Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems

Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems

1. CIS Program Planning Sheet

Description:

The Computer Information Systems (CIS) Major at Bemidji State University combines the best of the Business Administration & Computer Science majors into a unique hybrid Information Technology (IT) major.

Integrating Business Administration & Computer Science into this newly updated and enhanced CIS major involves classroom and real-world experience with business and management, in addition to the technical side of the computer science degree.  That all means more options for jobs.

Listen to what industry is saying...IT specialists who are not strangers to business integration have greater advancement opportunities!

Now that technology permeates all aspects of business, hard skills alone aren't enough to land the most desirable IT jobs. Technology professionals who take the initiative to gain a view of the big picture, including such areas as finance, marketing and management, set themselves up for a broader and better range of employment opportunities.

Put simply, the most sought-after IT professionals don't just know how the technology works -- they also understand the business it's for. Firms need IT professionals who can work and communicate effectively with business colleagues in all departments, from engineers to executives. A solid grasp of business basics, as well as an appreciation of how they drive changes in IT initiatives, is becoming almost as important as core technology skills.

CIOs Value Business Basics

In a Robert Half Technology survey of 1,400 CIOs, 41 percent said they are putting more emphasis on business fundamentals like accounting, finance and general operations when evaluating IT candidates than they were five years ago. Only 3 percent said those fundamentals have become less important.

Why the emphasis on business savvy? Companies of all sizes are beginning to understand the importance of aligning IT with business goals and are looking to hire individuals who understand how the two are intertwined.

In general, IT staff are playing a more prominent role in decisions that affect the entire business. Frequently, technology workers are assuming "integrator" roles, handling such tasks as bringing together diverse resources within the organization and sourcing services externally. Examples include project managers, product managers and business intelligence professionals. Those who can moderate, manage and design business processes from inception to completion are highly sought by employers. In addition, job candidates with business knowledge demonstrate the ability and desire to learn skills that aren't necessarily within their comfort zone, a quality all managers appreciate.

Now that IT teams are working more closely with other departments, many of the most highly valued IT roles, such as business systems analyst and project manager, require a big-picture business view.

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/career/article.php/3659496 2007

Contrary to nasty rumors, the IT profession isn’t dead in the United States. Far from it. The industry needs a collective effort to get more people into the pipeline. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2014, the IT industry will create close to 1 million new jobs and, with retirements, have more than 1.3 million job openings. IT jobs account for six of the 30 jobs that the bureau predicts will grow the fastest, with increases around 50% over a decade.>

 Information Week, 2006

Requirements:

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems are required to complete thirty-three semester credits in core course requirements, thirty-two semester credits in related disciplines, and twelve semester credits in selected electives for a total of seventy-seven semester credits in addition to liberal education requirements.

Recommended High School Classes:

Classes in algebra, accounting, and computers are helpful. Keyboarding and foreign languages are also recommended. Any class work that would strengthen communication skills will be advantageous, especially speech and writing.