Information Systems Major Requirements
The Information Systems major is offered as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. In addition to the H&SS General Education Requirements and prerequisite courses in mathematics, statistics, and computer programming, IS students must complete the three components of the curriculum: the Professional Core, the Disciplinary Core and a focused Content Area.
In the Professional Core (consisting of five courses), students learn the basic skills necessary to analyze, design, implement and test information systems using current and emerging organizational and technological practices. Two of the Professional Core courses are project-based experiences in which small teams of students must develop and communicate solutions to real information problems.
In the Disciplinary Core (four courses), students study four areas that are fundamental to understanding and solving problems in information systems: organizations, complex models, research methods and professional communications. The organizations area emphasizes how groups of people can organize and coordinate their behaviors to perform complex tasks. The complex models area focuses on the necessary skills for understanding, structuring and computerizing complex problems at individual and organizational levels. The research methods area illuminates the process of gathering, summarizing, evaluating and presenting empirical data. The professional communications area develops skills in the most effective methods for presenting information.
IS students must also complete three courses within one Content Area. The Content Areas are designed to complement the depth provided by the Professional Core and the breadth provided by the Disciplinary Core. Students gain additional depth in a focused area through the content area. Currently, eight Content Areas are available: (1) Organizations, (2) Decision Science and Rational Choice, (3) Research Methods, (4) Professional Communications, (5) Business/ Economics, (6) Computers and Cognition, (7) Technology, and (8) Global Systems.
Mathematics & Statistics (29 Units)
Complete any of the following three calculus sequences:
21-111 Calculus I and 21-112 Calculus II
or
21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus and 21-256 Multivariate Analysis and Approximation
or
21-120 Differential and Integral Calculus and 21-122 Integration, Differential Equations, and Approximation
and also complete 36-201 Statistical Reasoning and Practice
Computer Science Fundamentals (20 Units)
Units needed to fulfill this requirement category vary based on placement into the appropriate initial programming course from the programming placement test results.
15-110 Introduction to Programming (10 units)
and
15-121 Introduction to Data Structures (10 units)
Professional Core (51 Units)
Complete all five courses.
67-250 The Information Systems’ Milieux
(or 67-344, Organizational Intelligence in the Information Age, used as a substitution for IS transfer students)
67-272 Application Design and Development
(prerequisites: 67-250 or 67-344, and 15- 111);
67-371 Fundamentals of Systems Development
(prerequisites: 67-272);
67-373 Software Development Project
(prerequisites: 67-272 and 67-371);
67-475 Information Systems Applications
(prerequisite: 67-373)
Disciplinary Core (36 Units)
Complete one course from each of the following four Disciplinary Core categories.
Organizations
The focus of this area is on how organizations, ranging from small groups of individuals to society at large, can be transformed by information technology. Students will develop a greater understanding of how to create effective information systems to meet key organizational needs, and how social policy can influence this outcome. Such knowledge can be readily applied by students pursuing careers in both the private and public sectors.
Complete one course:
67-344 Organizational Intelligence in the Information Age
70-311 Organization Behavior
70-341 Organizational Communication
70-342 Managing Across Cultures
70-414 Technology-Based Entrepreneurship
88-260 Organizations
88-341 Organizational Communication
Decision Science and Rational Choice
This area focuses on the decision making component of information systems, taking info account the social, political, and ethical issues in an information-driven society. This area builds on the analytic rigor of the social sciences and the enduring normative questions of philosophy to promote a critical understanding of the way that information technologies shape the contemporary world.
Complete one course:
73-252 Advanced Microeconomic Theory
80-211 Arguments and Inquiry
80-305 Rational Choice
80-341 Computers, Society and Ethics
88-220 Policy Analysis I
88-223 Decision Analysis and Decision Support Systems
Research Methods
Understanding how data and information are acquired is an important first step to solving information problems. Moreover, discerning the patterns and trends in data can help guide an organization’s information strategy. Research methods provide a basis for students seeking to understand these fundamental issues.
