Must complete 90 credits in major before taking this course.
Explore Computer & Information Systems
Organizations are increasingly reliant on technology, and require highly trained professionals to help them manage their computer and information systems. Designed for working adults, and with an emphasis on hands-on learning, Champlain's online computer information systems degree will give you an education in both the latest technologies and the interpersonal skills required in a CIS professional, preparing you for success in this in-demand field.
Build Your Career Future
Differentiate yourself with a bachelors in computer information systems that equips you with a foundation of key technical skills (including knowledge of 12+ key applications, platforms, and programming languages, listed below) and important skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and communication that you can carry through your career. You can also gain subject matter expertise through a certificate in a specialization of your choice, just work with your advisor to make sure you are on the right pathway to reach your goal. You'll emerge from the computer information systems online degree program with a well-rounded skillset including project management, software development, web development that will allow you to provide much valued business intelligence and to tackle both current and emerging information system challenges .
Fast Start Formula Career Offerings
Increasing your career mobility is at the center of everything we do. As an online bachelor's degree student, you get free access to Fast Start Formula Career Bundle for getting noticed and getting hired, taught by Jen Morris, a leading executive career coach that partners with us to support our students in their job search journeys.
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Academic Excellence and Recognition
Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community
Ranked among the best by Tech Guide for game design and computer science
Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com
What Can You Do With A Degree In Computer & Information Systems?
Computer and information technology occupations are projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030 - much faster than the average for all new occupations - as a result of an increased business focus on cloud computing, data collection and storage, and information security. The median annual salary for these occupations is $91,250.*
Graduates of Champlain's online computer information systems bachelor's degree program will be prepared to enter a variety of technical career paths across many fields and industries, including IT support, programming, application development, infrastructure architecture, and more.
*Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2020; job titles: Payscale, 2020
Top Jobs for Bachelor's in Computer & Information Systems Graduates
- Application Developer
- Systems Analyst
- IT Systems Manager
- Network Administrator
- Programmer Analyst
- Software Developer
- Systems Engineer
Program Details
Learn more about Champlain's 100% online computer information systems degree, designed for working professionals.
Champlain's online computer & information systems courses encompass the top skills needed by today's CIS professionals. Graduates of the program are required to complete the following courses.
Professional Courses (54 credits):
Technical Electives (12 credits)
General Education Courses (42 credits)
General Electives (12 credits required)
Note: Some of the courses in this program are available in 15-week terms only. Please contact your advisor for details.
Professional Courses (54 Credits):
This course provides students with an understanding of the many different devices and technologies, from historical to emerging, that are required to design and build networks. In a broad survey of concepts and terminology, students will learn about topology, communications, protocols, and security, and to diagram basic networks to specification.
From day one, students in this course are problem solving, first in terms of algorithmic design and then as early as week two via programming in the latest version of Python, using PyCharm. Students begin by writing a program to have a conversation, having strings and numbers as input, and advance, by week seven, to building a working password saver program, capable of looking up, adding (and encrypting), and storing passwords.
Students are presented with the opportunity to expand and showcase their knowledge and abilities in this 15-week course where they are expected to work independently and develop a project related to their major.
Prerequisites
In this course, students must use previously acquired and new, advanced skills in SQL (Structured Query Language) to modify an existing database to the needs of a client. Students write stored procedures and common table expressions, and learn to debug, rollback and use system stored procedures.
Prerequisites
CMIT-200
In the first of two capstone courses for the Management Information Systems (MIS) degree, students explore the role, types, and planning and development of MIS. Individual and team assignments reinforce learning of key concepts related to strategic initiatives and global trends, supply chain management, and innovative organizations and e-business initiatives.
Prerequisites
NETW-330, CMIT-310
In the second of two capstone courses for the Management Information Systems (MIS) degree, students design, plan, and develop a project that addresses a contemporary computer information system industry challenge and management problem. Students must consider people, processes and technology, including ethics and security, and present their proposals and solutions to the class and instructor.
Prerequisites
CMIT-410
This course, through guided research and hands-on learning experiences, provides students with an understanding of operating systems, including their core fundamental principles and how they work. Students are introduced to the three most popular operating systems for personal computers (Windows, OSX and Linux), and mobile operating systems, and learn about standard functions such as memory, process/thread, input/output, storage and device management.
Examines the basic principles and methodologies used in the design of both local and wide area networks. Topics include network options, analysis, component and protocol selection, performance considerations and RFP development.
Prerequisites
NETW-250 or NETW-260
This course will introduce foundation subject matter and technologies that are critical to the multidisciplinary landscape of cybersecurity.
Prerequisites
Complete CMIT-130 and CMIT-135.
This course covers the fundamentals of systems analysis while emphasizing the role of communication and other soft skills needed in IT and in business overall to be successful. The topics are useful for anyone who is involved in developing software system requirements and architectures (e.g., users, technical managers, product managers, technical leads, programmers, other software project team members, and clients).
Prerequisites
CMIT-135, CMIT-200, MGMT-260
This course is an introduction to programming using the Java programming language. Topics include programming logic, selection and repetition, array processing, classes, methods, and loops. The course introduces the student to the basic concepts of object oriented programming and exception handling. The focus is on developing high quality, working software that solves real problems.
Prerequisites
CMIT-135
Learn the basics and more in this course on Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) and SQL (Structured Query Language). Students propose a final project in the first module and then work, week-by-week, to design, create, and populate the database. Then, students learn to create queries and stored procedures.
Prerequisites
CMIT-135
From storyboard to form creation, students walk through the steps to create a basic four to five-page website to specification in this course that introduces HTML5 and CSS. Hands-on assignments reinforce skills development and best practices in design: navigation, column layout, image editing and usage, fonts and tables.
Students who want to build database-driven or interactive web sites benefit from this course which covers PHP and MySQL along with how to build sites that incorporate authentication and security. Each week hands-on assignments are used to reinforce concepts. Students advance from an introduction to PHP and basic syntax, to handling user input and manipulating arrays in web forms to queries.
Prerequisites
WEBD-125, CMIT-200
Websites have three functions - to facilitate, enable and persuade - and are only useful if they can connect people and achieve definite goals. In this course, students learn to understand the concept of usability, and the roles of interaction, users, communication and collaboration as well as how to evaluate usability, and observe and test users.
Prerequisites
WEBD-215 OR SDEV-230
Understanding financial statements and how to interpret them is important to all those working in businesses. In this course students learn the relationship among financial statements; study how to interpret this information and to apply this understanding in real-world contexts; and learn how to use financial information to help make sound management decisions.
Project Management is the formal application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project-based activities to meet organizational requirements. Project management is accomplished through the use of processes such as Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. Project managers can divide projects into these phases to provide better management control with appropriate links to the ongoing operations of the organization. Collectively, these phases, known as the project life cycle, form the foundation for the practice of project management and are guided by the Body of Knowledge from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Project schedules allow managers, team members, and stakeholders to track progress, set and manage expectations, communicate, control costs, and collaborate. Tasks and deliverables can be monitored and controlled to ensure timely delivery-and if any delays do occur, project managers can easily gauge their impact and make the necessary adjustments. Central to the schedule is a detailed understanding of the project budget, and working to control costs and manage stakeholder expectations.
Prerequisites
Take MGMT-260
This hands-on course will cover the fundamentals of current Windows server systems and network administration. Topics will include the basics of installing the operating system, adding and managing users and groups, installing and managing services, Windows security objects and permissions, disaster recovery, and migration from previous versions of the operating system.
Prerequisites
CMIT-140
A hands-on course covering key components of the Linux operating system. Through hands-on activities students will gain a working knowledge of the Linux operating system. Topics include installation and configuration of Linux, using common commands and graphical interfaces, installing common server applications, User and group account management, as well as performance monitoring and security systems.
Prerequisites
CMIT-140
Complete the two following courses:
This course introduces students to the foundational concepts needed to communicate effectively in writing for academic study and professional development. Students will also learn to read critically to evaluate an author's message. Students will be introduced to rhetorical modes and their role in the development of written communication. Students will also learn how to use revision strategies to create written communication that meets its intended purpose for its intended audience
This course builds on students' proficiency in the writing process and rhetorical modes to introduce the use of sources in written communication. Students will practice information literacy as they learn to determine information needs from sources, develop effective search strategies, and incorporate sources in written communication, legally and ethically.
Prerequisites
Complete ENGL-100
Complete the following course:
Starting with a frame of human communication as a dynamic system of interactions in which people make choices that impact their relationships, other people, and themselves, students will define theory-informed communication concepts and processes, and critically examine how they apply to everyday life across a variety of contexts. Students will reflect on how the theory, concepts and processes apply to their own lives in becoming competent communicators who are knowledgeable, skilled, and versatile.
