Main Navigation
Business Track
Business Information Systems
Effective Fall 2006
The Business Information Systems Track can be used to satisfy the track requirements of the CIS Major.
126 credits total
| Curricula | Credits |
| CIS Core Requirements (54 credits) | |
| Required Courses (36 credits) | |
| Upper-division CIS (12 credits) | |
| Complete the following courses. These courses may be taken Pass/No Pass or Graded | |
| CIS 451 Database Processing | 4 |
| CIS 432 Introduction to Computer Networks | 4 |
| CIS 490 Computer Ethics | 4 |
| Business Administration Minor (24 credits) | |
| Complete the 24 credit Business Administration Minor as specified by the Lundquist College of Business. This must be done under the supervision of a College of Business advisor. | |
| Track Electives (12 credits) | |
| Complete 12 credits selected from the following. These courses may be taken Pass/No Pass or Graded | |
| Approved Course List | |
| CIS 399 Unix System Administration | 4 |
| CIS 399 Network System Administration | 4 |
| CIS 410 Multimedia Networks | 4 |
| CIS 410 Peer-to-Peer Networks | 4 |
| CIS 410 Data Mining | 4 |
| CIS 410 Intro to the Oracle Database | 4 |
| CIS 410 Computer and Network Security | 4 |
| CIS 443 User Interfaces | 4 |
| CIS 445 Modeling and Simulation | 4 |
| CIS 452 Database Issues | 4 |
| Additional Courses | |
| At most 8 credits may be taken from the following list. The CIS department recommends that students in the BIS track complete an Approved Industry Internship as part of their track electives. | |
| Individualized Study Courses | 8 |
| CIS 410 with the notation "Can be used for the Business Information Systems Track". | 4 |
| Track Mathematics (12 credits) | |
| Complete the following courses. These courses must be taken Graded | |
| MATH 251, 252, 253 Calculus I, II, III | 12 |
| Track Science (12 credits) | |
| This track requires the Standard CIS Science Requirements. |
Enhancing Your CIS/BIS Major
Three additional ways to prepare for a career in Business Information Systems:
- Study a second language and/or complete a B. A. degree.
The skills required to succeed in today's global IT environment are not limited to technology. Starting with your very first job, you are likely to be in an international work environment, with co-workers from around the world.
Many new IT/IS jobs prefer applicants who speak at least two languages, and many are for management-track positions
CIS majors should prepare to step into cross-cultural management roles quickly. Proficiency in a foreign language can play a key role in a versatile education.
By demonstrating proficiency in a foreign language, you can elect to complete a B.A. degree, rather than a B. Sci. degree. The UO offers language courses in 22 different languages, so there are many ways to meet this requirement.
- International Business
Communication Program: This is a set of 5 business communication courses
offered by the LCB and the American English Institute. The IBC program is open
to students from all majors. Some courses, however, are open only to non-native
speakers of English (NNS). These include BA362, BA363, and BA364. The
remaining two courses, BA361 and BA365 are open to native speakers of English
as well as NNS.
- Acquire job experience through Industry Internships.
Internships (in IT, marketing, finance,
sales and even consulting) are an valuable way to acquire practical job experience
and skills. The CIS Internship program provides opportunitis
to explore careers in the field.
Career experts strongly recommend internships as a bridge between academia
and industry.
Note that internships can also be used to satisfy the BIS Track Elective requirement, but must be approved in advance by your CIS advisor.
Looking Ahead: Careers in BIS
What is a BIS Career All About?
According to the ACM's IT 2005 report:
Information Technology (IT) in its broadest sense encompasses all aspects of computing technology. Careers in IT focus on meeting the needs of users within an enterprise through the selection, creation, application, integration and administration of computing technologies.
Professional Career Paths: A Bright Future
Graduates with CIS's highly interdisciplinary tracks are qualified to work as analysts, managers, developers, or consultants as well as entering leadership-development programs.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that four of the five job categories with the largest expected percentage growth through 2012 in the US will be in IT areas. The Bureau report also places these same IT areas in the highest quartile for salaries.
By graduation students who have built a strong academic record combined with internships can expect to have employment offers, possibly even multiple offers.
Example Careers in BIS
Career paths open to you with a Computer Science background in CIS/Business Information Systems (BIS) include the following:
- Project Management & Leadership
- Internet Business Analyst
- Web Services Developer
- Network Engineer
- Internet Programmer
- Systems/Business Analysis and Consulting Services
- Information Systems Administrator
- Internet Services/Information Technology Associate
- Computer Engineer
- Adaptive Technology Specialist
- Software Quality Tester
- Database Administrator (dba)
- Computer Support Specialist
- Computer programmer
- Network Specialist
- Telecommunications Analyst
- Internet Specialist
- Website Design and Management
Applying Your Skills
A CIS/BIS career will be exciting and rewarding, both financially and professionally. Typical career responsibilities will include:
- Explain and apply appropriate information technologies and employ appropriate
methodologies to
help an individual or organization achieve its goals and objectives - Manage the information technology resources of an individual or organization
- Assist in the creation of an effective project plan
- Demonstrate independent critical thinking and problem solving skills
- Anticipate the changing direction of information technology and evaluate
and communicate the
likely utility of new technologies to an individual or organization - Understand
(and, for some, to contribute to) the scientific, mathematical and theoretical
foundations
on which information technologies are built - Collaborate in teams to accomplish a common goal by integrating personal
initiative and
group cooperation - Communicate effectively and efficiently with clients, users
and peers both verbally and in
writing, using appropriate terminology - Interpersonal skills: ability to function effectively in the emerging international work environment
- Adaptability: for rapid change in technology
- Recognize the need for continued learning throughout your career
- Live and work as a contributing, well-rounded member of society
Looking Ahead: Graduate Studies
For students wishing to continue their studies, completion of the Business Information Systems (BIS) Track prepares students to enter graduate programs in Computer Science, Information Technology, and MBA programs.
As an example of a leading MBA program to which BIS Track graduates could apply, following is a brief description of the Oregon MBA program, available through the Lundquist College of Business. Further information could be obtained by contacing an LCB advisor:
Lundquist College of Business MBA program.
Completion of the Business Information Systems (BIS) Track, combined with professional work experience, prepares students to enter the Lundquist College of Business MBA program at the University of Oregon, and MBA programs at other Universities.
In addition to a Bachelor's degree, admission to the LCB's MBA program requires:- One term each of micro- and macro-economics by the time of enrollment.
- 2 years of full-time, post-baccalaureate work experience.
Students interested in this option should plan their program in conjuction with an LCB advisor and a CIS advisor.