Computer Information Systems

ufv.ca/cis

Bachelor of Computer Information Systems

This program is designed to provide a mixture of theory and hands-on applied knowledge in our modern well-equipped labs. The Computer Information Systems program offered at UFV provides depth in both software development and systems and networking areas.

Graduates from the certificate are knowledgeable and experienced with smaller single-user systems, and graduates from the diploma are capable of working with both single and networked systems. Diploma graduates are also capable of supporting and maintaining systems through the regular and changing requirements placed by ongoing business demands. The final years of the degree program build on this base to provide graduates with additional technical knowledge and skills as well as more educational breadth and a better business background. This will also prepare graduates to move into managerial positions in information technology.

Declaration of minors and extended minors

Students who have been admitted to the Computer Information Systems program may formally declare minors or extended minors only after they have completed at least thirty credits in the program with a minimum of 2.0 CGPA on all credits attempted, provided they have also met the declaration requirements of the subject discipline. Formal declaration is completed by appointment with an Advisor in the Advising Centre. In order to have access to the discipline reserved seating, where applicable, a student must be admitted to the BCIS degree program.

Students must complete all the requirements of the BCIS and all the discipline requirements of the minor or extended minor. Some lower- and upper-level requirements for the minor or extended minor can be used in place of the non-CIS electives in the BCIS degree program, which can be used to meet the overall requirement of the lower-level minor or extended minor courses. If you are interested in pursuing this option, contact an Advisor in the Advising Centre to discuss your program plan.

Graduate studies

Students completing the BCIS degree program who wish to pursue graduate studies would normally choose a master's degree in Computer Information Systems or an MBA program. Students wishing to enter an MBA program should consider taking the BCIS with a minor in Business Administration.

Students wishing to enter a graduate studies program in Computing Science should consider taking the BCIS with a minor in Mathematics.

Career opportunities

Rapid change and the increased use of outsourcing have made the IT workplace a very volatile one over the last few years. The CIS department meets twice a year with an external advisory committee to track and predict change, and to keep our programs relevant to current and future organizational needs. Our diverse committee is peopled by members of industry and the public sector whose knowledge and experience is pertinent, timely and crucial to our decision-making processes.

Careers for information technology professionals fall into several categories, including but not limited to:

• Software development
• Systems analysis and design
• User interface design and human factors
• Web and database design and programming
• Project management
• Computer security
• Network design and administration
• System and database administration
• End user support
• Management of technology

Entrance requirements for all CIS programs

1. One of the following:

• B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent
• Mature student 19 years or older (see Note)
• Completion of nine university-level credits

A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all university courses attempted is required.

Note: Non-graduates who may require academic preparation are encouraged to contact the Upgrading and University Preparation department (UUP) for assessment and advice before applying to post-secondary programs.

2. One of the following:

• Principles of Mathematics 12 with a C+ or better
• Foundations of Mathematics 12 with a C or better
• Pre-calculus 12 with a C or better
• MATH 094 and MATH 095 with a C or better in both
• MATH 096 with a C or better
• MATH 110 with a C or better

3. The prerequisite to CMNS 125, CMNS 175, or ENGL 105 (see Note 1).

Note 1: This requirement can be satisfied by English 12 or equivalent with a C+ or better. The following courses are considered equivalent to English 12: English Literature 12, English 12 First Peoples, International baccalaureate English A (standard level or higher level), Advanced Placement English.

Note 2: All students entering the CIS programs are expected to be computer literate. This includes knowing how to run programs and manage files in a Windows environment and having basic Internet, word processing, and spreadsheet skills. Students should consult the CIS website for specific prerequisite skills needed for beginning courses.

Note 3: Requests for transfer of computing-intensive courses will be checked for currency relative to the current CIS program.

Note 4: Attendance at a CIS information session or personal interview with an Advisor is recommended.

Note 5: Students who do not meet the entrance requirements might also consider Qualifying Studies.

Admission to courses

Admittance to the program does not guarantee admittance to any particular course section in any particular semester.

Technology requirements

Students entering any Computer Information Systems program are strongly advised to ensure that they have home access to a personal computer and an internet connection, both with adequate resources for their level of study. Students may consult the CIS department or the Computer Information Systems Student Association for hardware and software recommendations.

