Dec 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Computer Information Systems, B.B.A.


Program Description


The B.B.A. in computer information systems requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate work. Sixty credit hours will be taken outside the College of Business . In counting the 60 credit hours of non-business courses, B.B.A. students may include all hours taken in General Education  (usually 41), up to a total of nine hours in economics and three hours of COB 191 . The remaining hours will be taken from any department outside the College of Business . Students should carefully select these courses to help them gain additional knowledge and expertise for their careers and personal lives.

Degree and Major Requirements


Degree Requirements
Credit Hours
B.B.A. core courses 1
39
CIS major requirements
28
General Education  courses 2
41
Non-business electives 3

 Total
12

120

Footnotes


1 Assumes that MATH 205  and ECON 200  are taken as General Education  courses.
2 The General Education  program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
3 Credit hours may vary. See advisor for details.

Major Requirements


Students planning to major in Computer Information System (CIS) must complete the 27-28 hours of lower-division B.B.A. core curriculum prior to enrolling in upper-division core courses normally taken in the first semester of their junior year. It is expected that the lower-division core curriculum will be completed during the first two years of study along with most of the university general education curriculum. Failing to complete all the lower-division core requirements on time will delay enrollment in upper-division core and major courses.


Required Core Courses

Footnote


CS 149  or ISAT 252  or IA 241  with a grade of “C” or better or enrollment in CS 159  may be substituted for CIS 221 .

Major Requirements Total: 15 Credit Hours


B.B.A. Core Component


B.B.A. Lower-Level Core Component


B.B.A. majors must complete all of the B.B.A. core components as part of their degree program. The following courses comprise the B.B.A. Lower-Level Core Component:

B.B.A. Upper-Level Core Component


The following courses comprise the B.B.A. Upper-Level Core Component:

Footnotes


1 MATH 220  may be substituted for COB 191 .
2 COB 191  or equivalent and MATH 205  or equivalent are prerequisites for COB 291 .
3 Calculus is required but not used in calculating the B.B.A. core GPA. Students may substitute MATH 231 MATH 233  or ISAT 151  to fulfill the calculus requirement. MATH 235  is preferred for Economics and Finance majors.
4 COB 241  must be taken before COB 242 .
5 COB 242  is a prerequisite for COB 300 but is not used in calculating the B.B.A. core GPA.
6 All four COB 300 courses must be taken during the same semester.
7 COB 300 is a prerequisite or corequisite for COB 318 . COB 318  is a prerequisite for COB 487  and BLAW 497 .
8 COB 487  must be taken during the senior year.

Required Concentration


By the deadline stated under concentrations on the CIS & BSAN department Curriculum Overview webpage, Computer Information System majors must choose one of the following options to complete the required courses in the CIS major:

Option 1: Information Systems Concentration, complete five CIS core courses and five courses required for the concentration.

Option 2: Business Analytics Concentration, complete the five CIS core courses and four courses required in the concentration.

Option 3: Information and Cybersecurity Management Concentration, complete five CIS core courses and five courses (13 hours) required for the concentration.

Business Analytics Concentration


Business analytics is a technical approach to analyzing problems and making business-related decisions. It uses statistical methods, management science techniques, machine learning and mathematical modeling to forecast the implications of various choices and identify the best alternatives. Business analytics focuses on the effective use of data and information to provide fact-based insights and drive positive business actions. Combined with the ability to analyze, design and implement information system, including applications and databases, the computer information systems major with a concentration in business analytics prepares students for careers in consulting, business analysis and data analysis. Students enrolled in the business analytics concentration of the computer information systems major are not permitted to earn a minor in business analytics. However, students enrolled in the business analytics concentration may switch to the information systems or information and cybersecurity management concentrations of the computer information systems major. After the switch, such students may pursue the business analytics minor provided they meet prerequisite requirements of the 300-level BSAN courses. See the business analytics minor for admission requirements.


