Management Information Systems
Application Deadline
- Spring: December 8
- Summer: April 12 (early sessions)
- Fall: July 19
Class Begins
- Spring: January 8, 2024
- Summer: May 6, 2024 (early sessions)
- Fall: August 19, 2024
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Arts
in Business Administration
WSU College
Carson College of Business
Innovative Solutions for a High-Tech World
In today’s brave new world of highly-integrated technology, corporations are becoming increasingly reliant on information technology systems to streamline their business processes and make them more effective. This emerging opportunity has opened exciting new doors for savvy professionals with the skills to innovate and address unique IT challenges. Want to step through?
Why Major in Management Information Systems?
Management information systems (MIS) is a field devoted to the development, maintenance, management, and study of computer-based information systems in organizations. MIS professionals analyze business processes, and then design, develop, implement and manage information systems that support organizational needs. In contrast to the more technical areas of engineering or computer science, MIS professionals spend less time behind a computer screen and more time working with people, helping them integrate business processes and information technology solutions to effectively meet the unique needs of their businesses.
What You’ll Learn
WSU’s MIS major—available completely online—provides high-level IT skills and teaches you how to apply them in a business environment. The curriculum focuses on technical, business and managerial knowledge. You will learn to collaborate with non-technical business people, assess organizational needs, and design information systems to meet those needs. Courses include extensive hands-on experience in building software applications.
WSU Management Information Systems Program Strengths
- WSU’s Carson College of Business is among only 2% of business programs worldwide whose programs are fully accredited by AACSB International (the world’s foremost business accreditation) at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.
- WSU’s MIS curriculum is at the international forefront and is the most comprehensive in the northwestern U.S.
- Learn from top researchers and scholars—WSU business faculty are ranked 12th in the world in research productivity and maintain close relationships with high-tech leaders and businesses.
- Award-winning teaching faculty combine research and real-world experience into a dynamic online learning experience.
Courses Designed for Flexibility
The Carson College of Business offers its upper division courses in a 7-week format. Several required upper division courses are offered only once per year. Students will be required to take some courses during the summer.
The 7-week sessions allow students to complete two or four 7-week courses during a traditional 16-week semester and can be taken concurrently with 16-week non-business courses. The 7-week courses are accelerated and require about 15-20 hours of work per week but allow for a more flexible schedule suited for working students. The current 7-week management information systems major course rotation schedule is provided below in the Program of Study under MIS Core Requirements and Course Rotation.
Program of Study
All WSU undergraduates must complete a minimum of 120 semester credits of which 40 credits must be at the 300 – 400 level. Students must also complete the University Common Requirements (UCORE). These can generally be satisfied with a direct transfer degree. For a list of direct-transfer agreements, visit WSU’s Transferring an Associate Degree web page.
The MIS major is designed for students using personal computers (PCs) and the Windows Operating System. Students wanting to use a Mac will need to purchase and install additional software.
Students must also complete the College of Business graduation requirements and the program requirements of the degree.
