Teaching

Courses, curriculum philosophy, education, and certifications

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Fall 2026 — Intro to Python Programming & CIS 4720 Database Management and SQL are scheduled! Check Canvas for the full syllabus, labs, and schedule.
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Spring 2027 — Intro to Python Programming & Intro to Computer Information Systems are scheduled! Both at CSU Stanislaus. Syllabus and Canvas shell go live closer to the start of the term.
Courses

What I Teach at CSU Stanislaus

All courses blend hands-on programming, real-world context, and modern AI tools.

Fall 2026 — Active Spring 2027 — Scheduled
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Intro to Python Programming

Variables, data types, control flow, functions, and file I/O. No prior experience needed. Projects use real datasets and CodeCheck.io labs for immediate feedback.

Student Resources →
Previous Semesters
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Advanced Python Programming

OOP, file handling, APIs, regular expressions, data structures, and intro to data analysis with Pandas. Students build full mini-projects.

Spring 2027 — Scheduled
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Intro to Computer Information Systems

Practical Microsoft Office skills, data organization, business problem-solving, and an overview of how technology shapes modern organizations.

Fall 2026 — Active
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CIS 4720 — Database Management and SQL

Relational database design, normalization, SQL querying, joins, transactions, and real-world data modeling. Students work with live databases throughout the course.

Philosophy

How I Teach

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Hands-On Labs

CodeCheck.io gives instant automated feedback so students know right away if their code works.

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Video Lectures

High-quality video created with Camtasia and hosted on Panopto, with captions and accessibility features.

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Online & On-Campus

Canvas LMS hosts all materials, discussions, assignments, and grades in one place.

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AI-Integrated

Students learn to use AI tools responsibly alongside traditional coding skills — how modern engineers actually work.

Credentials

Certifications

Claude Code 101 Certificate of Completion — Maricruz Johal, Anthropic, May 2026
Anthropic

Claude Code 101 — Certificate of Completion

Issued May 12, 2026 — Completed the Claude Code 101 course by Anthropic, covering skills for using Claude Code effectively in development workflow.

Certificate No: j2p2iukfxdmy

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Claude 101 Certificate of Completion — Maricruz Johal, Anthropic, May 2026
Anthropic

Claude 101 — Certificate of Completion

Issued May 11, 2026 — Completed the Claude 101 course by Anthropic, covering foundational skills for working effectively with Claude AI.

Certificate No: k6fsrqbh5akn

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Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

Issued November 14, 2023 via Coursera · 8-course Google program

Covers data preparation, SQL, Tableau, R, and data-driven decision making.

Currently pursuing: Advanced Google Data Analytics

Verify on Coursera
Python Institute Badges
PCAP-31-03 Certified Associate Python Programmer (Apr 2026) PCEP-30-02 Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer (Feb 2026) AI Tools for Teaching & Learning (Apr 2024) CSU Advanced QLT Online Teaching (Nov 2023)
Education

Academic Background

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MBA — Technology Management

University of Phoenix · October 2005

Focused on the intersection of business strategy and information technology.

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BS — Business Information Systems

California State University, Stanislaus · May 1996

Foundation in programming, systems analysis, and business processes.