Applications and Information Systems AS Degree

The Associate's degree in Applications and Information Systems (AIS) prepares students to either enter the workforce as an entry-level office and/or project manager or pursue a bachelor's degree in business and information systems.

Students who choose not to major in Application Information Systems or as Business Information Worker and/or specialist find that coursework in the field can improve their abilities in several ways: to think analytically, solve problems, organize thoughts and information, and utilize new technology more efficiently and effectively. AIS classes also provide the combination of technical skills and business skills required for success in an entry level office/administrative assistant position. The coursework also lays the foundation for careers in medical, insurance, and law office positions.

Our discussions with industry representatives indicate that in today’s world employers expect and demand a certain minimum of computer skills as a given, much as they expect an employee to be able to read, write, and use basic math. College of the Desert’s AIS curriculum includes course offerings that provide a general overview of the discipline, as well as courses dealing with more advanced software concepts and tools used in the business environment.

In addition to the immediate employment benefits of certificates and associate degrees, coursework at College of the Desert prepares the way for further study at the Baccalaureate level within the California State Universities and University of  California systems, and other colleges nationwide.

After the program is fully established we should have interest from students that will be seeking employment within multiple industries. This Associates Degree will house the BIW and BIW-Manager certificate. Those program replace the old Admin Assistant and Admin Professional certificates. The Associates will also house three more programs that are currently being developed, the BI Market Specialist, BI Medical Billing Specialist and the BI Legal Office Specialist.

The Associates Degree will offer a step up solution to all those programs. It will take advantage of the current demand of the old Office Admin programs and will create new demand from people in the Specialists programs.  The expectation is to have from 60 to 100 completers a year, for the first couple of years, then a substantial increase will be expected after that.

The Applications and Information Systems AS Degree prepares students to apply commonly used computer applications to business tasks; for example, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, databases, email, Internet research, and content management.  Emphasis is on the use of computer systems to collaborate with others to solve business problems.

 The student will learn the fundamental skills needed to find employment in multiple business and office environments. The program leads to job opportunity in a variety of settings. Our courses place emphasis on learning to apply commonly used computer applications to business tasks, researching and organizing information, and coordinating schedules and calendars. Additionally, the student can concentrate in developing specialized occupational skills unique to particular offices in the business field.

The Applications and Information Systems Associates degree will require 16 units related to technology applications. Then the student gets to choose 24 units of elective course work from different industries in which they can use their information management skills.

Required Major:                                                                              16 units

Elective Courses                                                                              24 units

Completion of Local GE or CSU GE or IGETC pattern:                18 units

Transferable elective (as needed to reach 60 units)

Kinesiology Activities                                                                        2 units

DEGREE TOTAL:                                                                              60 units