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The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Academic Information

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)

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Careers

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Information Systems?

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.

Career opportunities that might be pursued:

Application development
Consulting
Database administration
Network and systems administration

With further education, one of these paths is possible:

Systems Analyst
Data/Technical Analyst
IT Risk Consultant
Web Applications Developer

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

University Requirements

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 general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
- All of Northern Arizona University's general studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
- At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
- At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
The full policy can be viewed here.

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Overview

In addition to University Requirements:

46 units of business core requirements.

33 - 52 units of major requirements which includes 6 - 25 units of additional business coursework, a certificate, or a minor.

Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.

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
University Honors Program	Optional
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-B	Recommended
Progression Plan Link	Not Available
Minor or Certificate Required	A minor or certificate is required for this major.

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.

Acquire fundamental working knowledge of a computer programming language, and be able to use it to write programs to solve common business problems.
- Represent program logic in the form of a flowchart or pseudocode.
- Develop a fully functional computer program from given specifications.
- Use the logic of selection (decision) in procedures such as data validation.
- Use the logic of iteration (looping) to process lists and arrays.
Understand fundamental database concepts and apply them to the design and development of relational databases.
- Design a conceptual relational database in 3rd Normal Form.
- Build a relational database using a common DBMS software package.
- Write SQL statements to query a relational database.
Identify and implement key business strategies and technology elements of contemporary electronic business.
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of electronic business strategy including supply chain management and customer relations management systems.
- Develop an understanding of the design, implementation, and benefits of electronic commerce and business strategy systems.
- Demonstrate the ability to design, build, and implement a small electronic commerce system website to include integration with a database system.
Utilize programming (such as Python) to acquire, analyze, and visualize data.
- Utilize programming packages and modules for data analytics.
- Manipulate data structures using programming.
- Visualize data using programming.
- Mine text using programming.
Recognize and explain the benefits of Business analytics (BA), also called Business intelligence (BI)
- Understand the role of data in decision making
- Create data models, and implement data warehouses/marts using the ETL process (using for example SAP) (this is part of an optional Business Analytics Certificate)
- Manipulate and analyze data to discover patterns and relationships (using a statistical analysis software system)
- Understand and carry out data analysis techniques (discovering associations/patterns and relationships, making predictions) to make good business decisions (using a statistical software package or the BI module of an enterprise system such as SAP))
Comprehend the major steps pertaining to the planning and analysis phases of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) and demonstrate the ability to produce the associated deliverables.
- Estimate and quantify the present value of tangible and intangible costs and benefits (including strategic benefits) arising from an information system investment.
- Identify information system requirements and model the functionality of a requirements-compliant system.
Understand the major steps pertaining to the design and implementation phases of the system development life cycle (SDLC) and demonstrate ability to produce the associated deliverables.
- Create data models to support the functionality of an information system.
- Create a user-interface and architecture design to support the functionality of an information system.
- Identify and evaluate alternative conversion and migration strategies for implementing an information system in an organization.
Acquire ability to recognize contemporary information systems issues, including the use of information technology for competitive advantage.
- Analyze information systems management issues and information technology trends.
- Identify and describe opportunities and challenges facing information systems executives in today's global economy.
- Analyze the strategic impact of an organization's current information systems portfolio vis-à-vis the information systems under development.
Demonstrate competence in communicating technical information effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Create and deliver a structured walkthrough presentation that communicates the results of the analysis and design phases of the SDLC to a non-technical audience.
- Construct and articulate an appropriate framework for exposing the inter-relationships in the analysis- and design-phase deliverables.
- Present, explain and defend the analysis- and design phase deliverables to an audience.
- Present research findings geared towards a managerial audience on technological issues, including specific technologies and/or technological trends.
Implement change management for enterprise systems (this is part of an optional Enterprise Systems Certificate).
- Demonstrate how to analyze business processes and how they are addressed by enterprise systems (e.g., SAP).
- Acquire skills in enterprise system (e.g., SAP) configuration management.
- Understand how to customize an enterprise systems (e.g., SAP) interface.

