Information Systems and Decision Sciences

About the Department

Ojoung Kwon, Department Chair
5245 N. Backer
Peters Business Building, Room 287
559.278.2823
craig.fresnostate.edu/isds/

The Department of Information Systems and Decision Sciences prepares students for the rapidly growing fields of Information Systems and Technology and Data Analytics for Decision-Making. Producing new intelligence from raw data, collected by computer-based information systems, can help businesses enhance products and services, and organizations to meet their strategic goals. Computer-based data analysis and information-sharing lead to better, more informed decisions. In addition to traditional methods of classroom instruction and guest speakers, students in these options are exposed through hands-on experiences to new developments in computer technology, software, and applications.

Options

Computer Information Systems (CIS) is the practice of developing and maintaining systems to support operations, management, and decision-making. It combines technology, people, and business organizations in a single field. An information system can collect, store, process, analyze, and distribute information with an enterprise-wide view and make it available to all users across functional departments and across organizations to support their business operation and decision-making processes. Topics covered in this option include computer programming, database design, systems analysis and design, computer networks, project management, cloud computing, cybersecurity, mobile and Web application development, business intelligence, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Interesting Classes You Might Take

Web and Mobile App Design
Artificial Intelligence in Business
Cyber-Security
Machine Learning with Python programming
Topics in Emerging Information Technologies
System Analysis and Design
Database SQL programming
Network Control and Management

What You Can Learn

Theory and Practice of Computer Information Systems
Database theory and administration
Mobile Application Design and Cloud Computing
Cyber-security and digital privacy
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning with Python Programming
Computer vision using deep learning technique
Reinforcement Learning with Python programming
Deep Reinforcement Learning with Python programming
System analysis and design

Data Analytics (DA) uses powerful tools and techniques to derive meaning and value from data. As companies are becoming more data-driven, data analytics is now being viewed as an essential area of expertise and as a distinguishable career path. Students learn to analyze data and find patterns to enhance business effectiveness and problem-solving. These skills are essential to make informed decisions to drive business forward and achieve strategic goals. Students learn to become problem-solvers and skilled to analyze data that unlock business opportunities and solutions while keeping the “big picture” in mind. Critical thinking and effective communication are complementary skills developed in this option. Topics covered in this option include decision analysis, data mining, modeling, prediction, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Interesting Classes You Might Take

Data Analytics
Business Intelligence with spreadsheets
Data mining and Machine learning
Geographic Information Systems
Topics in emerging data science and analytics

What You Can Learn

Advanced analytics skills and tools
Practical programming to solve business problems
Decision optimizations

Career Opportunities

Computer Information Systems provides students with the knowledge, skills, and modern tools in Information Technology. Students will learn about the strategic role of Information Systems in business decision-making. They will also learn how to design systems to solve management problems in all functional areas of business and will help digitally transform organizations. If you like to work with information technology, but also like to apply this technology to practical problems and work with other functional areas of business - marketing, finance, and accounting - a program in information systems may be for you.

Job titles fall into three categories:

application development
technical development
systems support

What You Can Earn

The information systems job market is red hot! Salaries for IS graduates are higher than typical business majors for both Bachelor’s and most Master’s degrees. IS Bachelor’s salaries are 25 % higher than the average offer to all business school Bachelor’s graduates [Quoted from IS Job Index, https://isjobindex.com]

Python Machine Learning Developer, $125K
Software Developer, $97K
Software engineer, $108K
Business System analyst, $87K
IT project Manager, $104K
IT auditor, $80K
Information Security Analyst, $99K
Cybersecurity Analyst, $81K
Software application developer, $100K
IT consultant, $105K

Source: glassdoor.com, February 2022

Data Analytics uses powerful tools and techniques to derive meaning and value from data. As companies are becoming more data-driven, data analytics is now being viewed as an essential area of expertise and as a distinguishable career path. Students learn to analyze data and find patterns to enhance business effectiveness and problem-solving. These skills are essential to make informed decisions to drive the business forward and achieve strategic goals. Students learn to become problem-solvers and are skilled to analyze data that unlock business opportunities and solutions while keeping the “big picture” in mind. Critical thinking and effective communication are complementary skills developed in this option. Topics covered in this option include decision analysis, data mining, modeling, prediction, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

What You Can Earn

The job opportunities for Data Analytics graduates have never been more numerous. Opportunities in this field typically have a title of Analyst but careers span all industries and functional areas like data analysts, business intelligence, and market research analysts.

Data analyst, $64,000
Data scientist, $67,000 - $146,000
Market research analysts, $41,000 - $77,000

Source: Glassdoor, Payscale, Dice as of January 2022

Programs

Certificates

Bachelor

Minor

Data Analytics, Minor