Students who choose to work toward a BS in Information Systems degree understand the value of technology in today’s business world in a variety of contexts. It’s hard to name an industry that doesn’t substantially rely on online information systems in some fashion. All of those situations require competent, focused and successful professionals to fill critical roles, manage current infrastructure and lead businesses – and entire market segments – forward. To be successful in this sort of foundational role, BS in Information Systems students should have a strong technical education.
It’s vital to remember that technical learning isn’t the only type of knowledge needed to be successful in today’s modern professional world. A well-rounded education that includes business courses helps students understand the broader world in which they work, drawing connections between the systems they directly work with and manage, and the needs that stretch across an entire company.
Getting the most out of your BS in Information Systems degree
The University of Alabama at Birmingham offers an online BS in Information Systems degree through the Collat School of Business. That means students in the program have access to a wide variety of business courses ranging from operations management to marketing. Learners experience business and information systems throughout the time they spend earning their degree, effectively mixing the two disciplines to provide a more holistic and valuable experience that positions graduates for future success. Let’s look at the business courses offered as part of the BS in Information Systems program.
Business Foundations
This foundation course gives students a picture of the modern world of business, including career paths, business operations throughout the global economy and the culture of business inside and outside of the U.S. For students without much previous experience in or knowledge of current business activities, this course is a valuable starting point.
Essentials of Financial Literacy
The second foundation course offered as part of the BS in Information Systems program, this course improves students’ understanding of the mathematics of money and the basic underpinnings of financial literacy. Concepts covered in the course include simple and complex interest, taxes, consumer finance, retirement plans, insurance and risk management, cash flows, payroll and inventory. The result is a strong base that supports students as they participate in additional business courses throughout their degree program.
Principles of Accounting I
A key offering in the BS in Information Systems Lower Level Core curriculum, Principles of Accounting I looks at how accounting events affect financial statements. Core concepts covered include accrual versus cash, preparation and use of external financial reports, long-term assets and liabilities, recordkeeping procedures and a variety of other topics that are central to the practice of accounting.
Principles of Accounting II
Building on the accounting education offered in the preceding course, Principles of Accounting II focuses on internal reporting related to planning, control and decision making. Cost behavior, cost allocation, product cost, budgeting, responsibility accounting and similar concepts are all covered in the coursework. Students will emerge from these two classes with a firm understanding of the basic, guiding principles of business accounting.
Legal Environment of Business
This course focuses on the legal underpinnings of the modern business world, covering concepts like contracts, property, types of business organizations, bankruptcy, employment and ethical reasoning. It also shines a light on the value of workplace diversity by looking at equal employment opportunity laws and similar considerations. Offering needed familiarity, students with a more technical background gain necessary business context.
Quantitative Analysis I and II
With a focus on applying basic statistical concepts to the current worldwide business environment, students learn about descriptive statistics, index numbers, basic probability and sampling, among other concepts, in the first part of the course. The second half covers hypothesis testing, Chi-square distribution, simple and multiple regression, analysis of variance and other related topics to provide a strong review of the many concepts related to quantitative analysis.
Principles of Micro- and Macroeconomics
These two courses discuss production and value, issues with distribution of income, national income, price-level concerns, employment, government fiscal policies and international economics.
Management Processes and Behavior
The first offering of the Upper Level Core courses, this class offers valuable information about topics ranging from motivation, job attitudes and diversity to decision-making processes, effective leadership and ethic and civic responsibility. It’s especially valuable for students without any significant exposure to business management.
Basic Marketing
A look at planning, distributing, promoting and pricing products for the domestic and foreign markets, helping students understand why companies make certain choices related to engaging customers and why those are successful or unsuccessful.
Fundamentals of Financial Management
Covering topics like the time value of money, stock and bond valuation, capital budgeting, risk and return analysis and more, students develop a strong basic competency in this critical aspect of overall business operations.
Business Communications
This class helps students learn about professional standards and accepted styles of business communication through writing assignments, research and collaborative writing.
Operations Management
Providing information about forecasting, inventory theory, scheduling, production control and similar topics, this course provides insight about manufacturing and non-manufacturing enterprises.
International Business Dynamics
Students learn about current events in the context of business operations and how opportunities and challenges arise in response to political, economic and cultural issues in other countries.
Professional Development in Today’s Workplace
This course helps students prepare for internships and experiential learning opportunities through developing an understanding of networking, personal branding, career planning, interview techniques, salary negotiation and other individually centered considerations.
Strategic Management Capstone Experience
The crowning class of the BS in Information Systems program, this seminar blends together a wide range of material previously learned in business classes to help students develop a strong, multidisciplinary understanding of modern business operations as they complete their degree requirements and enter the business world.
A well-rounded BS in Information Systems education can help students prosper
Mixing information systems and business education uniquely prepares students for success throughout the world of business. To learn more about how UAB leverages both aspects of the program to maximize positive outcomes for students in the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems program, get in touch with an advisor today.
Recommended Readings:
Degrees That Prepare You for Both Business and Technology Roles
The Key to Solving Business Problems: Algorithms
Sources:
1. https://businessdegrees.uab.edu/mis-degree-bachelors/
2. https://businessdegrees.uab.edu/course-descriptions-bsis/