Information Systems Management, Bachelor of Science
Philosophy
The Wilmington University undergraduate degree program in Information Systems Management provides a solid knowledge foundation and a related and meaningful set of experiences to prepare professionals to become Information Technology leaders in what has become the nation’s largest industry. Students who successfully complete the undergraduate degree program in Information Systems Management will possess a working command of current business processes, understand the concepts of business intelligence, data warehousing, and information technology applications and practices that can be applied in business, educational, and governmental organizations regardless of size. Degree recipients will be capable of managing complex projects from inception to completion, including analyzing business processes and designing an information technology strategy for continuous improvement. The ISM program is closely aligned with the business curriculum at Wilmington University. All courses involve hands-on assignments.
Purpose
The use of information systems and technology in business and industry is woven into strategic, tactical and operational areas of almost every organization. Administrators, employees, and staff routinely use information technology in their daily professional and personal lives. The increased need for well-designed information technology systems by business and industry has further created a need for IT professionals who can analyze, design and implement information systems to meet the needs of clients. This includes, but is not limited to, professionals who are:
- Competent practitioners, able to use technology and capable of assuming a leadership role in its implementation;
- Effective problem solvers, with the ability to integrate information systems and technology into the workplace;
- Active learners, attuned to emerging trends and technical innovations, with the attendant capabilities to appropriately position the proper trends/innovations within organizations.
The express purpose of Wilmington University’s program in Information Systems Management is to satisfy those needs by fostering an application level of practical expertise at an intermediate level of experience. Knowledge of the most current tools and technologies is combined with an understanding of the fundamental principles that underlie them. This ensures that graduates have immediately useful skills, in addition to the deeper understanding that will allow them to move smoothly and efficiently to new systems and approaches.
Program Competencies
Students in the Information Systems Management Program (B.S.) will be able to:
- Integrate ethical, legal, and economic accountability required of computer professionals;
- Explain and apply appropriate information technologies to help an individual or organization achieve its mission and goals;
- Apply project management best practices and methodology to create, deliver, and support information technology projects;
- Anticipate the changing direction of information technology and evaluate the utility of new technologies to an individual or organization;
- Illustrate the ability to manage the information technology resources of an organization;
- Appraise the needs of the audience and then speak in a clear and succinct manner. Research, construct, and deliver professional presentations using a variety of communication tools and techniques; and
- Write with clarity and precision using correct English grammar: mechanics and usage. Correctly and ethically exhibit competence in writing for specific purposes, diverse audiences, and genres.
Accelerated Option for Technology Project Management Graduate Certificate
The Accelerated Option with Technology Project Management Graduate Certificate provides students in the Information Systems Management B.S. degree program (ISM) the option of completing their bachelor's degree along with a Graduate Certificate in Technology Project Management. Students selecting this option can complete both their undergraduate degree and graduate certificate by completing 120 credits (105 undergraduate credits and 15 graduate credits). The five graduate courses (15 credits) needed for the Technology Project Management Graduate Certificate would count as five courses (15 credits) towards the undergraduate degree. The 15 credits consist of either 15 free elective credits, or 12 free elective credits and taking IST 7060 instead of ISM 450.
Students selecting this option also receive the benefit of completing five graduate level courses that count towards an M.S. Information Systems Technologies (MS-IST) - Technology Project Management degree. Students selecting this option are not required to pursue the MS-IST degree or Graduate Certificate in Technology Project Management.
Admission requirements include:
- A minimum GPA of 3.25;
- Completion of at least 60 credits;
- A meeting with an academic advisor to submit an Accelerated Option Intent (AOI) form upon the completion of at least 30 credits; and
- Recommendation of the Program Chair
Students will not be eligible to register for graduate level courses until they have successfully completed at least 60 credits towards their ISM degree and have an approved AOI form.
Note: Students must receive their B.S. degree in order to receive the Technology Project Management Graduate Certificate.
