Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems
Today’s business world is run almost entirely on digital technology. Which is why professionals who can keep those numerous business systems running smoothly are in high demand. Northwood’s Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems will teach you how to develop and execute digital systems that support the management and running of businesses. With Northwood’s unique approach — a strong emphasis on the practical business aspects as well as technical intricacies — you will gain an edge among your peers.
Northwood’s Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems program is a STEM certified program for Optional Practical Training (OPT) purposes. This means that it offers the potential for international students to work in the US for a total of 3 years and the potential for a work visa (H1-B, etc.) This makes it the perfect platform to launch your career in management information systems.
GET STARTED
Please register below to receive program brochure and connect with a program advisor.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The means of communication and connections in the business world depends on fast-evolving digital technology. This has resulted in an increase in rewarding career opportunities in this field. Here is a glimpse into a career in management information systems:
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS CAREERS AND SALARIES
*Source: Average base salaries in the US taken from Indeed.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Builtin.com, Salary.com.
Here is look at a few companies who have employed our graduates:
THE NORTHWOOD DIFFERENCE
For over 60 years, Northwood University has prepared students to launch their careers successfully in their selected field. And our holistic approach develops the future leaders of a global free-enterprise society.
At Northwood, you will start classes in your major on your first day. This means you can validate your interest in a major field of study early and be prepared for internships after your first year. During your time at Northwood, you will;
CURRICULUM
The Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems curriculum is designed to help students develop the technical and communication skills needed to succeed in the rapidly evolving field of technology and management. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including programming languages, the infrastructure of operating systems and networks, graphics, and web design. This program will give you hands-on experience to develop the technical skills and business acumen needed to effectively manage and utilize information systems.
- FDN 1110 Student Success Seminar or FDN 2500 Strategies for Success — 1 credit hour
- FDN 1300 Student Leadership Seminar (campus only) — 1 credit hour
- FDN 2250 Blueprint for Success or FDN 3200 Career Advancement — 1 credit hour
General education courses are the foundation of the University’s outcomes and attributes for its graduates.
- ENG 1150 Composition I — 3 credit hours
- ENG 1200 Composition II — 3 credit hours
- MTH 1150 College Algebra or MTH 1100 Finite Math — 3 credit hours
- SPC 2050 Speech — 3 credit hours
- NSC 2100 Environmental Science or Natural Science — 3 credit hours
- HIS 2100 Foundations of the Modern World I or History Elective — 3 credit hours
- MTH 2310 Statistics I — 3 credit hours
- PSC 2010 Introduction to American Government — 3 credit hours
- 3000/4000 Psychology, Sociology or Humanities Elective — 3 credit hours
- ACC 2410 Fundamentals of Financial Accounting — 3 credit hours
- ACC 2415 Fundamentals of Managerial Accounting — 3 credit hours
- ECN 2210 Principles of Microeconomics — 3 credit hours
- ECN 2220 Principles of Macroeconomics — 3 credit hours
- LAW 3000 Business Law I — 3 credit hours
- MGT 2300 Principles of Management — 3 credit hours
- MIS 1500 Business Productivity Software — 3 credit hours
- MKT 2080 Principles of Marketing — 3 credit hours
- FIN 3010 Financial Management — 3 credit hours
- MGT 4250 Organizational Behavior — 3 credit hours
- MGT 4800 Strategic Planning — 3 credit hours
- PHL 3100 Ethics — 3 credit hours
- ECN 4010 Economics of Public Policies — 3 credit hours
- PHL 4100 Philosophy of American Enterprise — 3 credit hours
- MIS 1110 Introduction to Management Information Systems — 3 credit hours
- MIS 1300 Information Technology Infrastructure — 3 credit hours
- MIS 2140 Programming I — 3 credit hours
- MIS 2150 Programming II — 3 credit hours
- MIS 3250 ERP Business Applications — 3 credit hours
- MIS 3300 Project Management — 3 credit hours
- OPS 1200 Business Process Management — 3 credit hours
- ACC 3500 Accounting Information Systems — 3 credit hours
- MIS 3400 Systems Analysis and Design — 3 credit hours
- MGT 4300 Management of Information Technologies — 3 credit hours
- MIS 4500 Technology Capstone Project — 3 credit hours
- 3000/4000 Elective — 3 credit hours
- 3000/4000 Elective — 3 credit hours
- 3000/4000 Elective — 3 credit hours
- Choice Elective — 3 credit hours
- Choice Elective — 3 credit hours
- Choice Elective — 1 credit hour
Management Information Systems Course Descriptions
Explores current Information Systems concepts and technologies. Students learn how information systems give a business or organization a competitive edge by providing technologies that help managers plan, control, and make decisions. Includes topics such as hardware and software components of an information system, e-business concepts and implementation, and a survey of common information systems used today.
