Information Systems, Department of

College of Business and Economics

DEPARTMENT OFFICE

Simpson Tower F603

Phone:       (323) 343-2983

E-mail:     ahuarng@calstatela.edu

Website:     http://cbe.calstatela.edu

The application of information systems and technology in an organization defines the field of study of the Department of Information Systems.  The field may be viewed in terms of software, hardware, networking, procedures, and people.  The department’s responsibility is to educate students in the various aspects of organizational information systems.  The department is engaged in teaching not just the design, development, implementation and operation of information systems, but also the management of such systems. The department prepares its students for both the technical and management demands in this field.

The Faculty 

Professors:  Mohammad B. Ayati, Carol Blaszczynski, Doris Christopher, Nandakumar Ganesan, Adam S.Huarng (Chair), Ronald S. Lemos, Joseph C. Otto, Parviz Partow-Navid , Adam Reed, Paul Rosenthal, Harold Sackman, Ludwig Slusky.

Associate Professor: Jose Perez-Carballo, David Gadish, Ming Wang, Knox B. Wasley.

Assistant Professor:    Jongwook Woo, Song Xing.

Emeritus:  Durward Jackson, Robert C. Verkler.

Undergraduate Programs 

Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Information Systems

A total of 186 units is required for the Bachelor of Science degree in  Computer Information Systems, of which 108 units are in the major.  All degree candidates must complete 78 units in courses outside the College of Business and Economics.  See the Undergraduate Studies: General Information chapter for details concerning these other units. Consult with an advisor for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree including GE and free electives.

Requirements for the Major  (108 units)

Both options require a common core of 92 units of lower and upper division courses in the College of Business and Economics and the Department of Information Systems.  In addition, each student with upper division standing selects an option in either Business Systems or Information Technology.

This option prepares students for careers as information systems professionals in end-user departments (such as accounting, marketing, finance, and human resources) in which they support personal computing activities, develop and maintain departmental information systems, and work as business analysts; or work in information centers.  Students who select this option are encouraged to pursue a second major in Business Administration because it requires only a few additional courses.

Select 4 units from the following:

CIS 320, 383, 400, 445, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454 ** (when applicable), 455, 456, 457, 458, 461 , 485,
486, 487, 488, 498*( others with adviser approval).

Select 12 units of upper division courses from one functional area (except Information Systems) within the College of Business and Economics, with adviser approval.  Lists of approved functional areas are available in the Department of Information Systems office.

*Total CIS 398 and 498 units for the Computer Information Systems major may not exceed 8 and require adviser approval.
**Total of CIS 454 units may not exceed 8 units.

This option provides the specialized knowledge needed for professional employment in an enterprise-level information systems department in all size organizations.

Select 4 to 8 units from the following:

CIS 383, 445, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454** (when applicable), 455, 456, 457, 458, 488 (others with adviser approval).

Select 4 to 8 units from the following:

CIS 398*, 400, 405C, 454** (when applicable) 485, 486, 487, 498* (others with adviser approval).

*Total CIS 398 and 498 for the Computer Information Systems major may not exceed 8 units and require adviser approval.
**Total of CIS 454 units may not exceed 8 units.

Minor in Computer Information Systems

The purpose of the minor in Computer Information Systems is to provide students majoring in business and other disciplines the opportunity to develop skills needed to apply computer information systems to their major field of study.  The minor requires 28 units.

Requirements for the Minor (28 units)

Select 12 units of CIS or CS courses with CIS adviser approval.

Certificate Program in Computer Programming

The Department of Information Systems offers a credit certificate in Computer Programming, designed to prepare individuals for entry-level computer programming positions or other positions that require sophisticated knowledge of computer technology.  The program consists of 28 units including 16 units of required courses and 12 units of electives.  Refer to the Undergraduate Studies: General Information chapter of this catalog for general regulations governing all certificate programs.

Requirements for the Certificate (27-28 units)

Select 16 units from the following:

CIS 383, 405B, 445, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454

(when appropriate), 455, 457, 461, 484, 485 (others with adviser approval)

Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Programs 

Master of Science Degree in Information Systems 

The Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) is designed to provide managers and professionals the necessary technical and managerial skills needed to fulfill the responsibilities of senior professional and project management positions in the Information Systems/Technology field.

The MSIS degree program is organized into two Options: A Professional Option (PMSIS) designed for current IS/IT professionals, and an Executive Option (EMSIS) designed for managers and professionals working outside the IS field.