Required Courses

Business Analytics Concentration Total: 12 Credit Hours


Information Systems Concentration


The information systems concentration prepares students to analyze, design and implement information system, including applications, databases, networks and architectures. Elective courses allow students to acquire more detailed knowledge in security, project management, web development and consulting. The computer information systems major with a concentration in information systems prepares students for careers in consulting, business analysis, data analysis and systems analysis.


Required Courses

Information Systems Concentration Electives


Students majoring in CIS are highly encouraged to complete an internship in computer information systems between their junior and senior years for non-academic credit (CIS 361 ).

Information Systems Concentration Total: 13 Credit Hours


Information and Cybersecurity Management Concentration


The Information and Cybersecurity Management concentration prepares students to help organizations protect data/information assets and information systems. Students will learn to detect and respond to threats and assess risks and vulnerabilities while ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data and systems. Students will learn techniques and industry best practices of risk assessment, incident response, and continuity planning. Program objectives also include developing an understanding of behavioral, legal, privacy, and ethical considerations of data and information systems protection. The Computer Information Systems major with a concentration in Information and Cybersecurity Management prepares students for careers in information security analysis, incident response, risk and vulnerability analysis, continuity planning, computer forensics, cybersecurity governance, and cybersecurity consulting.

Information and Cybersecurity Management Concentration Electives


Students majoring in CIS are highly encouraged to complete an internship in computer information systems between their junior and senior years for non-academic credit (CIS 361 ).

Information and Cybersecurity Management Concentration Total: 13 Credit Hours


Footnote

1 CIS 498  topic must be related to cybersecurity and approved by CIS-BSAN Department Head.

Cooperative Education Concentration


Coordinator: Tom Dillon

The optional cooperative education concentration in CIS major offers highly qualified undergraduate majors the opportunity to participate in a six- to eight-month professional experience with well-recognized industry leaders in information technology and operations. Students will be awarded 12 hours of academic credit that will substitute for two required courses in the CIS curriculum and for six credits of special topics (CIS 498 ). Substitution for the two specific courses will be made based on the structure and context of the co-op experience and in cooperation with the co-op firm.

Students must demonstrate competency via examination in the two required courses selected in order to receive credit in those courses. Students who have at least a 3.0 GPA, are majors in CIS and have fulfilled all of their COB core requirements (COB 487 ) are eligible to apply on a competitive basis through the CIS & BSAN department .

Students who wish to participate in a co-op program must apply both to the CIS & BSAN department  and the participating firm at least three months in advance of the start of the co-op. Co-ops typically begin in January or May and last six to eight months. Course substitutions must be approved in conjunction with the co-op coordinator in the CIS & BSAN department  and the co-op coordinator in the firm.

A program of study must be placed on file for each student who is accepted for a co-op prior to beginning the co-op experience. Students may participate in a co-op during their junior or senior years, but they are limited to one co-op. Students who want to participate in a co-op as postgraduates may do so as special students. These students will receive a certificate on successful completion of the co-op experience. Prerequisite: CIS majors with junior standing and a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

Recommended Schedule for Majors


Computer information systems majors should follow the course schedule described here to complete the final two years of their program. It is possible to deviate from this program, but care must be taken to ensure that all course prerequisites are met.

First Two Years


Students normally take the lower-division B.B.A. core curriculum along with many of the General Education  curriculum. All lower-division core requirements must be completed before enrolling in the upper-division core courses. It is recommended that CIS 221  be completed in the second semester of the second year.

Third Year - First Semester *


Students who are able to complete B.B.A. core requirements early enough to take COB 300 in the second semester of the second year should take additional CIS courses in the first semester of the third year and subsequent semesters. Consult your advisor.

Third Year - First Semester Total: 15 Credit Hours


Third Year - Second Semester Total: 9 Credit Hours


Fourth Year - First Semester Total: 12 Credit Hours


Fourth Year - Second Semester *


Students majoring in CIS are highly encouraged to complete an internship in computer information systems for non-academic credit (CIS 361 ).

Fourth Year - Second Semester Total: 9 Hours


Program Total: 120 Credit Hours