Information Systems

Information Systems (IS), found within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is a program designed for students who want to identify, understand and solve information problems for organizations through the use of technology. The focus of the Program is on giving students the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively accomplish tasks needed to meet organizational needs.

As the ability to store and access massive amounts of data has grown, the ability to design information systems for the effective use of information has now become central for the support or organizations, decision makers, researchers and policy makers. Students should be technically oriented but should be more interested in the many dimensions of the information problems and solutions than in the details of the hardware, software and networking of the systems themselves. Graduates of the Information Systems program often take jobs in consulting companies, major information companies, large corporations and start-ups.

Concentration Areas

There are eight concentration areas within one of which a student must complete three courses. These areas include:

Organizations
Complex Models
Research Methods
Professional Communications
Business Economics
Computers and Cognition
Technology
Global Systems

Thus, the IS major provides students with a broad liberal education along with training in the essential aspects of the design and implementation of information systems.

Post-Graduation

IS students have experienced a very strong job market in past years, and national trends indicate that this is likely to continue.

IS majors often take jobs in:

Consulting companies
Major information companies
Large corporations
Star-ups

Because of the interdisciplinary basis of the major in Information Systems the "administrative home" of the program is in the H&SS Dean's office.