Complete the following course:
This course draws on fundamental concepts of contemporary group communication research to help students identify and develop strategies to communicate effectively in small groups and teams for the cooperative purpose of advancing common goals. Students will draw on listening and responding strategies learned in COMM-130 Interpersonal Communication and apply them to communicating as a leader or member of a small group. They will also learn how to recognize and manage the types of conflicts that can arise in small groups. Prerequisite: COMM-130 Interpersonal Communication
Prerequisites
Complete COMM-130
Complete the following course:
Students will learn and apply critical inquiry skills to analyze persuasive communication created by others and to develop persuasive communication/arguments of their own to solve problems in professional, civic, social, and personal contexts. Specifically, students will learn to recognize fallacies in logic; apply inductive and deductive reasoning strategies to the interpretation and development of persuasive communication; evaluate the validity of sources; and develop logically sound persuasive communication. Students will explore the roles of self-awareness, empathy, and ethics in the context of critical inquiry and the development of arguments.
Prerequisites
Complete ENGL-110.
Complete one of the following, unless your program requires a specific course:
This course is an historical overview, and examination of the evolution of digital, film, and print media, and their functions. Students will identify and analyze contemporary problems of the media such as the legal, social, economic and psychological implications of their relationships with society. They also will examine the ways in which marketing and PR professionals utilize the mass media channels to reach their intended target audiences.
This course explores the complex and evolving relationship between human beings and technology. Through a multi-disciplinary approach that draws on fields such as sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history, students will examine the ways in which technology has shaped human culture, identity, and values, as well as how humans have influenced and continue to influence the development, adoption and use of technology.
Complete the following two courses:
Mathematical reasoning, when applied to everyday and professional lives, has two dimensions: logic for deterministic situations and probabilities for non-deterministic situations. This course aims to help students develop these mathematical reasoning skills.
This course introduces students to basic statistics for data literacy. With a focus on exploring real-world data, students will interpret numerical information and utilize the tools necessary to complete the entire statistical process: designing a study; gathering, organizing, and analyzing sample data; and making inferences about a population. Students will demonstrate data-driven decision-making and effective communication of numerical data.
Complete one of the following, unless your program requires a specific course:
Introduces students to the biochemistry and physiology of nutrition and exercise. Emphasis will be placed on human body systems such as musculoskeletal, digestive, respiratory and circulatory, and their relationship to nutrition and fitness. Students will also study the biochemistry of energy conversion as it relates to exercise physiology. Laboratory sessions are designed to reinforce, by a hands-on approach, the principles discussed in lecture. Course includes two laboratory hours per week.
Students learn the biology, genetics, chemistry, and physics involved in the forensic investigation of crimes. A wide range of topics are studied including DNA, entomology, fingerprinting, trace evidence, serology (blood, saliva, and semen), blood spatter, and chemical analysis of drugs, alcohol, and other compounds. Students apply their new knowledge of forensic science through the use of case studies and laboratories. This course includes two laboratory hours per week.
Students will develop the ability to apply scientific methods to understand the natural world, to identify scientific aspects of daily life, and to evaluate the quality of scientific information based on its source and the methods used for its generation.
Complete the following course:
This course will introduce students to major streams of social justice thought, including historical social justice movements, theoretical problems having to do with social equality, personal freedom, marginalization, and stigmatization, and the ways in which civic and professional communities respond to these issues.
Complete any two of the following, unless your program requires a specific course(s):
With pressure and release, a window opens and closes, recording light on a sensor. The simple action captures the instinct, judgement, and skill of the person behind the lens. This class will begin a study of the art and craft of photography. Students will develop their vision and their understanding of how to achieve it. Solid skills will be learned and many doors will be opened.
A survey of the continuing change experienced in art since the 15th century. Students will examine how an image is achieved as well as the significance of the subject represented. Individual inquiry concerning the nature of art is encouraged.
Students learn to appreciate films through the critical analysis of various elements of mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound. The course introduces the conventions of classical Hollywood cinema, considers the work of one major director (auteur), and surveys selected international and independent films. Students view and discuss films each week.
