Major in CIS - Computer Information Science Degree Program

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
GMercyU is excited to offer this AI and ML degree, one of the first in the Philadelphia region. This in-demand concentration will prepare students for success in one of the hottest fields in computing. Through robust instruction in programming and algorithms, students will prepare to become artificial intelligence engineers, ready to develop, test, and implement AI models that will enable machines to run autonomously and mimic human behavior.

In addition to practical hands-on learning, students will be introduced to the ethical challenges these powerful technologies yield so they can become responsible innovators of future AI technologies. Learn more about the concentration (include our cyberdog) here.

Job growth for information security analysts is projected to soar through 2028 by 28.5%, with a median annual salary of more than $96,700, Burning Glass Technologies reports. GMercyU’s Cybersecurity/Computer Forensics option will provide the training necessary for you to compete in this growing field.

From UX/UI web design to interactive multimedia and mobile app development, a concentration in Web Design & Multimedia will help you develop the skills you need to land a position in this growing field. According to Burning Glass Technologies, UX/UI designers earn a median annual salary of $98,500 in the U.S.

When you pursue a BS degree in Computer Information Science at GMercyU, you will enjoy small classes, lots of hands-on experience, and mentorship from dedicated faculty who bring real-world experience and connections to the classroom.

As a GMercyU CIS major, you can:

Take advantage of CIS Certifications Bootcamps where students can pursue certifications specific to their desired career objectives such as AccessData’s Forensic Toolkit (FTK), Linux, CISCO, and CompTIA.  

In our new Artificial Intelligence Lab, students can work with faculty to learn about automation and build machines that think. The lab features the latest technologies, including Alienware computers. Use the Innovation Research Lab to perform hands-on research in human computer interaction, digital forensic analysis, or software development. In the Hacking & Countermeasures Lab — a safe, hands-on environment — students learn the techniques hackers use and how to detect, mitigate, and secure against cyberattacks. 

Participate in hands-on team projects. For example, CIS Web Design II students created GMercyU’s “Rand the Unmanned Instagram Bot” in winter 2020. The "RandBot" scraped the most popular Instagram hashtags and posted them to the Bot’s Twitter account real time. The project successfully demonstrated a program that automates web applications, called Selenium.

Learn current programming languages to add to your future resume:

• Python
• R Programming
• C++
• C#
• Java
• JavaScript
• SQL
• HTML and CSS

Present your own research at GMercyU’s annual University Research Conference!

Planning to earn a master's degree after you graduate? GMercyU CIS majors have the unique opportunity to earn one of these two master's degrees in less time, with 9 credits already completed. 

Learn how to connect the dots between your GMercyU experiences and your future aspirations, so you can ace future job interviews and launch a successful career. We call that The Griffin Edge. 

In addition to completing your general education courses, you will need to complete the following curriculum for CIS majors.

Major Requirements – 45 Credits

Computer Science Concentrations

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Concentration – 15 Credits

Cybersecurity/Computer Forensics Concentration – 15 Credits

Web Design & Multimedia Concentration - 15 Credits

Credit Requirement

A minimum of 120 credits is required to complete your Bachelor’s Degree in CIS. See the undergraduate catalog for more information and course descriptions.

Undergraduate Minors
Increase the value of your degree as a digital communication major by adding an undergraduate minor that best suits your personal and professional goals.

Wondering what your classes will look like as a computer information science major? Here are just a few GMercyU CIS Program courses:

CIS 100 Inside the Laptop
This course is designed as a general education course for students who are not currently computer information science majors but find technology interesting enough that they would enjoy exploring it further. Learn how computing evolved and how an email you send from your laptop can travel across the globe in mere seconds. This course will cover computer hardware and the software that enables humans to interact with machines. Students will learn basic computing math, coding, and will even work in groups to create their own AI (Artificial Intelligence) chatbot. If you ever wanted to take a computer apart to see how it works - this course is for you. (Not required for CIS majors.)

CIS 115 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
This course introduces students to the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and data mining. By examining how datasets from mined information are harnessed for machine learning, students will gain a deeper understanding of how artificial intelligence can be utilized. AI is presently being used in everyday applications such as Gmail, Siri, and Netflix. From self-powered automobiles and military drones, to marketing research and fraud monitoring, this course will examine the history, present day use, and future of artificial intelligence. Topics discussed include autonomous machines, privacy, ethics, data analytics, neural networks, singularity, and quantum computing.

CIS-241 Cybersecurity  
Technology is growing at a rapid pace and, unfortunately, most devices with connectivity capabilities are developed and marketed too hastily. Security is an afterthought, if it is even considered at all. This course will introduce students to the interdisciplinary field of cybersecurity. By examining current and emerging technologies and events through selected readings, students will explore the vulnerabilities and risks these technologies introduce into our lives. Topics include the Internet of things (IoT), cybercrime, cyberwarfare, and cyberterrorism. This course is open to all majors. No technical background required.

CIS 299 (Special Topics) CIS Advanced Bootcamp
A certification is a credential that you earn to show that you have specific skills or knowledge. A certificate recognizes achievement and certifies a skill or qualification. In this CIS Special Topics course students will work on earning certificates and certifications relevant to their specific career goals. Certifications and certificates are becoming the norm in many job descriptions today as organizations seek quantifiable ways of measuring prospective employees’ expertise. By the end of this class, each student should have approximately seven certificates or certifications to add to their resume. Prerequisite: CIS Major, Any CIS course

CIS-311 Application and Embedded ML  
In this course students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI and robotics. Using current open-source technologies students will create a program that will be executed by a small-scale robot. Students will evaluate and apply various algorithms in order to gain a better understanding of the complexity surrounding autonomous applications. 