Admission to the Major
To be eligible to be admitted to a WSU Carson College of Business major, students must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Complete ECONS 101 or 102, MATH 201 or 202, B_A 100, B_A 102 and HBM 101 with a C or higher
- Complete the applicable portion of the Carson Career Amplifier Program (Tier 1 or Crimson Pathway 1)
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and not be on academic probation
- Complete at least 27 credit hours
Students Must Complete the Courses Below as Required by the Carson College of Business
| FULL SEMESTER COURSES: Offered Each Term | Spring Semester (Jan. – May) | Summer Session (May – July) | Fall Semester (Aug. – Dec.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECONS 101 [SSCI] – Fundamentals of Microeconomics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ECONS 102 [SSCI] – Fundamentals of Macroeconomics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MATH 201 – Finite Math for Business | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MATH 202 [QUAN] – Business Calculus | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 7-WEEK COURSES: Offered on a Rotation Schedule | Spring Session 1 (Jan. – Feb.) | Spring Session 2 (March – May) | Summer Session 1 (May – June) | Summer Session 2 (June – Aug.) | Fall Session 1 (Aug. – Oct.) | Fall Session 2 (Oct. – Dec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B_A 100 – Introduction to Business (may be waived for qualifying transfer students) | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| B_A 102 – Exploring Careers in Business (may be waived for qualifying transfer students) | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| HBM 101 – Professional and Career Development for the Business World (may be waived for qualifying transfer students) | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| ACCTG 230 – Financial Accounting | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| *ACCTG 231 – Managerial Accounting | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| B_LAW 210 – Business Law | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| B_A 212 – Decision Analysis, Spreadsheets and Data Visualization | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| MGTOP 215 – Business Statistics | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| MIS 250 – Managing Information Technology | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| B_A 211 - Business Ethics, Teams, and Innovation | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| FIN 325 - Introduction to Financial Management | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| MGTOP 340 - Operations Management | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| MKTG 360 - Marketing | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| I_BUS 380 - International Business (requires admission to major) | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| MGMT 491 [CAPS] - Strategic Management (requires admission to major) | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
The course rotation schedules are provided for planning purposes. New students should refer to their personal planning worksheet created by their Global Campus academic advisor for initial planning. Once admitted to the major, students should refer to their Academic Progress Report in myWSU to track their academic progress.
The Carson Career Amplifier Program is a co-curricular program that complements what students are learning in the classroom. Students will develop professional skills through engaging, hands-on experiences.
For more information, visit the College of Business Carson Career Amplifier Program and watch a brief overview on YouTube: Career Amplifier Program Overview.
| 7-WEEK COURSES: Offered on a Rotation Schedule, and Require that Students are Admitted to the Major | Spring Session 1 (Jan. – March) | Spring Session 2 (March – May) | Summer Session 1 (May – June) | Summer Session 2 (June – Aug.) | Fall Session 1 (Aug. – Oct.) | Fall Session 2 (Oct. – Dec.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIS 322 [M] – Enterprise Business Process Analysis | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| MIS 325 – Enterprise Business Development | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| MIS 372 [M] – Data Management | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| MIS 420 – Business Intelligence | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| MIS 400 – Strategic Information Systems Leadership | No | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| MIS 448 – Global IS Project Management | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
The course rotation schedule is provided for planning purposes. New students should refer to their personal planning worksheet created by their Global Campus Academic Advisor for initial planning. Once admitted to the major, students should refer to their Academic Progress Report in myWSU to track their academic progress.
The Courses Below Require Students are Admitted to the Major
6 semester credits. All upper division business courses are 7-weeks.
- Two 300/400 level Business courses
Students must complete the University Writing Portfolio, and two Writing in the Major [M] courses. For online MIS majors, the Writing in the Major requirement will be fulfilled with MIS 322 and MIS 372.
- *6 credits of additional social sciences or humanities coursework: [SSCI], [HUM], or ANTH, ASIA, CES, CRM_J, DTC, ECONS, ENGLISH, FINE_ART, HISTORY, HUMANITY, PHIL, PSYCH, SOC, H_D, POL_S, or WGSS
- One of the following Communication courses:
- COM 102 [COMM] – Public Speaking in the Digital Age
- H_D 205 [COMM] – Developing Effective Communication and Life Skills
- 3 credits Written Communications: ENGLISH 402 [WRTG] [M] – Technical and Professional Writing OR ENGLISH 403
- 2.5 cumulative grade point average in all business courses
- Nine upper division (300- and 400-level) courses must be taken at WSU
- 6 credits International Experience Requirement: A variety of options exists to fulfill this requirement, including study abroad, international internships, and approved coursework.
*Cannot be used for any other requirement
Note: Students who have already completed a business degree through WSU may not return to complete a second business major.
Please review the online WSU Catalog for additional information about specific degree requirements.