Course Catalog

Computer Programming, Diploma (CP24) Diploma

Campus Locations: Valdosta

Curriculum Update

The credit hours for CIST 1510 Web Development I will increase from 3 to 4, effective Summer 2025. Students who complete CIST 1510 before this change will still complete the original 3 credit hour course.

The Computer Programming diploma program is a sequence of courses designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, principles, and techniques required in computer information processing. Those interested in a Computer Programming diploma should be highly motivated individuals who are interested in becoming an Information Technology professional. Program graduates are to be competent in the technical areas of SQL, XHTML, systems analysis and design, database management, networking concepts, and the programming languages PHP, Visual BASIC, Java, C++, and JavaScript.

This program qualifies for the HOPE Career Grant.

Program Outcomes: Assure quality through the implementation of rigorous quality assurance procedures and standards. Demonstrate proficiency in programming requirements and object-oriented principles. Apply knowledge across programming languages, prioritizing tasks and collaborating effectively within teams. Exhibit strong written, verbal, and online communication skills. Utilize critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to make informed judgments and analyze complex issues.

Careers: Computer Programmers, Software Engineers, and Full Stack Developers

Length of Program: 4 Terms

Admission Requirements:

General College Admissions and Placement

Gainful Employment Information

Curriculum Outline (56 hours)

General Core Courses	8
ENGL 1010Fundamentals of English I Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Diploma Level Reading and Writing Scores OR READ 0090 and/or ENGL 0090 w/ a “C” or better Co-requisite(s): None Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills.	3
MATH 1012Foundations of Mathematics Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 3 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): Diploma Level Math Scores or MATH 0090 w/ a “C” or better Co-requisite(s): None Emphasizes the application of basic mathematical skills used in the solution of occupational and technical problems. Topics include fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, measurement and conversion, geometric concepts, technical applications, and basic statistics.	3
EMPL 1000Interpersonal Relations & Professional Development Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 0 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Emphasizes human relations and professional development in today's rapidly changing world that prepares students for living and working in a complex society. Topics include human relations skills, job acquisition skills and communication, job retention skills, job advancement skills, and professional image skills.	2

Occupational Courses	28
COMP 1000Introduction to Computer Literacy Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture -1.667; Lab – 2.667 Pre-Requisites: None Co-Requisite: None This course introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operations necessary to use computers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include introductions to computer and digital terminology and usage, operating systems, Internet and digital communication, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, and presentation applications. Please note that this course may not transfer to a 4-year institution. Students should check with their transferring institution for transferability of courses. COMP 2000 may be taken in place of COMP 1000 if it is required by a transferring institution.	3
CIST 1001Computer Concepts Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Provides an overview of information systems, computers and technology. Topics include: Information Systems and Technology Terminology, Computer History, Data Representation, Data Storage Concepts, Fundamentals of Information Processing, Fundamentals of Information Security, Information Technology Ethics, Fundamentals of Hardware Operation, Fundamentals of Networking, Fundamentals of the Internet, Fundamentals of Software Design Concepts, Fundamentals of Software, (System and Application), System Development Methodology, Computer Number Systems conversion (Binary and Hexadecimal), Mobile computing.	4
CIST 1305Program Design and Development Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None An introductory course that provides problem solving and programming concepts for those that develop user applications. An emphasis is placed on developing logic, troubleshooting, and using tools to develop solutions. Topics include: problem solving and programming concepts, structured programming, the four logic structures, file processing concepts, and arrays.	3
CIST 1510Web Development I [Begins Summer 2025] Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture – 2 Regular Lab – 4 Other Lab – 0 Total – 6 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Explores the concepts of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), XML, and HTML following the current standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for developing inter-linking web pages that include graphical elements, hyperlinks, tables, forms, and image maps.	4
CIST 1510Web Development I [Ends Spring 2025] Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Explores the concepts of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), XML, and HTML following the current standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) for developing inter-linking web pages that include graphical elements, hyperlinks, tables, forms, and image maps.	3
CIST 2921IT Analysis, Design, and Project Management Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None IT Analysis, Design, and Project Management will provides a review and application of systems life cycle development methodologies and project management. Topics include: Systems planning, systems analysis, systems design, systems implementation, evaluation, and project management.	4
Select ONE CIS Elective	3
Select ONE SQL Course	4
CIST 1210Introduction to Oracle Databases Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1001 Co-requisite(s): None This course provides an introduction to the Oracle database management system platform and to Structured Query Language (SQL). Topics include database vocabulary, normalization, Oracle DML and DDL statements, SQL Statements, views and constraints.	4
CIST 1220Structured Query Language (SQL) Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Includes basic database design concepts and solving database retrieval and modification problems using the SQL language. Topics include: database Vocabulary, Relational Database Design, Date retrieval using SQL, Data Modification using SQL, Developing and Using SQL Procedures.	4

