This degree opens doors to an integral part of every modern business. It covers design and management of Information Technology/Systems (IT/S) for a business which seeks to meet its business challenges and further its strategic objectives. The purpose is to craft and implement IT strategy that matches business strategy and solve business problems. In addition to mainstream hardware & software programming concepts, the degree plan includes how to budget, procure and manage IT/S e.g. computer databases, networks, information security. The focus is on IT enabled business processes and is ideally suited for those who like working with technology in business.
This program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
More Information
Information Systems and Information Technology have no value unless they serve a purpose and are used efficiently to fulfill that need. Businesses and managers use technology to improve their bottom line and to improve their employees' lives. They need employees to have state-of-the-art technical knowledge in combination with a solid foundation in general business concepts. With this degree plan, you will acquire both and be able to use this knowledge to help organizations implement information technology solutions that solve business problems for competitive advantage.
You will acquire analytical thinking and problem solving skills, written and spoken communication proficiency, and ability to work in teams. If you like advancements in and use technology and devices such as smartphones and social networking, you have what it takes to succeed in this area. You will learn to adapt to rapidly changing technologies throughout your career, while discovering the world of data communications and configuration of networks, network and information security, systems administration, electronic commerce strategy and web systems design & development.
You will develop skills in the configuration of enterprise systems and the developer's toolkit of enterprise systems while gaining hands-on practice in all these in both Unix and Windows environments using a variety of platforms e.g., (a) object oriented programming concepts and e-commerce application development in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and C# , (b) database and client-server design/development using Oracle, Access and SQL, (c) systems analysis and design using UML, (d) enterprise applications development and customization using SAP and the developer's toolkit of ABAP and (e) business analytics/intelligence using environments that may include SAP's BI module, and SAS Miner.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 121 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Additional Fees/Program Fees | Required |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-B | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
The demand for business Information System (IS) skills currently seems to be undergoing a resurgence. While IS careers are expected to expand, the mix of skill requirements has changed considerably. With the explosive growth of technology accompanying the usage of the Internet in the late 1990s, the role of application development (programming) dominated the IS field. Since then, outsourcing moved many of the low level programming jobs overseas. However, the increased need for higher level technology jobs has become prevalent. As web, communication and database technologies are maturing and their usage has begun to extend throughout every area of business practices, these information technologies are being employed in expansive and creative ways. The result is that the need for IS professionals has increased -- but in a different way than decades past. IS is now a "people skill" rather than a purely "technical skill". IS programs now train "business analysts" rather than mere "programmers".
The "business analyst" (or "systems analyst" or "consultant") position has become critical in order to make information technology available to more users and solve more business problems. This requires skills in identifying user and consumer problems and translating these needs into technology solutions. The analyst provides this critical connection. This role is not subject to outsourcing because the analyst must be embedded in the organization in order to understand the business user and their needs and be able to design and implement the solution within the confines of the organization's technology infrastructure. After the entry-level analyst role, most IS professionals can go on to become "project managers" (or "senior consultants") where they assume the responsibility for an entire technology project: planning; staffing; budgeting; implementation scheduling; training and operational maintenance. After this level, the IS professional can transition into senior technology management roles that involve: technology planning and strategy; technology architectures and infrastructures; corporate wide technology staffing; and the management of various critical technology centers. At the highest level, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) represents the pinnacle technology role within most corporate environments.
Student Learning Outcomes
Our IS program provides the knowledge to enter any of the following general areas within the information technology arena. Successful alumni can find employment in any of these areas and their success will be based on the skills they acquired from our program.
1. Systems Development/Analysis -- this is one path for an IS professional These two courses - ISM 330 Electronic Commerce Strategy and ISM 480 Systems Analysis and Design - provide the required skills.
2. Database Technologies / Business Intelligence -- Central to every technology application is the database or data warehouse where transaction and archival data reside. We have 2 courses ISM 310 “Database Management Systems” and ISM 440 “Applied Business Intelligence” in our program. One typical technology role here is that of a "database administrator" (DBA), the knowledge for which can be obtained from ISM 310. Other technology areas in the database arena involve: data warehousing (development of large integrated data storage environments); data mining, data modeling or business analytics (the use of various analysis tools to extract historical patterns and develop projections for the future); and business intelligence (the use of tools to scan external data environments and couple findings with internal data in order to discern trends and opportunities relevant to the success of the business). The ISM 440 course trains students in this area – after students can find employment as BI Analysts.
3. Secure IT Infrastructure and Systems Administration -- The role of computer hardware, networking, security, and communications technologies continues to expand with "mobile technologies" and "cloud computing" becoming a common part of every corporate computing environment. This area continues to grow and offer new job opportunities for IS professionals as the existing technologies mature and new infrastructure opportunities are implemented. These courses: ISM 320 Hardware and Operating Systems, ISM 370 Secure Computer Networks and ISM 490 Management of Information Security – are available to support students interested in these roles.
4. IT Consulting -- In addition to roles in traditional corporate IS environments, consulting firms may provide another employment avenue for graduates. There are many large and small technology consulting firms that provide expertise in all areas of IS. These firms are often employed to provide: specialized IT solutions; large-scale project development alternatives; and IS planning and strategic management services.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Admission to Northern Arizona University qualifies you for admission into the preprofessional program in The W. A. Franke College of Business. You must meet the following requirements to enter our professional programs:
These courses represent the General Academic Requirements (GAR) for The W. A. Franke College of Business. Some of these courses also fulfill liberal studies requirements.
For information about the overlap between the GAR and liberal studies, consult an advisor in Room 222 of the college.
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
You must have completed all of the coursework used to fulfill these requirements within the last 10 years.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.