CIS 437 (Special Topics) Programming for Game Design
This course provides students with an opportunity to apply the programming skills they learned in the classroom to game design and development. Students will learn game design concepts such as mechanics, constructs, the rules behind different types of games, multi-dimensional design forms, and what makes a compelling game. This course will examine the end-user experience and how artificial intelligence cane be used to generate responsive, adaptive, or intelligent behaviors. Students will collaborate in small groups to develop a game concept, bring their concept and design to life, and market the completed project. Also discussed are the importance of effective game designs and proposal documents. Prerequisite: 200-Level of above programming class or permission of the instructor.

For all CIS course descriptions, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.

Catch up on recent program news below!

CIS Program Introduces First Artificial Intelligence Concentration Cohort

CIS Adjunct Professor Publishes Book About His Career as an FBI Agent

CIS Adjunct Professor Howard Knorr Honored with School of Arts and Sciences for Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching
The winner of this award is chosen by students from the School of Arts and Sciences

Two GMercyU CIS Students Receive Clare Boothe Luce Research Award

Demystifying Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

CIS Majors Become Hackers in a Thrilling Virtual “Capture the Flag” Challenge

[Campus Conversations] Welcome to the Machine: Racism in Artificial Intelligence

CIS Major Sydney Robinson Awarded STEM Scholarship

CIS Professor Cindy Casey featured on PBS

Cindy Casey, PhD
Position: Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor, Computer Information Science
Did You Know? Casey recently earned her Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence. She has received multiple accolades for her research in digital forensics and cybersecurity, and she has consulted for law enforcement as well as the private sector.
Read bio

Gregg Starynski, MsEd
Position: Professor of Practice, Computer Information Science
Did You Know? Starynski has 39 years of experience working as an engineer for the Department of Navy.
Read bio

Dina Abudaih, MS
Position: Adjunct Professor, Computer Information Science
Did You Know? Abudaih's teaching approach accommodates diverse learners and encourages group collaboration, creativity, and a contemporary learning environment.
Read bio

Internship and employment opportunities for GMercyU's computer science college students are plentiful. Places students have interned or worked in the past include:

• Blue Cross Insurance
• Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical
• GMercyU’s Office of IT
• Gwynedd Mercy Academy
• Hewlett Packard Computers
• IBM
• L’Oréal Cosmetics
• Lockheed-Martin Aerospace
• McNeil Laboratories Pharmaceutical
• Merck & Company Pharmaceuticals
• Nationwide Insurance
• Noetic Software Corporation
• Pennsylvania Sibling Support Network
• Procter & Gamble
• Rohm & Hass Chemical
• Siemens
• Social Security Administration
• UNISYS
• U.S. Navy
• Vanguard

CIS majors can also serve as volunteer mentors for the high school students who are members of GMercyU’s Girls Who Code after-school program. The mission of Girls Who Code is to close the gender gap in technology where females are underrepresented.

The club meets on campus once a week.

Technology skills – combined with GMercyU’s emphasis on “soft skills” employers want (communication, critical thinking, problem-solving) – can help you thrive an industry of well-paid, in-demand jobs.

Top Jobs for CIS Majors

Information Security Analyst

In 2024, U.S. News ranked this job as the #7 in 100 Best Jobs, #6 in Best STEM Jobs, and #3 in Best Technology Jobs.
Description: Spend your days fighting cybercrime. Protect an organization’s databases by designing and implementing secure systems and responding to threats.
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree.
Average Salary: In 2023, median annual salary was $120,360, with the top 10% earning more than $182,370. 
Source

Machine Learning Engineer

The job site Indeed ranked Machine Learning Engineers as its #8 best job of 2023.
Description: Launch your career in artificial intelligence by creating self-running software that is built to improve itself as it “learns” from its own results. 
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree; more senior roles may require an advanced degree.
Average Salary: In 2023, the average salary is $119,282. 

Mobile Application Developer

Description: Create new game-changing apps for smart phones and tablets! With a projected 18% increase in job growth through 2033 (more than four times the national average) software developer careers have phenomenal potential.
Degree Requirements: A bachelor’s degree.
Average Salary: In 2023, the median annual pay was $132,270 with the top 10% earning more than $208,620. 
Source

More Possible Careers for Computer Information Science Majors

• Analyst / Programmer
• Applications Programmer
• Artificial Intelligence Programmer
• Biometrician / Biostatistician
• Computer Aided Designer Software Engineering Specialist
• Computer Animator
• Computer Applications Engineer
• Computer Consultant
• Computer Engineer
• Computer Facilities Manager
• Installation and Test Specialist
• Computer Marketing / Sales
• Computer Operator
• Computer Programmer
• Computer Scientist
• Computer Service Technician
• Computer Systems Analyst
• Data Base Analyst or Manager
• Data Communications Analyst
• Data Control Administrator
• Data Processing Manager
• Database Manager/Administrator
• Distribution Manager
• Educator / Trainer
• End-User Computing Manager
• End-User Technician
• Hardware Salesperson
• Hardware Service Person
• Information Systems Application
• Information Systems Manager
• Internet Developer
• Internet Marketing Analyst
• LAN Manager
• Logistics Manager
• Media Center Manager
• Network Administrator / Manager
• Online Services Manager
• Operating Systems Programmer
• PC Support Specialist
• Software Development Specialist
• Software Package Marketer
• Software Support Specialist
• Software Support Technician
• Systems Administrator
• Systems Analyst Consultant
• Systems Programmer
• Systems Technical Manager
• Technical Sales Representative
• Technical Support Representative
• Technology Consultant
• User Support Analyst
• Web Master

* This is only a partial list and not meant to limit you. Some of these careers may require additional education.

See where cybersecurity talent gaps exist in your area and around the country. The following resource is sponsored by NIST and the U.S Department of Commerce.