Information Systems Management B.S. Curriculum
General Education Requirements (36 credits)
| CTA 326 | Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving | 3 |
| ECO 105 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| ENG 131 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| HUM 360 | Human World Views: 3500 BCE – 1650 CE | 3 |
| HUM 361 | Human World Views: 1650 CE - present | 3 |
| MAT 205 | Introductory Survey of Mathematics | 3 |
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 3 |
Science Elective (3 credits)
Social Science Electives (6 credits)
Business and Management Core (18 credits)
Information Systems Management (45 credits)
| BBA 430 | Big Data and Visualization | 3 |
| FIN 300 | Applied Concepts in Accounting and Finance | 3 |
| ISM 110 | Information Systems Theory and Practice | 3 |
| ISM 300 | Business Process Management | 3 |
| ISM 330 | Business Intelligence | 3 |
| ISM 350 | Information Technology Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| ISM 400 | System Analysis and Design | 3 |
| ISM 410 | Physical Design and Implementation with DBMS | 3 |
| ISM 420 | Data Modeling and Warehousing | 3 |
| ISM 450 | Project Management and Practice | 3 |
| ISM 455 | Strategic Application of Information Technology | 3 |
| MIS 320 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| PHI 314 | Ethics for Computer Professionals | 3 |
| SEC 100 | Introduction to Computer Hardware and Operation | 3 |
| SEC 210 | Principles and Practice of Information Security | 3 |
Free Electives (21 credits)
Students with less than 16 transfer credits are required to take FYE 101 as one of their electives.
Accelerated Option with Technology Project Mgt Graduate Certificate
The certificate requires 15 graduate credits. Students will complete IST 7060 and four of the seven IPM courses listed. Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in order to earn the certificate.
Technology Project Management Graduate Certificate Core Courses
Choose four (4) of the following:
| IPM 6000 | IT/IS Project Scope Development and Management | 3 |
| IPM 6010 | IT/IS Project Scheduling | 3 |
| IPM 6020 | IT/IS Project Budgeting | 3 |
| IPM 6030 | IT/IS Project Risk Management | 3 |
| IPM 6040 | IT/IS Project Quality Management | 3 |
| IPM 6050 | Agile Project Management | 3 |
| IPM 6090 | Special Topics in IT/IS Project Management | 3 |
Suggested Program Sequence
Freshman
Semester 1
| CTA 326 | Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving | 3 |
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ISM 110 | Information Systems Theory and Practice | 3 |
| MAT 205 | Introductory Survey of Mathematics | 3 |
| SEC 100 | Introduction to Computer Hardware and Operation | 3 |
Semester 2
| BBM 201 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| SEC 210 | Principles and Practice of Information Security | 3 |
Sophomore
Semester 1
Semester 2
| FIN 300 | Applied Concepts in Accounting and Finance | 3 |
| ECO 105 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| ENG 131 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| HUM 361 | Human World Views: 1650 CE - present | 3 |
| ISM 300 | Business Process Management | 3 |
Junior
Semester 1
| BBM 301 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| ISM 350 | Information Technology Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| ISM 410 | Physical Design and Implementation with DBMS | 3 |
| SCI 321 | Technology in the Sciences | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Semester 2
| BBM 320 | Business Communications | 3 |
| BBM 350 | Introduction to E-Commerce | 3 |
| ISM 330 | Business Intelligence | 3 |
| ISM 420 | Data Modeling and Warehousing | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Senior
Semester 1
| BBA 430 | Big Data and Visualization | 3 |
| ISM 400 | System Analysis and Design | 3 |
| ISM 450 | Project Management and Practice | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Semester 2
| BMK 305 | Marketing | 3 |
| ISM 455 | Strategic Application of Information Technology | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Completion Degree Requirements
What is a Completion Degree
A completion degree is a personalized version of a bachelor's degree created exclusively for students who have completed an associate degree at an accredited institution. Completion degrees are available for most Wilmington University Bachelor of Science degrees. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate's degree should communicate with a Wilmington University academic advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.
Information Systems Management Completion Degree
| BBA 430 | Big Data and Visualization | 3 |
| BBM 320 | Business Communications | 3 |
| BBM 350 | Introduction to E-Commerce | 3 |
| FIN 300 | Applied Concepts in Accounting and Finance | 3 |
| BMK 305 | Marketing | 3 |
| ISM 300 | Business Process Management | 3 |
| ISM 330 | Business Intelligence | 3 |
| ISM 350 | Information Technology Policy and Strategy | 3 |
| ISM 400 | System Analysis and Design | 3 |
| ISM 410 | Physical Design and Implementation with DBMS | 3 |
| ISM 420 | Data Modeling and Warehousing | 3 |
| ISM 450 | Project Management and Practice | 3 |
| ISM 455 | Strategic Application of Information Technology | 3 |
| MIS 320 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| PHI 314 | Ethics for Computer Professionals | 3 |
The following courses or their equivalents are prerequisites for a degree in Information Systems Management:
BBM 201 Principles of Management
CTA 326 Integrating Excel into Business Problem Solving
ENG 122 English Composition II
ISM 110 Information Systems Theory and Practice
SEC 100 Introduction to Computer Hardware and Operation
SEC 210 Principles and Practice of Information Security
MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics