Information Systems majors Jason Chmiel and Matt Chmiel, class of 2010:  
“Being an IS major at Millikin opened my eyes to the evolving world of technology around me. It taught me how to think outside of the box, placed me in real world situations, and prepared me to be competitive upon graduating from the program.” – Jason

“Millikin has transformed me from a curious freshman who knew little about IS, to a fully capable IS professional within my three and a half year stay. I was given the opportunity to apply what I was learning to real world clients, as well as benefit from the professional networking that the professors have formed with local companies and corporations. The practical application of my knowledge has allowed me to master both the technical and business professional side of Information Systems and Technology. I am now graduating early, have had two summer internships, and now have a full time job offer to a Fortune 50 company and it is all thanks to Millikin University and the IS program.” - Matt

Major Description:
The Information Systems (IS) program provides the opportunity for students to obtain the skills to be a key player in building information systems to improve the business operations and decision-making of twenty-first century organizations.

Information Systems students learn that in today’s ever changing global business environment, the ability to collect, organize, store, and transform vast amounts of business data into accurate, timely, and understandable information has a significant impact on an organization’s performance.

I.S. refers to the interaction between people, processes, and technology. An information system is not only the technology an organization uses, but also the way in which the organization’s people interact with the technology and the way in which the technology works with the organization’s business processes. The Information Systems professional must have a thorough understanding of business principles, technologies, and methodologies to effectively create technological business solutions that address the operational and decision-making needs of organizations.

The Information Systems program is based on a balance of business fundamentals and of skills in the analysis, design, and implementation of information systems. The Information Systems student learns how to effectively lead and/or participate in cross-functional teams through courses that focus on interpersonal skills including problem solving, team building, and written/verbal communication.

The Information Systems student course of study includes theoretical and practical discussion of information systems, including the design and usage of databases, networking, information security, computer programming fundamentals, knowledge management, and other current topics. The Information Systems student will have opportunities to put classroom theory to practical use through solving real-world I.S. problems, internships, and practicums.

It is anticipated that upon graduation Information Systems students will assume positions with titles such as business analyst, system analyst, information systems specialist, programmer analyst, or information systems consultant. As Information Systems graduates gain industry experience, they are likely to assume roles as managers or senior technical staff.  

Major Requirements:
The major requires a total of 21 credits in addition to the business core requirements.Students majoring in Information Systems must complete the following courses required for the major:
IS 221 - Introductory Programming 
IS 321 - Systems Analysis and Design
IS 331 - Networking & Telecommunications 
IS 370 - Database Application Development

and choose 3 electives from the following list:
IS302 – COBOL as a Second Language
IS322 – Web Design and Development using DBMS
IS332 – Security Assurance
IS 470 - Data Mining for Business Intelligence
IS 471 - Information Systems Internship
IS491 - Seminar in Information Systems
IS 350 – Advanced Programming
MK365 – E-marketing    

Faculty:
RJ Podeschi – rpodeschi@millikin.edu