Kuwait University
College of Life Sciences

Information Science Department
ABET Accredited in General Computing

ISC Courses

ISC 100 Fundamentals of Personal Computers (3-2-3)

In this course, students will be exposed to all computer components: Hardware and software. Examination of current information technology application software packages with practical experience of current, popular and commercially available microcomputer application packages for word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations. Students will use such packages to enhance their professional presentation skills.

Prerequisite: ELU 106

Text Book: Go! All in One: Computer Concepts and Applications, 3rd Edition, Shelly Gaskin, Alicia Vargas, Debra Geoghan, Nancy Graviett, Pearson, 2017

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ISC 101 Introduction to Information Systems (3-0-3)

This course will introduce students to a set of techniques and concepts that will be encountered throughout their information education. Topics to be covered will include: information concepts and structures (terminologies, components, and operation of computer systems), history and usage of information systems, the networking and the Internet, database organization and access, programming and development, operating systems, numbering systems, information security, Social, legal, and management information issues.

Prerequisite: ELU 106

Text Book: Fundamentals of Information Systems, 9th Edition, Author: Ralph M Stair and George Reynoolds, Cengage 2017

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ISC 105 Computers and Society (3-0-3)

The focus of this course is on the impact of information technology on the local and global cultures. The course provides the students with the effect of current and emerging technologies on daily lives, social relations, work, and government. Topics covered include: ethical and legal issues (data privacy, intellectual property rights, computer misuse, and freedom of speech on the internet), society and cultural changes, the use of technology to support education, business, communications, and government.

Prerequisite: ELU 106

Text Book: Ethics for the Information Age, Michael J. Quinn, Publisher:Pearson; 7 edition(February 21, 2016)

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ISC 115 Computing Foundations (3-2-3)

The course describes the concepts of programming and problem solving. Topics include the design and analysis of algorithms, number representation, Boolean algebra and computing logic, sets and relations, functions, recursion, sequences and arrays, lists and operation on lists, and simple combinatory.

Prerequisite: CLS 107 and CLS 108

Text Book: Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications, 8/e, Kenneth Rosen, McGraw-Hill

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ISC 210 Computational Methods (3-2-3)

This course focuses on principles of computation theory as means of numerical computation of problems. Different numerical methods are described with. A software package such as Maple, MuPAD or Mathematical is employed in programming problems.

Prerequisite: ISC 115

Text Book: An introduction to numerical methods: a Matlab approach, A. Kharab and R. Guenther,Publisher: CRC Press, 4th edition

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ISC 240 Programming and Problem Solving (3-3-4)

This course is an introduction to problem solving using a computer programming language. A programming language that is high-level, widely used, and modern is covered in this course. Topics include data types, objects, conditional and iterative control, files, and input/output instructions.

Prerequisites: ISC 101 and ISC 115

Text Book: Introduction to Java Programming,Comprehensive Version, 11th Edition, Y. Daniel Liang, Publisher: Pearson; (March 11, 2017)

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ISC 241 Data Structures (3-3-4)

The focus of this course is centered on the object-oriented programming style. The course covers the principles and the major concepts involved in object-oriented programming and the characteristics of object-oriented programming languages. Topics include data structures, sorting and searching algorithms, and basic software development techniques. This course is a continuation of ISC 240.

Prerequisites: ISC 101 and ISC 115

Text Book: Data Structures and Algorithms in Java, Michael T. Goodrich and Roberto Tamassia, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 6th Ed, 2014

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ISC 321 Database Systems I (3-2-3)

The course will explore the practices, issues and theoretical foundations of organizing, analyzing, and managing information and information content for the purpose of designing effective and useful databases. It will introduce students to the fundamentals and principles of database systems, operations of relational models, maintenance, and database design. Topics include database language SQL, constraints in SQL, system aspects of SQL, object-oriented query languages. Students will be able to design a database using a modern DBMS through SQL programming project.

