Computer Information Systems
Program Description
The Computer Information Systems in Business (CISB) program at CMU offers a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Analytics, minors in both areas, along with a certificate in Managerial Informatics.
The Bachelor of Science in computer information systems is a degree required as organizations face the challenges of technology management. The program provides graduates with business management skills and computer information systems expertise to manage computer systems in today’s organizations. As businesses increasingly rely on technology to provide a competitive advantage, employees with an understanding of both business concepts and computer information systems are a necessity. Graduates of this program are employed in occupations such as systems analysts, analyst/programmers, database administrators, network administrators, web page designers, help desk specialists, and information technology managers. Graduates assist businesses with creating, obtaining, and maintaining computer information systems that house the organization’s data which are used to solve problems and assist in facilitating routine business events. Computer information systems studies require students to examine computer systems from organizational, social, psychological and technical perspectives. Graduates from this program have taken a variety of courses that were developed based on national guidelines for quality degrees in information systems.
The Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in computer information systems combines technical skills with the business proficiency needed in today’s organizations. A unique program, the BAS allows students who have already earned an Associates of Applied Science (AAS) to build upon their technical specialties with essential learning courses and junior/senior level computer information coursework. This allows AAS degree holders to gain a four-year degree in approximately four additional full-time semesters, depending upon prior coursework. Computer information systems courses include coursework in data analytics, project management, systems analysis and design, database administration, networking, productivity tools and decision support, as well as systems development and implementation, including programming and information systems theory. BAS students will be technically and academically prepared for management positions within information technology.
The Bachelor of Business Administration in business analytics provides foundational applied analytics, modern software tools for analyzing data, along with data skills that are trending in industry. The program provides graduates who are prepared to address an organization’s data as a resource to be mined for information concerning the operations of a modern organization. Graduates of this program are employed as financial analysts, data analysts, health data analysts, cloud data analysts, and marketing data analysts in organizations utilizing data driven decision-making.
The computer information systems or business analytics minor allows students majoring in other areas to enhance their degrees with information systems knowledge or analytical skills used in business today. Graduates may use their expertise to help solve computer system problems for businesses or analyze data for the organization. Since many businesses rely heavily on computer systems as decision-making tools, graduates with either of these minors have a competitive advantage entering the workforce.
The Associate of Arts in business computer information systems provides students with an overview of computer information systems used in business. By earning essential learning credits, the degree positions students for completion of a four-year degree in business or another area of interest. The degree program includes the Colorado Statewide General Education Core and meets the lower-division general education requirements at most public institutions in Colorado. The associate degree with an emphasis in business computer information systems, in addition to providing students with much of their essential learning coursework, is useful in providing students with a working knowledge of computer hardware and software, common productivity tools such as presentation software, spreadsheets and database management software used in businesses. This degree provides skills that can be used in the workplace immediately.
The certificate in managerial informatics is comprised of three courses that give the certificate holder foundational knowledge about an organization’s data as applied to its use in organizational decision-making.
Contact Information
Davis School of Business
Dominguez Hall 301
970.248.1778
CISB 101 Business Information Technology 3 Credits
Introduction to computing and software, including computing systems in a business environment and applicable software.
CISB 205 Advanced Business Software 3 Credits
Use of electronic spreadsheets and database management software. Lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on projects. Developing customized applications with macros in spreadsheets. Creating tables, reports, forms, and queries to creating appropriate relationships and developing customized database software applications.
CISB 206 Introduction to Business Application Programming 3 Credits
Beginning programming with emphasis on solving problems in the context of business applications.
CISB 210 Fundamentals of Information Systems 3 Credits
Exploration of information systems in a business environment. Use of information systems to improve business processes and organizational goals. Introduction to hardware, software, ethical issues, career opportunities, and organizational uses of information systems.
