BIS Course Descriptions

 

Business Information Systems (BISI)

BISI 2150: Microcomputer Applications (3).  This course is designed to give students hands-on experience to microcomputer applications (word processing, spreadsheet, database, and other business applications including the Internet).  All applications software utilized are windows based. Therefore, an introduction to the Windows platform as well as a brief overview of microcomputer concepts is included as components of this course. This course can be used to satisfy a microcomputer applications proficiency requirement at most four-year institutions.  

BISI 2500: Blockchain Technology and Applications (3).  The foundation technology of digital currency or cryptocurrency “Bitcoin”, Blockchain is the distributed and decentralized database technology behind this cryptocurrency. This course explores the fundamentals of the Blockchain technology and its applications. The course will introduce students to the components, structure, types, applications and use cases in different sectors, challenges, risks, opportunities, and legal issues of Blockchain Technology. Students will also gain hands-on experience on Blockchain.

BISI 3160: Business Application Development (3). This course is targeted to the student who has no or very little programming knowledge and experience. The goal of this course is to get the student get prepared for the more advanced programming courses. Students will understand the nature of programming as human activity, learn and experience main components of programming process, understand main control structures of procedural and object-oriented programming languages, learn and be able to use major programming logic tools to design a program. The course will provide hands-on demonstration of program design using selected procedural and objected-oriented languages.

BISI 3230: Management Information Systems (3). This course will introduce the topic of information systems (IS) and discuss how organizations use information systems to support a variety of tasks ranging from basic day-to-day activities to creating competitive advantage in the marketplace. The course follows an overview of the types of information systems, basic IS hardware and software, computer networks, the impacts of IS on organizations and society, ethical use of information systems, and how to analyze and design information systems. The broad topic coverage in this course is to provide the necessary foundation to understand the ever increasing relationship between information systems, organizations, and society in general. Throughout the semester, students will be given hands-on assignments to review their understanding of applying microcomputer applications to solving business problems. 

BISI 3250: Advanced Spreadsheets for Data Analytics (3). This course presents students with the opportunity to bring their spreadsheet skills to an expert level. Completion of this module will enable students to master the more advanced functions of spreadsheet applications, enabling them to produce more sophisticated reports, and to perform complex mathematical and statistical calculations, thus saving time and improving productivity in the completion of tasks.  Prerequisite: BISI 2150

BISI 3260: Object-Oriented Programming (3). This course introduces students to object-oriented programming concepts in the business environment.  Topics include classes, objects, methods, graphical user-interfaces, inheritance, files etc. These concepts are emphasized through practical applications, examples and assignments using a popular object-oriented programming language such as Python, Java, C#, C++. (Prerequisite: BISI 3160).

BISI 3360: Information Technology and Cloud Computing (3). This course provides an introduction to computer hardware and system software in the context of both the traditional IT and cloud infrastructures. The course will include a hands-on approach to hardware/software installation and configuration, troubleshooting, and networking. Prerequisite: BISI 2150.

BISI 3500: Data Mining (3).  This course will cover both the predictive and descriptive models of analysis to discover patterns and relationships in sets of data.  The total knowledge discovery process will be examined including: identification of the problem to be solved, collection and preparation of data, deploying the models, and interpreting and monitoring results.

BISI 4150: Database Systems (3). Study of data concepts, planning, database management, database design, current trends, and commercial products. Topics included are: Database models, Structured Query Language (SQL), Entity-Relationship Modeling (E-R), and normalization. Students will develop a single-user database system. Prerequisite: BISI 3230 (or Consent of the Instructor).

BISI 4155: Advanced Database Systems (3). The purpose of this course is to present advanced topics in database systems. The course includes normalization, advanced SQL query design, Entity-Relational Modeling, distributed systems/databases, web databases, NoSQL, database security & privacy. Prerequisite: BISI 4150

BISI 4160: Data Analytics and Visualization (3). This course provides students an excellent exposure to the world of Big Data.  Upon completion of this course, students will be able to understand the sources, collection, management, analysis, and presentation of large volumes of structured and unstructured data in an effective and efficient manner. Students will be exposed to modern information technology tools to enhance data analytics and visualization. Prerequisite: BISI 2150, BISI 3610 or BISI 4150.

BISI 4230: Analysis, Design, and Implementation (3). Use of information systems techniques to solve managerial and organizational problems of limited complexity. The course includes discussion of various System Development Life Cycles. Students will use a SDLC approach for the analysis and design of a semester long project.  Prerequisite: BISI 4150.

BISI 4250: Decision Support Systems (3).  Key technical and managerial issues in the development and use of decision support systems in organizations are addressed. Strategic management decision making and the role of DSS in the process are explored. Contemporary topics including Expert Systems, Executive Information Systems, data warehousing, data visualization, and Group Decision Support Systems are reviewed. Prerequisite: BISI 3230.

BISI 4360: Computer Networking (3). The aim of this course is to focus on key concepts and principles of computer networks.  A special emphasis is given to local area network implementation, the Internet architecture and protocols. Topics include layered network architectures, addressing, naming, forwarding, routing, communication reliability, the client-server model, web and email protocols. Prerequisite: BISI 3230.

BISI 4364: Cyber Security and Forensics (3). This course examines the current standard and best business practice in information security, computer forensics practices, and evidence analysis. Demonstrations and hands-on practice will reinforce topics such as evaluation and selection of security models, risk management, threat analysis, organizational technology evaluation, security implementation, cyber phishing forensics, cyber authentication, authorization, access, and systems availability.

BISI 4400: Website Design and Development (3).  This course provides an introduction to the design, creation, and maintenance of web pages and websites. The course provides hands-on training on latest web tools such as HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). The course progresses from introductory work on web design to a complete project on design and development of websites.

BISI 4410: Web Technologies and Applications (3). This course introduces World Wide Web as a fundamental information and application platform for today’s information systems. Students will examine core aspects of web technologies and web applications, and will develop dynamic e-business/e-commerce applications that solve complex problems in a secure and robust manner. Real world case studies and class projects will be administered. Prerequisites: BISI 4400.

BISI 4550: Project Management (3).  This course is an introduction to the project management process, with special emphasis on its life cycle, the organizations that are involved in it, and the tools used in managing and delivering projects. The course takes a holistic, integrated approach to management of projects; exploring both technical and managerial challenges. It emphasizes not only individual project execution, but also provides a strategic perspective, demonstrating means to manage projects at the program and portfolio levels.  Overall, the course strikes a balance by using cases, examples, and problems from a variety of project types, including IT examples, construction, engineering, manufacturing, new product development, R&D, and services. 

BISI 4600: Business Intelligence (3). This course emphasizes on the concepts of business intelligence (BI) to support better business decision making. It explores how business problems can be solved effectively by using operational data to create data warehouses, and then applying data mining tools and analytics to gain new insights into organizational operations. Detailed discussion of the analysis, design and implementation of systems for BI such as descriptive analytics, predictive analytics, prescriptive analytics, and big data are included.

BISI 4800: Internship (3). Designed to provide BIS students the opportunity to obtain supervised information systems related-work experience. Theory and reading assignments complement work experience. Student activity and progress must be monitored, evaluated, and graded by an assigned full-time BIS faculty member. Prerequisites: Consent of Department Chair and full admission to the Upper Division.

BISI 4810/4820: Seminar in Information Systems (3/3). Provides an in-depth study of current BIS topics. Extensive readings/research on current information system developments are reviewed and discussed. Prerequisites: BISI 4150 and Consent of Department Chair.

BISI 4900: Practicum (3). Provides the senior BIS student an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in assisting users in resolving user/systems software related problems.  Prerequisites: BISI 3230 and Consent of Department Chair.

BISI 4990: Independent Study in BIS (3). Provides the outstanding student the opportunity to investigate in-depth, an approved information systems topic. A senior faculty member of the department will coordinate the work of each individual student. Prerequisites: BISI 3230 and Consent of the Department Chair.

Business Information Systems Education (BISE)

BISE 3150: Business Communications (3). This course encompasses the study of principles, practices, and mechanics of writing in modern business as well as critical thinking and analytical skills that focus on report organization and presentations, problem solving, and argument building.  Students will utilize technology in demonstrating presentation and organization skills associated with oral and written communications in a business environment.

BISE 3350 Business Research & Report Writing (3). Designed to help students develop a clear, concise, and correct research writing style; to help students collect, analyze, organize, interpret, and present business data in MLA style. Prerequisite: BISE 3150.