Major in Management Information Systems [Business]

Description of Field

This program combines technical and business perspectives to create in-depth education in the efficient and effective use of information technology in business. Most organizations today are being transformed by the Internet, electronic commerce and computerized information systems: this transformation is at the heart of management information systems. Knowledge of information technology has become essential to modern management, and the management information systems major, minor and concentrations provide the managerial capability to manage information systems or to assist senior management in its information technology strategy.

Career Opportunities

Computerized information systems are being used increasingly to carry out all types of business transactions and organizational information processing. This suggests that future managers in industrial and commercial enterprises, financial and auditing institutions, and government will require significant technology management skills to do their jobs. An MIS concentration is recommended for those who aspire to become information systems professionals [for example, the Information Systems Professional designation offered by the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS)]. Careers include business analysts, strategic technology planners, database administrators, systems engineers, and others, that generally lead to the position of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Careers in other fields such as accounting are also enhanced by a strong grounding in information systems.

Sequence of Courses

Preprofessional Year (recommended electives)

CMPUT 174 - Introduction to the Foundations of Computation I AND
CMPUT 175 - Introduction to the Foundations of Computation II (See Note 1)

Year Two—Fall

Year Two—Winter

Year Three

BUEC 311 - Business Economics, Organizations and Management (See Note 6)
OM 352 - Operations Management OR
ACCTG 322 - Introduction to Accounting for Management Decision Making (See Note 5)
MIS 413 - Systems Analysis and Design
MIS 415 - Data Base Design and Administration
MIS 417 - Telecommunications in Business
★15 in free electives (See Notes 3 and 4)

Year Four

MIS 419 - Systems Development Using Advanced Software Tools OR
CMPUT 201 - Practical Programming Methodology (See Note 3)
MIS 441 - Managing Information Systems: A Senior Management Perspective
★6 Management Information Systems electives (See Note 7)
★9 Senior Business electives
★9 in free electives (See Notes 3 and 4)

Notes

Students are strongly advised to consider taking CMPUT 174 and CMPUT 175 in their Preprofessional year, and in any event, must take them no later than Year Three. These courses satisfy the requirements for electives outside Business in Year Two.
If not already taken in the Preprofessional year.
MIS majors must take either MIS 419 or CMPUT 201 . (The other may be taken as an elective.) While MIS 419 is a fourth year course, CMPUT 201 may be taken earlier, and should be taken as soon as practicable, especially by students interested in the Computing Science minor. Some MIS students prefer a business-oriented background. Others may find it useful to develop a stronger background in computing science. The latter students should consult the Computing Science section or seek Faculty advice for appropriate additional course offerings and sequencing. Students must contact the Department of Accounting, Operations and Information Systems early in their program for guidance as to appropriate and available coursework.
See Policy on Elective Courses .
Either ACCTG 322 or OM 352 may be taken in Year Two with the other taken in Year Three.
May be taken in any year except Year Two, Fall Term.
Management Information Systems electives may be chosen from the following: any 400-level MIS course; CMPUT 201 ; CIV E 303 ; ACCTG 435 ; ACCTG 437 ; any 400-level MGTSC course or any 400-level OM course.

Minors

Students with a declared major in Management Information Systems are encouraged to consider choosing a minor in another subject area of Business, or in Computing Science [see Note (3) below]. See Minors for Business Students . See also Section V, MIS Concentrations.
Students with a declared major in another area may complete a minor in Management Information Systems by fulfilling the requirements of Minors for Business Students
Students with a declared major in Management Information Systems may complete a minor in Computing Science by completion of the following four courses: CMPUT 204 , CMPUT 229 , CMPUT 272 and CMPUT 379 . Students wishing to take this route should consider very early on how to structure their program so as to allow for the proper sequencing of courses and the obtaining of all necessary prerequisites, for example, CMPUT 201 is necessary for the above course sequence.

MIS Concentrations

MIS major or other students who wish to deepen their competence should consider focusing on areas of concentration. For MIS majors, these areas build on the required courses; for other students, they may form a useful related set. Suggested concentrations will be set out by the Accounting, Operations and Information Systems Department from time to time and students are encouraged to contact the Department for more information. Five example concentrations, which include some or all of the indicated courses, are:
1. Programming/technical: (See Computing Science minor).
2. Managerial/business: MIS 412 , MIS 426, SMO 441 , MGTSC 431, MIS 435 or ACCTG 435 .
3. E-commerce: MIS 418 , MARK 450, SMO 450, SMO 433 , ACCTG 436, MIS 435 or ACCTG 435 .
4. Business systems analysis: SMO 432 , SMO 433 , MGTSC 426, MIS 435 or ACCTG 435 .
5. Accounting information systems: MIS 437 or ACCTG 437 , ACCTG 424 , ACCTG 426 , MGTSC 431, ACCTG 436, MIS 435 or ACCTG 435 .
MIS majors may be eligible to obtain the Business Technology Management (BTM) certificate from The Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) to signify that they have achieved a level of competency in compliance with that organization’s requirements. The requirements for a student to obtain the BTM certificate are:
1. Completion of all requirements for the MIS major;
2. MIS 424 ,
3. One of SMO 402 , or SMO 404 .

Application is made to the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC). Contact the Accounting, Operations and Information Systems Department for contact information.