Software Development - 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

Software Development - A.A.S. Degree

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

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2023-2024 Required Courses

First 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: Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Summer 2024 MNTC Goals: 1,7 Course Outline: COMS1020 — PDF	3
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. Prerequisites: See course details in eServices for prerequisite information. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: Please go to E-Services to see Pre-requisites for this course Corequisites: None Future Offering: Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Summer 2024 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: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 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: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 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: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 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: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Course Outline: ISTC1300 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	18

First Year - Spring Semester

Course Title	Credits
General Education Credits (Any MnTC Goal Area) ‡ (Any MnTC Goal Area)" aria-hidden="true"> GENE - 0000: General Education Credits (Any MnTC Goal Area) Description GENE 0000 Credits: Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: GENE0000 — 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: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 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: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 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 ISTC 1045 Network Systems I: Introduction to Networking Corequisites: None Future Offering: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 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 and Accuplacer Reading score of at least 70. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ENGL 0140 Developing College Writing Skills ENGL 1150 Composition I ISTC 1015 Supporting Business Applications READ 0110 College Reading Boost READ 0140 Developing College Reading Skills Corequisites: None Future Offering: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Course Outline: ISTC1100 — PDF	3
ISTC 1510 Web Programming I ISTC - 1510: Web Programming I Description ISTC 1510 This course covers skills used to create web pages with a focus on client-side technologies, including such topics as cascading style sheets (CSS), HTML, and JavaScript. Prerequisites: ISTC1300 Introduction to Programming Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1300 Introduction to Programming Corequisites: None Future Offering: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Course Outline: ISTC1510 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	18

Second Year - Fall Semester

Course Title	Credits
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: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Course Outline: ISTC1230 — PDF	3
ISTC 2110 Web Programming II ISTC - 2110: Web Programming II Description ISTC 2110 This course covers skills used to create dynamic web applications with focus on server-side technologies. Students will learn how to use server-side programming languages to access SQL databases to create dynamic and persistent web applications. Prerequisite: ISTC1510 Web Programming I Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1510 Web Programming I Corequisites: None Future Offering: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Course Outline: ISTC2110 — PDF	3
ISTC 2320 .NET I (Only offered once a year. Please see faculty advisor for schedule.) ISTC - 2320: .NET I Description ISTC 2320 This course will introduce the student to the .NET application development environment. The student will learn the .NET tools to create applications that correspond to Windows standards. Topics covered include data controls, reports, multiple-document applications, file processing, elementary database interfacing (ADO.NET), and web applications (ASP.NET). The major focus of the course will be on object-oriented topics such as classes, constructors, inheritance, and polymorphism used in the context of creating Graphical User Interface (GUI) intense programs. Prerequisites: Introduction to Programming ISTC1300 or equivalent programming experience. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1300 Introduction to Programming Corequisites: None Future Offering: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Course Outline: ISTC2320 — PDF	3
ISTC 2330 Cross-Platform Web Application Development (Only offered once a year. Please see faculty advisor for schedule.) ISTC - 2330: Cross-Platform Web Application Development Description ISTC 2330 This course is designed to introduce students to the concepts of cross-platform application development utilizing web technologies. Students will build web applications that can be deployed to various mobile and desktop operating systems. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 1510 Web Programming I Corequisites: None Future Offering: Fall 2023 Course Outline: ISTC2330 — PDF	3
MATS 1251 Statistics (see footnote below) 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: MATS0700 or see course details in eServices for more prerequisite information. Credits: 4 Prerequisites: Please go to E-Services to see Pre-requisites for this course Corequisites: None Future Offering: Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Summer 2024 MNTC Goals: 4 Course Outline: MATS1251 — PDF OR MATS 1240 Quantitative Reasoning (see footnote below) 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: MATS0700 See course details in eServices for more prerequisite information. Credits: 4 Prerequisites: Please go to E-Services to see Pre-requisites for this course Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 MNTC Goals: 4 Course Outline: MATS1240 — PDF OR MATS 1300 College Algebra (see footnote below) 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 Prerequisites: MATS 0800 or 0700 with MATS 0795 or see course details in eServices for more prerequisite information. Credits: 4 Prerequisites: Please go to E-Services to see Pre-requisites for this course Corequisites: MATS 0795 Support For College Algebra Future Offering: Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Summer 2024 MNTC Goals: 4 Course Outline: MATS1300 — PDF OR PHIL 1250 Introduction to Logic (see footnote below) 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. Prerequisites: recommended placement assessment score. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: Please go to E-Services to see Pre-requisites for this course Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 MNTC Goals: 4 Course Outline: PHIL1250 — PDF	3
Technical Electives certificate dependent TECH - 0000: Technical Electives Description TECH 0000 Credits: Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: TECH0000 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	18

Second Year - Spring Semester

Course Title	Credits
General Education Credits (Any MnTC Goal Area) ‡ (Any MnTC Goal Area)" aria-hidden="true"> GENE - 0000: General Education Credits (Any MnTC Goal Area) Description GENE 0000 Credits: Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: GENE0000 — 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: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 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: Summer 2023 Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Summer 2024 Course Outline: ISTC2970 — PDF	3
ISTC 2610 Web Programming III (Only offered once a year. Please see faculty advisor for schedule.) ISTC - 2610: Web Programming III Description ISTC 2610 This course focuses on capstone web project development. Students will be completing a capstone project that highlights an interactive web application, using both client and server side technologies. Advanced web development topics will be covered. Prerequisites: ISTC2110 Web Programming II or equivalent programming experience Credits: 3 Prerequisites: ISTC 2110 Web Programming II Corequisites: None Future Offering: Fall 2023 Spring 2024 Course Outline: ISTC2610 — PDF	3
Technical Electives certificate dependent TECH - 0000: Technical Electives Description TECH 0000 Credits: Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: TECH0000 — PDF	6
Total Semester Credits:	15

Total Credits:	69

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

** Students must choose one of the following certificates to complete the Software Development A.A.S.: Desktop Programming or Web Programming.

Please note: ISTC2320, ISTC2330, and ISTC2610 are only offered once a year. Please see faculty advisor for schedule. PHIL1250 is 3 credits. MATS1251, 1300 & 1240 are 4 credits. Students who complete MATS1251,1300 or 1240 will get 1 credit towards their General Education Elective total.