Prerequisite: ISC 241

Text Book: Fundamentals of Database Systems, Elmasri and Navathe, 7th edition, (June 29, 2015), Publisher: Addison-Wesley

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ISC 331 IS Theory and Practice (3-0-3)

This course exposes students to the basics of the Information Systems management tools. It will explore the practices, issues and theoretical foundations of organizing, and planning information and information content for the purpose of providing intellectual access to information resources and decision support. Topics include: Information systems vision, relationship between organizational structure and information systems, Decision Support Systems, information system strategies, the different roles in an information system (information, IT, users, developers, and managers), fundamentals of human-computer interface.

Prerequisite: ISC 240

Text Book: Managing and Using Information Systems: A Strategic Approach, Keri Pearlson and Carol Saunders, Dennis F. Galletta, 7th edition, 2019

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ISC 340 Web Programming (3-3-4)

This course introduces the fundamental concepts and tools for programming Web sites. Topics include the basics of HTML, page creation, forms, Dynamic HTML, SGML and XML.

Prerequisite: ISC 241

Text Book: Internet and World Wide Web: How to Program, H.M. Deitel, Pearson, 5/e, 2012

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ISC 350 Networks & Telecommunication (3-2-3)

This course focuses on the concepts, principles and terminology of data networks and the Internet. Topics include: Telecommunication concepts and practices, Basics of digital and analog data communication, basics of TCP/IP protocol, and the world wide web structure and operation.

Prerequisites: CLS 109, ISC 210, and ISC 241

Text Book: Data Communications and Networking, Behrouz A. Forouzan, 5 Ed., McGraw- Hill, 2012

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ISC 353 Information Security Systems (3-0-3)

This course introduces the fundamentals of computer and information security. The course covers the security issue in different contexts like the standalone PC, the network, and the Internet. Topics include the basics of encryption, firewalls concepts and practices, and the different types of viruses and worms and methods of their detection and destruction.

Prerequisite: ISC 350

Text Book: Security in Computing, Charles Pfleeger & Shari Pfleeger, Jonathan Margulies, Prentice-Hall, Fifth Edition, (Jan. 26 2015)

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ISC 357 Operating Systems and File System Organization (3-2-3)

The main aim of this course is to acquire a systematic knowledge of operating systems and to develop a critical understanding of their purpose, the main concepts, techniques and methods. Topics covered include: processes and threads, scheduling, memory management, file systems, and storage. File organizations and access methods from the operating system, programming language, and information systems design perspectives are also introduced.

Prerequisites: ISC 210 and ISC 241

Text Book: Operating System Concepts by Abrahim Silberschat,Peter B.Galvin, Greg Gagne, John Wiley & Sons, 2017, 10th Edition

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ISC 363 Computer Organization (3-0-3)

This course introduces the building block components of a computer system and their organization. Topics covered are of logic circuits, micro-processor components, microcode, machine language, assembly language, and a survey of different modern processor architectures.

Prerequisites: ISC 210 and ISC 240

Text Book: William Stallings, Computer Organization and Architecture 10th Edition, Pearson, 2015.

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ISC 380 Introduction to Management Information Systems (3-0-3)

This is an introductory course to the relationship between organizations and information systems. The course focuses on the analysis, design, implementation, and management of information systems in an organizational setting. An overview is given of the different roles played to achieve effective information utilization, the role of IT and the role of organization decision makers and staff. The course also gives a survey of advanced systems development technologies for systems design and implementation.

Prerequisite: An accumulated total number of 60 credit hours.

Text Book: Concepts in Enterprise Resource Planning, Ellen F. Monk and Bret J. Wagner, 4th Edition, Cengage Learning, 2012

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ISC 421 Database Systems II (2-3-3)

This course focuses primarily on the fundamental concepts of Oracle. Topics covered in this course include Oracle client/server architecture, and Oracle tools and utilities. The course will cover the Procedural Language PL/SQL for the development of business solutions based on Oracle.

Prerequisite: ISC 321

ISC 423 Internet Databases (3-0-3)

This course describes how databases are employed for the design and implementation of functional Web solutions. Topics in this course a survey of the different e-business solution that require databases with real-life case studies, techniques for storing and organizing information in the database, and connectivity to other web components.

