Department of Management Information Systems

Chair and Professor: J. Downey (PhD), 450-3110
Professor: K. Griffin (DBA), R. McGaughey (PhD), S. Zeltmann (PhD)
Associate Professor: S. Bartczak (PhD), M. McMurtrey (PhD)
Assistant Professor: M. Ellis (PhD), J. Hill (PhD), K. McKinzie (PhD)
Lecturer II: C. Barber (MEd), L. Smith (MEd)

[1] Objectives

The Department of Management Information Systems (MIS) offers major and minor programs of study in three different areas: Management Information Systems (MIS), a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BS-IS) and General Business. MIS and General Business majors graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Both MIS and BS-IS are designed to prepare students for careers in designing, developing, implementing and maintaining computer-based systems. Students learn how to utilize the power of computer technologies to reduce costs and improve organizational effectiveness. Graduates use their understanding of business processes and computer technologies to help create and improve computer-based systems which are critical to the success of almost all modern organizations.

MIS and BS-IS are similar in many respects. They share many of the same course requirements and graduates can vie for some of the same jobs. Both have a business component as well as a technology component in their curricula. But they are also different. The MIS degree requires more business classes and less technology. The BS-IS degree requires more technology; indeed this degree requires a minor in Computer Science. The degree program in MIS prepares students for careers in business, government, and not-for-profit organizations as systems or business analysts, programmers, database developers and managers, and website managers. Graduates become project managers, database administrators, network managers, and directors of the information systems function within their organizations. The BS-IS program prepares graduates for similar type jobs, but students are more thoroughly prepared for one of the most common jobs in the IT industry—development. IT developers write and maintain computer code; they solve business problems by developing programming solutions.

The BS-IS degree has no concentrations, but does require a minor in CS. It is unlike any program in the state in that it a true combination of business, MIS and CS. The MIS program, on the other hand, consists of a single major (MIS), but requires students to choose between three different concentrations, including Application Development, Telecommunications and Computer Networks, or Business Analysis. The three concentrations include an MIS Core of three required courses, with additional courses and electives for advanced study depending on the concentration. This MIS program offers students an unusual breadth of study (three specialization concentrations) and an unusual depth of study (advanced courses in each area) compared to other MIS programs in Arkansas and the region.

The General Business major is designed for students who are interested in the varied aspects of business and organizations and wish to sample three or more different areas of study. The program is designed for students who wish a broader business perspective than that provided by a single business department. This is an interdisciplinary business major that requires students take upper-division courses from at least three of the seven business disciplines in the College of Business. Students who major in General Business have a broad knowledge base of the entire business organization, without specializing in one area. Majors are frequently interested in smaller organizations or managing their own business.

[2] Baccalaureate Degrees: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

[2.1] Management Information Systems

The degree of Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Management Information Systems requires successful completion of 120 hours including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated BBA foundation, core, and major courses; (2) the BBA foundation (27 hours) and core requirements (18 hours); (3) the major requirements (24 hours) listed below; and (4) electives to bring total credit hours to 120.

Students majoring in Management Information Systems must choose one of three concentrations, including Application Development, Telecommunications and Computer Networks, or Business Analysis. Each concentration requires the same three core MIS courses, but different follow-on courses.

MIS core courses (12 hours):

In addition to the four required MIS Core classes, each student will select one of three concentrations (detailed below). These concentrations include an additional four courses (12 hours) each. Each of these concentrations (except GIS in the Application Development Concentration as noted below) allow the student to select one elective, which must be advanced (3000 level or above) courses in MIS or Statistics (QMTH). The following details the concentrations.

[2.1.1] Application Development Concentration

The Application Development Concentration is designed for MIS majors who wish to prepare for jobs working with software. Graduates from this concentration typically develop and maintain applications and other software, such as databases, web sites, geographical information systems, and other computer-based systems, including corporate computer infrastructures. Graduates frequently work on Information Technology (IT) projects or as IT systems analysts. The Application Development Concentration is comprised of three “sub-concentrations”, including E-Commerce, Programmer/Analyst, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). The GIS sub-concentration includes courses from the Department of Geography. Each student will self-select one of these sub-concentrations by choosing one of three advanced courses. Requirements for the Application Development Concentration are as follows:

Major in MIS, Application Development Concentration (24 hours)

One programming course, chosen from the following (3 hours):

Choose one elective from any advanced (3000 level or higher) MIS or QMTH courses (note that there are no electives for the GIS sub- concentration) (3 hours; 0 hours for GIS).

Choose one of the three sub-concentrations below (6 hours; 9 hours for GIS).

[2.1.1.1] E-Commerce sub-concentration (6 hours)

This sub-concentration is designed for MIS majors who wish to prepare for jobs working on corporate and organizational web sites. Graduates develop and maintain Internet-based IT systems for business and non-profit entities in support of organizational goals and requirements. Of particular importance is developing interactive web technologies, including Electronic Commerce (E-commerce) and managing web servers. The following 6 hours are required:

[2.1.1.2] Programmer/Analyst sub-concentration (6 hours)

This sub-concentration is designed for MIS majors who wish to prepare for jobs working as system designers and system builders in a large organization. Graduates from this sub-concentration typically work with non-technical managers and staff along with computer scientists and technicians in designing and building large computer-based systems and corporate computer infrastructures. The following 6 hours are required:

[2.1.1.3] Geographical Information Systems (GIS) sub-concentration (10 hours)

