CIS and BCIS

CIS and BCISOkanagan College

Kelowna campus

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What is CIS?

Today companies increasingly rely upon information technology, data networks, computer security and telecommunications.

Together these combine into Computer Information Systems.

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What does CIS at OC include?

Computer Information Systems (CIS) provides a comprehensive perspective on the analysis, design, and implementation of database management systems, web-based applications, and telecommunication and data networks.

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Students are well-trained in the design of information systems applications and networks, as well as the functional areas of business which include accounting, marketing, management, finance and economics.

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The diverse curriculum gives students both management and technical skills which they can apply in a variety of business environments.

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What is the CIS diploma?

The Computer Information Systems (CIS) diploma is a two-year program which includes a wide variety of courses so graduates can function successfully as full members of a business organization, high-technology industry, or government department

It is offered as a co-operative education program

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Where can I do the CIS diploma?

CIS is offered in its entirety only in Kelowna. But you can start in Salmon Arm, Vernon, or

Penticton. Starting there makes the diploma longer since you cannot complete a full first year at these campuses.

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What is the BCIS degree?

The Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (BCIS) degree is a four-year program which expands the knowledge you gain in the CIS diploma into more advanced areas

It is offered as a co-operativeeducation program

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Where can I do the BCIS degree?

BCIS is offered in its entirety only in Kelowna

But you can start in Vernon or Penticton and complete a full year of courses there.

You can start in Salmon Arm but you probably cannot complete a full year of courses there.

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Options in CIS and BCIS

The programs have similar first and second years

Third- and fourth-year options include Software Development and Database Systems

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But what are CIS and BCIS?

The Okanagan College calendar talks about the types of jobs CIS and BCIS graduates hold

But what does the calendar really mean?

More importantly, are CIS and BCIS programs in which you should enrol?

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You are logical

Are CIS and BCIS Right for Me?

Yes, if:

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You are logical You enjoy solving problems


Yes, if:

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You are logical You enjoy solving problems You are inquisitive


Yes, if:

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You are logical You enjoy solving problems You are inquisitive You enjoy helping other people


Yes, if:

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You are logical You enjoy solving problems You are inquisitive You enjoy helping other people You are comfortable working with computers


Yes, if:

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You are logical You enjoy solving problems You are inquisitive You enjoy helping other people You are comfortable working with computers You meet the formal prerequisites


Yes, if:

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The Formal Prerequisites

To enrol in the program you must:

Have BC secondary school graduation or equivalentorbe at least 19 years of age and out of school for a year

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Have earned a minimum of 60% in one of: English 12, English 12 First Peoples, or Technical and Professional Communication 12; or an equivalent

Communications 12 is not acceptable

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Have earned a minimum of 67% in one of: Pre-Calculus Grade 11, Principles of Mathematics 11, or 60% in Pre-Calculus Grade 12, Foundations of Mathematics Grade 12, Principles of Mathematics 12, or Applications of Mathematics 12; or an equivalent course (Adult Basic Education 11 or 12)

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Attendance at a pre-registration orientation meeting (this meeting)

Typing skills of 20 wpm (recommended) Access to a “good” personal computer

(laptop recommended)

Let’s see how these prerequisites are reflected in the courses you will take

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The Courses

CIS has five courses per semester– one Communications, one Mathematics, and

three Computer Science in semester one– one Communications and four Computer

Science in semester two– A mix of courses, including Computer Science

and electives in semesters three and four

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The Courses

BCIS has five courses per semester– Mathematics, Computer Science,

English/Communications, Philosophy and other Arts, Business Administration, electives

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The Courses

In the first year, your courses are prescribed (we tell you what to take)

In subsequent years, some courses are prescribed, while you have flexibility in choosing the others

This flexibility supports your different interests

Some of your classes will also contain students from other programs at OC

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The Courses

CIS has four semesters, over two years– September - December (Fall)– January - April (Winter)

BCIS has eight semesters, over four years The total number of hours in lectures and labs

is 20-25 per week, depending on the semester Let’s look at the first semester in detail

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The Courses and Time – CIS/BCIS

Technical Communication for IT 3 0

Computer Programming I 4 2 Technical Aspects of

Operating Systems 3 2 Introductory Networking 3 2.5 Mathematics for CIS 4 0

Course Lectures Labs

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The Courses and Time – CIS/BCIS

Thus your total class time is 17 hours of lectures, and 6.5 hours of labs, for a total of 23.5 hours a week

Is this your entire time commitment?

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What Other Time Is Required?

For most courses, you will have at least two, and perhaps three, hours of work outside class for every lecture hour

For example, a course like Computer Programming I, with four lectures, should require at least eight hours outside class. Two of these hours are a regularly scheduled lab

So what is the real workload?

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The Real Workload - CIS

TechnicalCommunication for IT 3 0 6

Computer Programming I 4 2 6 Technical Aspects of OS 3 2 4 Introductory Networking 3 2.5 3.5 Mathematics for CIS 4 0 8 Total 17 6.5 27.5

Course Lecture Lab Homework

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If these estimates are correct, it appears the minimum total workload is 51 hours per week

Many students will tell you this estimate is too low.

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71% of the graduates found the program difficult

75% of graduates found a job within a month

95% are satisfied or very satisfied with their education

Graduates say the workload is heavy.

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Where are the jobs?