Programming Language Courses - Complete 20 Hours w/a minimum of 8 Hours in Tier II (20 Hours)	20
Select (at minimum) TWO Programming Language Tier I Courses
CIST 2311Visual Basic I Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305 Co-requisite(s): None Visual Basic I introduces event-driven programming. Common elements of Windows applications will be discussed created and manipulated using Microsoft's Visual Studio development environment. Topics include numeric data types and variables, decision making structures, arrays, validating input with strings and functions, repetition and multiple forms, test files, lists and common dialog controls.	4
CIST 2371Java Programming I Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305 Co-requisite(s): None This course is designed to teach the basic concepts and methods of objected-oriented design and Java programming. Use practical problems to illustrate Java application building techniques and concepts. Develop an understanding of Java vocabulary. Create an understanding of where Java fits in the application development landscape. Create an understanding of the Java Development Kit and how to develop, debug, and run Java applications using the JDK. Continue to develop student's programming logic skills. Topics include: JAVA Language History, JAVA Variable Definitions, JAVA Control Structures, JAVA Methods, JAVA Classes, JAVA Objects, and JAVA Graphics.	4
CIST 2341C# Programming I Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305 Co-requisite(s): None This course is designed to teach the basic concepts and methods of objected-oriented design and C#.Net programming. Use practical problems to illustrate C#.Net application building techniques and concepts. Develop an understanding of C#.Net vocabulary. Create an understanding of where C#.Net fits in the application development landscape. Create an understanding of the C#.Net Development Environment, Visual Studio and how to develop, debug, and run C#.Net applications using the Visual Studio. Continue to develop student's programming logic skills. Topics include: C#.NET Language History, C#.NET Variable Definitions, C#.NET Control Structures, C#.NET Functions, C#.NET Classes, C#.NET Objects, and C#.NET Graphics.	4
CIST 2351PHP Programming I Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305 Co-requisite(s): CIST 1510 An introductory PHP programming course that teaches students how to create dynamic websites. Topics include: PHP and basic web programming concepts, installing PHP, embedding PHP in HTML, variables and constants, operators, forms, conditional statements, looping, arrays, and text files.	4
CIST 2361C++ Programming I Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305 Co-requisite(s): None Provides opportunity to gain a working knowledge of C++ programming. Includes creating, editing, executing, and debugging C++ programs of moderate difficulty. Topics include: basic C++ concepts, simple I/O and expressions, I/O and control statements, arrays, pointers, structures, managing data and developing programs.	4
CIST 2381Mobile Application Development Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305 Co-requisite(s): None This course explores mobile guidelines, standards, and techniques. This course includes design and development techniques for multiple mobile devices, platforms, and operating systems. Students will develop mobile applications using state of practice development tools, languages and devices.	4
CIST 2570Open Source Web Application Programming I Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305 Co-requisite(s): None CIST 2570 explores open source W3C programming standards in order to practice various web programming techniques for creating web forms, providing web navigation, and accessing data that produce dynamic interactive web applications. Students may use Java, Perl, PHP, Python, or other open source web programming languages.	4
CIST 2580Interactive and Social Applications Integration Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2.5 Lab 2 - 2.5 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305 Co-requisite(s): None This course explores social and interactive web application technology and it's effect on the business model. Topics include interactive and social web business model, interactive and social business web requirements and successful interactive and social integration.	4
CIST 2742Beginning Python Programming Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): None Co-requisite(s): None Provides a study of the Python programming language to solve applications. Topics include: basic coding rules, input/output operations, arithmetic operations, debugging techniques, list and arrays, sorting, editing input, basic search techniques, game simulations, game design, and object-oriented programming (OOP).	4
Select (at minimum) TWO Programming Language Tier II Courses
CIST 2312Visual Basic II Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 1305, CIST 2311 Co-requisite(s): None Visual Basic II teaches client-server systems, n-tier development environments, relational databases, use of SQL to access data, the use of ADO.NET objects, methods and properties to access and update relational and XML databases. Advanced features of Visual Basic are explored.	4
CIST 2342C# Programming II Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture – 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 2341 Co-requisite(s): None This course is an intermediate course in C#.NET Programming. It is assumed that the student knows the C#.NET syntax as well as basic object oriented concepts. Intermediate C#.NET teaches client-server systems, n-tier development environments, relational databases, use of SQL to access data, the use of ADO.NET objects, methods and properties to access and update relational databases. Advanced features of C# windows programming are explored.	4
CIST 2372Java Programming II Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 2371 Co-requisite(s): None This course is an intermediate course in Java Programming. It is assumed that the student knows the Java syntax as well as basic object oriented concepts. The student will use classes and objects provided by the core Java API. They will use these classes to accomplish tasks such as Database access, File access, exception handling, running threads, using sockets to talk across a network, and remotely calling methods using RMI techniques.	4
CIST 2373Java Programming III Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 2372 Co-requisite(s): None This course is a course in building Web Applications using Java Enterprise Edition (JEE). It is assumed that the student knows Java Standard Edition as the concepts and techniques build on that foundation. The student will install Web, Application and Database servers. The student will learn to build Web Applications using JEE technologies, such as Servlets, Java Server Pages and Enterprise JavaBeans.	4
CIST 2362C++ Programming II Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 2361 Co-requisite(s): None Develops skills for the programmer to write programs using the language of C++. Emphasis is placed on utilizing the added features of C++, which will be added to the skills mastered in Introduction to C++ Programming. Topics include: objects, classes, inheritance, overloading, polymorphism, streams, containers, and exceptions.	4
CIST 2352PHP Programming II Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 2 Lab 3 - 3 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 2351 Co-requisite(s): None Reinforces and extends the concepts learned in PHP Programming I. Topics include: Database retrieval and updating, multiple form handling, regular expressions, and advanced array processing.	4
CIST 2571Open Source Web Application Programming II Weekly Contact Hours: Lecture - 2 Lab 2 - 4 Lab 3 - 0 Pre-requisite(s): CIST 2570 Co-requisite(s): None This course is a continuation of CIST 2570 Open Source Web Application Programming I. The student will explore advanced web programming concepts and technologies which include data binding, program security, program user validation, caching, widgets, AJAX, and social engineering. The student will follow W3C programming standards to produce dynamic interactive secure web applications. Students may use PERL, PHP, Java, Python, or another open source language.	4