Students in the course will explore the cultural history of the music genre broadly referred to as rock. Students will explore the social, economic and political contexts that are influenced by and that influenced each style in the United States. By listening, watching, reflecting upon, discussing and writing, students will explore how music takes on meaning, personally, and culturally. Topics and themes include the relationships between and among gospel, country, funk, folk, disco, rap and hip hop; the role of business and technology in those relationships, and political or transgressive elements of rock music.
Students will apply communication theory and research to address the particular challenges to communicating effectively in organizations. Students will learn how to identify organizational communication problems, analyze those problems, and generate effective solutions. Students will examine the relationship between organizational structure and specific communicative practices, and how communication practices by organizational members establish, maintain, or change organizational culture. They will also learn how to anticipate communication deficiencies in organizations, and use communication as a means to facilitate organizational development and innovation.
Prerequisites
Complete COMM-130
Specific application of common tools for writing in the working world. Students will be instructed in rhetorical strategies of professional writing including style, report formats, editing, document design, and integration of visual aids. Students will complete a semester-long writing project; oral and written reports associated with the process of problem-solving within the project will be included.
Prerequisites
ENGL-112 or COR-125
Students will learn how to create conditions for successful conflict engagement, a necessary skill for any professional. The course focuses on the foundational capacities to remain calm and connected with oneself and others. In this state students can access helpful ideas and responses and be their best selves regardless of environment. Improving facility for conflict creates stronger relationships and reduces fear. By the end of the course, students will understand that disagreement and difference can become a source of personal and interpersonal growth.
Ethics refers to accepted standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do in various contexts, typically in relation to rights, obligations/duties, benefits to society, fairness, consequences, and virtues. In this course, students will explore both theoretical and practical dimensions of ethics in order to 1) define ethics and identify ethical positions and principles, 2) critically reflect on how ethics impacts individual and collective responsibility, decision-making, and action, and 3) apply ethics to the personal, civic, and professional contexts.
Prerequisites
ENGL-110
This course introduces students to the fundamental elements of technical writing (clear, concise, and targeted)that are common among seven forms of technical communication: email correspondence, editing,employment communication, proposals, long, formal reports,oral communication, and inventions. Through peer reviews and writing workshops, students develop the ability to write and edit text that precisely targets its audience. This course emphasizes deepening and broadening students' writing, speaking, and thinking abilities in a non-lecture-based, hands-on, discussion-centered classroom.
Prerequisites
ENGL-112 or COR-125
Complete any of the following, unless your program requires a specific course(s):
Provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamentals of substantive criminal law. Students will learn the essential elements of crimes and the rationale underlying criminal law. The nature of jurisdiction, the criminal act, the criminal state of mind and matters affecting responsibility for criminal conduct are included.
This course focuses on the rules and procedures governing how the American criminal justice system must process individuals suspected, accused, and convicted of law violations.
This course provides students with a broad overview of the history, theory, and fundamentals of criminal investigation. Students are introduced to the basic responsibilities of investigators and protocols for report writing, evidence collection, and preparation of cases for trial. They also learn specific investigative techniques for different types of crimes, such as crimes involving violence and property, terrorism, and hate crimes, and, where appropriate, compare investigative protocols from other legal cultures.
Prerequisites
Take CRIM-120, CRIM-121.
Principles of Economics introduces the fundamental concepts of economics - the study of how people manage resources, and how they react to scarcity. This course focuses on both microeconomics (the behavior of consumers and companies) and macroeconomics (large-scale economic factors such as employment and interest rates), so that you'll gain a broad understanding of how a modern market economy functions, how decisions in business settings are informed by economics, and how economics applies to your everyday life.
Students will study important themes in the social history of the United States since the Civil War. This course allows students to expand their critical thinking skills through an examination of primary and secondary sources. Themes might include: the evolving status of women; the immigrant experience; the concept of the American dream; the paradox of freedom vs. slavery; the minority experience; the tensions between social classes. Students will be evaluated primarily on writing assignments.
In this course, students will explore broad, foundational knowledge in psychology, including its history, major theorists and a survey of psychology subfields such as developmental, cognitive and social psychology. Students will also describe and assess the role of ethics and social responsibility in the study and application of psychological theory and practices.
In this class, students will explore how social relationships, groups, societies and culture develop and change over time. From a sociological theory foundation and employing the sociological imagination, students will examine the impact of social structures, institutions, and systems on individual lives. Students will apply sociological research methods to investigate sociological phenomena in their own lives.
