Programming and Systems Analysis

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Programming and Systems Analysis program provides an in-depth exploration of different computer language and technical skills. The AAS includes, but is not limited to the following: operating systems, local area networks, business communication, team roles, and dynamics. Certificate of Completions (CCLs) in Programming and Systems Analysis Level I and Level II and iOS App Development are also available.

Details

Field of Interest
Computer and Information Technology
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Programming and Systems Analysis (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3844
Total credits required
62-71
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Consultation with an Academic Advisor is recommended for course selection.
Courses within any of the following prefixes must be taken within five (5) years prior to completion of the program to be applied toward this award: AIM, BPC, CIS, CLD, CNT, CSC, ITS, and MST.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Analyze business requirements using critical thinking skills.
  2. Use computer systems and networks in a responsible and ethical manner.
  3. Design, develop and implement database solutions to effectively manage data.
  4. Develop and implement well-structured computer programs that solve business problems.
  5. Utilize the software development lifecycle for application development.
  6. Test and debug computer programs.
  7. Leverage the functions and architecture of an operating system to achieve business objectives.
  8. Communicate professionally in formal and informal situations to diverse audiences.
  9. Write effective documentation according to industry standards.
  10. Collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
  11. Apply an understanding of characteristics and principles of business processes to software application development.
  12. Design web-based applications using client-side and server-side scripting.
  13. Develop a project scope while considering factors such as customer requirements, project costs, return on investment, and internal/external business objectives.

Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Maricopa County-based annual median wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Computer Systems Analysts

$89,891

* Career and wage information provided by Lightcast using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources and Lightcast’s proprietary analytical processes. Lightcast’s data covers multiple classes of workers including QCEW, non-QCEW, and those who are self-employed. Disclaimer

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
  • Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems Critical course CS 3
CIS150 or
CIS150AB		 Programming Fundamentals or Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals Critical course Gateway course Recommend CIS150AB for iOS Application Development 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CIS133DA Internet/Web Development Level I 3
GBS151 Introduction to Business 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS126DL or
CIS126RH or
MST150++		 Linux Operating System or Red Hat System Administration I or Any Microsoft Windows course 3
Programming Language I Programming language Level I Critical course See list below. Recommend CIS165 for iOS Application Development 3
MAT150 or
MAT151 or
MAT152		 College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions MA or MA or MA 3–5
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking L 0–3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CIS119DO or
CIS276DA or
CIS276DB		 Introduction to Oracle: SQL or MySQL Database or SQL Server Database 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ECN211 or
ECN212 or
SBU200		 Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or Society and Business SB or SB or G, SB 3
CIS166++ Any Web Scripting course 3
HU Any approved general education course in the Humanities and Fine Arts area HU 3
RE Restricted Elective 3
Programming Language Programming language level II 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
CIS190 or
CNT140AB or
MST140		 Introduction to Networking or Introduction to Networks or Microsoft Networking Essentials 3–4
CIS225 or
CIS225AB or
CIS250		 Business Systems Analysis and Design or Object-Oriented Analysis and Design or Management of Information Systems 3
RE Restricted Elective 3
SQ or SG Natural Sciences 4

Restricted Electives

Students may not use courses from the Required Courses Area.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS151 Computer Game Development -Level I 3
CIS156 Python Programming: Level I 3
CIS159 Visual Basic Programming I 3
CIS162++ Any C Programming: Level I course 3
CIS163AA Java Programming: Level I CS 3
CIS165++ Any Mobile Application Development course 3
CIS224 Project Management Microsoft Project for Windows 3
CIS251 Computer Game Development - Level II 3
CIS259 Visual Basic Programming II 3
CIS262++ Any C Programming: Level II Course 3
CIS263AA Java Programming: Level II 3
CIS265 Advanced iOS Application Development 3
GBS211 Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues of the Internet Studies 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems Critical course CS 3
GBS151 Introduction to Business 3
FYE101 or
FYE103		 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success or Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success 1–3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS150 or
CIS150AB		 Programming Fundamentals or Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals Critical course Gateway course Recommend CIS150AB for iOS Application Development 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS133DA Internet/Web Development Level I 3
MAT150 or
MAT151 or
MAT152		 College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions or College Algebra/Functions MA or MA or MA 3–5

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
Programming Language I Programming language Level I Critical course See list below. Recommend CIS165 for iOS Application Development 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS126DL or
CIS126RH or
MST150++		 Linux Operating System or Red Hat System Administration I or Any Microsoft Windows course 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking L 0–3
CIS119DO or
CIS276DA or
CIS276DB		 Introduction to Oracle: SQL or MySQL Database or SQL Server Database 3

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
RE Restricted Elective 3
Programming Language Programming language level II 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS166++ Any Web Scripting course 3
SQ or SG Natural Sciences 4

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ECN211 or
ECN212 or
SBU200		 Macroeconomic Principles or Microeconomic Principles or Society and Business SB or SB or G, SB 3
CIS225 or
CIS225AB or
CIS250		 Business Systems Analysis and Design or Object-Oriented Analysis and Design or Management of Information Systems 3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS190 or
CNT140AB or
MST140		 Introduction to Networking or Introduction to Networks or Microsoft Networking Essentials 3–4
RE Restricted Elective 3

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
HU Any approved general education course in the Humanities and Fine Arts area HU 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3

Restricted Electives

Students may not use courses from the Required Courses Area.

A list of additional, alternative, or supplemental courses for this pathway map
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS151 Computer Game Development -Level I 3
CIS156 Python Programming: Level I 3
CIS159 Visual Basic Programming I 3
CIS162++ Any C Programming: Level I course 3
CIS163AA Java Programming: Level I CS 3
CIS165++ Any Mobile Application Development course 3
CIS224 Project Management Microsoft Project for Windows 3
CIS251 Computer Game Development - Level II 3
CIS259 Visual Basic Programming II 3
CIS262++ Any C Programming: Level II Course 3
CIS263AA Java Programming: Level II 3
CIS265 Advanced iOS Application Development 3
GBS211 Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues of the Internet Studies 3

Programming Language 

Select a programming language from below that best aligns with academic and professional goals (2 courses for a total of 6 credits) in one of the following areas: 

CIS159 Visual Basic Programming I  AND 
CIS259 Visual Basic Programming II  OR 

CIS162++ Any C Programming: Level I course AND 
CIS262++ Any C Programming: Level II course OR 

CIS163AA Java Programming: Level I AND
CIS263AA Java Programming: Level II OR 

CIS165++ Any Mobile Application Development course AND 
CIS265 Advanced iOS Application Development 

Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • G = Global Awareness
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • MA = Mathematics
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=183970).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.