School of Business

This major prepares students for successful careers as information systems professionals through a curriculum that combines technical computing knowledge, skills and techniques with relevant business knowledge. We provide a curriculum that: prepares students to begin professional careers upon graduation by providing experience with the most current technologies needed to support the secure delivery and management of information systems; supports career advancement over time by giving our graduates the academic foundation in information systems needed for continued professional development; and supports the information systems needs of the business community.

 

Accreditation

Accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. With ABET accreditation, students, employers and the society we serve can be confident that a program meets the quality standards that produce graduates prepared to enter a global workforce.

Curriculum

We provide a curriculum that:

• Prepares students to begin professional careers upon graduation by providing experience with the most current technologies needed to support the secure delivery and management of information systems
• Supports career advancement over time by giving our graduates the academic foundation in information systems needed for continued professional development
• Supports the information systems needs of the business community

Program and degree requirements

Program Educational Objectives

• Graduates will have the ability to apply the most current technologies to support the secure delivery and management of information systems.
• Graduates will have the academic foundation that enables them to advance their careers through continuing education and professional development.
• Graduates will have the knowledge and ability to work effectively to support the information systems needs of the business community.

Graduates of the program will have an ability to:

• Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
• Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
• Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
• Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
• Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
• Support the delivery, use, and management of information systems within an information systems environment.
• Recognition of the need for an ability to engage in continuing professional development

Accelerated B.S.+M.S.

The accelerated program allows students to take up to four graduate classes and count them toward both degree programs.

Curriculum information

Frequently Asked Questions

Career opportunities

This major provides students with expertise in fundamental and specialized areas of information systems. These areas include data analytics, systems analysis and design, project management, computer programming, cyber ethics, networking and web development. Through the Department’s close ties to the community, students leverage and build active partnerships in the private and public sectors. There are diverse career opportunities in the field, including: business systems analyst, data analyst, application and systems developer, and IT project manager. Employers range from multinational companies such as Amazon, to small and medium-sized organizations employing fewer than five people. From public sector employers, such as government agencies and institutions of higher education to private sector organizations, such as consulting firms and telecommunications companies, IS students have a plethora of employment options.

• Alumni employers include:
• CarMax
• Dominion Energy
• Federal Reserve Bank
• WestRock
• Accenture
• Careers in the field:
• Computer Systems Managers
• Information System Managers
• Computer Security Analyst
• Computer Systems Analyst
• Computer User Support Specialists
• Database Administrator
• Information Technology Project Managers
• Network Systems Administrators 
• Computer Systems Administrators 
• Programmer
• Systems Analyst
• Web Administrators 

Enrollment and Degrees Awarded

The time to completion upon declaration of a major in information systems is approximately two years, so the degrees awarded is typically approximately half as large as the enrollment.