Business Information
Systems (BI)
Professors: W. N. Bockanic, C. A. Watts; Associate Professors:
M. D. Treleven, M. P. Lynn; Assistant Professors: R. T. Grenci, B. Z.
Hull; Visiting Instructor: G. Flagg
This major is designed for students who wish to begin their careers
in the broadly defined area of business information systems. This area
includes responsibilities such as systems design and management, and
business process analysis. In today's dynamic business environment,
competition, globalization, and technology have combined to produce
a powerful effect on the process of delivering goods and services to
the marketplace. Increasingly, businesses see themselves as a collection
of processes supported and driven by information systems and technologies.
In order to succeed in this environment, a systems analyst must be able
to understand business decisions as well as technology decisions. The
object of the Business Information Systems faculty is to develop students'
managerial, analytical, and technical skills, enabling them to become
tomorrow’s leaders in their chosen fields.
Business Information Systems (BIS) majors will be ideally suited to
capitalize on this approach to business. They will be active learners,
knowledgeable about current technology, and capable of high performance
with the goals of supporting:
• The enhancement of business processes and performance using
technology.
• The integrated flow of materials/information in manufacturing
and service organizations.
• Traditional business areas of finance, marketing, accounting,
and management.
• Modeling and data analysis techniques for better functional
decision-making.
The majority of BIS majors are likely to enter the business world as
business process analysts, systems analysts, or change agents. They
will be able to interact with technology in significant ways to solve
organizational problems. Listed below are some examples of the context-specific
jobs in which the technology management role might be filled by a BIS
major:
• Design and/or manage technical operations for a computer-controlled
manufacturer.
• Provide technical support for a large-scale retailer and/or
distributor.
• Design and/or manage technology that supports banking operations.
In addition to the opportunities listed above, BIS majors are also likely
to be employed in staff support/consulting jobs. Companies are increasingly
out-sourcing many of their needs, including technology-related projects,
to consulting agencies. Perhaps more than any other organization, systems
consulting firms look for employees who understand not only the application
and management of information technologies, but also the business processes
and operations that are supported by those technologies.
Requirements
Major in Business Information Systems:
A total of 68 credit hours as described below.
Business Core: 44 credit hours, including MN 463 (Business
Law I) and recommending AC 202 (Financial Accounting II).
Major Courses: 24 credit hours. BI 341,
371, 383,
451,
465;
CS 201, and at least 6 credit hours of elective coursework as
indicated below.
Students interested in a production/operations management emphasis
in their coursework should select at least two of the following
courses: BI 381,
382, 406;
MN 352; AC 312; or LG 328.
Students interested in a Management Information Systems or Computer
Science emphasis in their coursework should select at least two
of the following courses: BI 342,
407; CS 202,
309, 310, 320, 455; AC 341; LG 440; or MK 310. At least one of
the courses selected must be a CS course. Students are strongly
encouraged to take BI 342
as one of their electives.
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