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Management Science Department

Business Information Management (BIM) Track in Management Science Major


Description of Track

The Business Information Management (BIM) track within the Management Science major is designed to teach students’ in the Moore School of Business about the use of technology for managing information, and thus better prepare them for business careers. The need for such an expertise is in response to long-term trends in business towards outsourcing as well as the emergence of an increasingly information-technology intensive service sector. Whether understanding the technology necessary to delivery of services or the knowledge needed to negotiate and maintain the outsourcing of a business function, it is increasingly important for all business professionals to have knowledge of information technology and its usage. By providing core knowledge on business information management and analysis combined with flexibility in program selection, this major allows students to maximize their opportunity for a promising business career. Expertise gained through this major may be applied to the international business, accounting, marketing, operations, customer support, human resources, or general management functions. Thus while the BIM Track represents a standalone major, it is particularly conducive for students wishing to double major in a particular functional discipline, as well as in BIM by itself.

Courses:

MGSC 390 -- Business Information Systems. (3) (Prereq: MGSC 290 or equivalent) Introduction to the planning, development, and management of Business Information Systems (BIS) and related information technologies in organizations. Topics include hardware, software, database, telecommunications, and the Internet.

MGSC 394 -- Computer-Based Decision Making for Business. (3) (Prereq: MGSC 190, MGSC 291) Concepts and skills for the development of personal-computer-based business information system applications using software tools for spreadsheet, database, and project management.

The BIM Track also requires any two courses from the following list .

MGSC 405 -- International Information Systems. {=IBUS 405} (3) An examination of the challenges and opportunities associated with the development, management, and use of global information systems.

MGSC 490 -- Information Systems Analysis and Design. (3) (Prereq: MGSC 298 and 390) Analysis and design of business information systems using modern tools, techniques, and methodologies.

MGSC 494 -- Business Telecommunications. (3) (Prereq: MGSC 390) Identifies and explains the principal technologies, concepts, and techniques currently applied in the business data communications field. Current and future hardware and software technologies, networking, protocols, and the OSI Model are covered.

MGSC 499 – Specialized Study in Information Systems. (1-12) Topics in information systems. Reading and research on selected topics in the practices in information systems. Course content varies and will be announced in the schedule of courses by suffix and title.

MGSC 590 -- Information Systems Development. (3) Development of contemporary business information systems, including online applications and Internet-based transaction systems.

MGSC 594 – Information Management and Analysis. (3) Concepts, techniques, and applications of decision support and expert technologies. Overview of decision support systems, executive information systems, data mining and warehousing, expert systems, and neural networks.

MGSC 596 -- Database Management for Business. (3) Technology overview and principles of database design for business applications. Enterprise database administration and planning. Design exercises and projects using the latest database management systems software.

Schedules and Career Opportunities:

A graduate from the Business Information Management (BIM) track can expect to find jobs using, supporting, and selling information technology in a business environment. The student can pursue a career directly tied to technology in help desks, call centers, and system sales and support or by leveraging their general business knowledge with the effective use of information technology within an established business function such as accounting, operations, marketing, or general management both domestically or internationally . The graduate from the BIM program has an advantage competing for positions in general management and business functions that increasingly requires an integral knowledge of technology and effective information use. It is widely recognized that recruiters prefer candidates that have a business information management and analysis skills and a pragmatic understanding of information technology. As the technology sector of the economy grows, recruiters within these industries look for graduates with this background for a variety of positions.

This program is distinct from the BIS and CIS tracks, shown in Appendix 1 and 2, which focus on developing the specific skills necessary for designing an information system. Rather the BIM track endeavors to help the student acquire the background required for the plentiful positions associated with using, selling, and maintaining existing information systems for organizational benefit. All students are required to combine MGSC 390, which allows the student a general understanding and overview of the information systems field and the information technology applied, with MGSC 394, which provides them with specific insight into the use of technology to support the analysis of information and project management. The flexible nature of the program allows the student to meld his/her specific interests and enables him/her to respond to the ever-dynamic job market by having the option to select the remaining courses in their track.

Some examples of potential jobs and associated BIM tracks would include:

This major will also allow the motivated business student to leverage his/her business degree by obtaining a dual major. Dual majors will allow students to optimize their chances for successful entry into the workforce by demonstrating academic training in a functional disciplinary area combined with Business Information Management. Some examples of majors would include:

