Areas of Emphasis at Delaware:

The Department of Computer and Information Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science major in Information Systems (INSY).

This major combines business and information technology subjects. It is designed to satisfy demand for students with a combination of technical and business training. Indeed, the major was designed through a process of consultation between business, government, and academic leaders. Related majors in Computer Science and in Management Information Systems are described in separate guides. The Information Systems major is oriented toward students interested in the design of new software systems for business and consumer needs.

All of the 17-plus members of the Computer and Information Sciences department faculty hold doctorates. The research of the faculty falls into seven broad areas: artificial intelligence and natural language processing, networking, high performance computing systems, multimedia, bioinformatics, theory and algorithms, and computer algebra. These research areas are well reflected in the upper level course offerings.

What's Special about the Program:

Within the major students take two concentrations, a business concentration emphasizing management and marketing issues, and an information systems concentration emphasizing the use of computing technology in the solution of business problems. The latter concentration also provides for additional advanced computer science courses selected by the student. The diverse interests of the faculty members give majors a wide range of courses from which to choose. Because classes typically have no more than 40 students, students benefit from a high level of interaction with their professors.

Students are strongly encouraged to get involved in undergraduate research through independent studies and funded research experiences, with the goal of learning from internationally recognized scholars outside the classroom and participating in the exciting quest for new contributions to the field. In the last three years, student research activity has led to national recognition by the Computing Research Association for five of the Computer Science Department's majors. The department faculty are active researchers and superb teachers who devote extensive time and effort to educating, mentoring, and advising students. Six of our faculty have been awarded the prestigious university-wide Excellence-in-Teaching Award.

Facilities and Resources:

The department is committed to providing students with access to the most advanced computer technology available and maintains research laboratories jointly with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in addition to separate research laboratories for subareas requiring extensive experimental studies. CIS and ECE jointly manage high performance clusters being used for coursework and research in parallel computing, networking, artificial intelligence, and multimedia applications.

Career Paths:

A degree in information systems opens the door to careers in information technology including data processing, e-business development, and marketing in a variety of industries and businesses. The Information Systems major is new with the first class entering in fall 2003.

Graduates may expect to take jobs similar to those taken in recent years by Computer and Information Sciences majors who chose a business concentration. Delaware CIS graduates obtain jobs with major computer manufacturers and software development firms such as IBM, Microsoft, and SUN, and major corporations such as DuPont and MBNA. Employment opportunities also are available in virtually every manufacturing and service industry such as chemical companies, consumer products firms, banks and financial services companies. Government contractors and small software development firms represent other potential employers. Several have been created by our graduates. Some students go on to graduate study in top graduate programs. For example recent graduates are currently pursuing graduate work at Cornell, Princeton, and Waterloo.

The Information Systems Curriculum:

To earn a B.S. in Information Systems, students must complete at least 124 credits and meet specific requirements, as outlined in the University of Delaware Undergraduate Catalog.

The core curriculum in this major consists of required courses in both computer science and in business, with concentrations in business and in information systems. The business concentration consists of courses in accounting, finance, operations management, organizational behaviour, and marketing. The information systems concentration consists of courses in technological problem solving, project management, and a selection from computer science courses such as algorithms, operating systems, computer architecture, artificial intelligence, computer graphics, etc. The computer science courses provide the student with expertise in programming, networks, system development, and software engineering. The business courses provide the student with expertise in management and financial matters and in technology deployment issues. Because this major already includes many courses in both computer science and management information systems, students in this major are not permitted to minor in CIS or MIS.

The following example schedule is indicative of the courses and their sequencing, and illustrates how the degree can be completed in four years without Winter or Summer session registration. By taking some of the general requirements or free electives during Winter session, some of the semester loads can be reduced from five courses to four courses.

The following abbreviations are used to indicate which requirement is satisfied by the course listed:

• Univ: University Requirements
• Math/Sci: Mathematics and Science Requirements
• Oth: Other Non-Major Requirements.
• Maj: Major Requirement
• Bus: Business Concentration
• IS: Information Systems Concentration.

Fall semester:

CISC108 - Introduction to Computer Science I (3 cr., Maj) - Computing and principles of programming with an emphasis on systematic program design. Topics include functional programming, data abstraction, procedural abstraction, use of control and state, recursion, testing, and object-oriented programming concepts.

MATH241 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus A (4 cr., Math/Sci) - The first math course is determined by the student's background, SAT scores, and a math placement test. Eventual completion of the 4-credit calculus course, Math 241, is required.

ENGL110 - Critical Reading and Writing (3 cr., Univ) - Expository and argumentative composition through analysis of selected readings.

Two A&S Breadth Requirements (6 cr.) (see note**)

Total Credits: 16

Spring semester:

CISC181 - Introduction to Computer Science II (3 cr., Maj) - Principles of computer science illustrated and applied through programming in C++.

MATH210 - Discrete Mathematics (3 cr., Math/Sci) - Sets, logic, induction, number systems, counting, introduction to graph theory, sequences and formal power series.

Three A&S Breadth Requirements (9 cr.) (see note**)

Total Credits: 15

Fall semester:

CISC220 - Data Structures (3 cr., Maj) - Use, analysis, and implementation of data structures. Data type abstraction, recursion, arrays, stacks, queues, multiple stacks and linked lists.

MATH205 - Statistical Methods (4 cr., Math/Sci) -

Laboratory Science I (biology - BISC207, chemistry - CHEM103, physics - PHYS207 OR PHYS201, or geology - GEOL105/115) (4 cr., Math/Sci)

ACCT207 - Accounting II (3 cr., Bus) - An introduction to managerial accounting. Topics: manufacturing accounting,cost-volume-profit analysis, job-order accounting, budgeting, standard costsand variance analysis, contribution approach to decision analysis, absorptionand direct costing.

