Business Computer
Information Systems

Career potential

The University of North Texas offers a bachelor of science degree with a major in business computer information systems. The degree can provide you with the broad business background and professional skills needed to succeed in a career in information systems.

With this degree, you will be prepared to become a systems developer or a systems analyst, someone who studies a computer user's needs and then derives the functional requirements of an information system. Most systems developers or systems analysts are employed by manufacturing firms, banks and insurance companies, data processing service organizations, wholesale and retail businesses, or government agencies. You will also gain valuable experience in managing software projects.

Graduates of this program usually receive several job offers, generally from large firms in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Area companies that regularly hire UNT business systems graduates include Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., Electronic Data Systems, Fidelity Investments, Southwest Airlines, and Atmos Energy.

A master's degree is needed to advance to broad managerial responsibilities in the field. If you plan to teach information technology at a university or become a researcher in the field, you will need to earn a doctoral degree.

UNT's Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies, and interview preparation.

Majoring in business computer information systems

As a student in business computer information systems, you will study:

• contemporary designs and technical problems in information systems
• database applications
• electronic commerce
• project management
• privacy and security of computer information systems
• computer programming in the business environment

You also may take courses on distributed systems and teleprocessing, object-oriented methodologies, client-server systems, and user-interface design.

UNT's College of Business is one of the largest business colleges in the United States and has been accredited since 1969 by AACSB International - the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (777 South Harbour Island Blvd., Suite 750, Tampa, Fla. 33602-5730, telephone 813-769-6500). This accreditation means the college has passed strict academic standards for excellence in education.

Faculty members in the Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences are dedicated teachers as well as nationally recognized professionals in the field. Two faculty members have been named Regents Professors for their outstanding research and teaching. Regents Professors devote at least half of their teaching load to introductory-level courses. In addition to having faculty members dedicated to student success, the department also offers a student organization, Computer Information Systems Organization (CISO), which focuses on networking with other students and professionals in the field to better prepare you for a career.

Several scholarships are available if you decide to study business computer information systems. They are awarded competitively based on individual criteria of academic excellence, professionalism and need.

Getting hands-on experience

Upon completion of 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may complete an internship with a company in the Dallas-Fort Worth region through UNT's Cooperative Education and Internships office.

Preparing for UNT

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science — economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT) you should take during your junior year.

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic advisor / counselor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Charting your path with academic advising

Full-time staff advisors in the College of Business will help you each semester select the courses you will need to earn your degree. You also will receive assistance from faculty members and advisors in the Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences. The department office is in the Business Administration Building, Room 336.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.