This course is designed for beginner students in the practice of data visualizations. Students will learn to relate to Tableau terminology relevant to describing key insights garnered from drilling down into data. A hands-on approach to teaching the important concepts and techniques of simple and complex visualizations in Tableau will be adopted. Course topics that will be discussed include cross tabs, geographic maps, treemaps, pie charts and bar charts, dual-axis, and combined charts with different mark types, highlight tables, and scatter plots. Students will use this experience to build interactive dashboards. A student who completes this course will have the skill level consistent with the fundamentals of Tableau Desktop I.
Students will develop a thorough understanding of the current operating systems, networks, and communications infrastructure. Includes an understanding of the functions of operating systems, fundamental automated data and voice communications concepts and terminology, and modes of data transmission, transmission media, and different types of networks.
This course builds on the rudimentary concepts learned in MIS 1250. Students will be provided with the skillsets of a seasoned Tableau power user. They will be exposed to the professional desk tools typical of solid working experience with Tableau. Course topics include a review of creating and connecting to data sources, developing data subsets, executing Tableau calculations, performing advanced table calculations, creating and using parameters, data extraction, comparing measures, Tableau geocoding, viewing distributions, basic statistics and forecasting, story-telling using dashboards. A student who completes this course will have the intermediate Tableau skill level consistent with the fundamentals of Tableau Desktop II.
Prerequisite: MIS 1250
Students gain the computer skills needed to succeed in their academic careers and in today’s workplace. Major topics include file management and office productivity tools: Word-Processing, Visual Presentation, and Basic to Advanced Spreadsheet usage. Students learn the mechanics of file management and the use of Microsoft Office productivity tools; how to select the most appropriate productivity tool for a task; and how to efficiently use these tools to store data, analyze data, and communicate information. In this course, students gain hands-on, practical experience using currently popular word-processing, presentation, and spreadsheet programs.
This course explores best practices for designing visualizations that viewers can easily understand and use. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to formulate strategic steps to optimize visual analytics processes, effectively deploy pre-attentive attributes in visualizations, propose design visualizations that minimize the risk of misleading consumers in hunt for data insights, effectively use charts to answer specific questions. They will also be able to describe the process of identifying visual best practices for dashboard and story design. A student who completes this course will be prepared to complete the certification exam to qualify as a Tableau Desktop Qualified Associate. It will also provide a solid foundation for students to aspire to complete the certification exam for Tableau Desktop Certified Professional as well.
Introduces students to the elements of business programming using a selected programming language. Study of the program development cycle and practice designing and writing business application programs. In designing programs, students will learn to identify program requirements, data requirements, user interface requirements, and the programming processes needed to develop a solution. Based on their designs, students will code, test, and evaluate their programs.
Advances the student’s knowledge of programming concepts and design principles acquired in MIS 2140. Students will develop more advanced algorithms and use more complex data structures. Concepts of GUI, web enabled, and event-driven programming will be utilized.
Prerequisite: MIS 2140
Focuses on web concepts and high quality web design as well as digital image/graphic design and manipulation for the web and print media. Important issues such as sequential communication, editorial design, and visual communication for the web will be studied and applied within this course. Students will integrate text, digital images/graphics, and other design applications into website design. Website and digital image design will be applied using the most powerful and up to date industry software (Adobe Creative Suite).
Prerequisites: MIS 1500
The design, implementation, and maintenance of databases play a key role in the success of modern information systems. Students examine the logical design and physical organization of data in an enterprise database. Various approaches to data management are covered including relational database management systems. Topics include the advantages of using database management systems, the proper design and implementation of a database, accessing and manipulating data using Structured Query Language (SQL), and the role of a database administrator.
Prerequisite: MIS 1500
Introduces students to the concepts used with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). Students examine the relationships and interdependence of programs used to create information systems for organizations. Customer relationship, supply chain, production, and financial system models will be featured. Implementation issues are examined for ERP including technical structure.
Students will examine the significant role that project management plays in the successful completion of an information technology project. The skills, tools, and best practices used to effectively manage a project from its inception to successful closure will be discussed. Students will learn how to control the scope, time, cost, and quality of projects, and gain hands-on experience using project management software.
Prerequisite: MIS 1500
Structured Query Language (SQL) continues to rank as one of the most-used computer languages in the world. To better position careers in the business world, students taking this course will build on the SQL skills acquired in MIS 3200 to provide database solutions. Through intensive hands-on learning sessions, best practices for defining structures that hold data so that relationships in the relevant data features can be analyzed to bear on business decisions will be learned. Key MySQL ideas will be emphasized to empower students to create, modify, explore, and summarize data beyond the limits imposed by Microsoft Excel and Access.