Prerequisite: ISC 321

Text Book: Concepts of Database Management, Joy L. Starks, Philip J. Pratt and Mary Z. Last, Cengage Learning, 9th Edition

ISC 425 Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery I (3-0-3)

This course introduces basic concepts of data warehousing, data mining, and decision support systems. Topics covered in this course include: basic data warehouse architecture, data consolidation, warehouse internals functions such as storage and indexing, and materialized views and aggregate pre-computation.

Prerequisite: ISC 321

ISC 427 Data Warehousing (3-0-3)

The objective of this course is to address the advanced issues of data warehousing.

Prerequisite: ISC 321

ISC 440 Web Programming II (2-3-3)

This course focuses on the advanced programming skills and tools needed for high efficiency applications on the Internet. Topics in this course include advanced JAVA programming including Serves and JAVA Beans. Client-Server model is also covered in principle and as a programming tool.

Prerequisites: ISC 340 and ISC 350

Text Book: Internet and World Wide Web How to Program: International Edition 5e, Harvey M. Deitel, Pa ul J. Deitel and Abby Deitel, Pearson

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ISC 450 Communication Networks I (2-3-3)

This course covers data communication topics including high-speed transmission local area networks like Gigabit Ethernet, frame relay, TCP/IP protocol, and introduction to TCP/IP version 6. Students should be able to conduct a comparative study of available network technologies.

Prerequisite: ISC 350

ISC 453 Mobile and Wireless Networks (3-0-3)

This course examines the fundamental aspects of mobile networks and its different components. Topics include the GSM and 3G standards, the cellular design, and the handoff problem. The course also focuses on the wireless LAN applications, issues, and standards. A detailed coverage of Satellite communication is also included.

Prerequisite: ISC 350

ISC 470 Multimedia Design & Scripting (2-3-3)

This course is focused on real-life multimedia production and authoring tools. Macromedia Director and Macromedia Flash will be used for students design projects, along with other sound, animation, and video tools. Topics covered in this course include: multimedia production process, multimedia authoring tools, and interactivity in multimedia systems, Lingo programming techniques, working with sound and video, animation techniques, and multimedia and the web.

Prerequisites: Department Approval and an accumulated total number of 70 credit hours.

ISC 471 Interactive 3D Graphics Modeling (2-3-3)

The course presents the Fundamentals of 3D modeling, passive or interactive animations, surfacing, and special effects. It provides an understanding of the processes involved in the creation of 3D animation from modeling to rendering, including basics of surfacing, lighting, animation, and techniques for modeling objects as polygonal meshes or smooth surfaces, and as rendering such as hidden-surface removal, shading, illumination, and shadows. The course will also introduce the basics of 3D formats for the web.

Prerequisites: Department Approval and an accumulated total number of 70 credit hours

Text Book: Interactive Computer Graphics - A Top Down Approach with WebGL. 7th Edition. Edward Angel, Dave Shreiner. Pearson Education Limited 2015

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ISC 472 Introduction to VRML (2-3-3)

This course will provide students with the concepts of web-based 3D graphics and to give them sufficient knowledge and experience using 3D principles. Topics include VRML programming language, VRML object creation, interactive to VRML objects, and embedding VRML objects into web sites.

Prerequisites: Department Approval and an accumulated total number of 70 credit hours.

ISC 475 Geographical Information Systems (3-0-3)

This course describes the geographical information systems (GISs). It provides the students with hands on experience using GIS applications through the use of GeoMedia. GeoMedia is a powerful geographical information system that provides both standard and advanced data management features for geographical data storage, manipulation and display. It can be used on a wide variety of computer platforms, and with its GUI feature it makes the data management easier to perform.

