Information Systems

Information Systems professionals perform the technology-related activities of companies. They perform a variety of duties, from constructing detailed business plans to overseeing network and Internet operations. Working with upper management, they define the technical goals of the company and plan how to accomplish these goals. In addition, they maintain corporate Web sites, analyze the information needs of organizations, and supervise systems analysts, programmers, technical support and other employees.

An undergraduate degree in information systems will prepare you to pursue an exciting career as an information systems professional. The degree will also prepare you for further graduate study or technology specific certifications.

Akron Advantage

All College of Business programs are accredited at the highest possible level by AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). In addition, the College is one of only 171 schools that have earned separate accounting accreditation. The College has been consistently rated as one of the best business schools in the nation by the Princeton Review and ranked in the top 6 percent of all undergraduate programs by BusinessWeek magazine.

Our close ties to regional businesses provide many benefits for our students. Business executives share their expertise as mentors and guest lecturers in classes, and provide valuable advice on program and course content, helping to keep our curricula fresh, relevant and rigorous. Students gain valuable hands-on experience through group projects that assign them to solve problems for local businesses and by participating in co-op and internship programs at regional companies.

We are able to provide our students with training in cutting-edge technology as a result of our academic alliances with technology vendors such as SAP, Microsoft, and Oracle.

Our active student organizations enable our students to enrich their college experience by providing opportunities for them to apply knowledge and skills gained in the classroom, and by opening doors to new friendships, networking, professional growth, and even jobs. Many of our student organizations have excelled in regional and national competitions, often against highly regarded colleges and universities across the country.

Real-World Experience

Our faculty periodically consult with local businesses and corporate advisory board members to add new content and relevance in their classes. As part of the curriculum, students have to complete a senior project for a local firm as part of a consulting team. Our classes typically include guest speakers, site visits, case studies and team-based activities. Students also gain practical professional experience through paid internships and UA's optional cooperative education program.

Recent Placements Include:

The Timken Company
Dealer Tire
FedEx
Custom Critical
Morgan Stanley
CheckFree
Key Corporation
YRC Worldwide
Diebold
FirstEnergy Corporation
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
The J.M. Smucker Company
Progressive Insurance
Hewlett Packard

Sample Curriculum

Information Systems — B.B.A.

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Career Opportunities

Available Scholarships

Degrees and Preparation

Information systems and technologies are competitive necessities for all organizations. Today, organizations have Web-based integrated systems that span functional boundaries such as manufacturing, sales, accounting, finance and logistics. The demand for professionals with skills in the design, development and management of such technologies will always be high.

A degree in information systems paves the way for several opportunities in organizations. As an IS professional, you may staff a help desk, provide training, analyze business problems, and work with or lead project teams to develop or adapt software systems. You may also develop requirements for Web sites, and work with graphic designers and programmers to bring Web sites online.

IS professionals who work in corporate data centers are responsible for the computer systems that run the business. These systems may cover a wide range of activities from taking customer orders, triggering manufacturing, ordering raw materials and tracking inventories to keeping the books, paying the bills and reporting results to various stakeholders.

Later in an IS career, there may be opportunities to lead the information systems function for a division of the firm or for the firm as a whole as the chief information officer. CIOs are now responsible for helping to formulate business strategy, and IS professionals need to have a strong foundation in all aspects of business.

Some of the positions offered to our recent graduates include:

E-business Specialist
IT Auditor
Quality Assurance Analyst
Solutions Architect
Business Systems Analyst
Application Systems Programmer
Web Designer
Application Developer
Integration Specialist

Career Outlook

Spurred by technological advances, employment for information systems managers is expected to increase faster than average. Because of the varied responsibilities these executives hold, employers seek managers with strong technical knowledge as well as business skills. They want managers who are experts in the particular software or technology used on the job and who can discuss the particulars of their work in technical terms with their subordinates, and at the same time, in nontechnical terms to senior managers and prospective customers. Therefore, information systems managers must possess strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills.

Earnings for IS professionals and managers vary, depending on specialty and level of responsibility. The median salary for an IS professional, starting out, is $44,800. After five years of experience, the median salary for an IS professional is $62,000. Information Systems managers averaged $107,250 in 2006, with a range from $60,800 and $139,460. Some of our recent graduates have received salary offers around $52,000 per year.

Please visit the Center for Information Technologies and e-Business for more information.

Career Services

Career Services is located in Student Union 211, with another office in College of Arts and Sciences Building 126. Career Services provides career coaching and programming, and develops valuable relationships with employers and campus partners to provide students with many opportunities for experiential learning and career development.