This sub-concentration is designed for MIS majors who wish to prepare for jobs working with electronic mapping systems. These systems are used extensively by federal, state, and local government agencies. Utility companies which provide electric power, natural gas, water, sewer, cable, and telephone almost all use these systems. Many other employers are also interested in GIS/Spatial system technologies. Because this sub-concentration requires 10 hours of Geography, it has no electives. The following 10 hours are required:

[2.1.2] Telecommunications and Computer Networking Concentration

The Telecommunications & Computer Networks Concentration is designed for MIS majors who wish to prepare for jobs in the telecommunications industry or as networking specialists. The focus of this concentration is computer networking, hardware, and the telecommunications industry. Graduates will have studied traditional wireline technologies, wireless technologies, and computer networks of various types. Requirements for the Telecommunications Concentration include the following:

Major in MIS, Telecommunications and Computer Networking Concentration (24 hours)

[2.1.3] Business Analysis Concentration

The Business Analysis Concentration is designed for MIS majors who wish to prepare for jobs that pair business requirements and analysis. In many companies, the need is not for developers or hardware/software experts, but on employees who understand technology, can work in teams, and analyze business processes. Graduates are prepared to be a link between business managers and the technical staff, and will have experience working on projects in teams. Project management is one of the key components of this concentration. Requirements for the Business Analysis Concentration include the following:

Major in MIS, Business Analysis Concentration (24 hours)

[2.1.4] Minor in Management Information Systems (18 hours)

Students who wish to minor in MIS have the opportunity to focus their efforts in many directions, from developing computer code and technical competence to a less-technical but more statistical business analysis direction. MIS offers students the technical foundation to compete for a wide variety of well-paid and respected technical positions.

A minor in MIS requires 18 unique hours, that is, these 18 hours may not be used for any other major or minor. The MIS minor includes four required core courses, one technical or programming course, and one elective, for a total of 18 hours.

Required courses (12 credit hours)

Choose one of the following courses (3 credit hours)

Additional elective requirements (3 credit hours)

Take one additional upper-division (3000- or 4000-level) MIS or QMTH courses; this upper-division course may be from either Mathematics or Computer Science, but this Math/Computer Science courses may not be a course required for graduation in that major.

[2.2] General Business

The degree of Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in General Business requires successful completion of 120 hours including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated BBA foundation, core, and major courses; (2) the BBA foundation (27 hours) and core requirements (18 hours); (3) the major requirements listed below; and (4) electives to bring the total credit hours to 120.

[2.2.1] General Business Requirements

The general business major requires eight upper-division courses in at least three different teaching areas in the College of Business, including Accounting (ACCT), Economics (ECON), Finance (FINA), Insurance and Risk Management (INSU), Management Information Systems (MIS or QMTH), Marketing (MKTG), or Management (MGMT).

[2.2.2] Minor in Business Administration (24 hours)

Not open to business majors working on a BBA degree. The minor in General Business requires the following courses:

Of the 12 elective hours, at least 6 hours must be upper-division courses (3000 level or higher).

[3] Baccalaureate Degrees: Bachelor of Science (BS)

[3.1] Information Systems

The degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in Information systems requires successful completion of 120 hours including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses in the BBA foundation, core, and major courses; (2) 36-37 hours of Business Foundation and Core courses (up to approximately 12 hours may also be used for the UCA Core requirement); (3) a minor in Computer Science consisting of eighteen (18) hours; (4) 30 hours of Information System courses; and (5) electives to bring total credit hours to 120.

Requirements for the Information Systems degree follow.

Business Requirements (36-37 hours)

*These courses can also count as part of the 38 hour University Core requirement.

Minor in Computer Science (18 hours): 18 hours^

Information Systems Requirement: 30 hours^

^Note: six hours of advanced CS courses are required for the CS Minor. These six hours may come from courses required as part of the 30 hours in Information Systems. However, if any hours from the Information Systems requirement are used to fulfill the CS Minor, students must replace those hours with any elective upper-division CSCI/MIS/QMTH hours. Students must have eighteen (18) hours of CSCI courses for the CS Minor plus thirty (30) hours of Information Systems course credit (for a total of 48 hours for both).

+Students may receive credit for only one of these two course sequences.

[4] Practical Work Experience for Credit – Internships and Projects

The MIS and CS Departments offer credit for practical work experience in the discipline. Students may intern with an employer during any semester or across semesters as best fits the needs of the student and the employer. Students may also work with faculty on a project of interest to both the student and the faculty member. Internship credit (MIS 3382, MIS 4382, CSCI 3275) and project credit (MIS 4380) provide upper-division MIS credit to the student and serve as hours in the major for all MIS concentrations, for General Business, or for the BS in Information Systems. See the MIS or CS Department chair for more information.

[5] Honors in Management Information Systems

[Jump to Recognition of Academic Achievement for general information about Honors in the Majors.]

The MIS department is pleased to offer an opportunity for outstanding students to pursue the Honors in Management Information Systems program. This includes students in any of the three degree programs in the department (BBA-MIS, BBA-General Business, BS-Information Systems). Students with senior status and overall and major grade point averages of 3.25 are eligible to apply for participation in this program. Honors scholars in MIS must successfully complete MIS 4390 under the direction of an MIS faculty member. Students who qualify and are interested should apply to the MIS Department Chair. Participation is not assured even if the grade point average thresholds are met.

[6] Course Links

[6.1] Courses in Management Information Systems (MIS)

Follow this link for MIS course descriptions: course link.

[6.2] Courses in Computer Science (CSCI)

Follow this link for CSCI course descriptions: course link.

[6.3] Courses in Quantitative Methods (QMTH)

Follow this link for QMTH course descriptions: course link.