Prerequisite: MIS 3200
Examines the various tools and methodologies for the development and implementation of a business information system. Students will also examine the logical and physical organizations of data in an enterprise database. The systems approach is covered in detail in conjunction with current concepts of systems analysis and design. The life cycle concept, the importance of implementing controls during the planning, analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation phases of a management information system to solve business management problems are highlighted.
This course surveys information security essentials needed for a foundational understanding of the Information Security discipline from the business level perspective. Common attacks and vulnerabilities against an organization will be identified and deliberated. Furthermore, the course provides a survey of how to mitigate the risk of attack, the managerial and legal requirements on organizations including reporting requirements, the professional ethics surrounding cyber security, and how these affect security policy formation and implementation.
Prerequisite: MIS 1500
Various topics in management information systems. These may be one-time or occasional course offerings.
Prerequisite: Dependent on specific course content
The internship (a minimum of 150 hours) is designed to provide the student with supervised on-the-job training. A contract between the University, student, and employer provides the groundwork. Objectives, evaluations, written log, and a study of the organization are designed to provide a realistic learning experience.
Prerequisite: Department chair approval
Capstone course for the MIS concentration and is designed to consolidate the business and information systems knowledge acquired during the completion of the program. The skills, tools, and best practices used to effectively manage a project from its inception to successful closure will be discussed. Student teams will manage an information systems project that improves business operations. Students will apply project management best practices as they work through the project life cycle. This course promotes the development of consultative communications skills and interpersonal skills with team members and other project stakeholders.
Prerequisite: MIS 3400
To minimize uncertainties in business decisions and planning, this course studies ways that machine learning algorithms are being deployed towards optimal extraction of truths embedded in data. Case studies will be used to introduce, explain, illustrate, and contextualize the utility of machine learning algorithms. Algorithms covered will center on information, similarity, probability, and error-based machine learning techniques to harness and leverage the value of predictive modeling. Students will develop a deep appreciation of the three foundational pillars of data analytics, namely descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics as it applies to the real world of data analytics-be it customer, finance, marketing, healthcare, supply chain, human resource, government, and sports analytics, to name but a few.
Prerequisite: MTH 3450
A delve into big data opportunities, what they represent, and the value modern business systems embrace by investing in infrastructure that supports big data integration, management and analysis. Students taking this course will be introduced to the Vs of big data: Volume, Velocity, Variety, Variability, and Veracity. A survey of modern technologies, either programming or application-based, deployed in big data analysis and cloud computing will be emphasized. To innovate faster with cloud computing, types of cloud computing and varied applications in product development, predictive maintenance, customer experience, fraud detection, machine learning, operational efficiency and the internet of things (IOT) will be illustrated.
Prerequisite: MTH 3150
The capstone experience for the Data Analytics program is designed as a practitioner’s domain for synthesizing concepts learned in the program to extract actionable insights from real-life. Real-life data will be sourced from reputable data repositories. To analyze the sourced data sets, students will combine analytical methods learned during the program with stimulating ideas gleaned from completed public domains like Kaggle, GitHub and BitBucket on best practices for effectively managing an analytics project from its inception to a successful closure. Guided by the CRISP-DM model, students will synthesize database management, data visualization, machine learning, project management, consultative communication and interpersonal skills to see a data analytics project through its life cycle. Completed capstone projects will be documented in GitHub or Bitbucket as reference projects to demonstrate student’s preparedness for the corporate world.
Prerequisites: MTH 3450 and MIS 4100
ADMISSION
APPLICATION PROCESS
The program follows a simple 3-step application process. The step-by-step process is outlined below.
STEP 1: SUBMIT APPLICATION
Candidates can apply to the program online and attach all required materials as outlined in the requirements below.
STEP 2: ROLLING ADMISSION
The admissions team will assess your application as soon as it is received.
STEP 3: INTERVIEW
Candidates might be required to give an interview before being accepted into the program. Once all the requirements are completed, the admissions team will notify you with a decision.
For admissions support, we offer online office hours, an admissions checklist, and email and phone support to answer your questions.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants for the undergraduate program are required to have:
- Passport ID page (must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the entry date to Northwood University)
- Secondary school transcripts
- Secondary school completion certificate or diploma
- College or university transcripts (if you have completed any university credits)
- English proficiency
KEY DATES
- Please Note: Application fee is refunded only in the case an applicant is not offered admission to the program.
OPTIONAL PRACTICAL TRAINING – US OPT
After you have completed at least one year of your studies in the U.S. you will be eligible to participate in the US OPT (Optional Practical Training) program for F-1 students upon the completion of your undergraduate degree, allowing you to stay in the US while you start your career in management information systems.
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment in the US that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion). Please click here to know more about OPT.
Northwood’s Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems program is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) certified program for Optional Practical Training (OPT) purposes. This allows the graduates of the program to apply for an additional 24 months of extension of OPT. Ultimately, it offers the potential for international students to work in the US for a total of 3 years and the potential for a work visa (H1-B, etc.)
TUITION & SCHOLARSHIPS
TUITION AND FEES
The following figures are fixed 2024-2025 costs for 12-17 credit hours per semester.
| Expense Description | 1st Semester (Fall) | 2nd Semester (Spring) | Total Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition* | 1st Semester (Fall): $16,400 | 2nd Semester (Spring): $16,400 | Total Per Year: |
| Student and Technology Fee | 1st Semester (Fall): $800 | 2nd Semester (Spring): $800 | Total Per Year: $1600 |
*The fee does not include transport expenses, health insurance, any associated visa fees etc. and accommodation. It also does not cover any other expenses that are not expressly mentioned above. Students are required to live on campus for the first two years of attendance at Northwood University.
Healthcare plan is mandatory and is available for approximately USD $1,500*/year (*Subject to change per academic year).
SCHOLARSHIPS
The aim of the scholarships is to provide outstanding candidates with an opportunity to study irrespective of their financial circumstances. The program offers significant scholarship funding to the most talented applicants.
All applicants for the Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems program are automatically considered for Northwood University scholarships. Scholarship amounts will be noted in your letter of acceptance.
PROGRAM EXPERIENCE
With a large international presence both at our U.S. locations and abroad, the Northwood student body is very diverse. Our alumni are at ease in complex, multi-cultural business environments with a professional network around the world. Learning at Northwood takes place in more than just the classroom. With a multitude of activities to choose from, students realize significant personal and professional growth which, after graduation, will set them apart as they launch their careers.
CAMPUS LIFE
Be it academic-based organizations like the Entrepreneurship Society, Collegiate DECA or Business Professionals of America (BPA) to Greek Life to service-based organizations like Circle K, Rotaract, the Student Athletic Advisory Council or Student Government Association, Northwood University has ways for students to be engaged and involved on campus and in the local community. These experiences help students learn first-hand, how businesses and people connect through shared experiences.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Northwood students graduate with a superior business education that gives them a foundation of understanding free markets, entrepreneurial endeavors, personal responsibility, and ethical behavior. And, NU students also graduate with the ability to effectively communicate their ideas, beliefs, and experiences in an effort to promote success in their own lives and in the lives of others. Through workshops and campus-life programming, students hone networking, interviewing and résumé writing skills putting them one more step ahead in a competitive job market.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
One hallmark of the Northwood education is hands-on, experiential learning. Many of our academic programs enhance classroom learning with large-scale, active learning student-run projects. These events allow our students to apply what they learn in the classroom to real situations.
ENTERPRISE/ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION
Many Northwood alumni earn their livelihoods in enterprises they own in whole or in part. While we offer a program in entrepreneurship, our entire curriculum is focused on enterprise models and entrepreneurial achievements. Enterprise is a key tenet of our Mission, and we believe entrepreneurship is the essential element of our free market economy.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
While our student-athletes are competing on the athletic fields as part of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC); many of our students also compete in academic arenas. Our national champion Mock Trial team has bested teams from Harvard, Georgetown, and Stanford while our Competitive Speech team, American Marketing Association, BPA, DECA, and American Advertising Federation student chapters regularly place in regional and national competitions.
ABOUT NORTHWOOD
On March 23, 1959, two young men with an idea, a goal, and a pragmatic philosophy to encompass it all, broke away from their careers in a traditional college structure to create a new concept in education.
Their visionary idea became a reality when Dr. Arthur E. Turner and Dr. R. Gary Stauffer enrolled 100 students at Northwood Institute. They envisioned a new type of university – one where the teaching of management led the way. While the frontiers of space were revealing their mysteries, Stauffer and Turner understood all endeavors – technical, manufacturing, marketing, retail, every type of business – needed state-of-the-art, ethics-driven management.
Time has validated the success of what these two young educators called "The Northwood Idea" – incorporating the lessons of the American free-enterprise society into the college classroom.
