Programs

Students in the IS program need to possess strong mathematics and logical reasoning skills. High school students planning collegiate programs in business, including information systems, should take algebra/trigonometry or pre-calculus courses in high school.

Information Systems (IS)

College of Business Administration
Department Chair: Kuang-Wei Wen
241 Wing Technology Center
(608)785-6658
email: kwen@uwlax.edu

Professor: Wen
Associate Professor: Yang
Assistant Professors:  Haried, Dai, Chen (Visiting).
Lecturer: Annino

Students in the College of Business Administration must complete the college core requirements viewable here. (36 credits of the common core)

Information Systems Major

(College of Business Administration) - 29 credits - CS 120, 220, 364; IS 300, 310, 330, 401, 411; one elective course from: IS 320, 405, 410, 451, 499; MGT 370, 395.

Information Systems Minor

(College of Business Administration) - 16 credits - CS 120, IS 300, 310, 401; one elective course from: ACC 327, IS 320, 330, 410 , MGT 395.

For Information Systems Minor application click Word or PDF

Information Systems Minor

(All colleges excluding College of Business Administration) - 25 or 28 credits - CS 120, either ACC 221 and 222 or 235, ECO 110, IS 220, 300, 310, 401, 410; one elective course from: ACC 327, IS 320, 330, MGT 395.

Admission and Retention Process:

  1. Provide a completed application form and a copy of your transcript to the IS office. (Wing 240)
  2. Have a declared major. 3) Have taken IS 220 with a grade of "B" or better. 4) Have taken MTH 175 or MTH 151, with a grade of "C" or better. 5) Have a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA.

Note:

All students must meet prerequisite requirements for courses counting toward the minor. Required courses for any non-IS major cannot be counted as electives for the IS minor. Admissions are subject to an annual space limitation set by the department. If the number of qualified applications exceeds the annual space limitation, College of Business Administration majors must account for at least 60% of admitted applicants. Retention in the minor requires that CS 120 be taken no later than the first semester in the minor with a grade of "C" or better.

IS            220          Cr. 4

Information Systems for Business Management

This course provides the basic level of management information systems literacy. Students will be exposed to the building blocks of computer-based information systems, the various organizational aspects of utilizing information systems, and the role of information technology in the digital economy. To stress the importance of user participation, the systems development life cycle will be introduced from end-users' perspective. Additionally, students will acquire essential skills of personal productivity tools through hands-on training in small classes. Offered Fall, Spring.

The 300/400 level information system courses are open only to those students who have been admitted to the business program or IS minor program. Exceptions to this policy may be made only by the College of Business Administration dean.

IS            300          Cr. 3

Information Systems Theory, Problem Solving, and Decision Making

This course provides an understanding of the systematic ways for formulating business problems from information systems perspectives, and of the necessary decision processes that lead to effective solutions. Major topics include information systems theory, organizational decision support using IS, decision theory, decision analysis paradigms, and other problem solving techniques. Group decision support technology will also be introduced. Prerequisite: IS 220. Offered Spring.

IS            310          Cr. 3

Information Systems in Networked Environments: Technical Foundations and Applications

This course provides fundamentals of data communications and business networking requirements, and examines the linkage of information technology strategies and technological solutions for enabling effective business processes within and between organizations in emerging environments. Major topics include fundamentals of data communications and business networking, applications to data communications, basic technologies of the Internet and the Web, commercial use of Internet technologies, e-business applications, and cases in online industries. Prerequisite: IS 220. Offered Spring.

IS            320          Cr. 3

Computer-based Decision Support Systems for Management

An examination of how various software application packages such as spreadsheets, database management systems, and other software tools, are employed to support decision making in business environments. Topic areas include modeling, decision-support systems, data warehouses, on-line analytical processing, and data mining. Prerequisites: CS 120; IS 220. Offered Spring  

IS/HIMT   321/320                Cr. 3

Survey of Information Technology in Health Care

In this course essential information technologies in health care (HITs) will be surveyed. Many important health care information systems (HISs) are built upon three categories of HITs: data processing technologies, information reporting technologies, and decision supporting technologies. Specific subjects pertaining to these technologies will be identified and introduced. (Cross-listed with HIMT 320; may only earn credit in IS or HIMT.) Offered Fall, Spring.

IS            330          Cr. 3

Business Choices and Telecommunications Decisions

An examination of the business and organizational role of telecommunications. The course will not address the theoretical foundations of telecommunications, but rather focus on using telecommunications to support and achieve business strategies. Course topics will include how businesses are being reshaped by advances in telecommunications; how businesses plan, deploy and manage telecommunications resources; and how businesses are utilizing and administrating local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) technology to achieve business objectives. Prerequisites: CS 120 and IS 310. Offered Fall.

IS/HIMT                340          Cr. 3

Ethical Issues, Security Management and Compliance

This course introduces three broad subjects: 1) evidence-based medical ethics pertaining to health care information management; 2) framework of health care information security management including security principles, policies and procedures, security management models, risk assessment, and protection mechanisms; and 3) health care regulations and compliance with focuses on the legislative systems, policies, and legal environment of health care in the U.S. and the existing health information laws, regulations and standards. Also addressed are the elements and development of compliance programs. (Cross-listed with HIMT; may only earn credit in IS or HIMT.) Offered Fall, Spring.