Prerequisite: ISC 321

Text Book: Getting to Know ArcGIS, Michael Law and Amu Collins, ESRI Press, 2015/4th Edition

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ISC 480 IS Development (3-2-3)

This course presents the principles and theories of information systems design. It provides an understanding of the system development and modification process. Topics include: System life cycle, Communication and interpersonal skills, Group dynamics, Risk and feasibility analysis, Project management, Specification of the inputs, outputs, processes, files organization of revised and new systems, Quality metrics, Determination of requirements, System development including development steps, tools & issues.

Prerequisite: ISC 321

Text Book: Software Engineering: A Practitioner's Approach, Roger Pressman and Bruce Maxim, McGrawHill 2020, 9th Edition

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ISC 482 Web Management (3-0-3)

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the management and development tools for web projects. Emphasize on efficient management and usage of web related hardware and software in organizations is also stressed. As a course project students will create a commercial Web site where students can practice learned concepts about the design and development of professional Web sites.

Prerequisite: ISC 340

Text Book: Internet and World Wide Web How to Program: International Edition 5e, Harvey M. Deitel, Pa ul J. Deitel and Abby Deitel, Pearson

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ISC 490 Special Topics in Information and Computer Systems (3-0-3)

This course provides an in-depth treatment of one of the new and advanced topics in information and computer systems. Topics to be decided by the instructor.

Prerequisite: Department Approval

ISC 495 Internship (3 credits)

Opportunity for students to gain practical experience of the workplace relevant to their major with employers in the public or private sectors. Internships are intended to match the academic background and strengths of students, their interests and future career ambitions.

Prerequisites: Department Approval and an accumulated total number of 90 credit hours

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ISC 499 Capstone Project (1-6-3)

This course constitutes a capstone design experience in information and computer systems. Typically it would require the student to build on the aggregated knowledge gained in previous years of study. Students will have hand-on experience in designs of real life projects involving software and/or hardware.

Prerequisites: Department Approval and an accumulated total number of 100 credit hours

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ISC 088 Portfolio Review (zero-credits)

The course is a non-credit pass/fail course required of all students. The purpose of this course is to ensure that all students have submitted a portfolio for approval by the department prior to graduation. It may be presented in an electronic format or hard copy. The portfolio may consist of written reflections, problem solving tasks, event participation, and written scholarly works.

Corequisite: ISC 499
Prerequisites: Department Approval and an accumulated total number of 100 credit hours.

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AAD 450 Application of Information Systems in Art (2-3-3)

This course examines and illustrates the common applications and potential use of information systems in the field of art and design. For example, students will design digital art, build e-systems to manage large art databases beside the multimedia programming and applications.

Prerequisites: Department approval and an accumulated total number of 90 credit hours

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FSC 450 Application of Information Systems in Nutrition (3-0-3)

This course examines and illustrates the common applications and potential use of Information Systems in the field of Nutrition. For example, students would study the nutritional make up of certain foods and come up with a system that analyze, then recommend food composition and diet plans.

Prerequisites: Department approval and an accumulated total number of 90 credit hours

Text Book: Introduction to Data Mining 2nd Edition Pang-Ning Tan, Michael Steinbach, Vipin Kuma Press Addison-Wesley

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ETM 450 Application of Information Systems in Environmental Technology Management (3-0-3)

This course examines and illustrates the common applications and potential use of Information Systems in the field of Environmental Technology Management. For example, students would study the levels of environmental data support management, conceptual data modeling for environmental applications, rational database model, integrity and security issues in data management and environmental data management and administration.

Prerequisites: ISC 331, Department approval and an accumulated total number of 90 credit hours

Text Book: Thinking About GIS: Geographic Information System Planning for Managers, Roger Tomplison, 5th edition, ESRI Press, 2013

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CDS 450 Application of Information Systems in Communication Disorders Science (3-0-3)

This course examines and illustrates the common applications and potential use of Information Systems in the field of communication disorder. For example, computer models will build to assist the communication disorder specialist to follow up with the patient and support the training process during the treatment, voice recognition applications will be built and different types of audio digitization and compression will be investigated.

Prerequisites: Department approval and an accumulated total number of 90 credit hours

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