Admission to the Program 

In addition to applying to the University, prospective students must submit a separate graduate program application to the College of Business and Economics. Applicants are admitted to the MSIS program based on a comprehensive review by the department of information systems of: their work experience reflected in a resume and two letters of recommendation from persons who have supervised the applicant's work that documents a minimum of two years' full-time professional level work experience in a business information system setting for the Professional Option, or three years' full-time professional level work experience in a management, professional, and/or operations setting for the Executive Option; and a minimum GMAT score of 500.

Requirements for the MSIS Degree (45 - 48 units)

A total of 45-48 units of 500 level courses are required.

Students should expect to take the comprehensive examination (BUS 596) the quarter they complete all course work on their program and must comply with college and departmental requirements. 

The MSIS, Professional Option (PMSIS) is designed for managers and professionals working in the business information systems field. The option offers information systems professionals the background knowledge needed to move into senior planning, consulting, and project management positions.

The MSIS Executive Option (EMSIS) is designed for working executives, managers, and professionals who are interested in a career redirection or change into the business information systems/technology field. It is designed to provide persons currently employed in business and other types of organizations in management and operations positions, the education needed to obtain the professional and managerial knowledge and skills needed for senior level positions in information systems/information technology (IS/IT) user and support organizations, such as: consulting, user management, development planning and management, and data center operations.

Select 24 units (six courses) with prior graduate adviser approval.

Certificate Program in Advanced Information Systems

The Department of Information Systems offers a credit certificate in Advanced Information Systems, designed to provide an academic base for information systems professionals in such specialties as systems analysis and design, data administration, client-server systems, web-based systems, object-oriented and visual programming and distributed data processing as well as information systems management.  The study of advanced techniques and software productivity tools is emphasized.  This certificate program is suitable for students who have completed, or expect to earn, an undergraduate degree in a major other than Computer Information Systems; graduate students in Business Administration; and information systems professionals who hold a bachelor's degree in any field.

The program includes a minimum of 28 units in CIS and related courses: 16 units in the core and at least 12 units of electives. Refer to the Undergraduate Studies: General Information chapter of this catalog for general regulations governing all certificate programs. 

·     A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration; or

·     Senior standing in a Bachelor of Science degree program in Business Administration or Computer Science;  or

·     Classified graduate standing in a master’s degree program in the College of Business and Economics; or

·     A bachelor’s degree in another field and at least two years of experience in business management or as an information systems professional.

Requirements for the Certificate  (28 units)

Required Core  (16 units)

Select at least 12 units from the following:

CIS 383, 405C, 445, 450, 451, 452, 453, 454, 455, 457, 486, 487, 527*, 528*, 543*, 581*, 584*, 598*, others with adviser approval.

*Restricted to classified graduate students.

List of Courses (CIS) - Undergraduate Level

Lower Division Courses

CIS 100 Business Computer Systems  (4)

Computer system fundamentals;  computer hardware and software concepts; introduction to microcomputer software.

CIS 283 Introduction to Application Programming with Java   (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 100. Introduction to business application programming: concepts and techniques of structured and object-oriented programming including data representation, input-output, calculations, control structures, sorting, and classes.

CIS 284 Introduction to Application Programming in Visual Basic.NET Environment (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 100 or equivalent. Design, construction, and use of business applications in Visual Basic.NET environment. Concepts/techniques of structured and object oriented programming will be covered and practiced. Emphasis will be given to program logic, flowcharting and/or pseudo-code writing.

Upper Division Courses

Upper division standing is prerequisite to enrollment in 300- and 400-level CIS courses.

CIS 301 Management Information Systems  (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 100. Organizational context of computer-based information systems; common application systems; information architecture; user role in systems development; social and ethical implications.

CIS 320 PC Office Suites (4)

Prerequisites: CIS 100, BUS 305.  Intensive, hands-on instruction in software suite applications using Microsoft Office.  Includes introductory and intermediate study of word processing, desktop publishing, spreadsheets, graphics, data base management, presentations design, desktop information management, application integration, and internet integration.

CIS 383 Advanced Application Programming  (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 283.Programming of complex, integrated business application systems;  advanced language features such as table handling and subroutines;  job control concepts.

CIS 398 Cooperative Education in Information Systems (1-4) (see UNIV 398)

CIS 400 Database Server Administration (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 405A. Basic Unix and SQL commands. Database architecture, administrative tasks. Hands-on instance startup / shutdown, creating operational database, managing tablespaces, files, users, privileges, resources. Using data dictionary. Remote administration of database.

CIS 405A Analysis and Logical Design I: Data Base  (4)

Prerequisites: Knowledge of Microsoft Windows and programming language.  Role of data base in information systems; data modeling using entity-relationship analysis; relational data base concepts; normalization; SQL/query language; implementation of a single-user data base application on a microcomputer.

CIS 405B Analysis and Design II: Systems  (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 405A.  Life cycle and methodologies; requirements determination, logical design, physical design, test and implementation planning, and performance evaluation; communication and interpersonal skills; analysis methods and tools; impact of emerging technologies.

CIS 405C Advanced Information Systems Development  (4) 

Prerequisite: CIS 405B.  Physical design and implementation of an information system; development in an object-based programming and relational database environment; group project.

CIS 410 Hardware and Software Architecture (4)

Prerequisites:CIS 283.  Analysis of contemporary information technology architectures and environments, including: multi-tiered client/server architectures; enterprise, workgroup, and personal systems hardware and operating systems; and systems and program planning and development tools.

CIS 413 Planning and Controlling the Automated Office (4)

Management functions as applied to the traditional and automated office environment along with an evaluation, implementation, control and adjustment of the office environment information system.

CIS 445 Network Application Development

Prerequisite: CIS 405A. Design and implementation of multi-user business applications emphasizing client/server technology.

CIS 450 Advanced Data Base Design  (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 405A.  Object-oriented data modeling and design for database systems; unified modeling language; distributed database; role of the data administrator.

CIS 451 Mainframe Database Technology (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 405.  Mainframe data base analysis/programming; relational model and data definition and manipulation using IBM DB2 and Structured Query Language (SQL);  systems applications architecture contexts; physical data structures and interface with COBOL/CICS.

CIS 452 Customer Information Control System  (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 383.  CICS/VS command level with ANS COBOL including program concepts, transactions, tasks, creating maps, terminal input/output commands, and file maintenance.

CIS 453 Application Programming in C++ Language (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 283.  Effective use of advanced features of C++ to develop integrated sets of application programs for business organizations.

CIS 454 Special Topics in Computer Information Systems  (4)

Prerequisite: Varies with topic;  see Schedule of Classes for specific prerequisite.  In-depth presentation and analysis of topics significant to contemporary business world;  lectures, discussions, speakers, and research projects. May be repeated twice for credit up to 8 units.

CIS 455 Visual Basic.Net Database Applications (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 284 or equivalent, CIS 405A or equivalent. Design, construction, and use of Visual Basic.Net programs. Concepts and skill building techniques in object oriented programming and database application development including SQL.

CIS 456 Visual Basic.NET Web Applications and Security (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 284 and CIS 405A or equivalent. Covers concepts and skills in Object Oriented Programming, Internet, Windows application interface design, and server-side programming. Real life problem-solving skills in the Web and database environments. Covers internet security features of .NET.

CIS 457 Advanced Java Programming  (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 283.  Application programming with Java. Object-oriented programming for business applications in Java, including applications versus applets, classes, interfaces, arrays, multimedia, exceptions, and threads and JSP/Servlet.

CIS 458 E-business Application Development with Oracle (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 405A and CIS 283. Introduction to technical architecture and detailed technology solutions required to implement e-business applications in the real world. Includes fundamentals of database application development, connectivity, embedded SQL, and server-side technology.

CIS 461 Web Design and Development for E-business (4)

Prerequisites: CIS 283 or 284 or equivalent. An introduction to E-business infrastructure, issues and development. Programming for the web and web publishing tools. Hands-on projects reflect problem-solving skills in the E-business world.

CIS 484 Communications Systems  (4)

Prerequisite:  CIS 100.  Business data communications and local area network topics including data communications theory, communication hardware and software, microcomputers in communications, LANs, online services, electronic mail, and WANs.

CIS 485 Local Area Networks (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 484. Networking fundamentals, design and implementation of a LAN, user and resource management, internetworking and interfacing with the Internet; hands-on exposure to a popular network operating system of the time.

CIS 486 Managing Information Systems Projects (4)

Prerequisites: CIS 405B, MGMT 307.  Effective  behavioral and technical techniques in managing  information systems development over the project life cycle.

CIS 487 Decision Support Systems  (4)

Prerequisites: CIS 100; FIN 303;  ECON 391 or MGMT 306.  Computer-based decision analysis techniques and software packages;  use of spreadsheet facilities, expert systems, optimization, and simulation techniques.

CIS 488 Internet Security (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 484 or CIS 585 or equivalent. This class surveys the broad topic of Internet Security to secure a web and Internet environment including ethical, social and legal aspects of security.

CIS 490 Capstone: Information Systems (4)

Prerequisite: Senior standing and a passing grade on the WPE. Integration of information systems and technology core courses. Provides exposure to roles of information systems and technology professionals in industry.

