Business Information Systems Major

Baldwin Wallace University has discontinued the business information systems major and is no longer accepting applications as of spring 2024. View majors.

Undergraduate Admission

(440) 826-2222, admission@bw.edu

OVERVIEW

If you are interested in business and like to work with computers, then Baldwin Wallace's business information systems (BIS) program is for you. BIS will help you gain the highly valued skills and knowledge necessary to design, develop and deliver innovative information technology solutions for all types of organizations.

Designed with the combined input from business, international software and information technology professionals, BIS unites accounting, finance, marketing, operations and management information systems approaches - such as systems analysis and design, data analytics and visualization, project management, cybersecurity governance and intelligent software engineering.

You'll work on real-world projects and gain the insights and skills needed to succeed in today's growing tech environment. BW faculty are experts in the field with impressive business and IT contacts. They'll help you connect to outstanding internship and career opportunities.

Infographic: Business + IT + Management = Business Information Systems

Real Projects with Real Clients

Hands-on learning is at the core of the BIS major. You'll solve real problems for real companies and lead a team of peers in directing systems design, software applications, data analytics and data visualization for client projects. Among opportunities, you can learn to build a business from the ground up using web programming, create a new mobile app or use marketing skills and online web metrics to track financial and strategic goals.

You'll gain experience and confidence making business presentations to key stakeholders and benefit from courses and experiences offering state-of-the-art technologies from industry leaders. Best of all, you'll finish your senior year with an applied capstone project and completed portfolio of work that showcases your business and IT skills.

Photo of students talking about and pointing to chart Photo of two professionals talking to each other Photo of business students at a lecture

Career Opportunities

A fast-growing area of sustainable job growth, BIS prepares you for immediate employment opportunities in business information systems, business analysis and analytics, computer science, computing management and other related fields.

Business or systems analyst
Business account manager
Software engineer
Web developer/engineer
Computer programmer
Database designer
Consultant
Data analyst
I.T. project manager
Information security analyst
Applications program manager

Careers on the Rise

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 13 percent through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for these occupations is $84,580, which is higher than the median annual wage of $37,690 for all occupations. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2017).

Businesses Need Business Information Systems

As more companies move to cloud-computing, the collection and storage of big data, data analytics, information security and information technology are integral to business success. Business information systems specialists use information technology, business analytics and business knowledge to help companies make smarter and more profitable decisions in acquiring, storing, analyzing, reporting and managing data.

From College to Career

Eight of nine jobs in information technology-related occupations are more readily attainable by acquiring a bachelor's degree.

Close to Cleveland

BW's 20-minute proximity to Cleveland puts you within easy access to impressive networking, internship and career connections at corporations, government and nonprofit agencies, technology firms and more.

CURRICULUM

BW's business information systems major is an interdisciplinary program offering experience-based projects, active learning and knowledge acquired from a combined business major and a computer science minor.

Because the BIS major includes a computer science minor, no additional minor is required to meet graduation requirements. However, you can opt to earn a second minor to complement the BIS major. Suggested minors include any among the business disciplines or those in computer science.

Through coursework in the program, you'll gain technical skills in:

Computer Information Systems - effective utilization of statistics, modeling, data security, business analytics, large-scale data-mining and other functions to achieve business goals. You'll learn how to find a story in a data set and translate it to a professional narrative that communicates key insights using numbers and information.
Business - overview of the functional areas of a business and the integration of computing to provide business analytics and data visualization to achieve organizational goals and client solutions.

The interdisciplinary nature of the program will help you build valuable skills in:

Critical thinking - organizations need analytical, out-of-the-box thinkers who can bridge creativity with practicality and are adept at problem-solving.
Written and oral communication - the ability to confidently and assertively present and sell your ideas to business managers and clients.
Team-centeredness - proficiency in "speaking the language" of both business and computing while providing expertise to members of a team having diverse skill sets and organizational responsibilities.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

The business information systems major includes multiple hands-on experiences and touchpoints with outside businesses and industry professionals. To complement the coursework in the major, you can get involved with the following campus initiatives.

Digital Marketing Center

A hybrid between a class and an internship, BW's Digital Marketing Center is a student-run, experience-driven consultancy agency within the Carmel Boyer School of Business that offers digital marketing expertise to local businesses. Students work with small businesses to develop effective, research-based inbound marketing strategy including website design, social media strategy, targeted digital content, automated email marketing plan and a marketing playbook. In addition to gaining portfolio-building, real-world experience and networking opportunities, students can earn certifications from digital marketing applications.

Through the Digital Marketing Center you can earn certifications in:

Google Analytics
Facebook Blueprint
Hootsuite Platform
HubSpot certifications
Other industry-leading apps and tools

Enactus

A global, nonprofit organization, Enactus helps students develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills as they learn, practice and teach principles of free enterprise to improve the standard of living for millions around the globe.

LaunchNET

For students interested in starting their own businesses, LaunchNET provides access to an extensive network of mentors, experts and services. Student entrepreneurs have launched digital marketing consulting companies, smartphone apps, event management companies and other types of enterprises. Internships with the program are also available.

Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program

The BW Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program is open to Ohio residents who are entering Baldwin Wallace in the fall as a first-year student or transfer student and are interested in business information systems. Students are eligible to apply to the program which also offers the Choose Ohio First scholarship, awarding substantial annual, renewable scholarships.

The Carmel Boyer School of Business offers additional professional, social and learning opportunities through its student organizations and experiential learning programs.