When to apply

Applications are accepted for entrance to the Fall, Winter, and Summer semesters. For application deadlines, see Specific intake application process.

How to apply

1. Apply online at ufv.ca/admissions/admissions/apply.

Additional documents required for a complete application:
Proof of B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent, or permission from the program head.
Transcript (or interim transcript) showing grade/course achievement as per entrance requirements.
An official transcript from every post-secondary institution you have attended. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly to UFV from the originating institution; see the Transfer Credit section for details. Unofficial copies may accompany the application form if official transcripts have been ordered.

2. Upon admission to the program you will be provided with registration information. A deposit is required prior to registration (see the Fees and Other Costs section). The deposit will be applied to the tuition fees. Final payment of all course fees is due the end of the second week of classes.

3. In some cases where interim transcripts are submitted, an admission decision may be made conditional upon completion of academic requirements. Proof of completion of entrance requirements is due by the end of the first week in August.

Basis for admission decision

Applicants who meet the entrance requirements will be admitted in order of their application date. This date is set when an application, all required documentation, and the application fee have been submitted.

Fees and additional costs

See the Fees and Other Costs section. Books and additional supplies would normally cost $75 to $150 per course. There may be some additional recommended and mandatory costs in Computer Information Systems program courses, above tuition and textbook costs. These may include training manuals, software, and hardware costs. These expenses will vary from year to year. Students should budget between $500–$1,000 for such costs over the four years of a degree program. Credits and fees also apply to the Co-op work terms.

Location

All courses are offered in Abbotsford and some first-year Computer Information Systems courses are offered in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and online. Some courses may be offered in the evening for people working full-time who wish to take courses on a part-time basis.

Length of program

The full degree program may be completed in four years (eight semesters) of full-time study.

The diploma takes two years (four semesters) of full-time study. This is the minimum length of time required for students who enter the program with no previous computing experience and who expect to have a solid grounding in the subject. The Co-op diploma is 28 months and includes four academic semesters and three work terms.

The certificate requires two full semesters and can be completed in one year or less.

Need to apply for re-admission

Students in the CIS degree program who fall into any of the following categories must apply for re-admission.

1. Absence from the CIS program for more than three consecutive semesters (including fall, winter, and summer). A student who withdraws from all courses in a semester will be considered not to have registered in that semester.
2. Withdrawal from the first semester of attendance before completing any course work, or failure to register.
3. Official completion of a CIS program or a change to another program.

Course challenge policy

Course challenge is intended to grant credit for knowledge gained outside of UFV that is not transferable under existing arrangements. A list of undergraduate courses approved for course challenge is available at the Office of the Registrar. Course challenge should be applied for at the time of entry to the CIS program.

To apply you must formally submit a typed letter to the CIS department head for all course challenges, preferably at the time you enter the CIS program. You are expected to explain which course(s) you wish to challenge, and be able to support your request by describing your prior knowledge and experience in the course material, including documentation such as certification, resumes, etc.

Applications for course challenge will then be considered by the CIS department, and if approved, the course challenge will be arranged in the beginning of the next semester in which the challenged course is offered. If you are unsuccessful in the course challenge, you will have to re-enrol for the regular course at your own expense. Please see the CIS department for more detailed information.

Program requirements

In order to complete the BCIS degree, students are required to complete 38 courses with a cumulative value of approximately 122 credits. There is an average of 10 courses in each of the four years of the degree program.

General and upper-level electives

Students are encouraged to choose electives that will complement their career choice, and should plan their lower-level electives carefully so that prerequisites are met for upper-level electives.

The general electives can include math or science courses focusing on problem solving, or business administration courses focusing on management. Suggested courses include those with writing, applied communications, or media components; analytical skills components; or presentation and teamwork-building components.

Academic performance

Students in CIS programs must maintain semester and cumulative grade point averages of at least 2.0 (a C average) in order to be awarded a certificate, diploma, or degree.

300- and 400-level CIS and COMP courses used to satisfy degree requirements must be completed with a grade of C or higher in order to be counted for credit towards the degree.

