This major, offered in a program taught jointly between the CIS department and the Dept. of Finance and Business Management, is designed for students who want to use their computing skills in the field of business and organizational management. Combining a broad education in computing with the extensive “business intelligence” that today’s organizations are seeking from their information technology staffs, the major will prepare students for such careers as Business Analyst, Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Information Technology Specialist, and Information Consultant.

Information Systems Major Requirements (63-67 credits)

CISC 1115 or 1170

CISC 3115, 3130, and 3810

CISC 4900 or 5001

Students unfamiliar with PC application software (word processing, spreadsheet software, database management software, and presentation software) should also complete CISC 1050. Knowledge of such software is prerequisite for CISC 3810.

Three courses chosen from CISC 3140, 3150, 3171, 3340, 3345, 3410, 3800, and3820.

With permission of the chairperson of the Department of Computer and Information Science, the student may substitute one of the following courses for any course in the three-course choice above: CISC 3160, 3220, 3310, 3320, 3610, 3630.

CISC 2820W/Philosophy (PHIL) 3318W

CISC 1590/Business (BUSN) 3420

CISC 2531/BUSN 3430

CISC 1530/BUSN 3120 or CISC 2532/BUSN 2432

BUSN 4202W/CISC 1580W

ECON 2100/BUSN 2100 and ECON 2200/BUSN 2200 and BUSN 3200

Finance (FINC) 3310

Accounting (ACCT) 2001

BUSN 3400/ECON 3400 or MATH 2501 or MATH 3501 or Psychology (PSYC) 3400

BUSN 3410/ECON 3410 or MATH 1201 or BUSN 3421 or CISC 2590

The department chair, with the approval of the chair of the department’s undergraduate curriculum committee, may allow substitutions for one or more of these requirements consistent with the educational goals of the program. For titles and prerequisites of these CIS courses, see Section IV of this brochure. For descriptions, see the Brooklyn College Bulletin.

Important Note: To enroll in a CIS course, a student must have passed all prerequisite courses in the CIS department with a grade of C or higher. This is different from the policy of many other departments. This requirement does not apply to Math prerequisite courses, which must be passed with a D- or better.

A candidate for this degree must complete 24 credits in advanced courses in the Departments of Accounting, CIS, Economics, and/or Finance and Business Management. These courses must be completed at Brooklyn College with a grade of C or higher.

Prerequisite Flowchart for the BS in Information Systems

Possible Schedules for the IS Major

Students wishing to major in Information Systems are encouraged to see a department counselor as early as possible. Note that the sample schedules in this section are appropriate for non-transfer students. Transfer students should consult with an advisor to plan their schedule at Brooklyn College.

The following suggestions are offered to help a student arrange the required courses into a feasible schedule. Many other arrangements are possible, and each student should consider the prerequisites for the individual courses before planning his or her schedule. Students should also take Core courses as appropriate. Students may also take other advanced elective courses that are not required for the major.

It is important to move speedily through the CISC 1115, 3115, 3130 sequence, as completing that set of courses allows a student to take most other courses in the department.

In the schedules below, a CIS IS elective is CISC 3800 or 3120 or 3140 or 3171 or 3410 or 3820 or 3340 or 3345.

Four Year Schedule

Semester 1: CISC 1115, CISC 1050, MATH 1011, ENGL 1010
Semester 2: CISC 1530, CISC 3110, BUS 2100, ENGL 1012
Semester 3: CISC 2820W, CISC 3130, BUS 2200, BUS 3200
Semester 4: CISC 1590, CISC 3810, CISC 3142, BUS 3400
Semester 5: CISC 2531; CISC 3150; one CIS IS elective
Semester 6: one or more CIS IS electives; BUS 3410
Semester 7: CISC 1580W; CISC 4900 or CISC 5001; ACCT 2001
Semester 8: CISC 4905 or CISC 5002, additional CIS or Business electives, BUS 3310

For students who decide to major in Information Systems in their second year, we recommend the following schedule of required courses:

Three Year Schedule

Semester 3: CISC 1115, CISC 1050, MATH 1011, BUS 3200
Semester 4: CISC 1530, CISC 1590, CISC 3115, BUS 2100
Semester 5: CISC 2820W, CISC 3130, BUS 2200, BUS 3400
Semester 6: CISC 2531, CISC 3810, one CIS IS elective, BUS 3410
Semester 7: CISC 3150; one or more CIS IS electives; ACCT 2001
Semester 8: CISC 1580W; CISC 4900 or CISC 5001; BUS 3310

Although not recommended, the following schedule is feasible for students who take CISC 1115 in their fourth semester. Since this program is very difficult to handle, it is critical that the student should see a counselor before undertaking this schedule and every semester thereafter.

Two-and-One-Half Year Schedule

Semester 4: CISC 1115, CISC 1050, MATH 1011, BUS 3200
Semester 5: CISC 1530, CISC 1590, CISC 3115, BUS 2100, ACCT 2001
Semester 6: CISC 2820W, CISC 3130, BUS 2200, BUS 3400
Semester 7: CISC 2531, CISC 3810, one CIS IS elective, BUS 3410, BUS 3310
Semester 8: CISC 3150, one CIS IS elective, CISC 1580W; CISC 4900 or 5001

Note: Mathematics 1011 or placement in MATH 1201 by the Dept. of Mathematics is a prerequisite for CISC 2210.

Freshmen and sophomores are also encouraged to complete their General Education and English requirements and to start the Math requirements for the IS major.

Students who are required to take a foreign language should satisfy that requirement as quickly as possible.