Information Systems Management - A.A.S. Degree - Dakota County Technical College | DCTC - a 2-Year Minnesota School Offering Associate Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs to the Twin Cities, MN

Information Systems Management - A.A.S. Degree

This is a suggested sample course sequence.
Please contact your program advisor regarding your academic plans.

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2024-2025 Required Courses

First Year - Fall Semester

Course Title	Credits
ENGL 1150 Composition I ENGL - 1150: Composition I Description ENGL 1150 This course emphasizes the process of writing expository and persuasive essays using effective writing skills and a variety of research techniques. Also included in the course content are critical reading and logical reasoning. Meets MnTC Goal 1. Prerequisite: placement into writing college level. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Summer 2025 MNTC Goals: 1 Course Outline: ENGL1150 — PDF	3
ISTC 1015 Supporting Business Applications ISTC - 1015: Supporting Business Applications Description ISTC 1015 This course prepares IT students to support end users on the Microsoft Office Suite. This course covers basic computer concepts on computer hardware and desktop application software. Students will learn the fundamentals of word processing, database, and spreadsheet and presentation applications. Students will also be introduced to use of the Internet, online collaboration tools, and outlook. The capstone of the course will cover a comprehensive integration with Office applications. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1015 — PDF	3
ISTC 1030 Operating Systems I ISTC - 1030: Operating Systems I Description ISTC 1030 This course covers operating system administration with the use of command line for microcomputers. Topics include booting and configuring the system, the use of internal commands and external commands, file management, networking, and writing of batch files. rerequisites: None Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1030 — PDF	3
ISTC 1045 Network Systems I: Introduction to Networking ISTC - 1045: Network Systems I: Introduction to Networking Description ISTC 1045 This course exposes students to networking concepts, technologies, and typical network administration/analysis duties found in the workplace. Topics covered include communication models, network protocols, IP addressing and subnetting, physical and logical topologies, transmission media, and network hardware. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1045 — PDF	3
ISTC 1300 Introduction to Programming ISTC - 1300: Introduction to Programming Description ISTC 1300 This course provides the beginner programmer with a guide to developing programs using structured programming logic. Analysis, design, coding, testing and debugging will be covered. Programming key points include structured programming, modularized programming, decision-making, looping, arrays, data file utilization, arrays and object-oriented classes. Students will be exposed to procedural and object-oriented programming. Students will be required to generate simple programs for this course. Prerequisites: None. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: ISTC1300 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	15

First Year - Spring Semester

Course Title	Credits
ISTC 1001 Introduction to Information Systems Management *** ISTC - 1001: Introduction to Information Systems Management Description ISTC 1001 This course provides an overview of computer hardware, relational databases, local area networks and programming. Information Systems terminology and industry acronyms associated with data, voice and video are also covered. Prerequisites: None Credits: 2 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1001 — PDF	2
ISTC 1010 Microcomputer Maintenance ISTC - 1010: Microcomputer Maintenance Description ISTC 1010 This course is designed for the PC novice to learn how to maintain, upgrade, and repair personal computers. Participants will remove and replace motherboards, and various input/output devices. Hard drives maintenance procedures (formatting) and loading operating systems will be covered. Prerequisites: None. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1010 — PDF	3
ISTC 1033 Operating Systems II ISTC - 1033: Operating Systems II Description ISTC 1033 This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to install, configure, manage and troubleshoot desktop clients in a network. Lectures, hands-on projects and exercises reinforce skills as they are learned. Specific topic coverage includes: Installing; Using the System Utilities; Managing File Systems and Storage; Users, Groups, Profiles, and Policies; Security and Access Controls; Network Protocols; Printing and Faxing; Performance Tuning; Working with the Registry; Booting Process; Fault Tolerance; Troubleshooting. Prerequisites: Operating Systems I ISTC1030 Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1030 Operating Systems I Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1033 — PDF	3
ISTC 1050 Database Systems ISTC - 1050: Database Systems Description ISTC 1050 This course focuses on the fundamentals of relational databases; their use, design and implementation. The course will include entity-relationship modeling, logical and physical design and normalization. The use of Structured Query Language (SQL) for data manipulation will be emphasized. The course will also cover concepts of client/server, distributed and object-oriented databases, big data security, and data warehousing. Prerequisites: ISTC1015 Supporting Business Applications Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1015 Supporting Business Applications Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1050 — PDF	3
ISTC 1061 Introduction to IT Security ISTC - 1061: Introduction to IT Security Description ISTC 1061 This course is designed to investigate the analysis and implementation of network security policies, procedures and guidelines for establishing, monitoring and controlling methodologies for local and wide area networks. The course covers authentication methods, communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, operational security and firewalls. Prerequisites: ISTC 1045 Network Systems I Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1045 Network Systems I: Introduction to Networking Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1061 — PDF	3
ISTC 1100 Business Communication ISTC - 1100: Business Communication Description ISTC 1100 This course focuses on the foundations of business communication in the Information Systems Industry. The topics will include developing your business writing skills, correspondence, written and oral business reports, employment communication, as well as topics on the social and ethical implications of Information Systems. Prerequisites: ISTC1015 Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1015 Supporting Business Applications Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1100 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	17