Complete one course. (We recommend completing this requirement by the end of sophomore year.)
36/70-208 Regression Analysis
36-202 Statistical Methods
36-303 Sampling, Survey and Society
36-309 Experimental Design for Behavioral and Social Sciences
80-222 Measurement and Methodology
88-251 Empirical Research Methods
Professional Communications
These courses help information systems designers understand how the structure and presentation of information affects how well (and how easily) it can be understood and used. In addition, information systems professionals are often called to facilitate communications between software engineers and non-technical business clients; consequently, the most successful information systems professionals are typically those with strong communication skills.
Complete one course. (We recommend completing this requirement by the end of sophomore year.)
36-315 Statistical Graphics and Visualization
70-340 Business Communications
70-343 Interpersonal Communication
70-345 Business Presentations
70-346 Written Communications
76-270 Writing in the Professions
Content Area (27 Units)
Complete 27 units from a combination of IS Electives and one Content Area with a maximum of 9 units of IS Electives counting toward this requirement. With 9 units of IS electives, a minimum of 18 units from a Content Area are necessary, or with 6 units of IS electives, at least 21 units from a Content Area are needed. If none of the IS Electives are selected, all 27 units are to be from one of the eight Content Areas. Some courses in these Content Areas are the same as courses in the Disciplinary Core. A single course can only be used once to fulfill a Disciplinary Core or Content Area requirement.
A note on scheduling and availability: the courses listed for the Content Areas below are generally offered with some regularity. However, some courses may not be offered every year or enrollment priority may be given to declared majors or minors. Also, infrequently offered courses that would qualify for a Content Area may be available in a specific semester. Many of the courses in the Content Areas also have prerequisites. In most cases the prerequisites are also listed in the same Content Area, are part of the Disciplinary or Professional Cores, are acceptable to fulfill General Education requirements, or may be taken as part of a minor or second major. Students are advised to confer with the Information Systems program advisor and maintain some flexibility in selecting courses from their Content Area.
Students may petition to design their own content area. Approval is based on the coherence and feasibility of the set of courses.
Information Systems Electives
A maximum of 9 units (of the 27 required for any of the eight Content Areas) can be IS electives.
67-301 Networks and Telecommunications
67-304 Database Design and Implementation
67-305 Application Software Development in .NET
67-309 Information Assurance and Security
67-320 Special Topics in Information Systems
67-325 Global Systems Delivery Models
67-390 Independent Study in Information Systems
67-xxx Other IS Electives (as approved by the IS program)
Organizations
The focus of this content area is on how organizations, ranging from small groups of individuals to society at large, can be transformed by information technology. Students will develop a greater understanding of how to create effective information systems to meet key organizational needs, and how social policy can influence this outcome. Such knowledge can be readily applied by students pursuing careers in both the private and public sectors.
Complete courses to bring total to 27 units (generally three courses)
15-390 Entrepreneurship for Computer Science
45-392 Human Behavior in Organizations
45-453 Organizational Uses of Information Systems
67-344 Organizational Intelligence in the Information Age
70-311 Organizational Behavior
70-341 Organizational Communication
70-342 Managing Across Cultures
70-414 Technology-Based Entrepreneurship
79-342 Technology, Organization, and Information
88-260 Organizations
88-341 Organizational Communication
88-354 Economics and Psychology of Organizational Communication
88-367 Computers and Organizations
Decision Science and Rational Choice
This area focuses on the decision making component of information systems, taking info account the social, political, and ethical issues in an information-driven society. We need to understand the technical complexities of economic, political, and statistical analysis, but we have also to reflect on basic moral and political values. This area builds on the analytic rigor of the social sciences and the enduring normative questions of philosophy to promote a critical understanding of the way that information technologies shape the contemporary world.