Graduates of the computer & information systems bachelor's online program will acquire and demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:
- Administer and secure network systems to ensure a stable enterprise information system environment.
- Use scripting languages and web services to transfer data and add interactive components to web pages.
- Identify and analyze user needs, and take them into account in the selection, creation, and evaluation of computer-based systems.
- Analyze the information needs of an organization to design or improve the enterprise level information systems needed to meet organizational objectives.
- Employ project management tools and techniques to complete tasks on time and budget.
- Effectively utilize database and database management systems to organize, store and retrieve data for use by application software.
- Apply specialized area of IT knowledge to contribute to the development of a multi-functional information system.
Earn a specialized certificate in a concentration of your choice as you pursue your degree, so you can build credentials as you go. Just be sure to discuss your plan with your academic advisor so they can help get you on the right pathway to your goal.
- CSS
- HTML5
- Java Programming
- Linux Server
- MySQL
- PHP
- PyCharm
- Python
- Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS)
- SQL (Structured Query Language)
- VMware
- Windows Server
Students who have earned the CISSP Certification are eligible for transfer credits toward this degree. Please speak to an admission representative or your academic advisor for details.
Champlain College Online's computer science faculty, led by Department Chair Richard Pickering, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s IT systems professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the world of information technology, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.
Alumni of the Champlain College Online bachelor's in computer and information systems program work in corporations, small businesses, government organizations, and nonprofits nationwide, including:
- Allscripts
- Dealertrack Technologies
- Federal Judiciary
- Global Foundries
- Heritage Automotive Group
- IBM
- ICF Macro
- Keurig Dr. Pepper
- MetLife
- National Security Agency (NSA)
- Red Hat, Inc.
- SAIC
- State of Vermont
- Zutano
Titles our alumni hold include:
- Assistant IT Manager
- Case Management/Electronic Case Files Administrator
- Database Administrator
- Field Services Engineer
- IT Coordinator
- IT Specialist
- Lead IT Specialist
- Lead Systems Administrator
- Network Engineer
- Network & Information Systems Manager
- Principal Technical Support Engineer
- Staff Equipment Tech Engineer
- System Administrator
- Web Developer
Many students come to us seeking ways to get noticed at their current employers or to get hired in a new field. Given that, we are hyper focused on increasing the career mobility of our students and that's why we developed the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle, a suite of career offerings designed to help our students get noticed, get hired and land jobs they'll love.
Valued at over $1,000, the career bundle is offered to Champlain College Online students and includes:
- Fast Start Formula Course: The Fast Start Formula Course for getting noticed and getting hired is taught by Jen Morris, an executive career coach that we've developed a partnership with to support our students in their job search journeys. This course is online, self-paced and full of tips and tricks to land a job you'll love.
- Live Webinars: Log-on to ask your specific job search questions, get live “hot seat” coaching and gain valuable insights from leading career coach, Jen Morris.
- Landing A Job You'll Love Ebook: Download this ebook full of tips and tricks for standing out from the competition. From how to optimize your LinkedIn profile, to insider information on how recruiters work and bypassing the automated application websites, you’ll be sure to learn how to rise to the top.
Upon enrollment in a degree or certificate, your access to the Fast Start Formula Career Bundle will made available to you.
Tuition & Costs
Online Undergraduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25
*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits
** Starts Summer 2024, not retroactive
See the undergraduate cost of attendance and fees here
Meet the Program Director
Richard Pickering, PhD
- Computer Science
- Software Development
- Software Engineering & Project Management
- Web Design & Development
About
Dr. Richard Pickering is an Assistant Professor and the Program Director for Technology here at Champlain College Online. Richard has a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning coupled with an MBA and numerous technology-related certifications.
Prior to Champlain, Dr. Pickering enjoyed a distinguished career blending pedagogical expertise with strategic leadership in program management and product development in the educational business sector.
Dr. Pickering also has held positions as Chief Executive Officer at Virtual High School Global Consortium, Chief Operating Officer at Victory Productions, various Program/Product Manager posts as well as Adjunct Professor appointments.
Why Champlain
Flexibility
"I chose Champlain because it gave me the flexibility I needed. The accelerated format offers a great way to reach your goals faster, and makes earning your degree or certificate a realistic achievement that truly is obtainable."
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