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Details

Additional Admission Requirements

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:
- Complete at least 56 units with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better.
- Complete the following courses with a grade of "C" or better in each course:
  - ACC 205, ACC 255, ACC 256
  - ECO 201, ECO 284, ECO 285
  - ENG 105
  - ISM 120
  - MAT 121
- Complete six (6) different Pathways experiences (one pathway credit must be the Career Steps online module). Transfer students who have met all of the requirements listed above need to complete four (4) Pathways experiences (one pathway credit must be the Career Steps online module) during their first semester in The W. A. Franke College of Business.
- If you have a 2.75 GPA in these courses and have satisfactorily completed Pathways activities designated by The W. A. Franke College of Business, we guarantee your acceptance into our professional program. If your average is less than a 2.75 but you have at least a 2.5 and have satisfactorily completed all designated Pathways activities, we admit you into the professional program on a space-available basis according to the rank order of your grade point average in these courses.
- If you are in the preprofessional program and have completed all required courses with "C" or better, but have a GPA in those courses that is below the acceptable grade point average for admission to the professional program, you may repeat up to two of the required courses in which you earned a "C" to meet the minimum GPA requirement. You may only repeat a required course in which you earned a grade of "C" one time.

Major Requirements

This major requires 79 - 98 units distributed as follows:
- Business Core: 46 units
- Major Course Requirements: 27 units
- Certificate, Minors, or additional upper-division coursework: 6 - 25 units
  - W. A. Franke Certificate: 15 - 21 units
  - Non-Franke Certificate: 15 - 25 units (except two education certificates with 30 - 37 units)
  - Minor: 18 - 24 units
  - Additional Business Coursework: 6 units

Business Core (46 units):
- ACC 205, ACC 255, ACC 256 (9 units)
- ECO 201, ECO 284, ECO 285 (9 units)
- FIN 311 (3 units)
- ISM 120, ISM 360 (6 units)
- MAT 121 (4 units)
- MGT 300, MGT 301, MGT 340 (9 units)
- MGT 490C which meets the senior capstone requirement (3 units)
- MKT 333 (3 units)

Major Course Requirements (27 units)
- ISM 220, ISM 310 (6 units)
  - Courses must be completed with a grade of 'C' or better in each.
- ISM 330, ISM 370, BAN 440, ISM 480, ISM 490 (15 units)
- Select from the following which meet the junior-level writing requirement (3 units):
  - ENG 302W
  - MGT 350W
- International Requirement - select one (3 units):
  - ECO 486
  - FIN 480
  - MGT 405
  - MKT 480

These courses represent the General Academic Requirements (GAR) for The W. A. Franke College of Business. Some of these courses also fulfill General Studies Requirements.

For information about the overlap between the GAR and General Studies, consult an advisor in Room 222 of the college.

Certificate, Minor, or Additional Upper-division Coursework 6 - 25 units

Select one option from below:

- - A certificate plan within The W. A. Franke College of Business is recommended for IS majors (15 - 21 units).
  - Obtain your advisor's approval to take:
    - Certificate plan outside the FCB (15 - 25 units)
    - Additional Business Coursework (6 units)
      - Courses must be upper-division.
    - A minor outside the FCB (18 - 24 units)

General Electives

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 General Studies Requirements.

We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

- You must complete at least 15 units in your major and 9 units of the upper-division business core at The W. A. Franke College of Business (FCB).
- You must earn 50% of your overall business units required for your degree at the FCB.
- All transfer credits must be approved by the FCB and are subject to guidelines listed in the current general catalog. The FCB does not accept upper-division transfer credits from programs not accredited by the AACSB (such as the University of Phoenix or the Bachelor of Business Administration program at NAU-Yuma).
- Students must complete the following courses at the FCB: MGT 490C (Business Strategy) and the junior writing requirement (if filled by MGT 350W (Business Communication)). Students who satisfy the junior writing requirement with ENG 302W (Technical Writing) must complete that course at Northern Arizona University.
- Students earning two BSBA majors within The W. A. Franke College of Business must take 18 credit units in the first major and an additional 18 units exclusive to the second major (for a total of 36).

Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

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The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

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The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Academic Information

Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Careers

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Information Systems?

Career opportunities that might be pursued:

With further education, one of these paths is possible:

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

University Requirements

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Overview

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

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Major Requirements

General Electives

Additional Information

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Academic Catalog - 2025-2026

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Department of Management, Marketing, and Information Systems

Information Systems, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

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