B.B.A. in Computer Information Systems

Full Description

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Computer Information Systems provides students with a focus on digital transformation management and/or the design of innovative information systems that are commonly used in organizations to create business value. This up-to-date major offers a techie-for-future IT and business managers structure starting with an introduction to information systems (IS) and emerging digital technologies (e.g., social media, mobile, cloud computing, business data analytics, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain). The major continues providing the foundations and hands-on activities to use IS and digital technologies for solving business problems. The academic backbone of the major concludes with the pillars of business modeling and agile design, artificial intelligence-based innovation, and providing the IT and business managerial skills to build solutions for businesses.

Students can complete two possible major elective tracks: Designing Innovative Information Systems or Digital Transformation Management. Alternatively, the student can customize the major elective path by selecting 12 credit hours from the list of major electives in a flexible and student-centric way. The Digital Transformation track focuses on providing the knowledge and managerial skills related to managing cybersecurity, managing agile digital transformation projects and on how to lead and manage digital transformation. The Designing Innovative Information Systems track focuses on providing the technical foundations and skills to design innovative programs and apps, design innovative server-side systems and design databases and data governance.

Students may participate in an internship (elective course), which may involve a summer or a semester of paid professional experience in industry. Internship experience helps show the relevance of on-campus courses to professional work, helps students focus their career plans and often enables students to secure better jobs upon graduation.

Computer Information Systems students may apply early to the M.B.A. degree and double count 9 credit hours of graduate courses toward both degree programs. See the Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree Program policy in the University Catalog for more information.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning a minimum 525 TOEFL score (71 on the Internet-based version), minimum 75 MELAB score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score or minimum 48 PTE Academic score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive Program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Transfer Students: Students who have attended any other educational institution after graduating from high school must apply as undergraduate transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students or graduates who have not attended another college or university since Kent State may complete the reenrollment or reinstatement form on the University Registrar’s website.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the program's Coursework tab.

Transfer Student: A minimum 2.250 overall GPA is required for admission into the major. Students who have previously attended Kent State who completed (or the equivalent of) COMM 15000, ENG 21011 and/or MATH 11010 must have earned a minimum C grade in the courses and a minimum C+ grade in  CIS 24053.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Perform effectively in digital transformation management and information systems design projects.
2. Navigate and use emerging digital technologies and platforms.
3. Design, code, and implement information systems, databases, and applications on-premise and in the cloud.
4. Design, select, and deploy digital transformation solutions and strategies.
5. Bridge, integrate, deploy, and manage cybersecurity and data governance across various information systems and analytics systems.
6. Lead and manage digital transformation projects, and design and integrate digital technology solutions.   

Students earning a B.B.A. degree in Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship are expected to have developed skills in the following critical areas of business:

1. Core Business Knowledge - Recall the strategic frameworks that are used to make business decisions.
2. Analytical Skills - Use analytical methodologies and critical thinking skills to evaluate and solve business problems. 
3. Digital Technology – Demonstrate the technological skills necessary to analyze business problems and develop solutions.
4. Written Communication - Write effective business communications.
5. Oral Communication - Make effective business presentations, using appropriate technologies.
6. Teamwork – Collaborate effectively with others to achieve a common business purpose.
7. Business Ethics – Recognize ethical business dilemmas and use ethical decision making to resolve the dilemma.
8. Global - Analyze the key global factors when making business decisions.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Students may take any courses in this section to fulfill the major electives. 

³

Students who have taken MATH 10041 for another program may use it as a substitute for BA 24056.

⁴

A student changing to a program in the college, transferring or an incoming student with college credit plus credits, may be waived out of BUS 10123 if:

• 30 or more credit hours have been earned and any two classes (from ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163, MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053) have successfully been completed.
• 60 or more credit hours have been earned and the student has completed one course (from ACCT 23020, ACCT 23021, FIN 26074, MGMT 24163 , MKTG 25010 or CIS 24053)
• At the discretion of the Dean's Office, the student has sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in a business field (as demonstrated by a CLEP exam or Credit by Exam) but does not meet the requirements listed above.

⁵

Students can take MATH 10051 or PHIL 21002 in place of MATH 11012 or MATH 12002. Taking MATH 10051 or PHIL 21002 will not replace a low grade in either MATH 11012 or MATH 12002. Students are required to take MATH 11012 or MATH 12002 if they change their major to, or want to double major in, Economics or Finance and/or intend to declare a minor in Business Analytics. Students who intend to enroll in certain graduate programs and/or are working toward Phi Beta Kappa status are highly encouraged to take MATH 11012 or MATH 12002.

⁶

Minimum C grade is required in ENG 21011 or HONR 20197.

⁷

An education abroad experience is encouraged as a general elective. A maximum of 4 credit hours of Physical Activity, Wellness and Sport (PWS) courses may be applied toward the degree program.

Progression Requirements

• Minimum 2.250 overall GPA
• Minimum C grade in COMM 15000, ENG 21011 (or HONR 20197) and MATH 11010 (or placement out of MATH 11010)
• Minimum C+ grade in CIS 24053 
• Minimum C grade in major requirements

Graduation Requirements

• Students must complete at least 50 percent of business credit hours (required for the business degree) in-residence on a Kent State University campus.
• Students must complete at least 50 percent of their major credit hours in residence on a Kent State University campus.
• Students must complete two measures of outcomes assessment as specified by the college for complete satisfaction of the B.B.A. degree.

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

AACSB, International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business