CISB 211 Introduction to Cybersecurity 3 Credits
Introduction to cybersecurity in a business environment. Topics include policy and governance, frameworks, risk and asset management, data loss prevention, access control management, and cybersecurity incident response.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
CISB 241 Introduction to Business Analysis 3 Credits
Introduction to descriptive, predictive, and inferential analysis techniques with business applications. Topics include summarizing data graphically and numerically; elementary probability; discrete and continuous probability distributions; sampling distributions; intervals and tests for one and two samples; correlation and regression; chi-squared tests; and one-way analysis of variance. Appropriate business and statistical software will be used.
Prerequisites: MATH 113 or higher.
Equivalent Course(s): STAT 241
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, Spring.
CISB 295 Independent Study 1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.
CISB 301 Digital Forensics 3 Credits
In-depth exploration of computer and digital forensics, with emphasis on advanced techniques for investigating cybersecurity incidents. Topics include: forensic principles applied to networks, hardware, operating systems, and mobile devices. The course emphasizes legal considerations, investigative methodologies, and the use of professional tools to conduct digital forensic analyses.
Terms Typically Offered: Spring.
CISB 305 Solving Problems Using Spreadsheets 3 Credits
Critical analysis and problem solving using tools in spreadsheets. Decision support utilizing spreadsheet tools covered by hands-on cases, book tutorials, and lecture materials. Structured problems, semi-structured problems, and what-if scenarios explored.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
CISB 306 Solving Problems Using Databases 3 Credits
For students who have minimal background in databases. Assists in understanding the importance of data management in organizations through hands-on experience in solving business problems using relational database management software.
CISB 309 Enterprise Systems 3 Credits
Theoretical and practical issues of enterprise systems within organizations. Demonstrates how enterprise systems integrate information and organizational processes across functional areas with a unified system comprised of a single database and shared reporting tools.
Prerequisites: CISB 210.
CISB 311 Fundamentals of Cloud Security 3 Credits
Introduction to cloud-based cybersecurity and related concepts. Topics include architectural concepts and design requirements, cloud data security, cloud platform and infrastructure security, cloud application security, and cloud computing legal compliance. Special application on applying learned principles to real world case studies.
Prerequisites: CISB 211.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
CISB 315 Information Systems Infrastructure 3 Credits
Information systems infrastructure, computer architecture and communications networks in an organizational context.
Prerequisites: CISB 210.
CISB 331 Advanced Business Programming 3 Credits
Procedural and object-oriented software engineering methodologies using modern business languages. Emphasis on data definition and measurement, record and file processing, report generation and other traditional business information systems applications using modern methods of top-down, structured design. Other concepts include developing screen editors, abstract data types, and data structures including sequential, random and indexed files.
Prerequisites: CISB 206 or CSCI 110.
CISB 341 Quantitative Decision Making 3 Credits
Application of inferential statistics to realistic business situations; use of quantitative tools to enhance business decision-making ability. Descriptive statistics for data summarization, probability theory, distributions, estimation, and index numbers with emphasis on hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, regression/correlation, time series, and introduction to operations research and linear programming.
Prerequisites: MATH 113 or higher, and CISB 241 or STAT 241.
CISB 342 Data Mining and Visualization 3 Credits
Application of data mining and visualization tools to business related data sets. Using a blend of data mining and visualization techniques, hands-on experience will be gained in discovering how data can inform the business decision-making process.
Prerequisites: CISB 205, CISB 241 or STAT 241, and CISB 341.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
CISB 343 Big Data Analytics 3 Credits
Analysis of large data sets for emergent patterns using modern software tools. Topics can include: NoSQL, cloud computing, and text mining tools.
Prerequisites: CISB 205, CISB 241 or STAT 241, and CISB 341.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
CISB 393 Cooperative Education 3-12 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
CISB 395 Independent Study 1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.
CISB 396 Topics 1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
CISB 410 Project Management 3 Credits
Processes, techniques and tools of project management. Evaluating, initiating, planning, staffing, executing, controlling, and closing projects using project management software.
Prerequisites: CISB 210 is a prerequisite or corequisite if the student has reached junior status.
CISB 442 Systems Analysis and Design 3 Credits
Analysis and logical design of information systems. Practice in project management during team-oriented analysis and design of a departmental level system.
Prerequisites: CISB 210, CISB 309, CISB 315 (may be taken concurrently), CISB 410, and CISB 206 or CSCI 110 or CSCI 111, or permission of instructor.
CISB 451 Database Administration 3 Credits
Continuation of CISB 442 Systems Analysis and Design. Covers development and implementation of conceptual and detailed physical system design using proper database tools and methods.
Prerequisites: CISB 205, CISB 442, and ACCT 202.
CISB 460 Electronic Commerce Systems 3 Credits
Comprehensive examination of electronic commerce, how it is conducted and managed, and its opportunities, limitations, issues and risks. Coverage of technological infrastructure that supports e-commerce systems, plus the implications of such systems in the business environment. Exercises include exploration of e-commerce web sites and features, plus discussion and demonstration of state-of-the art e-commerce tools.
Prerequisites: CISB 210 or permission of instructor.
CISB 470 Management of Information Systems 3 Credits
Reviews the development of analyzing information use by organizations with different types of information systems. The conceptual foundations of information systems and the development, operation, management, uses, parties, control, structure, and impact of these systems will be addressed. Analysis and design of information systems is stressed through case study projects, emphasizing the role of computing in information systems and design of computer-based systems, expert systems, decision support systems and executive information systems.
Prerequisites: Junior or senior status.
CISB 471 Advanced Information Systems 3 Credits
Capstone course for the BS in CISB and the BAS in CISB. Integrates management information needs, decision-making criteria, and design of interactive user interfaces. Design and development of computerized management control systems for major functional modules of an organization will be investigated using database management systems, distributed processing, and structured systems development.
Prerequisites: CISB 210, CISB 331, CISB 410, CISB 442, CISB 451, and CISB 470.
Terms Typically Offered: Spring.
CISB 491 Directed Readings in Computer Information Systems 1-3 Credits
Study of a leading edge topic within Computer Information Systems under direction of CIS faculty. Prior to registering, the student must meet with the CIS instructor to determine a topic and a method for reporting. For each credit hour registered, the student will read and report on at least 200 pages of scholarly readings.
Prerequisites: CIS major, junior or senior status, and permission of instructor.
CISB 493 Cooperative Education 3-12 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
CISB 495 Independent Study 1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 6 credit hours.
CISB 496 Topics 1-3 Credits
Course may be taken multiple times up to maximum of 15 credit hours.
CISB 500 Management of Information Systems 3 Credits
Reviews the development of an overall framework for analyzing the use of information by organizations along with examples of different types of information systems. The conceptual foundations of information systems and the development, operation, management, uses, parties, control, structure, and impact of these systems will be addressed. The analysis and design of information systems is stressed through case study and projects, emphasizing the role of computing in information systems and design of computer-based systems, expert systems, decision support systems and executive information systems.
CISB 501 Business Analytics 3 Credits
Examination of quantitative decision making for managers. Descriptive and predictive analytical tools in a management context will be covered along with current topics in data science and data analytics.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall.
CISB 505 Advanced Project Management 3 Credits
Processes, techniques and tools of project management. Evaluating, initiating, planning, staffing, executing, controlling, and closing projects using project management software. Projects, writing, and presentation to demonstrate mastery at the graduate level.
Prerequisites: CISB 210 and permission of instructor.
CISB 560 Electronic Commerce Systems 3 Credits
A comprehensive examination of the modern paradigm of electronic commerce, how it is conducted and managed, and its major opportunities, limitations, issues, and risks. Coverage of technological infrastructures that support e-commerce systems, plus the implications of such systems in the business environment. Exercises will include exploration of e-commerce web sites and features, plus discussion and demonstration of state-of-the-art e-commerce tools.
Prerequisites: Graduate status at Colorado Mesa University.