315. In addition, students who fail to achieve a grade of ‘C’ or better in any of those classes within two attempts, will no longer be allowed to take CIS courses, and will be required to seek another major. Under this policy, a grade of ‘W’ (official withdrawal) does not count as an attempt, but a grade of ‘WU’ (unofficial withdrawal) does.

Academic Holds

While there are many potential reasons that a ‘hold’ may be placed on a student’s record, there are four that must be dealt with through departmental academic advising. For information on other holds, see the listing for ‘holds’ under the General Information section of this handbook or check with an advisor.

·  Failure to pass a CIS Core Class (Strike Hold)

·  Low GPA Standing (GPA > 1.99 and < 2.2)

In order to warn students who are at risk of falling into academic probation, Cal Poly Pomona requires that all students whose GPA falls within this range receive academic advising every quarter.

·  Academic Probation (GPA < 2.0)

Students whose GPA is less than 2.0 are at extreme risk of disqualification. These students should see an advisor as soon as possible to guide them into getting back into good standing.

·  Academic Disqualification

Academic disqualification means that your GPA is so low that you have been expelled from the University, and are no longer able to take classes. The GPA that triggers disqualification is a sliding scale, based upon the number of units taken. Please see the information on Probation and Disqualification in the University Catalog.

Repairing Your GPA

If your GPA is falling, or if you are having trouble in your classes, the first thing to do is check with an advisor. There are several ways to boost your GPA, but you must first acknowledge the problem and ask for help. Some solutions are:

·  Repeat a failed course as soon as possible, preferably in the following quarter.

·  Use repeat course units (up to 16) to delete bad grades from your GPA.

·  Improve your study and time management skills.

·  Look carefully at your schedule. Full-time work and full-time schooling usually do not mix. Cut back on one or the other.

·  Look into using CIS Internship credit (up to 16 units) to improve your overall/Cal Poly GPA. (Does not affect major GPA)

·  Take a balanced course load. A mixture of CIS, Business, and GE will be most successful.

·  Take fewer classes at a time until you are able to raise (and maintain) your GPA at a level of 2.2 or above.

Academic Advising

Academic Advising serves many purposes. Seeing an advisor can help you:

1.  Stay on track with your coursework

2.  Get referrals to other departments or services

3.  Get assistance with petitions

4.  Get advice on GE or other requirements

5.  Stay up-to-date with changes in the major

6.  Keep your grades up

7.  Career Planning

8.  Internship advice

9.  Getting a job!

The College of Business Administration has a Student Success Center located on the first floor of building 164, room 1060 that can answer most advising questions.

If you have CIS specific questions, we have a faculty advisor and the department chair available to assist you. In addition, full-time faculty may also act as career advisors.

CIS Advisor: Professor Anna Carlin

In general, you should start your advising quest at the CBA Student Success Center and then here. She can be reached at (909) 869-3238 or at

CIS Student Organizations

The CIS Department has four active student clubs. These are open to students of all majors, and are an excellent source for friendship, networking, workshops, projects, and especially FUN! Activities for all clubs include meetings, workshops, speakers, and community activity. In addition, the clubs work together on ‘inter-club’ activities throughout the year. Most activities are held from Fall through Spring quarters. Active participation in clubs, especially service on a committee or executive board, can be excellent resume material.

Management Information System Student Association (MISSA)

MISSA is one of the largest clubs on the Cal Poly campus. MISSA was formed to benefit students by exposing them to IT professionals, computing workshops, and social gatherings. The club is best known for its Information Technology Competition, held each Spring. The competition allows students, both from Cal Poly and from other universities, to compete in four areas of information technology: Systems Analysis, Java Programming, Network Control, Security and Forensics, and Web Development.

Students With an Interest in the Future of Telecommunications (SWIFT)

SWIFT fosters student interest in telecommunications. Some of the ways in which SWIFT achieves this objective include: inviting speakers to Cal Poly to discuss the latest technologies, industry practices, and career trends; organizing field trips; assisting in campus telecommunications events such as the annual Wireless Telecommunications Symposium; holding "hands-on" workshops on such topics as building a wireless LAN, building a computer, and using the latest network operating systems; and hosting social events, such as a frag night.