The University grew and matured; Northwood went from being an Institute to an accredited University, the DeVos Graduate School of Management was created and then expanded; the Adult Degree Program and its program centers expanded to over 20 locations in eight states; international program centers were formed in Malaysia, People's Republic of China, Sri Lanka, and Switzerland; and significant construction like the campus Student Life Centers added value to the Northwood students' experience. New endeavors such as Aftermarket Studies, entertainment and sports management and fashion merchandising, along with a campus partnership in Montreux, Switzerland, demonstrate an enriched experience for all our students.
Northwood University educates managers and entrepreneurs – highly skilled and ethical leaders. With more than 65,000 alumni and a vibrant future ahead, The Northwood Idea is thriving.
NORTHWOOD FACTS
|
18+ |
athletic teams |
|
31% |
of Northwood graduates own some or all of their business |
|
$13m |
in scholarships available |
|
40+ |
clubs, fraternities and sororities |
|
82% |
of graduates employed full-time or accepted to graduate programs (as per our most recent graduate survey) |
18+
athletic teams
31%
of Northwood graduates own some or all of their business
$13m
in scholarships available
40+
clubs, fraternities and sororities
82%
of graduates employed full-time or accepted to graduate programs (as of our most recent graduate survey)
ACCREDITATIONS, APPROVALS, AND MEMBERSHIPS
Northwood University believes it has a responsibility to its students and the industries and communities it serves to provide the highest standard of educational excellence possible. One measure of how well an educational institution meets this responsibility is in its accreditations and approvals by outside education associations and governmental interests. Because each Northwood location is served, at least partially, by different governmental agencies and academic accrediting bodies, and because all have been in existence for varying lengths of time, the accreditations and approvals may vary from one location to another.
ALL NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES/LOCATIONS HAVE THE FOLLOWING ACCREDITATIONS AND APPROVALS:
- Northwood University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org). For more information, please click here.
- Northwood University business degree programs have business specialty accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), (www.acbsp.org).
- The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certified school for nonimmigrant foreign students (Fvisa); Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)/ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) as a higher education institution for international students.
- Respective state offices for Veterans Administration programs as a higher education institution for degree-seeking qualified veterans and dependents.
- The U.S. Bureau of Internal Revenue as a tax-exempt institution as provided for in Section 501 (c) (3) and other applicable parts of the Internal Revenue Code for higher education organizations.
NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY MEMBERSHIPS ARE REPRESENTED IN SUCH EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AS:
- American Accounting Association
- American Advertising Federation
- American Association of Collegiate and Admissions Officers Registrars
- American Certified Fraud Examiners
- American College Health Association
- American College Personnel Association
- American Hotel and Lodging Association
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- American Library Association
- American Management Association
- American Marketing Association
- American Marketing League Association
- American Payroll Association
- American Taxation Association
- Association for Communications Technology Professionals in Higher Education
- Association for Higher Education and Disability
- Association for Leadership Educators
- Association for the Tutoring Profession
- Association of College and Research Libraries
- Association of College and University Housing Officers International
- Association of College and University Telecommunications Administrators
- Association of Professional Researchers for Advancement
- Association of University Programs in Health Administration
- Association of Veterans Educators Certifying Officials
- Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association
- College and University Personnel Association for Human Resources
- Council for the Advancement of Experiential Learning
- Council for Higher Education Accreditation
- Council for Hotel and Restaurant and Institutional Education
- Data Processing Management Association
- Educause
- Family Enterprise Research Scholars
- Family Firm Institute
- Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers
- Intercollegiate Press Association
- International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education
- International Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education
- International Leadership Association
- Mathematical Association of America
- Motor and Equipment Manufacturing Association
- National Academic Advising Association
- National Advertising Federation
- National Association for Campus Activities
- National Association for College Admission Counseling
- National Association for Developmental Education
- National Association of College Admissions Counselors
- National Association of College Auxiliary Services
- National Association of College Stores (through its bookstore provider)
- National Association of College and University Business Officers
- National Association of Colleges and Employers
- National Association of Educational Buyers
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
- National Association of International Educators
- National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals
- National Association of College and University Mail Services
- National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
- National Association of Student Personnel Administrators
- National Association of Veterans Programs Administrators
- National Automobile Dealers Association
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- National Collegiate Honors Council
- National College Learning Center Association
- National Cooperative Education Association
- National Council of Teachers of English
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
- National Council of Women of the United States
- National Association of Educational Buyers
- National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
- National Association of International Educators
- National Home Fashions League
- National Restaurant Association
- Newspaper Association of America
- Organization of American Historians
- Photographers’ Association of America
- Society for College and University Planning
- Society for Human Resources
- Specialty Equipment Market Association
- The Fashion Group
- University Risk Management and Insurance Association