CIS 498 Cooperative Education in Information Systems (1-4) (see UNIV 498)

Graduate Level Courses (CIS)

Classified graduate standing and approval by the College of Business and Economics Advisement Center are required for admission to all 500-level courses. 

CIS 500 Information Systems for Management (4)

Hardware, systems software, applications software, and telecommunication components and architecture of operational and management oriented information systems. Cases in managing the acquisition and use of custom developed and packaged systems.

CIS 501 Application Programming (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 100 or equivalent. Algorithm development for business applications using structured and object oriented programming; planning, designing, coding, debugging, and documenting programs.

CIS 502 Analysis and Logical Design I: Data/Object Structures (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 501. Introduction to data structures and to structured, relational, and object database management systems. Designing and programming personal and production oriented data base system.

CIS 503Z Analysis and Logical Design II: Methodology (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 501. Package and custom systems development life cycles. Feasibility and requirements determination. Process, data and object modeling, design, and implementation. Change management.

CIS 504 Information Systems  (4)

Overview of computer, communication and software systems.  Cases in: business applications of information technology, managing the acquisition and use of application systems, and working with the Information Systems Organization.

CIS 510 IS/IT Architectures (4)

Prerequisite: procedural language programming experience. Analysis of contemporary information technology architectures and environments, including: multi-tiered client/server architectures; enterprise, workgroup, and personal systems hardware and operating systems; and business systems planning and development tools.

CIS 520 Software Engineering (4)

Status and problems with the methodologies and tools underlying the specification, estimation, justification, design, development, installation and maintenance of large business software and systems integration projects.

CIS 527 Seminar: Decision Support Systems  (4)

Corequisite:  CIS 598.  Analysis, design, management, and use of tools needed to mine decision support data from data warehouses, the Web, and commercial information services.

CIS 528 Current Problems in Computer Information Systems  (4)

Prerequisite:  CIS 504. Latest research projects in computer information systems; application of research techniques and results to specific problems.  May be repeated once as subject matter changes. 

CIS 543 Data Base Systems  (4)

Data base concepts; comparison of relational and object-oriented modeling for data base systems; unified modeling language for data bases; principles of data warehousing; data base administration and development tools; case study in data base design.

CIS 560 Seminar: Microcomputer Networks  (4)

Prerequisite:  CIS 484 or 585.  Advanced technology concepts and developments seminar; trends in hardware and associated operating systems and architecture; Distributed Information Systems  (distributed data processing), networking, data communications related to networks.

CIS 561 Design of an E-Commerce Site (4)

Prerequisite: basic knowledge of HTML or XML. Analysis, development, and design of a web-based e-commerce site model for an actual business. Team projects incorporating web design, electronic transfer processing, and site development/maintenance.

CIS 562  Authoring Websites (4)

Prerequisite: Knowledge of Procedural Language Programming. Design of websites, based on visual, color, content, animation, and hierarchical elements. Tailoring format and writing for the specific audience, purpose, and media. Incorporating interactivity to enhance understanding and usability.

CIS 567 Seminar:  Business Expert Systems  (4)

Prerequisite: Procedural language programming experience. Analysis, design, implementation, and management of decision support and expert systems.  Hands on development of a decision support/expert systems model.

CIS 581 Health Care Information Systems  (4)

Overview of computer, communication and software systems.  Cases in health care information technology applications.  Development, acquisition and use of custom and packaged application systems.  Working with the Information Systems Organization.

CIS 583 Information Systems Consulting (4)

Approaches and tools for consulting to the modern information-age organization, presentation of the results of actual information systems consulting projects;  student case study presentations.

CIS 584 Seminar:  Controlling and Auditing Computer Systems  (4)

Controlling online interactive computer/data communication systems as a challenge to management and to internal and external auditors. 

CIS 585 Communication and Information Services  (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 504. Voice and data communication technologies that underlay the Internet;  tools and strategies needed for e-commerce and information services.

CIS 586 Information Systems Project and Change Management (4)

Organizational, behavioral and life-cycle aspects of the project planning, staffing, control, and implementation elements of technology based systems.

CIS 590 IS/IT Policy and Strategy (4)

Prerequisite: CIS 504. Discussion of the strategic perspective for aligning organizational strategy, core competencies, and information systems and technology. Partnership roles of the CEO and CIO.

CIS 598 Graduate Directed Study (1)

Investigation of an approved project leading to written report; project selected in conference with seminar professor, and arrangements made for regular meetings during quarter.  May be repeated for credit.