  1. An Accountant’s job prospects: The current Accounting program elective choices suggest that their student may take MGSC 594, 494 and 596. A double major in Accounting and BIM might include MGSC 390, 394, 596 and 594 or 494.
  2. The Management majors in Human Resources (12 hours) who are interested in working with a company’s HR systems would be enhanced by knowledge of databases, networks, and decision support (MGSC 390, MGSC 394, MGSC 494 and MGSC 596) that would be provided by a dual Management and BIM major.
  3. The Management majors in Entrepreneurship (12 hours) would be enhanced by knowledge of databases, web interfaces and decision support (MGSC 390, MGSC 394, MGSC 594 and MGSC 596) that would be provided by a dual Management and BIM major.
  4. Marketing (12 hours) students’ prospects in interested in analyst positions would be strengthened by a knowledge of databases, international information systems, and decision support systems (MGSC 390, MGSC 394, MGSC 594, and MGSC 596) when working to design target marketing plans and strategies. Marketing (12 hours) students’ prospects in interested in technical sales and support positions would be strengthened by a knowledge of databases, networks, and decision support systems (MGSC 390, MGSC 394, MGSC 594, and MGSC 596) when working to design target marketing plans and strategies.
  5. Corporate Finance majors (12-18 hours) would find the knowledge of databases and decision support systems indispensable in carrying out data analysis and projecting project resource needs (MGSC 390, MGSC 394, MGSC 494 and MGSC 596).
  6. International Business majors (12-15) interested in supporting and managing far flung outsourced relationship via IT based networks would benefit from a knowledge of international information systems and business telecommunications. (MGSC 390, MGSC 394, MGSC 405, and MGSC 494).

Appendix 1

Bachelor of Science--Major in Computer Information Systems

(120 hours)

ENGL 101, 102, and either 462 or 463 (9 hours)
SPCH 140 (3 hours)
Liberal Arts (18 hours)
MATH 141, 142, 374 (11 hours)
STAT 509 (3 hours)
Laboratory sciences (8 hours including two labs)
MGSC 390, 490, 590, and two of 494, 591, 594 (15 hours)
ACCT 222 (3 hours)
ECON 224 (3 hours)
CSCE 145, 146, 205, 212, 240, 245, 311, 330, 350, 390, 492, 520 (36 hours)
Major elective (CSCE course numbered above 500) (3 hours)
Free electives (8 hours)

Notes:

  1. The liberal arts courses must include at least one history course, one fine arts course, and one social science course.
  2. Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimum passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required. Up to 6 hours of foreign language courses may be counted toward the liberal arts requirement.

Appendix 2

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

(121 hours minimum for all majors except accounting, which requires 126 hours, and international business, which requires a minimum of 127 hours)
The business administration curriculum allows sufficient flexibility for adaptation to a student's particular interests and goals. A minimum of 121 hours is required for the B.S. degree in all majors except accounting, which requires 126 hours, and international business, which requires a minimum of 127 hours. They are divided between courses in business administration and general education courses in English, history, foreign languages, natural and behavioral sciences, and other disciplines. All business administration students are required to earn 39 hours in a common core sequence of business subjects. The major field for all majors except accounting and international business* requires 12-21 hours beyond the common core. If a major requires only 12 hours, then a minimum of 9 additional hours of advisor-approved course work in business/economics must be completed. A minimum of 18 credit hours in additional directed general education courses is required.  The school has developed options designed to complement core and major requirements. Information and assistance in the development and selection of options are available through the advising facilities of the school. 

*The accounting major requires 26 hours. International business requires a second major in business. International business majors range from 27 to 36 hours, depending on the double major selected.

Degree Requirements

1. General Education Requirements (43-47 hours)

ENGL 101, 102 (6 hours)
SPCH 140 or 230 (3 hours)
Literature: One English course selected from ENGL 282-286 (3 hours)
Numerical and Analytical Reasoning: MATH 122 or 141 and either math at the next higher level or PHIL 110 (6-8 hours)
Two courses in behavioral sciences, elected from anthropology, sociology, psychology (6 hours)
Two courses from the natural sciences including one laboratory course selected from astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, marine science, physics (7-8 hours)
One course in the fine arts* (3 hours)
HIST 112 (3 hours)
Foreign Languages--students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. This ability can be demonstrated by achieving a score of two or better on a USC foreign language test. Those failing to do so must satisfactorily complete equivalent study of foreign language at USC.
Two courses selected from the following fields: foreign languages, economics (other than 224), geography, government and international studies, history (other than 112), philosophy (other than 110, 111), religious studies (6-7 hours).

*Courses selected from the following areas: art, music, theatre (excluding courses in public speaking), or creative

writing. Performance courses may not apply to this requirement.

2. Business Core (39 hours)

MGSC 290, 291, 395; ACCT 225, 226, 324; MGMT 250, 371, 478; MKTG 350; FINA 363 (33 hours)
ECON 221, 222 (6 hours)

3. Communication (Included in General Education Requirements)

4. Majors in Business (12-21* hours of major field requirements; 12-hour majors must complete a minimum of 9 hours of approved course work in business/economics)

Management Science

Business Information Systems (21 hours)
MGSC 298/CSCE 204, MGSC 390, 490, 494, 590, 596 (18 hours)
One of the following courses: MGSC 398/CSCE 304, MGSC 405, 594 (3 hours)
--Operations Management (12 hours)
MGSC 394, 491, 495 (9 hours)
One of the following courses: MGSC 392, 520 {=STAT 520}, 525 {=STAT 525}, 591 (3 hours)
--Quantitative Business Analysis (12 hours)
MGSC 292, 392 (6 hours)
Two from the following courses: MGSC 393, 520 {=STAT 520}, 525 {=STAT 525}, 591, 592 (6 hours)

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