can I get a count of these courses where department code is "CIS"?
SELECT count ( * )  FROM department AS T1 JOIN course AS T2 ON T1.dept_code   =   T2.dept_code WHERE t1.dept_code   =   "CIS"
count of courses where department code is CIS refers to COUNT(*) WHERE dept_code = 'CIS'; joining department and course tables on dept_code;