Information Technology

The Degree

Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.)

The Outlook

With the rapid expansion of the Internet and new computer innovations, the field of information technology has experienced a boom of growth and opportunity over the past decade. Now, through the A.A.S. degree program in Information Technology at Finger Lakes Community College, students in the our region will be well prepared to meet the needs of this strong and diverse industry.

According to a research study recently commissioned by CompTia, a national organization devoted to training, certification, and employment issues in the information technology industry, I.T. service and support professionals are in great demand. CompTia reports that the number of I.T. positions open in the U.S. has more than tripled, and finding qualified and trained professionals to fill positions in the I.T. industry continues to challenge many managers.

The Program

In the A.A.S. Information Technology program, students will complete a set of core courses that provide a strong foundation in applications and programming as well as an introduction to specialty areas within the field.

Advisement areas: Based on their individual career goals, students then select two specialty areas, called advisement areas, on which to focus their studies. FLCC's program includes four separate advisement areas in:

  • Web programming
  • electronic commerce
  • networking technology
  • applications and database management

Advantages: The program is accredited and very flexible. It meets many employers' tuition reimbursement policies and allows students to earn college credits for their studies, while at the same time receiving the preparation needed for certification exams. While certifications often become outdated, college credits retain their value and provide the student with a strong foundation for professional growth. An additional advantage of FLCC's program is that it can be completed through part-time, evening studies.

The Experience

The program incorporates programming in Java and Visual Basic, as well as hands-on work with circuits and assembling microcomputers, new areas in database management, and Web programming and e-commerce. In addition to physically assembling a computer and wiring a network, students will also learn network administration of both Wide Area Networks and Local Area Networks. A required internship will strengthen their skills and provide "real world" experience in the field prior to graduation.

Resources: FLCC's computer resources for student learning are extensive. Information Technology students will learn using software applications such as Macromedia Flash and Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft SQL Server Database as well as other computer resources at the College.

Certification: In addition, the College offers an on-campus computer certification testing center, where students can test for certifications in areas such as Microsoft Office User Specialist, Microsoft Certified Systems Expert, CompTia's A+, Network+, and INet+.

The Graduates

FLCC's A.A.S. Information Technology program is designed to prepare students to enter the job market upon graduation in positions such as PC technician, network technician or administrator, installation technician, applications specialist, programmer, and Web master, and in computer support and troubleshooting,

Graduates may also choose to take additional liberal arts courses at FLCC and transfer to four-year colleges and universities such as SUNY technical colleges at Alfred, Delhi, Morrisville, and Canton; Rochester Institute of Technology; and others to pursue bachelor's degrees in the field.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employment opportunities in the field are expected to continue to grow through the year 2010.

The Scholarships

The Brenda Brockman Beck Scholarship and Patricia Nettnin Memorial Scholarship are awarded annually to a computer science major who meets the specific criteria of the award. For details or information about other scholarship opportunities, contact a member of the Computer Science Department or the Financial Aid Office.

The Faculty

The Computing Sciences faculty bring to FLCC a wide breadth of talent and a great depth of experience. Each faculty member specializes in a particular area of the discipline, and continually strives to stay current in that area. We are committed to providing students with the most up-to-date programs and courses, and strive to provide our students with excellent education at the certificate and associates degree levels.

Information Technology

Curriculum Requirements

Students are required to complete a minimum of 66 semester hours with a grade point average of not less than C (2.00).

