Major Requirements

Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of computer architecture, operating systems and networks.

• Describe the history of computers and computing.
• Explain how a computer represents and transmits information, how a computer's parts and components are organized and interfaced, basic components of an operating system and basic components of local area networks and wide area networks.
• Analyze and design simple circuits using digital electronics and logic gates.
• Describe the structure and organization of a modern microprocessor, and the sequence of operations in a typical instruction execution.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of Assembly Language programming.

Analyze and solve problems using a programming language.

• Develop algorithms and computer programs to solve problems by systematically decomposing a complex programming problem into manageable, well-documented steps that results in a design for the problem solution.
• Demonstrate that the program compiles and executes correctly for a given set of data.
• Demonstrate programming competency in a variety of programming structures, include arithmetic operations, control structures and loops, input/output operations including file I/O, the use of function calls, and the use of arrays and other storage types.
• Debug a program using appropriate debugging strategies.
• Produce a complete set of documentation for the program.

Use mathematical concepts and constructs to express ideas and solve problems in computer science, and to communicate quantitative information.

• Use mathematical ideas to solve problems in computer science and information technology.
• Use mathematical thinking and models, charts, graphs, tables, figures, equations and appropriate technologies to express ideas and concepts.
• Demonstrate an understanding of discrete mathematical concepts used in computing: Articulate and apply the concepts of binary numbers, combinatorics, logic, truth tables, graph theory and algorithms to problems in computer science and information technology.
• Analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others.

Demonstrate effective use of computer-based tools used in the design and creation of interactive applications and electronic media.

• Design, create and edit electronic images, sounds, videos, text and motion.
• Use multimedia authoring tools to design, manage and execute an interactive multimedia project.

Understand the fundamental issues in the development of digital games.

• Describe components of modern digital games components and their relationships.
• Articulate the historical development of video and computer gaming.
• Describe team member roles and tasks within the production process.
• Relationships of conceptual, creative, and technical production process to overall game development.
• Analyze the business, marketing, and industry components of game development.

Develop and produce a computer game.

• Analyze and evaluate the technologies required for game programming.
• Apply programming skills to produce components of digital games.
• Use professional level game development environment in game production.

Design a digital game.

• Articulate how and why digital games are designed.
• Generate an original game idea and produce a detailed design document for it.
• Use game engines and modeling tools to produce components of digital games.

Plan and produce a computer game.

Utilize professional level platforms and tools to produce digital games that meet the user needs and system constraints.

• Evaluate the games produced for usability, playability and accuracy.
• Articulate industry trends in the game industry.
• Write a game development proposal to justify the investment.
• Analyze game designs and select appropriate commercial development systems.
• Collaborate with a team to create a simple yet complete digital game.

Articulate and apply database design concepts and models.

• Describe components of a database management system and how they work together.
• Systematically design appropriate database structure using normalization and data modeling.
• Program using the database query language SQL.
• Articulate the advantages and purpose of databases, the characteristics of database systems, and how to use database systems both interactively and programmatically.
• Illustrate query processing and optimization techniques, transaction management, and storage and file structures.

Describe the basic structure and operation of modern high tech corporations and the information technologies utilized.

• Articulate various systems, techniques, procedures and conventions that are used to define the business and its strategies, services, products, clients and organizational form.
• Describe how information technology are used in business and the trends of the technologies.

Utilize professional level platforms and tools to produce business information systems that meet the user's needs and business constraints.

• Analyze the business problems and select appropriate commercial information systems.
• Evaluate the information system produced for usability, efficiency and accuracy.
• Articulate industry trends in the particular domains.
• Write an information system proposal to justify the investment in system design.

Understand and apply network fundamentals.

• Describe networking standards, concepts, topology and media including LANs, WANs, the OSI model, cabling, IP addressing, sub-netting, network hardware and various protocols.
• Explain networking theory and protocols on common network systems.
• Apply IP routing concepts and router administration, distance vector and link state-based IP routing algorithms, router interfaces, routing tables, and routing protocol configuration and network security concepts.

Apply processes and methods used to create an enterprise network plan.

• Examine inputs, business drivers and deliverables of the planning process.
• Understand practical issues such as information security, business requirements, IT architecture, cost justification, implementation, migration planning and vendor selection.
• Manage data, voice and video communications.
• Apply industry standard products to manage and control digital networks.

Use professional level programming tools to produce network designs.

• Apply routing and raw sockets, RPC and shared memory.
• Produce software that focuses on network programming in the context of network protocol development and implementation (e.g., SNMP, ICMP, routing, multicasting, ARP, etc.), and distributed services and 'system-level' applications such as client-server and peer-to-peer applications, distributed file systems and name services.

Analyze and practice system administration processes for enterprise-level information systems.

• Demonstrate setup, configuration and maintenance of Linux/UNIX servers
• Apply system security, shell scripts and server backups.
• Describe best practice in system administration including security policies and communication strategies with users.

Apply appropriate data structures and tools in the design of software.

• Articulate and apply object-oriented programming concepts, recursion, lists, queues, searching and sorting algorithms and asymptotic notations to provide solutions to practical computing problems.

Apply programming skills to a specialized application.

• Utilize professional level platforms and tools to produce software systems that meet specified user needs and constraints.
• Evaluate the software system produced for usability, efficiency and accuracy.
• Articulate industry trends in the particular domains.

Analyze and apply appropriate algorithms to computing problems.

• Articulate algorithm development criteria.
• Analyze algorithms for their spatial and temporal efficiency.
• Develop new algorithms or improve existing ones to address specific computing problems.

Demonstrate the ability to analyze, plan and produce a complete software application.

• Articulate the software system development life cycle and its characteristics.
• Apply best practices regarding project management.
• Analyze needs and constraints of complex software system design.
• Write a project proposal, a project report and an operating manual.
• Collaborate with team members to implement a large software system.
• Understand and apply modern software production practice and tools such as component-based programming, integrated development environment, version control and testing.

Demonstrate the ability to combine knowledge in the discipline and community experiences to finish a community-based project.

• Demonstrate an understanding of a community problem and a need for sevice and/or support.
• Apply the skills and knowledge developed in the curriculum to make a meaningful contribution to the solution of the problem.

Demonstrate professional communication skills in written and oral form.

• Compose a capstone proposal with background research, methods, details description of implementation steps, budget, schedule, risks and evaluation plan.
• Present the background, methods, requirements, process and conclusion of the capstone project clearly in written and oral formats.

Create a comprehensive project according to an approved set of specifications that represents the culmination of CSUMB experiences in the major and showcases an achievement of professional level work.

• Complete a capstone project proposal that conforms to the ITCD capstone specifications.
• Finish the capstone project according to the proposal.
• Apply basic project management skills.
• Evaluate the solution according to a specified set of criteria.

Demonstrate breadth of knowledge outside of selected concentration of CSIT.