Any student admitted to JMU can declare any major offered by the College of Business. However, students must make satisfactory progress in order to be formally admitted into the College of Business. Requirements to continue pursuing a B.B.A. degree, often referred to as progression standards or formal admission, can be found in the undergraduate catalog.
Students are encouraged to develop their individualized academic plans in consultation with an academic advisor, taking into account unique skills, interests and goals.
Major coursework topics include: principles of programming, cloud server management, database design and application, enterprise architecture and systems analysis and design.
For specific course listings, please refer to the program of study in the undergraduate catalog.
Beginning with the Fall 2020 semester*, Computer Information System majors must choose one of the following concentrations to complete the required courses in the CIS major:
Option 1: Information Systems Concentration
This concentration prepares students to support the analysis, design, development and delivery of competitive computer-based solutions. Information systems managers play a vital role in the technological direction of their organizations and must stay abreast of the latest technology to ensure the organization does not lag its competitors.Students enjoy careers in consulting, business analysis, data analysis and systems analysis.
No application is required for admission to the Information Systems Concentration. Students can declare the concentration in MyMadison when declaring the CIS major.
Focused course topics include: cloud server management, computing and telecommunications networks and information systems development and implementation.
*Students who began prior to Fall 2020 who want to complete a concentration should contact the CIS academic advisor.
Option 2: Business Analytics Concentration:
Business analytics is a technical approach to analyzing problems and making business-related decisions. It uses statistical methods, management science techniques, machine learning and mathematical modeling to forecast the implications of various choices and identify the best alternatives. Business analytics focuses on the effective use of data and information to provide fact-based insights and drive positive business actions. Combined with the ability to analyze, design and implement information systems, including applications and databases, the computer information systems major with a concentration in business analytics prepares students for careers in consulting, business analysis and data analysis.
Admission to the BSAN program is limited and competitive. CIS majors interested in pursuing this concentration will have to submit an application for admissionin the pool with students applying for the BSAN “minor”**.One cohort of BSAN students will be admitted each fall to start BSAN courses in the spring.Once accepted to the BSAN "minor," students can declare the BSAN "concentration" in MyMadison.
Focused course topics include: statistical and decision modeling, data mining for business analytics and business intelligence.
View the application and requirements for the BSAN Minor.
**Students pursuing the BSAN Concentration are NOT eligible for a BSAN minor.
Option 3: Information and Cybersecurity Management Concentration
This concentration prepares students to help organizations protect data/information assets and information systems. Students will learn to detect and respond to threats and assess risks and vulnerabilities while ensuring confidentiality, integrity and availability of organizational data and systems. Students will also learn techniques and industry best practices of risk assessment, incident response and continuity planning. Program objectives also include developing an understanding of behavioral, legal, privacy and ethical considerations of data and information systems protection. Students will be prepared for careers in information security analysis, incident response, risk and vulnerability analysis, continuity planning, computer forensics, cybersecurity governance and cybersecurity consulting.
Option 4: Cooperative Education Concentration
This concentration offers students the opportunity to participate in a six- to eight-month professional experience with well-recognized industry leaders in information technology and operations. Students will be awarded academic credit that will substitute for two required courses in the CIS curriculum and for six credits of special topics. Substitution for the two specific courses will be made based on the structure and context of the co-op experience and in cooperation with the co-op firm.
Students who wish to participate in a co-op program must apply both to the CIS & BSAN department office and the participating firm at least three months in advance of the start of the co-op. Co-ops typically begin in January or May and last six to eight months. Course substitutions must be approved in conjunction with the co-op coordinator in the CIS & BSAN department and the co-op coordinator in the firm.
A program of study must be placed on file for each student who is accepted for a co-op prior to beginning the co-op experience. Students may participate in a co-op during their junior or senior years, but they are limited to one co-op.
Focused course topics include: integrative business, enterprise architecture, statistical and decision modeling and business analytics,database design and application and legal and ethical environment of business.
