Department of Computer Information Systems and Analytics

[1] Objectives

The Department of Computer Information Systems and Analytics (CISA) offers major programs of study in five different areas: Computer Information Systems (CIS), a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems (BS-IS), a Bachelor of Science in Applied Data Analytics (BS-ADA), a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Management (BS-Cyber Management), and General Business. CIS and General Business majors graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Both CIS and BS-IS are designed to prepare students for careers in designing, developing, implementing and maintaining computer-based systems. The BS-ADA is a technical major that provides students the expertise to collect, cleanse, and analyze data to support strategic business decisions. In all these technical degrees, 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. The department also offers minors in three areas: Computer Information Systems, Business Administration, and Data Analytics.

CIS 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 CIS 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 CIS 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, CIS, and CS. The CIS program, on the other hand, consists of a single major (Computer Information Systems – CIS), with one optional concentration in Business Analysis. Students therefore MUST choose either the traditional CIS program OR the CIS program with a Business Analysis Concentration. Either program provides an unusual breadth of study as well as depth of study, with multiple advanced courses.

The Cybersecurity Management degree is designed to prepare students to work as technical experts in assessing and preventing cyber threats, as well as managing and leading an organization’s cybersecurity efforts. It is both technical and managerial in its focus.

Data analytics is a broad field that includes managing data, describing data, predicting future trends and optimizing or forecasting business needs. Business organizations collect large amounts of data and it is critical in today’s global environment to use it for strategic advantage. The BS-Applied Data Analytics provides students experience in all of the major components used in analytics, including data management, descriptive/predictive/prescriptive analytics, Python, R, SQL, and other software tools.

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] Computer Information Systems

[Back to program-of-study links]

The BBA in Management Information Systems is transitioning to a new program title, BBA in Computer Information Systems; and the Department of Management Information Systems has transitioned to a new title as well, Department of Computer Information Systems and Analytics. The MIS subject prefix for courses will be replaced by CISA with the 2022–2023 Undergraduate Bulletin.

The degree of Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Computer 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 (30 hours) and core requirements (18 hours); (3) the major requirements (24 hours) listed below; and (4) electives to bring total credit hours to 120.

Student majoring in Computer Information Systems must choose one of two paths: the traditional CIS program or the CIS program with a Concentration in Business Analysis. Either path requires the same four Core CIS courses:

CIS Core Courses (12 hours):

In addition to the four required Core CIS classes, both the traditional CIS program and the CIS-Business Analysis concentration require an additional four courses. The courses in these two paths are covered below.

[2.1.1] Computer Information Systems (traditional program)

The Computer Information System traditional program is designed for CIS majors who wish to prepare for jobs working with software and hardware. Graduates from this program 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. Students should choose their electives based on their desires in IT. For those interested in software development, choose programming courses and database courses. For those interested in web development, choose the two web courses. For those interested in networking, choose networking courses.

Major in CIS (24 hours)

Take the following:

Choose two of the following (6 hours):

Choose one elective from any advanced (3000-/4000-level) MIS course or ACCT 3320 (3 hours)

Note 1

[2.1.2] Computer Information Systems with Business Analysis Concentration

[Back to program-of-study links]

The CIS Business Analysis Concentration may be completed online or in a classroom setting. For more information, email Dr. Geoffrey Hill, CISA department chair.

The Business Analysis Concentration is designed for CIS majors who wish to prepare for jobs that pair business requirements and analysis. A key aspect of this type of work is the ability to analyze data, using descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics, and using the analyses for improved decision-making. In many companies, the need is not for developers or hardware/software experts, but for 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 CIS – Business Analysis Concentration include the following:

Major in CIS, Business Analysis Concentration (24 hours)

Take three of the following (9 hours):

Choose one elective from any advanced (3000-/4000-level) MIS course or ACCT 3320 (3 hours).

[2.1.3] Minor in Computer Information Systems (18 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]

Students who wish to minor in CIS 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. CIS offers students the technical foundation to compete for a wide variety of well-paid and respected technical positions.

A minor in CIS requires 18 unique hours, that is, these 18 hours may not be used for any other major or minor. The CIS 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 requirement (3 credit hours)

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

[2.1.4] Minor in Data Analytics (18 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]

As one of the fastest growing fields in information technology, data analytics is the art and science of using organizational data for strategic and tactical purposes. Data analytics is a vast field, with skills ranging from advanced statistics to programming to employing dedicated analysis software. This minor focuses on using both programming and software to cleanse, transform, analyze, and display data effectively.

A minor in Data Analytics requires 18 unique hours, that is, these 18 hours may not be used for any other major or minor. The minor includes four required core courses and two electives (chosen from six courses), for a total of 18 hours.

Required courses (12 credit hours)

Choose two of the following courses (6 credit hours)

Note 2

[2.2] General Business

[Back to program-of-study links]

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 (30 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), Computer Information Systems (CIS), Marketing (MKTG), or Management (MGMT).

[2.2.2] Minor in General Business (24 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]

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

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

[3.1] Information Systems

[Back to program-of-study links]

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 Requirement courses (up to approximately 12 hours may also be used for the UCA Core requirement); (3) the major requirements (30 hours) listed below; (4) a required minor in Computer Science; and (5) electives to bring total credit hours to 120.

Requirements for the Information Systems degree follow.

Business Requirements (36-37 credit hours)

*These courses can also count as part of the 38 hour lower-division UCA Core requirement.

Information Systems Requirement: (30 credit hours)

Minor in Computer Science (17 credit hours)

[3.2] Cybersecurity Management

[Back to program-of-study links]

The degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in Cybersecurity Management 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 major; (2) 15 hours of business requirements; (3) 6 hours of statistics/math; (4) 28 hours of technology courses; (5) 21 hours of strategy/management courses; and (6) electives to bring total credit hours to 120.

Requirements for the BS Cybersecurity Management degree follow.

UCA Core (38 hours)

The following required courses in the major may be taken as part of the lower-division UCA Core.

Business Requirements (15 hours)

Math/BS Requirement (6 hours)

Technology Requirement (28 hours)

Strategy & Management Requirement (21 hours)

[3.3] Applied Data Analytics

[Back to program-of-study links]

The degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in Applied Data Analytics 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 courses designated below. Up to approximately 12 hours of business/math courses may be used in the lower division UCA Core; (2) 36 hours of Business and Math required courses; (3) 42 hours of major requirements, listed below; (4) electives to bring total credit hours to 120.

Requirements for the Applied Data Analytics degree follow.

Business/Math required courses (36 hours)

*These courses can also count as part of the 38 hour lower-division UCA Core requirement.

Data Analytics/Technical courses (42 credit hours)

Note 1
Internship must be in data analytics and approved by the Chair.

[4] Certificate Program: Technical Certificate in Applied Data Analytics

[Back to program-of-study links]

This program prepares students for entry-level positions in data analytics. It may be awarded without an undergraduate degree, concurrently with an undergraduate major in another field, or as a post-baccalaureate study.

The Technical Certificate in Applied Data Analytics requires successful completion of 24 hours, including 15 hours of required courses and 9 hours of electives, chosen from the list below.

Required Courses (15 hours)

Choose three of the following (9 hours)

To obtain a Technical Certificate in Applied Data Analytics from UCA, a student must complete 15 hours at UCA (in residence). A UCA student may not be a declared major or minor in CIS or Data Analytics and simultaneously pursue the Technical Certificate in Applied Data Analytics. A student with a previously awarded CIS or Data Analytics minor may pursue the Technical Certificate by completing the remaining certificate requirements (subject to transfer and residency requirements). A student with a previously awarded Technical Certificate in Applied Data Analytics may pursue a BBA-CIS or BS-Applied Data Analytics by completing the remaining degree requirements (subject to transfer and residency requirements).

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

The CISA department offers 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 and MIS 4382 ) and project credit (MIS 4390) provide upper-division MIS credit to the student and serve as hours in the major for all CIS concentrations, for General Business, or for the BS in Information Systems. See the CISA department chair for more information.

[6] Honors in Computer Information Systems

Students who major in Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity Management or Applied Data Analytics and who demonstrate exceptional ability may be invited to enter the Honors in the Major Program. For details, see Honors in the Major Program.

[7] Course Links (MIS, CSCI, CSEC, PSCI)

Follow this link for MIS course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for CSCI course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for CSEC course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link for PSCI course descriptions: course link.