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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
2025-2026
Effective Term
Fall 2025
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
- Analyze business requirements using critical thinking skills.
- Use computer systems and networks in a responsible and ethical manner.
- Design, develop and implement database solutions to effectively manage data.
- Develop and implement well-structured computer programs that solve business problems.
- Utilize the software development lifecycle for application development.
- Test and debug computer programs.
- Leverage the functions and architecture of an operating system to achieve business objectives.
- Communicate professionally in formal and informal situations to diverse audiences.
- Write effective documentation according to industry standards.
- Collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
- Apply an understanding of characteristics and principles of business processes to software application development.
- Design web-based applications using client-side and server-side scripting.
- Develop a project scope while considering factors such as customer requirements, project costs, return on investment, and internal/external business objectives.
Career Statistics
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 Arizona-based 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
* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources
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
| 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 | View requisites | Critical course Gateway course Recommend CIS150AB for iOS Application Development | 3 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | View requisites | 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
| 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 | View requisites | MA or MA or MA | 3–5 | |
| CRE101 | College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking | View requisites | L | 0–3 | |
| ENG102 or ENG108 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | View requisites | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
| CIS119DO or CIS276DA or CIS276DB |
Introduction to Oracle: SQL or MySQL Database or SQL Server Database | View requisites | 3 |
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
| 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 | View requisites | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | |
| CIS190 or CNT140AB or MST140 |
Introduction to Networking or Introduction to Networks or Microsoft Networking Essentials | View requisites | 3–4 | ||
| CIS225 or CIS225AB or CIS250 |
Business Systems Analysis and Design or Object-Oriented Analysis and Design or Management of Information Systems | View requisites | 3 | ||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| SQ or SG | Natural Sciences | 4 |
Restricted Electives
Students may not use courses from the Required Courses Area.
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS151 | Computer Game Development -Level I | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS156 | Python Programming: Level I | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS159 | Visual Basic Programming I | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS162++ | Any C Programming: Level I course | 3 | |||
| CIS163AA | Java Programming: Level I | View requisites | CS | 3 | |
| CIS165++ | Any Mobile Application Development course | 3 | |||
| CIS224 | Project Management Microsoft Project for Windows | 3 | |||
| CIS251 | Computer Game Development - Level II | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS259 | Visual Basic Programming II | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS262++ | Any C Programming: Level II Course | 3 | |||
| CIS263AA | Java Programming: Level II | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS265 | Advanced iOS Application Development | View requisites | 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
| 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
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS150 or CIS150AB |
Programming Fundamentals or Object-Oriented Programming Fundamentals | View requisites | Critical course Gateway course Recommend CIS150AB for iOS Application Development | 3 | |
| ENG101 or ENG107 |
First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL | View requisites | FYC or FYC | 3 |
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 | View requisites | MA or MA or MA | 3–5 |
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 | View requisites | FYC or FYC | 3 |
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 | View requisites | L | 0–3 | |
| CIS119DO or CIS276DA or CIS276DB |
Introduction to Oracle: SQL or MySQL Database or SQL Server Database | View requisites | 3 |
Term 6
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 | |||
| Programming Language | Programming language level II | 3 |
Term 7
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS166++ | Any Web Scripting course | 3 | |||
| SQ or SG | Natural Sciences | 4 |
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 | View requisites | 3 |
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 | View requisites | 3–4 | ||
| RE | Restricted Elective | 3 |
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 | View requisites | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 |
Restricted Electives
Students may not use courses from the Required Courses Area.
| Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CIS151 | Computer Game Development -Level I | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS156 | Python Programming: Level I | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS159 | Visual Basic Programming I | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS162++ | Any C Programming: Level I course | 3 | |||
| CIS163AA | Java Programming: Level I | View requisites | CS | 3 | |
| CIS165++ | Any Mobile Application Development course | 3 | |||
| CIS224 | Project Management Microsoft Project for Windows | 3 | |||
| CIS251 | Computer Game Development - Level II | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS259 | Visual Basic Programming II | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS262++ | Any C Programming: Level II Course | 3 | |||
| CIS263AA | Java Programming: Level II | View requisites | 3 | ||
| CIS265 | Advanced iOS Application Development | View requisites | 3 | ||
| GBS211 | Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues of the Internet Studies | 3 |
Footnote
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=16453228).
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.
Previous Catalog Years
The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.
Previous catalog years for Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Programming and Systems Analysis