Undergraduate continuance

Students enrolled in undergraduate courses (courses numbered 100 or above) must maintain an undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.00 to remain enrolled in Good Academic Standing at UFV. Students in Good Academic Standing will have no registration limits placed on them. Failure to meet the minimum CGPA requirement will result in restrictions on registration and may eventually lead to academic suspension from undergraduate studies at UFV. Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation are limited to registering in 10 credits. For further details, see the Academic standing and undergraduate continuance section of the academic calendar. Academic standing is governed by UFV’s Undergraduate Continuance policy (92).

Course repetition

Students may not register for a course more than twice. No more than five course duplications will be permitted in work used towards any CIS program. When a course has been repeated, only the higher grade is counted in the GPA calculation.

Transfer credit

At least 25% of the course work must be completed at UFV, including at least 30 upper-level credits (courses numbered 300 and above).

Course withdrawal deadlines

Course withdrawal deadlines follow UFV’s Course Withdrawal policy (81). Refer to this section for details.

Co-operative Education option

The Co-operative Education option offers students in the Computer Information Systems program the opportunity to obtain paid, career-related work experience in their field of study during their education at UFV. Both the diploma and degree are available with a Co-op option. After completing their first year of study, Co-op students alternate between semesters of full-time study and full-time paid employment. See the Co-operative Education section of the calendar for further details.

Program outline

Example of a typical schedule

First year

Semester I

Course	Title	Credits
CIS 145	Web Publishing	3
or CIS 146	Intermediate Web Publishing (previously offered) (see Note 1)	3
CIS 190	Systems Hardware Concepts	3
COMP 125	Principles of Computing	3
Elective	Approved Arts or other approved elective (see Note 2)	3-4

Semester II

Course	Title	Credits
CIS 192	Introduction to Networking	4
COMP 150	Introduction to Programming	4
MATH 125	Introduction to Discrete Mathematics	4
One of:		3
CMNS 125	Introduction to Workplace Communication
or CMNS 175	Writing for the Internet
or ENGL 105	Academic Writing

Second year

Semester III

Course	Title	Credits
CIS 291	Networking Theory and Applications	4
COMP 155	Advanced Programming	4
CIS 221	Principles of Information Systems Security	4
CMNS 251	Professional Report Writing	3
Elective	CIS 200-level elective (see Note 3)	3-4

Semester IV

Course	Title	Credits
CIS 285	End User Training and Support	3
CIS 270	Analysis and Design	3
COMP 230	Databases and Database Management Systems (formerly CIS 230)	3
COMP 251	Data Structures and Algorithms	4
Elective	Business or Communications elective (see Note 4)	3

Third year

Semester V

Course	Title	Credits
CIS 385	Project Management	3
COMP 340	Operating Systems	3
One of:		4
STAT 106	Statistics I
or MATH 270/STAT 270	Introduction to Probability and Statistics
Elective	Approved Arts elective (see Note 2)	3
Elective	Lower-level elective in another discipline	3

Semester VI

Course	Title	Credits
COMP 390	Data Communications (formerly CIS 390)	3
CIS or COMP	Course numbered 200 or above (see Note 3)	3
CIS or COMP	Course numbered 300 or above	3
Elective	Business or Communications elective (see Note 4)	3
Elective	Lower-level elective in another discipline	3

Fourth year

Semester VII

Course	Title	Credits
CIS 485	Ethics and Other Management Issues	3
Three:	CIS or COMP courses numbered 300 or above	9
Elective	Upper-level elective in another discipline	3

Semester VIII

Course	Title	Credits
Three:	CIS or COMP courses numbered 300 or above	9
Elective	Upper-level elective in another discipline	3
CIS or COMP	Elective course numbered 200 or above	3-4

Note 1: CIS students cannot obtain credit for both CIS 145 and CIS 146 towards their program.

Note 2: The current approved Arts elective options are available online here.

Note 3: CIS/COMP elective chosen from the following: CIS 224, 245, 262, 292, or COMP 256. Those students who plan to complete the Systems and Networking concentration as part of BCIS degree requirements must take CIS 292.

Note 4: Business or Communications electives options: BUS 100, 120, 143, 144, 145, 160, 201, 203, 223; CMNS 212, 235, 375.

Concentrations

The following concentrations are available in the BCIS:

• Software Development
• Systems and Networking
• Security

See this section for concentration requirements.

Course listings

For complete details on courses see the course descriptions section.