Complete courses to bring total to 27 units (generally three courses)
19-448 Science, Technology, and Ethics
36-350 Data Mining
73-252 Advanced Microeconomic Theory
80-211 Arguments and Inquiry
80-230 Ethical Theory
80-305 Rational Choice
80-341 Computers, Society, and Ethics
80-405 Game Theory
88-220 Policy Analysis I
88-223 Decision Analysis and Decision Support Systems
88-302 Behavioral Decision Making
88-385 Managerial Decision Making
Research Methods
Understanding how data and information are acquired is an important first step to solving information problems. Moreover, discerning the patterns and trends in data can help guide an organization’s information strategy. Research methods provide a basis for students seeking to understand these fundamental issues.
Complete courses to bring total to 27 units (generally three courses)
36-202 Statistical Methods
36/70-208 Regression Analysis
36-350 Data Mining
36-303 Sampling, Surveys, and Society
36-309 Experimental Design for Behavioral & Social Science
36-310 Fundamentals of Statistical Modeling
36-401 Modern Regression
36-410 Introduction to Probability Modeling
36-46x Topics Courses in Statistics
70-481 Market Research
80-222 Measurement and Methodology
80-316 Probability and Artificial Intelligence
80-321 Causation and Social Policy
88-251 Empirical Research Methods
Professional Communications
These courses help information systems designers understand how the structure and presentation of information affects how well (and how easily) it can be understood and used. Students become fluent in both electronic and print-based media and learn the fundamentals of visual, verbal, and on-line publication. In addition, information systems professionals are often called to facilitate communications between software engineers and non-technical business clients; consequently, the most successful information systems professionals are typically those with strong communication skills.
Complete courses to bring total to 27 units (generally three courses)
36-315 Graphics and Visualization
51-247 Color and Communication†
51-251 Digital Prototyping†
51-261/262 Communication Design Fundamentals
70-340 Business Communications
70-343 Interpersonal Communication
70-345 Business Presentations
70-346 Written Communications
76-270 Writing in the Professions
76-318 Communicating in the Global Marketplace
76-373 Argument
76-382 Multimedia Authoring I
76-383 Multimedia Authoring II
76-389 Grammar of Standard English
76-390 Style
76-391 Document Design
76-395 Science Writing
76-474 Software Documentation
76-479 Marketing, Public Relations and Corporate Communications
76-481 Writing for Multimedia
76-487 On-line Information Design (76-488 lab section not required)
80-291 Issues in Multimedia Authoring
† Registration for course requires prior acceptance into the Design Minor.
Business/Economics
Information systems professionals who understand the nature of business and the financial considerations facing today’s companies provide great value to their organizations. The courses within this content area are designed to broaden a student’s knowledge in business and economics and to allow them to be as adept working with business clients as they are with software engineers.
Complete courses to bring total to 27 units (generally three courses)
21-292 Operations Research I
21-380 Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
21-393 Operations Research II
21-420 Continuous-Time Finance
36-410 Stochastic Modeling
70-201 Professional and Service Projects
70-332 Business, Society, and Ethics
70-368 Intellectual Property and E-Commerce
70-371 Production and Operations Management
70-381 Marketing
70-391 Finance
70-401 Management Game
70-414 Technology-Based Entrepreneurship
70-459 Distributed Virtual Business
70-460 Mathematical Models for Consulting
70-471 Logistics and Supply Chain Management
73-252 Advanced Microeconomic Theory
73-325 Experimental Foundations of Equilibrium
73-359 Benefit-Cost Analysis
73-469 Economics of E-commerce
79-230 Technology in American Society
79-440 Perspectives on Industrial Research and Development
79-441 Science, Technology, and Business in U.S. History
80-241 Ethical Judgments in Professional Life
80-335 Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
88-223 Decision Analysis and Decision Support Systems
88-345 Rise of Industrial Research and Development
Computers and Cognition
The area of computers and cognition explore questions of how people think and learn, how computers affect the human learning process and how computers themselves might be able to learn. Courses in this area also investigate how human-computer interaction affects interface design and systems development.