Second Year - Fall Semester

Course Title	Credits
COMS 1020 Interpersonal Communication COMS - 1020: Interpersonal Communication Description COMS 1020 This course is intended to increase student's awareness of the processes, models, and theories of interpersonal communication relative to relationships that impact people's personal and professional lives. Through self-analysis and reflection, case studies, practical application, and critical thinking, students will examine the influence of communicative behaviors on themselves, their personal relationships, groups, and society. Concepts include self-esteem, self-fulfilling prophecies, perception, ethics, emotion, conflict, cultural awareness, language, nonverbal communication, social media, and listening. Meets Goal 7. Meets MNTC Goal 1 Fall 2016 and after. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Summer 2025 MNTC Goals: 1,7 Course Outline: COMS1020 — PDF	3
General Education Credits (Any MnTC Goal Area) ‡ GENE - 0000: General Education Credits (Any MnTC Goal Area) Description GENE 0000 Credits: Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: GENE0000 — PDF	6
ISTC 1230 Systems Analysis and Design ISTC - 1230: Systems Analysis and Design Description ISTC 1230 This course provides coverage of systems analysis and design theories and techniques. Both the traditional, structured approach and the object-oriented approach to systems development will be explored. Students will learn the theory of analysis, design and implementation following the guidelines of the Systems Development Life Cycle. Students will demonstrate system modeling with UML. Prerequisite: Introduction to Programming ISTC1300 or equivalent programming experience. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1300 Introduction to Programming Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC1230 — PDF	3
ISTC 2035 Operating Systems III ISTC - 2035: Operating Systems III Description ISTC 2035 In this course, the student is expected to learn the procedures underlying server operating systems. The course will cover network design, installing Servers, configuring and optimizing Servers, managing users and groups, disk quotas, basic and dynamic disks, security, and print management. Prerequisites: ISTC1033 Operating Systems II Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1033 Operating Systems II Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC2035 — PDF	3
ISTC 2066 Firewalls ISTC - 2066: Firewalls Description ISTC 2066 This course is designed for the network administrator who needs to learn the basics of VPN security and network firewalls. Basic installation techniques are covered along with how to make an intelligent choice of firewall technology. Basic firewall troubleshooting is also presented. This course aligns with the CheckPoint CCSA Certification outline. Prerequisites: ISTC1061 Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1061 Introduction to IT Security Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC2066 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	18