One A&S Breadth Requirements (3 cr.) (see note**)

Total: 17 credits

Spring semester:

CISC250 - Business Telecommunciation Networks (3 cr., Maj)

CISC275 - Introduction to Software Engineering (3 cr., Maj) - Object oriented software design and development through use of the Java programming language. Topics include team programming, design patterns, graphical user interfaces, software engineering tools (eg., integrated development environments, version control, build management, bug tracking, automated testing).

Laboratory Science II - must be the same science as Lab Science I: biology - BISC208, chemistry - CHEM104, physics - PHYS208 OR PHYS202, or geology - GEOL107 (4 cr., Math/Sci)

ACCT208 - Accounting II (3 cr., Bus) - An introduction to managerial accounting. Topics: manufacturing accounting,cost-volume-profit analysis, job-order accounting, budgeting, standard costs and variance analysis, contribution approach to decision analysis, absorption and direct costing.

One free elective (3 cr.)

Total: 16 credits

Fall semester:

ENGL312 - Written Communication in Business -or- ENGL410 Technical Writing (3 cr.,Oth)
(Note: satisfies A&S 2nd writing course requirement ONLY IF taken after 60 credits are completed).

BUAD306 - Operations Management (3 cr.,Bus) - Analysis of major problems faced by operations managers at different levels of management. Topics include scheduling, forecasting, process design, inventory management and quality management.

IS Elective course (3 cr.) (see note*)

Free elective (3 cr.)

Total: 15 credits

Spring semester:

CISC437 - Database Systems (3 cr., Maj) - Physical and logical organization of databases. Data retrieval languages,relational database languages, security and integrity, concurrency,distributed databases.

MISY430 - Systems Analysis and Implementations (3 cr., Maj) - Covers the challenges of developing and managing systems analysis and designprojects. Students learn to determine systems requirements, analyzesystems problems, model potential solutions and design and implement thesesolutions. Other current topics will be included to reflect the changinginformation systems environment.

BUAD309 - Management and Organizational Behavior (3 cr., Bus) - The processes and procedures used to manage performance effectively, including behavioral implications and an awareness of the individual's impact on others.

BUAD301 - Introduction to Marketing (3 cr. Bus; requires ECON100 or ECON152 pre-requisite)
or FINC311 - Principles of Finance (3 cr. Bus)

• BUAD301: Management of the marketing functions, marketing research, product planning,distribution channels, pricing, personal selling and advertising. Emphasis onconsumer and industrial markets.
• FINC311: Introduces the fundamental techniques and concepts related to the financialmanagement of business firms. Topics include the time value of money,valuation, capital budgeting, working capital management, cost of capital,capital structure analysis, short and long term financing.
  

IS Elective course (3 cr.) (see note*)

Total: 15 credits

Senior Year

Fall semester:

COMM312 - Oral Communication in Business (3 cr., Oth) -Includes an analysis of the types and principles of the communication inherent in the business and professional setting; a concentration upon the developmentof presentational skills: analyzing audiences, questioning, interviewing, researching, supporting, organizing and delivering information; an opportunity to develop and present materials within dyads, small groups and public contexts.

CISC355 - Computers, Ethics, and Society (3 cr., Oth) Explains relationships among information technology, society and ethics by examining issues raised by increasingly widespread use of computers. Topics include ethics for computer professionals, computer impact on factory work, office work, personal privacy and social power distribution.

MISY430 - Systems Analysis and Implementation (3 cr., Maj) - Covers the challenges of developing and managing systems analysis and design projects. Students learn to determine systems requirements, analyze systems problems, model potential solutions and design and implement these solutions. Other current topics will be included to reflect the changing information systems environment.

IS Elective course (3 cr.) (see note*)

Free elective (3 cr.)

Total: 15 credits

Spring semester:

CISC475 - Advanced Software Engineering (3 cr., Maj) - Understand and apply a complete modern software engineering process. Topics include requirements analysis, specification, design, implementation, verification, and project management. Real-life team projects cover all aspects of the software development lifecycle, from the requirements to acceptance testing.

MISY431 - Technological Problem Solving (3 cr., IS; note: must be taken simultaneously with MISY432) - Design and implementation of behavioral and quantitative models to aid decision makers. A project designing and implementing an actual decision support system is required. Emphasis on an effective design, implementation and use of existing models of decision support.

MISY432 - Problem Solving Project Management (3 cr., IS; note: must be taken simultaneously with MISY431) - Capstone course in the INSY major, and the Business and Economics MIS minor. Emphasis on applying the concepts of project management to real management information problems.

IS Elective course (3 cr.) (see note*)

Free elective (3 cr.)

Total: 15 credits

Grand Total: 124 credits

* IS Elective Courses: Three additional courses selected from CISC260, CISC courses numbered 301 and above, BUAD301, FINC311, MISY courses numbered 300 or above (except MISY330) and approved by the student's advisor. (Note: For BUAD301 or FINC311 to count as an IS Elective Course, both must be taken; one will count towards the IS Concentration, and the other will count towards the Business Concentration).

**Note on A&S Breadth Requirements: Students in the INSY major must take six credits from each of the following three groups:

• Group A: Understanding and appreciation of the arts and humanities
• Group B: The study of culture and institutions over time
• Group C: Emprically based study of human beings and their environment

INSY majors may want to consider satisfying their Group C requirements with either ECON100 or the sequence ECON151 and ECON152, since one or the other of these two courses must be taken before BUAD301 (Marketing). Students who have taken one of ECON100 or ECON152 will be able to choose between BUAD301 (Intro to Marketing) and FINC311 (Principles of Finance) in their Junior year; students who have not taken ECON100 or ECON152 must choose FINC311.)