Business Studies: Computer Studies

• I know I want to go into computers, but I don’t know which area. Which degree plan is best for me?
• COSC 1300, ITSC 1401, and BCIS 1405 are all introductory computer classes. Which one should I take?
• How much will it cost me to take courses at Brookhaven College?
• If I take an online course, do I have to come to campus ever?
• Will I be able to find a job after I get my associate’s degree or certificate?
• How do I begin my online course after I enroll?
• Can I look at an online course before I am enrolled?
• Can I buy my books online?

Don’t see your question here? If you have a general question about Brookhaven College or Dallas County Community College District, visit the Get Answers page. If you have a specific question about Brookhaven College computer studies, you can contact any member of the Computer Information Technology / Computer Science faculty.

Q: I know I want to go into computers, but I don’t know which area. Which degree plan is best for me?

A: We offer associate’s degrees in personal computing, networking, software programmer/developer, UNIX and e-commerce. If you would like to learn more about any of them, take a look at the individual Web page for that degree. You can also talk with any of our professors for personal counseling and assistance in selecting a degree. We have some core courses that are required for all of our degree plans. You can take these courses first and see which one you like best before committing to a specific degree plan.

Q: COSC 1300, ITSC 1401, and BCIS 1405 are all introductory computer classes. Which one should I take?

A: It depends on your degree plan as to which course is required.

Enroll in COSC 1300 if you:

• plan to earn an Associate in Arts;
• plan to earn an Associate in Science; or
• don’t want a degree, but plan to transfer this course to a four-year school.

Enroll in BCIS 1405 if you:

• need a business course that will transfer or
• plan to earn an Associate in Applied Sciences or
• plan to earn a certificate with a requirement of BCIS 1405

Enroll in ITSC 1401 if you:

• plan to earn an Associate in Applied Sciences; or
• plan to earn a certificate with a requirement of ITSC 1401.
  Note that ITSC 1401 generally will not transfer to schools outside of the Dallas County Community College District system.

Still not sure? Contact Tarrilynn Wall, Nathaniel Steptoe or Dr. Bill Hammerschlag for assistance in making that determination.

Q: How much will it cost me to take courses at Brookhaven College?

A: Courses at Brookhaven College are an educational bargain. For credit courses, cost per credit hour depends on where you live. For tuition rates, visit the Brookhaven College Catalog tuition page. To determine a course’s credit hours, look at the second digit of the course number. For example, ITNW 1321 Introduction to Networking, is worth three credit hours, while ITSC 2435 Application Problem Solving is worth four credit hours.

Q: If I take an online course, do I have to come to campus ever?

A: None of the computer information technology COSC or BCIS online courses at Brookhaven College requires you to come to campus. You can do all of your coursework, participate in online discussions and chats, post assignments and take your exams online. You can even register for the courses online using eConnect. If you would like to meet with your professor in person or use our lab facilities, you are welcome to do so, but you can complete your online course without ever visiting the Brookhaven College campus.

Q: Will I be able to find a job after I get my associate’s degree or certificate?

A: All of the degree plans at Brookhaven College are designed to provide you with the skills you need to compete in today’s workforce. Your ability to find a job will depend on many things including your performance, the current job market and the specific skill set you have. Brookhaven College has a Career Development Center that will help you search for a job. They provide many services including resume writing, practice interviews, job research, job fairs, etc. For more information, visit the Career Development Center in the Student Services Center, Building S, Room S065; e-mail bhcJobs@dcccd.edu or call 972-860-4894.

Q: How do I begin my online course after I enroll?

A: On or after the start date for your course, go to the eCampus Web site, click on the login link, enter your username and password then click the Login button.

Your eCampus home page will appear and list any courses in which you are enrolled. In your list, click on the name of the course to access your course and associated information.

Orientation for online courses consists of reading the online syllabus at eCampus on or after the course start date. All online students take tests online and submit assignments online through a digital drop box.

If you have trouble logging in, check the online eCampus help for possible solutions or call the student hotline at 972-669-6402.

For any additional help or questions, be sure to call or e-mail your instructor.

Q: Can I look at an online course before I am enrolled?

A: Yes, if the instructor has set the course to allow previews. One week before a course begins, you should be able to preview the course. This allows you to view the syllabus and any other documents the instructor makes available.

A course syllabus contains important information about the course, including the textbooks needed and how grades are assessed.

How to Preview an Online Course as a “Guest”

1. Using Netscape or Microsoft Explorer, go to eCampus.
2. Although the page you see is primarily a login page, you may ignore those functions for now.
3. Instead, look above the larger area with the white background to the row of tabs. Click the tab labeled “Courses.”
4. At the Courses page, any visitor may search using the Course Search and may browse the course catalog.
• Although you may search for a course by name and section number as in COSC-1300-2428, the Course Search is not limited to known course names in the form of AAAA-1111-2222. You may type in a word instead. You might use a word pertaining to the subject matter of the course, for instance “cisco.”
• When using the course name to search, type in the course letters, course number and section number including the hyphens.
  Note: for linked sections – courses in which you enroll as a pair which must be taken together - you must look for the correct, matching section numbers. For instance, ITSC-1401-1234 would be paired with COSC-1300-1234.
• As an alternative to either of the search methods, you may use the Browse the Course Catalog feature found in the right column under Course Catalog.
5. After typing in your search criteria, press the Enter key on your keyboard or click the small icon on the screen labeled “GO!”
6. When your search results appear, look for the correct semester course. For example 2005FA-ITNW-1321-2426 shows the course ITNW-1321-2426 in the fall 2005 semester.
7. Next, look at the right margin of the page. Every course will display the Login button, but many have the Preview button as well. If you see a preview button for the course, you may click it. If you do not see a preview button, the course has not been made available for guest access yet. Try again the following day.
8. On the Preview page, you only will have guest privileges to view some of the course material. Occasionally an instructor may rename the buttons at the left of the page, however “Course Information” is usually the label for the link to view the syllabus.