Second Year - Spring Semester

Course Title	Credits
ACCT 1010 Principles of Financial Accounting I ACCT - 1010: Principles of Financial Accounting I Description ACCT 1010 This course covers the fundamental accounting concepts and principles which are used in a business environment to provide reports on the economic condition of a sole proprietor organization. The focus will be on the accrual method of accounting, utilizing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to analyze and record transactions. The ultimate objective is to understand the effects of these transactions in order to provide timely and relevant information in the form of financial statements. This course provides detailed information on topics of the accounting cycle, journalizing, posting, trial balances, adjusting entries, financial statements, cash reconciliations and internal control. Credits: 4 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ACCT1010 — PDF	4
ISTC 2040 Database Management ISTC - 2040: Database Management Description ISTC 2040 This course focuses on working with an enterprise-level database management system as well as basic administrative tasks such as installations. The use of Structured Query Language (SQL) will be emphasized as it relates to data definition and data manipulation. Topics also include triggers and stored procedures. Prerequisites: Database Systems ISTC1050. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1050 Database Systems Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC2040 — PDF	3
ISTC 2100 Project Management ISTC - 2100: Project Management Description ISTC 2100 This course will provide fundamentals of planning and managing projects for information system (IS) organization. This includes creating components of a project which will involve schedules, using critical path, assigning resources, and tracking progress. Focus is on topics that are unique to management of projects in an IS department. Prerequisites: ISTC1015 Supporting Business Applications Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1015 Supporting Business Applications Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Course Outline: ISTC2100 — PDF OR ISTC 2970 Internship ISTC - 2970: Internship Description ISTC 2970 This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to work within the Information Technology field. Students are expected to observe and apply all of the technical skills learned thus far in their program. Students are also expected to conduct themselves in a manner that would be expected of a full-time employee of the organization they are working for. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Summer 2025 Course Outline: ISTC2970 — PDF	3
ISTC 2150 Virtualization, Storage, and Cloud Technologies ISTC - 2150: Virtualization, Storage, and Cloud Technologies Description ISTC 2150 This course is designed to provide students with hands-on experience in creating and managing virtualized server environments and high-availability clusters (aka clouds). Topics include hypervisors, virtual machines, PaaS and laaS options, storage-area networks, administration tools, and related technologies Prerequisites- lSTC1061 and ISTC2035 Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1061 Introduction to IT Security ISTC 2035 Operating Systems III Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Fall 2025 Course Outline: ISTC2150 — PDF	3
MATS 1251 Statistics MATS - 1251: Statistics Description MATS 1251 Fundamental principles of inferential statistics are presented in lecture augmented by computer labs using Excel. Essential topics include sampling methods; descriptive statistics; counting and probability; poisson, binomal, normal and other probability distributions; confidence intervals; hypothesis testing; inferences from two samples; correlation and regression. Optional topics include goodness-of-fit and contingency tables; ANOVA; nonparemetrics; and statistical process control. Meets MnTC Goal 4. Prerequisite: Math placement at the introductory college level. Credits: 4 Prerequisites: MATS 0310 Algebra Skills Lab MATS 0640 Mathematical Literacy MATS 0700 Algebra Emporium Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 Summer 2025 MNTC Goals: 4 Course Outline: MATS1251 — PDF OR MATS 1240 Quantitative Reasoning MATS - 1240: Quantitative Reasoning Description MATS 1240 A project-based course using Microsoft Excel, emphasizing conceptual understanding and application of elementary mathematics as it is used and communicated in a variety of everyday contexts (no prior experience with Excel is necessary). Mathematical topics include ratios, rates, percentages, units, descriptive statistics, linear and exponential modeling, correlation, logic, and probability; contexts include (but are not limited to) personal finance and critical examination of current news articles. Written and/or oral presentations will be required. Meets MnTC Goal 4. Prerequisite: Math placement at the introductory college level. Credits: 4 Prerequisites: Please go to E-Services to see Pre-requisites for this course Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 MNTC Goals: 4 Course Outline: MATS1240 — PDF OR MATS 1300 College Algebra MATS - 1300: College Algebra Description MATS 1300 Linear, quadratic, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, and other functions are carefully analyzed, with particular emphasis on graphical transformations (shifting, reflecting, stretching and compressing). Additional topics include matrices and Gaussian elimination; solving complex equations, including those in quadratic form and those that must be solved graphically; variation problems; particle motion; optimization problems; composition and inverse functions; arithmetic and geometric sequences; properties of logarithms and exponential/logarithmic equations; exponential growth and decay. MnTC Goals: Goal 04 - Mathematical/Logical Reasoning Prerequisite: placement into algebra college level. Credits: 4 Prerequisites: MATS 0800 Intermediate Algebra Corequisites: MATS 0795 Support For College Algebra Future Offering: Spring 2025 Summer 2025 MNTC Goals: 4 Course Outline: MATS1300 — PDF OR PHIL 1250 Introduction to Logic PHIL - 1250: Introduction to Logic Description PHIL 1250 Students will learn to identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments in real-world problems using techniques of formal logic. Covered will be inductive and deductive logic, categorical logic, propositional logic, and natural deduction. Techniques of informal logic will not be addressed. See course details in eServices for prerequisite information. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2025 MNTC Goals: 4 Course Outline: PHIL1250 — PDF	3
Technical Electives * TECH - 0000: Technical Electives Description TECH 0000 Credits: Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: TECH0000 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	19

Total Credits:	69

* Select Technical electives from the following subject areas: ( ISTC ).

‡ Select General Education electives from specified MnTC goal area or from any MnTC goals if none specified.

** PHIL1250 is 3 credits. MATS1300, 1240 & 1251 are 4 credits. Students who complete MATS1300, 1240, or 1251 will get 1 credit towards their General Education Elective total.
*** Course only offered once a year. Please see faculty advisor for schedule.