The Information Systems Department’s responsibility is to educate its students in the various aspects of organizational-oriented information systems and technology. The department is engaged in teaching not just the design, development, implementation and operation of information systems, but also the management of such systems. The department prepares its students for both the support, technical and management oriented professional jobs in this field.
Within the CIS major, students can choose from the following options:
Three Options Effective in Fall 2024
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting critical systems and sensitive information from digital attacks. Also known as Information Systems Security, Cybersecurity measures are designed to combat threats against networked systems and applications, whether those threats originate from inside or outside an organization. The Cybersecurity option in Information Systems (IS) provides students with the specialized knowledge needed for employment in Cybersecurity related jobs in businesses and government organizations. This option also offers elective courses that will allow the students to choose and acquire additional and supplementary knowledge of various IT fields, including but not limited to Enterprise Systems, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, Application Development, Computer Networking, and Current Issues in Information Technology. Please contact the College of Business Advisement Center for more information. This option requires 15 units of option-specific required courses and 18 units of elective courses.
Data analytics is the science of analyzing raw data to help businesses and organizations optimize their performance, perform more efficiently, maximize their impact, and make strategically-guided decisions. Various approaches to data analytics include looking at what happened (descriptive analytics), why something happened (diagnostic analytics), what is going to happen (predictive analytics), or what should be done next (prescriptive analytics). Data analytics relies on a variety of software tools ranging from spreadsheets, data visualization and reporting tools to data mining languages. The Data Analytics option provides students with the specialized knowledge needed for employment in Data Analytics-related jobs in businesses and governmental organizations. This option also offers elective courses that will allow students to choose and acquire additional and supplementary knowledge of various IT fields, including but not limited to Cyber Security, Business Intelligence, Application Development, Enterprise Systems, and Computer Networking. Please contact the College of Business Advisement Center for more information. This option requires 15 units of option-specific required courses and 18 units of elective courses.
3. Software Development Option
Software development is the process of planning, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, maintaining, and improving software applications for businesses and organizations. Modern application development involves minimum or no coding and uses cloud computing services for rapid deployment and dynamic adaptability. Students choosing this option will have the advantage of cross functional knowledge of Accounting, Management, Marketing and Finance in designing applications. The Software Development option provides students with the specialized knowledge needed for employment in Software Development related jobs in businesses and governmental organizations. This option also offers elective courses that will allow students to acquire supplemental knowledge of various IT fields, including but not limited to Cyber Security, Business Intelligence, Enterprise Systems, and Computer Networking. Please contact the College of Business Advisement Center for more information. This option requires 15 units of option-specific required courses and 18 units of elective courses.
Three Options before Fall 2024
Business Systems
This degree program in the business systems option prepares students for careers as information systems professionals in different career fields (such as accounting, marketing, finance, human resources etc.) in which they support personal and organizational computing activities develop and maintain enterprise information systems; or work in information centers. Students the BSBA (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration) may pursue this option for a dual bachelor’s degree because it requires only five additional courses.
Information Systems
This information systems (IS) major option provides students with the specialized knowledge needed for IT professional employment in all size business and government organizations and offers the choice of a wide variety of in-depth courses in specific areas of information systems. The elective courses will allow students to prepare for certifications in various IT tracks including, but not limited to, application development, enterprise systems, and networking, and information assurance. See the information systems departmental advisors for more information.
Information Technology
This specialized information technology (IT) option provides students with the specialized knowledge needed for IT professional employment in all size of IT related organizations and offers the choice of a wide variety of in-depth courses in specific areas of information systems. The elective courses will allow students to prepare for certifications in various IT tracks including, but not limited to, application development, enterprise systems and networking, and information assurance. See the information systems departmental advisors for more information.
For more information, Graduation Roadmaps and Checklists, please visit Advisement.
Minors
We also offer a Minor in Information Systems to provide students majoring in business and other disciplines the opportunity to develop skills needed to apply computer information systems to their major field of study.