Business Information Systems (BIS)

For information, please contact the chairperson, 989-774-3554, 305 Grawn Hall; www.cmich.edu/colleges/cba/academic_programs/departments/bis

What is Information Systems?

Information Systems (IS) is the study of how organizations use people, processes, and technology to effectively manage information. IS majors learn business management and problem-solving skills that are highly valued by employers in a variety of industries

Why Major in Information Systems (IS)?

IS graduates perform a wide variety of functions within an organization. For example, they analyze business processes, manage projects, and provide technical training. IS graduates provide a critical link between an organization’s business functions and its technical support staff. As such, IS graduates work in almost every type of organization, small and large, public and private. Specific reasons to major in IS at CMU include the following:

Nearly 100 percent of recent IS graduates received employment offers before or immediately following graduation.
First-year salaries for IS graduates were among the highest received by College of Business Administration graduates.
Internship opportunities with organizations such as Dow Chemical, Dow Corning Corporation, Eli Lilly, State Farm Insurance, Auto-Owners Insurance, Ford Motor Company, Consumers Energy, and General Motors.
Modern lab facilities in the College of Business Administration with up-to-date software.
SAP®, the world’s leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software.

Why Major with a Concentration or Minor in Applied Business Communication (ABC)?

The Applied Business Communication (ABC) concentration in the General Business Major or the ABC minor prepares students with the critical abilities employers value most: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. The ABC concentration or minor focuses on the following areas to help students become “job ready”:

Effective communication in a global business setting
Social media in business
Visual communication and digital media
Client projects and real-world problem solving
Professional portfolios, with evidence of student learning, proficiencies, and accomplishments

Students from any major can benefit from the critical skills developed with the ABC minor: applying technology to solve actual problems, using social media in the workplace, and developing effective communication and professional literacy skills.

Business Information Systems at CMU

The goals of the BIS Department are (1) to provide a quality undergraduate programs to prepare students for business careers in business and information systems and (2) to provide excellence in a graduate program leading to a Master of Science in Information Systems as well as graduate coursework in information systems for the Master in Business Administration and a Graduate Certificate in SAP.

The technology-intensive courses support all degree programs within the College of Business Administration and provide opportunities for all Central Michigan University students to acquire information systems expertise.

Notes:

With the exception of BIS 490, the department does not accept Credit/No Credit courses on undergraduate majors and minors.
Graduate course offerings lead to the Master of Science in Information Systems and support the Master of Business Administration and the Graduate Certificate in SAP.

An Undergraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity is offered through Global Campus.

The Faculty

Emil Boasson, James Cappel, Kenneth Desloover, Jerry Dimaria, Paul Dunn, Susan Helser, Nancy Hicks, Zhenyu Huang, Mark Hwang, Brent Jensen, Anil Kumar, Chris McBride, Denise McBride, Kevin McCarron, James Melton, Robert Miller, Kyle Nothstine, Vishal Shah, Karl Smart, Stephen Tracy, Allen Tseng, Gustav Verhulsdonck

Programs

Information Systems Major

Information Systems Minor

Applied Business Communication Minor

Undergraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity