General Catalog 2007-2009

Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Informatics

Whereas the goal of the Information Systems student is to be general enough to fit any kind of organization, the Informatics student may design a degree program that is specific to a particular field of study. Instead of completing the General Business Core Component, the Informatics major substitutes either a minor or second major in the field in which the student wishes to specialize. The goal of the Informatics major is to prepare students to elicit information requirements, design system alternatives, manage information technology, and implement information systems in the context of the chosen field. Examples of fields used as specializations include, but are not limited to: Education, Mathematics, Criminal Justice, Health Care/Nursing, and Communications. The student should be aware that because he or she is creating a hybrid program it is his or her responsibility to research the applicability of the resulting degree. Students should also consult the description of the Information Systems degree for more information on the Information Systems component.

Students pursuing the Informatics major are required to complete an 18 credit hour minor as part of the curriculum but are encouraged to select a second major. Students may not choose a minor within the Business curriculum.

Requirements for Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Informatics must complete a minimum of 124 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. Courses used to complete General Education Requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis, and credits earned in WRT100 may not be applied to degree requirements.

Students majoring in Informatics must maintain a 2.0 average in the Informatics Component Courses and successfully complete IFS100 or IFS105 within the first 30 credits at the College. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 or higher in each course that serves as a prerequisite to a subsequent business course. (Refer to the course description section of this catalog for specific prerequisites.) Failure to attain a 2.0 in prerequisite courses may lengthen the time to graduation. Students graduating with a declared major in Informatics may not simultaneously declare a minor in Information Systems.

The required courses for the Informatics Major are:

Minor/Second Major Component Courses

Students may select either an 18 credit hour minor or second major in consultation with their academic advisor. All courses outlined in the College Catalog for the selected minor must be taken. Students may not choose a minor within the Business Curriculum.

Required Electives-22-24 credits (Twelve of these elective credits must be taken outside of the Department of Business Administration. The remaining electives may be used to complete a minor.)

It is recommended that the following courses be used to satisfy the Area I-Fine Arts and Humanities Distribution Requirements:

It is recommended that the following courses be used to satisfy the Area III-Laboratory Sciences Distribution Requirements:

These courses cover fundamental concepts of electricity, magnetism, and photo-optics-valuable topics for people in computer-related professions. Students with stronger math backgrounds should consider the General Physics option.

Informatics (suggested course sequence)

Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Information Systems/Development

Both public and private organizations need people who can communicate with users of data and information in order to elicit information requirements, and then analyze, design, and develop information systems. The resulting information systems and information resources must also be managed and maintained. Successful systems developers and managers will combine strong communication skills, an understanding of organizations and people, and an understanding of the functions of business, with their computer-related skills.

The Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Information Systems/Development provides a combination of coursework that prepares a student to meet this challenging goal. The General Education coursework helps to build the student’s people skills and problem-solving skills. The General Business Component coursework helps to build the student’s understanding of modern organizations and the kinds of problems they must solve using information systems. The computer-related coursework first builds a foundation with skills-related courses in programming, computer architecture, networking and database design. Finally, the student takes integrative coursework in management information systems and business systems analysis and design. Students are also encouraged to participate in internships to bridge theoretical concepts with practical application.

Requirements for Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Information Systems/Development must complete a minimum of 124 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. Courses used to complete General Education Requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis, and credits earned in WRT100 may not be applied to degree requirements.

Students majoring in Information Systems must maintain a 2.0 average in the General Business Component Courses, a 2.0 average in the Information Systems/Development Component Courses, and successfully complete IFS100 or  IFS105 within the first 30 credits at the College. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 or higher in each course that serves as a prerequisite to a subsequent business course. (Refer to the course description section of this catalog for specific prerequisites.) Failure to attain a 2.0 in prerequisite courses may lengthen the time to graduation. Students graduating with a declared major in Information Systems/Development may not simultaneously declare a minor in Information Systems.

The required courses for the Information Systems/Development Major are:

Information Systems/Development (suggested course sequence)