Complete courses to bring total to 27 units (generally three courses)
05-410 Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction Methods
05-411 Cognitive Modeling
05-430 Programming Usable Interfaces
05-431 Software Architectures for User Interfaces
15-381 Artificial Intelligence
15-482 Human Language Technologies
39-648 Wearable Computer Design
51-241 How People Work: Human Factors†
51-421 Visual Interface Design†
80-271 Philosophy and Psychology
80-300 Minds, Machines, and Knowledge
85-211 Cognitive Psychology
85-213 Human Information Processing and Artificial Intelligence
85-370 Perception
85-392 Human Expertise
85-393 Human Factors
85-408 Visual Cognition
85-411 Cognitive Processes & Problem Solving
85-412 Cognitive Modeling
85-417 Intelligent Computer-Assisted Instruction
† Registration for course requires prior acceptance into the Design Minor.
Technology
Of the three components of information systems—people, process, and technology—it is the latter that is in the greatest state of flux. This content area allows students to focus on a particular area of technology that has special interest for them.
Complete courses to bring total to 27 units (generally three courses)
03-310/410 Introduction to Computational Biology
05-331 Building Virtual Worlds
09-560 Molecular Modeling and Computational Chemistry
15-211 Fundamental Data Structures and Algorithms
15-212 Principles of Programming
15-213 Introduction to Computer Systems
15-312 Foundations of Programming Languages
15-354 Computational Discrete Mathematics
15-384 Robotic Manipulation
15-385 Computer Vision
15-410 Operating System Design and Implementation
15-411 Compiler Design
15-412 Operating System Practicum
15-415 Database Applications
15-418 Parallel Computer Architecture and Programming
15-441 Computer Networks
15-451 Algorithm Design and Analysis
15-462 Computer Graphics
15-463 Rendering and Image Processing
15-493 Special Topic: Computer Game Programming
15-499 Media Technology
15-505 Special Topic: Animation Art and Technology
15-681 Artificial Intelligence: Machine Learning
16-311 General Robotics
16-362 Mobile Robot Programming Laboratory
16-363 Advanced Mobile Robot Programming
17-651 Models of Software Systems
18-240 Fundamentals of Computer Engineering
18-447 Introduction to Computer Architecture
33-241 Introduction to Computational Physics
51-442 Integrated Product Development†
60-414-422 Advanced Electronic Time-based Art
67-304 Database Design and Implementation
67-305 Application Software Development in .NET
85-419 Introduction to Parallel Distributed Processing
† Registration for course requires prior acceptance into the Design Minor.
Global Systems
The rise of global project management and systems development increases the need for information systems professionals develop skills essential for participating in international marketplace. The content area exposes students to contemporary issues and practices facing organizations, managers and individuals working on a global scale across political, cultural and temporal boundaries.
Complete courses to bring total to 27 units (generally three courses)
15-391 Technology Consulting in the Community
15-502 Technology for Developing Communities
67-325 Global Systems Delivery Models
67-326 Global Project Management
70-365 International Trade and International Law
70-430 International Management
70-480 International Marketing
73-371 International Trade and Economic Development
73-372 International Money and Finance
76-318 Communicating in the Global Marketplace
76-386 Language and Culture
76-442 Communication across Cultures
79-270 Chinese Culture and Society
79-271 Modern China
79-288 Bananas, Baseball, and Borders: A History of Latin America-US Relations
79-289 Development and Democracy in Latin America
79-290 Between Revolutions: The Emergence of Modern Latin America: 1789-1917
79-350 Theories of International Relations
79-386 The Global Environment: Historical Perspectives and Policy Dilemmas
82-333 Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture
82-383 Introduction to Second Language Acquisition
82-433 Topics in Contemporary Culture in China
82-487 On Writing in a Second Language
85-375 Cross Cultural Psychology
88-326 International Relations
88-327 Politics of Economic Development
88-352/79-346 International Environmental Law and Policy
88-359 Globalization
88-378 International Economics