IS              360         Cr. 3

Management of Information Technology

An examination of issues that both MIS and non-MIS managers face in managing information and information technology within an organization. The course is a topics course and will, of necessity, vary from semester to semester to stay current with the technological changes which managers would face in the workplace. Topics include strategic uses of information technology, technological trends and their implications, the relationship between organizational structure and information technology, evaluation of the effectiveness of information technology, end user computing, management of new and existing systems and ethical and international issues. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Fall. 

IS/HIMT                370          Cr. 3

Health Care Systems: Analysis and Design

This is the first course in a two-course sequence that addresses methods and techniques of health care information system (IS) analysis and design as performed within the system development life cycle. Included will be the definition of the problem, fact gathering, analysis, logical design, selection and evaluation of alternative health care information systems solutions from the point of view of the health provider and user. The course focuses on the problem solving process that leads to the development of logical IS solutions to applied health care problems. Prerequisite: IS 220 or HIMT 300. (Cross- listed with HIMT; may only earn credit in IS or HIMT.) Offered Fall, Spring.

IS            401          Cr. 3

Management Information Systems: Analysis and Design

This is the first course in a two-course sequence that covers the development process for computer-based management information systems. This course emphasizes information analysis and the logical design of management information systems. Prerequisites: CS 120; IS 300, 310. Offered Fall.

IS            405          Cr. 1-3

Information Systems Seminar

Emphasis will be on examination and study of current issues in information systems. Topics will vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: IS 401. Offered occasionally. 

IS            410/510   Cr. 3

Information Security Management

This course provides a comprehensive treatment of the managerial aspect of information security while leaving the technical aspect to the computer science discipline. Concepts of information security management (ISM) related to governance, risk management, and compliance will be acquired from survey of contemporary literature including textbooks, journal articles, and online publications while positive models serving as industry standards that are governing today’s ISM practice will be introduced and compared. Prerequisite: IS 220 or CS 220 or two years of relevant industry experience. Offered Fall.

IS            411          Cr. 3

Management Information Systems: Design and Implementation

This is the capstone course in a sequence that covers the development process for a computer-based management information system. This course emphasizes physical design and implementation of the system. Students will implement an information system in a client-server environment, using a programming language capable of calling functions in a database management system. Prerequisites: CS 364 and IS 401. Offered Spring.

IS/HIMT                420          Cr. 3

Health Care Systems: Project Management

This course addresses the phenomenal impact information system (IS) projects have had on health care delivery. Students learn how IS health care projects affect organizations, doctors, patients, and chronic-illness treatments, as well as individuals interested in managing their own health care. Concepts and tools for IS health care project management, process reengineering and work redesign are introduced. The purpose of this course is to expose students to IS project management activities in health care settings. Topics covered include recent IS health care project trends,  budgeting, scheduling, resource management, scope, risk analysis, and deployment controls. The genesis of health care project management is covered using specific cases and examples. (Cross-listed with HIMT; may only earn credit in IS or HIMT.) Offered Fall, Spring.

IS/HIMT                435          Cr. 3

Data Communications and Computer Networks in Health Care

This course provides fundamentals of data communications and networking techniques, and examines the linkage of information technology strategies and technological solutions enabling effective communication within and between health care organizations. Major topics include fundamental concepts of data communications and applications, network communication devices, basic technologies of the Local Area Network, Wireless Local Area Network, Wide Area Network, Internet and the Web, the OSI stack, health care information system standards, and the HIE, RHIN, and the NHIN. Prerequisite: IS 220 or HIMT 320 (Cross-listed with HIMT; may only earn credit in IS or HIMT.) Offered Fall, Spring.

IS            451          Cr. 1-6

College of Business Administration Management Information Systems Internship

The internship program as conceived and implemented is an unusual program designed to provide an opportunity for students in the College of Business Administration to participate in an approved program with a cooperating business, governmental or civic organization for usually 15 weeks of their undergraduate work. All management information systems (MIS) internships must be approved and supervised by an IS faculty member. For additional information, see internship description under the College of Business Administration heading. Repeatable for credit. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

IS/HIMT                490          Cr. 3

Capstone Project

This course is the capstone course for both tracks of the Health Information Management and Technology degree program. Students are required to find an internship site that is related to health care and set up a semester long project from which they can gain hands-on experience in the areas of their concentration. Project set-up will be jointly done by the student, site sponsor, and the faculty of this course, whereas internship supervision will be performed by the project supervisor and the course instructor. Prerequisite: last semester of study in the HIMT program. (Cross-listed with HIMT; may only earn credit in IS or HIMT.) Offered Fall, Spring. 

IS            499          Cr. 1-3

Independent Study

Individual reading or research under the guidance of a staff member. Open to selected advance students who have excellent records in the department. Registration with the consent of the student’s regular advisor, the instructor and the department chairperson. Repeatable for credit — maximum six. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.