Students must successfully complete:

Humanities

  • ENG 101 Freshman English and ENG 102 Introduction to Literature
    OR
    ENG 104 English I Honors and ENG 105 English II Honors
  • COM110 Public Speaking OR COM 115 Interpersonal Communications

Social Science

  • ECO 210 Macroeconomics
  • ECO 211 Microeconomics

Mathematics

  • 6 credit hours of mathematics electives (MAT121 or higher)

Computing Science

  • CSC 103 Computing Sciences Portal
  • CSC 115 Introduction to Programming and Computing
  • CSC 190 Data Structures I
  • CSC 250 CIS Internship
  • CSC 271 A+ Core Hardware & Operating System Technologies

Advisement Areas
Students must select two advisement areas and complete 12 credit hours within each selected area, earning a total 24 credit hours

Advisement Area 1 - Applications & Database Management

  • Take 3 of the following:
    • CSC 134 Core Word OR CSC 137 Expert Word
    • CSC 135 Core Excel OR CSC 138 Expert Excel
    • CSC 136 Core PowerPoint OR CSC 139 MS Access
  • CSC 215 Visual Basic
  • CSC 243 System Analysis and Design
  • CSC 251 Applied Database Concepts

Advisement Area 2 - Networking Technology

  • CSC 248 Networking Service and Support
  • CSC 260 Data Communications and Networking
  • CSC 261 Internetworking
  • CSC 272 Managing Operating Systems

Advisement Area 3 - Web Programming

  • CSC 215 Visual Basic
  • CSC 262 Website Development and Programming
  • CSC 235 Active Server Pages and Server-Side Scripting
  • CSC 252 Multimedia for Information Technology

Advisement Area 4 - Electronic Commerce
(If advisement area 4 is chosen, advisement area 3 is the other required advisement area)

  • BUS 120 Business Organization
  • BUS 222 Marketing
  • BUS 235 International Business
  • BUS/CSC 247 Electronic Commerce

Advisor Approved Electives
Choose from the following based on advisement area:

  • Electronic commerce advisement area: ACC 101 Principles of Financial Accounting
  • All other advisement areas: any course from the Art or Computer Science (above CSC 103) subject area or PLG 110 Computer Law and Policy

Health/Physical Education Elective

  • 4 credit hours of health/physical education electives

Information Technology

Sample Schedule

First Semester (18 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 101 Freshman English OR ENG 104 Freshman English I Honors (3)
  • COM 110/115 Public Speaking OR Interpersonal Communication (3)
  • CSC 103 Computing Sciences Portal (2)
  • CSC 115 Introduction to Programming & Computing (3)
  • MAT 121 Statistics I or higher (3)
  • *CSC 134/135/136 Core Word/Core Excel/PowerPoint OR BUS 120 Business Organization OR ECO 210 Macroeconomics (3)
  • PE Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Second Semester (16/17 Credit Hours)

  • ENG 102-Introduction to Literature OR ENG 105 Freshman English II Honors (3)
  • CSC 190-Data Structures I (3)
  • Advisement Area Requirement (3/4)
  • Advisement Area Requirement (3)
  • Advisement Area Requirement (3)
  • PE Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Third Semester (16 Credit Hours)

  • CSC 271 A+ Hardware & Operating Systems Technologies (3)
  • ECO 210 Macroeconomics OR Advisement Area Requirement (3)
  • MAT 122 Statistics II or higher OR Advisement Area Requirement (3)
  • Advisement Area Requirement (3)
  • Advisement Area Requirement (3)
  • PE Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

Fourth Semester (16 Credit Hours)

  • CSC 250 CIS Internship (3)
  • ECO 211 Microeconomics (3)
  • Advisor Approved Elective** (3)
  • Advisement Area Requirement OR MAT 122 Statistics II or higher (3)
  • Advisement Area Requirement (3)
  • PE Health/Physical Education Elective (1)

* Dependent on Advisement Area - Take 3 of the following:

  • CSC 134 Core Word OR CSC 137 Expert Word
  • CSC 135 Core Excel OR CSC 138 Expert Excel
  • CSC 136 Core PowerPoint OR CSC 139 MS Access

** Advisor Approved Electives - Choose from the following based on interest area:

  • Electronic Commerce area: ACC 101 Principles of Financial Accounting
  • All other advisement areas: Any ART/CSC (above CSC 103) elective or PLG 110 Computer Law and Policy