Everywhere! CIS and BCIS are difficult; when you graduate,

you may receive more than one job offer– Sun-Rype (Kelowna), QHR Technologies

(Kelowna), Disney (Kelowna), Kelowna Flightcraft (Kelowna), USNR (Salmon Arm), and Tolko (Vernon)

– Out-of-town employers are spread across Canada and the world

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Hint from Previous Students

You can take some courses in CIS/BCIS before you start your program:– English or Communications (Distance Education

or summer session)– Management Principles (Distance Education or

summer session) But don’t take more than four first-year

courses before you start! You would be classified as a part-time student, register late, and might find there are no seats available

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Progressing through CIS

40 students enter in September 30-35 continue in January into second semester 20-25 continue the following September into

second year 20-25 complete the program in April with

graduation in June

When you start in September 2014, you should graduate in 2016 or 2017

Why 2016 or 2017?

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2016 Graduation from CIS

Attend classes from September 2014 to April 2015 (Two semesters)

Work from May 2015 to August 2015 Attend classes from September 2015 to April

2016 (Two semesters) Graduate in June 2016

When you start in September 2014, you could:

But you may want to consider Co-op Education

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Co-op Education

Co-op education is the mixing of academic terms with work-terms of paid employment

You are eligible for co-op work-terms if you pass all courses in the preceding semester with a 65% average

One work-term occurs after the second academic term. Three work-terms occur back-to-back after the third academic term. An optional fifth work-term occurs after the fourth academic term

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Co-op Education

The Co-operative Education, Graduate and Student Employment Centre finds employers who wish to hire co-op students

The positions are posted You apply, and are perhaps interviewed The employer likes you, offers you a

position, and you accept it Co-op education is an option for both CIS

and BCIS students

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2017 Graduation from CIS

Attend classes from September 2014 to April 2015 (Two semesters)

Work from May 2015 to August 2015

Attend classes from September 2015 to December 2015 (One semester)

Work from January 2016 to December 2016

Attend classes from January 2017 to April 2017

Optionally, work from May 2017 to August 2017

When you start in September 2014, you could:

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Hold on There!

“Start in 2014, finish in 2017? I thought you said CIS is a two-year program.”– Officially it is because you are in school for four

semesters “I have a family and can’t afford the time you

mentioned or can’t go out of town.”– You can take CIS or BCIS without the co-op terms

but we do not recommend it. The experience you gain is priceless and a co-op placement often translates into your first job after graduation

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After CIS?

Continue your education

Complete the BCIS at Okanagan College. The CIS diploma is the first two years of the degree

If you don’t want to pursue a degree, you may take selected courses from OC or other post-secondary institutions, or you may earn vendor-issued certificates

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Progressing through BCIS

The degree’s student numbers are like the diploma’s. Not all students who start, finish

When you start in September 2014, you should finish in or after 2018

“In or after” is because of co-op

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After BCIS?

Continue your education

You may take selected courses from OC or other post-secondary institutions, or you may earn vendor-issued certificates

You may end up with an MBA or MTech

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What Will This Cost?

First, there will be family costs. To succeed takes time (remember 50 to 60 hours per week?) and effort. Family life and leisure pursuits may suffer

Then there is the question of money

Money involves tuition, books, fees, and other expenses

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Tuition fees are just over $400 per course, for domestic students, much more for international students

Total tuition is tied to the number of courses you take

For five courses in a semester, tuition fordomestic students is just over $2000 per semester, or just over $4000 for a fullyear

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Books cost approximately $6000 per semester Student association fees are approximately $60

per semester, plus approximately $250 per semester for medical and dental coverage if you need it

Pay parking is available for $75 per semester

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The Bottom Line

Tuition $2000

Books 600

Student Association 300

Parking/Bus ????

Miscellaneous ????

An academic semester in CIS/BCIS will cost you:

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The Bottom Line

The OC calendar suggests a per-semester cost of $4544.47, excluding textbooks

A co-op semester will cost a little under $300 per four-month work-term

While on a co-op work-term, you are registered in a course, so your student loan (if you have one) will not become payable until you graduate

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How Do I Pay?

Students have several sources of money:

• Student loans

• Scholarships and bursaries

• Work at OC

• Part-time work while attending classes

• Parents and family

• Savings

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Do I Need a Computer? Officially, no. However, your chances of

success will increase if you have one. Almost all CIS and BCIS students have a computer before they begin. Most have a laptop.

It may be more comfortable and quieter to work at home

You may cut down on travel

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What Computer Should I Have?

3 GHz processor (slower for a multi-core processor) with a minimum of 4 GB RAM

750 GB hard drive large monitor broadband access DVD burner/player sound card and speakers

As a minimum,

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But I Want a Better Computer!

Add more RAM Choose a faster processor Install a larger or solid state

hard disk Purchase a laser (or good

ink-jet) printer Consider a laptop

The minimum computer is good, but you may want a better one. In that case,

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What Software Do I Need?

At present, our labs are using the Windows, Linux, and UNIX operating systems

We use Microsoft Office, Microsoft Visual Studio .Net, Java, and a variety of other programs

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What Software Do I Need at Home?

As long as you have a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, a database management system, a browser, and an Internet Service Provider (ISP), you will be fine

Which software, which browser, and which ISP does not matter

Some course-specific software is available in the Campus Store or on the web

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Anything Else?

No This meeting is to tell you about the CIS and

BCIS programs, the costs (both financial and social), the time demands (heavy), and the need to be prepared (both academically and financially)

This meeting is an opportunity to ask your questions. Ask away!

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Summary

To be successful in CIS and BCIS, you must work very hard

The facilities are good, the professors are good, the graduates are good!

If you have any other questions, contact any member of the department, or explore our website at http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/cosc/

Thank you for coming and we look forward to seeing you in September

http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/cosc

Documents

CIS and BCIS