Course Description:  Computer terminology, hardware, software, operating systems, and information systems relating to the business environment will be covered.  The main focus of this course is on business applications of software, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation graphics, and business-oriented utilization of the Internet.

Pre-requisite:  E - Reading and Writing. 

Instructional Methodology:  This course will have materials on blackboard. 

Course Rationale:  This course is designed to teach students the theoretical approach to information technology and management information systems within a business/computer science environment.  Practical business computer applications will emphasize word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, and electronic commerce of the Internet.  Since this course is designed to transfer into a bachelor degree program, check with your degree plan as to what computer science course your college requires. 

Course Objectives / Learning Outcomes:
 

• Gain familiarity with the concepts and terminology used in the development, implementation and operation of business application systems.
• Explore various methods that Information Technology can be used to support existing businesses and strategies.
• Investigate emerging technology in shaping new processes, strategies and business models.
• Achieve hands-on experience with productivity/application software to enhance business activities.
• Accomplish projects utilizing business theories, Internet resources and computer technology.
• Work with simple design and development tasks for the main types of business information systems.

SCANS Competencies:  

Competencies have been identified that are relevant to the level of instruction in the community college environment.  These competencies reflect the knowledge and skills employees need to succeed in any occupation.  This course will expose the student to the concepts and application of the following competencies:

• Students select relevant goal-related activities, rank them in order of importance, allocate time to these activities, and understand, prepare and follow schedules.
• Students acquire and evaluate information.
• Students organize and maintain information.
• Students interpret and communicate information.
• Students use computers to process information.
• Students contribute to group effort.
• Students work well with men and women from diverse backgrounds.
• Students know how social, organizational and technological systems work and operate effectively with them.
• Students understand overall intent and proper procedure for setup and operation of equipment.
• Students locate, understand, and interpret written information in prose and in documents such as manuals, graphs, and schedules.
• Students receive, attend to, interpret, and respond to verbal messages and other cues.
• Students specify goals and constraints, generate alternatives, consider risks, and evaluate and chooses best alternative.
• Students recognize problems and devise and implement plan of action.
• Students organize and process symbols, pictures, graphs, objects, and other information.
• Students use efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills.
• Students discover a rule or principle underlying the relationship between two or more objects an apply it when solving a problem.
• Students exert a high level of effort and persevere towards goal attainment.
• Students believe in own self-worth and maintain a positive view of self.
• Students demonstrate understanding, friendliness, adaptability, empathy, and politeness in group settings.
• Students assess self accurately, set personal goals, monitor progress, and exhibit self-control.
• Students choose ethical courses of action.

Approved Course Texts:

Textbook:

Management Information Systems for the Information Age 8^thEdition,

Haag and Cummings, McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2010.  (ISBN 978-0-07-337678-3)

Lab Manual:

Office 2007, Marquee Series, Brief Edition – Windows XP,

Rutkosky and Seguin, EMC Paradigm, 2008. (ISBN 978-0-76382-959-9)

Grade Policy:

Grade will be assigned based both on concepts and practical application. Exams and lab projects will make up the grade.  An overall grade will be assigned on the following grading scale:

90%  - 100%   (900 points and above)              A

80%  -  89%    (800 – 899 points)                      B

70%  -  79%    (700 – 799 points)                      C

60%  -  69%    (600 – 699 points)                      D

 0%   -  59%    (599 points and below)              F

Each student’s grade for this course consists of 4 exams (80%), and Microsoft Office Lab exercises (20%). 

You should take the exams no later than the listed dates (schedule is located at the end of this document). Exams may be taken any time before these dates. Exams consist of fifty multiple-choice questions worth 4 points each. Contact the instructor if you will be unable to complete any of the exams by the deadline. Failure to complete exams and not contacting the instructor subjects you to withdrawal from the course.

You may retest once and only once on each exam.

There are two sets of questions for each exam: Form A and Form B. If you retest you must take a different form of the exam. When you go to retest, state that you are retesting and the form which you have previously taken. You may retest on an exam on or before the deadline to take the exam, although you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. If you miss the test deadline you will be able to test but not retest.  You must take the exam that you missed at the Rio Grande testing center. The testing centers will not allow you to test and then retest on the same day.  You MUST show your Student ID and a picture ID at a Testing Center in order to take an exam.  In order to make the retesting option more beneficial, it is recommended that you come by and go over the initial test before retesting.

Laboratory Assignments

You will be required to complete twelve (12) laboratory assignments using the lab manual during the semester (more information and a schedule are located at the end of this document).  You may the ACC computer labs (www.austincc.edu/cit/labs) or you may use your own computer or a computer to which you have access, as long as the computer has the Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).  In order to accomplish these assignments you will need to work through the entire lab manual.  

Course/Class Policies:

Academic Integrity

            A student is expected to complete his or her own projects and tests.  Students are responsible for observing the policy on academic integrity described in the current ACC Student Handbook, under “Student Discipline Policy, Section C”.

            “Acts prohibited by the college for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.  Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their own thought, research or self-expression.  Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework”. 

            The penalty accessed will be in accordance with the current ACC Student Handbook policy.  See http://www.austincc.edu/handbook/policies3.phpfor more information.

Incomplete

            A student may receive a temporary grade of “I” (Incomplete) at the end of the semester only if ALL of the following conditions are satisfied:

1.   The student is unable to complete the course during the semester due to circumstances beyond their control.

2.   The student must have earned at least half of the grade points needed for a “C” by the end of the semester.

3.   The request for the grade must be made in person at the instructor’s office and necessary documents completed.

4.   To remove an “I”, the student must complete the course by two weeks before the end of the following semester.  Failure to do so will result in the grade automatically reverting to an “F”.
 

Freedom of Expression Policy

            It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others when expressed.

Withdrawal

It is the student’s responsibility to complete a Withdrawal Form in the Admissions Office if they wish to withdraw from this class.  The last date to withdraw for this semester is November 18, 2010.  It is not the responsibility of the instructor to withdraw the students from their class.

ALERT:  New state law for new students.  No more than six course withdrawals throughout your undergraduate education, regardless of how many colleges you attend.  Students who entered college before fall 2007 are not affected.  Ask a counselor for details.

Students with Disabilities

            Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.  Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to make this request three weeks before the start of the semester.  (Refer to the current ACC Student Handbook).

Communication

            The ACC online Blackboard system http://acconline.austincc.eduwill be used as the official communication system during this semester.  PowerPoint lecture notes, handouts, changes to course schedule or assignments and your grades will be posted on this system.  All students are expected to check this system on a regular basis.    For information on how to log onto Blackboard please visit the following site http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/stlogin.html

Business Computer Applications

Course Schedule and topics– Due Dates

• The lab activities are all the ”Skills Assessments” from the back of each section (Integrated Programs Activity are the SKILLS REVIEW activities).  Instead of printing submit the final version of each activity via the Assignments page on blackboard.

Extra Credit Opportunities

are available.  They consist of completing selected Group Project Cases from the back of the book.  The amount of extra credit varies by case.  The total amount of extra credit that can be earned is 100 points. For more information and to submit extra credit see Extra Credit on the Assignments page in blackboard.  Extra Credit may be turned in any time during the semester but must be turned in no later than December 12, 2010.