Business Information Systems Major

Information technology (IT) has revolutionized the way consumers and businesses relate and interact. For consumers, online retailing has become the dominant distribution channel for a wide variety of products and services, with massive shifts underway from brick and mortar to e-commerce and the Web, and now into social media. Not only has technology changed consumer habits, it has also dramatically changed the workplace.

Technological innovations enable new strategies, products, and distribution channels while increasing efficiency and productivity in all industries. Success in the 21st century requires that business managers and analysts understand what technologies are available in the marketplace and how these technologies can lead to competitive advantage, staying competitive, and to new business products, services, and models. Therefore, it is necessary that managers understand how IT interacts with business strategies, organizations, and customers, and it is essential that businesses manage their portfolios of IT investments accordingly.

Through the Pitt Business Business Information Systems (BIS) major, students will develop the abilities to partner with, or contribute to, IT-enabled business strategy, operations and projects in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to:

Evaluating new information technologies, business models, and their implications
Understanding the relationships between competitive advantage and information technologies
Assessing a business or business area to recognize where process improvements can be made
Eliciting and identifying requirements
Communicating effectively with consumers, managers, analysts, business partners, and IT professionals
Modeling needs, processes, and data
Managing data as an asset
Managing processes

The Pitt Business BIS major meets the qualifications of a STEM-designated degree program, as set forth by the federal government. International students may receive an extension in the United States for the program.

Earn a minimum of 120 Academic Credits
- Including 15 Academic Credits in BIS
Fulfill All:
- Arts and Sciences Foundation Requirements
- BSBA Core Curriculum Requirements
Cumulative GPA of 2.25 (C+) in all courses applied toward a BIS major.
A “C-” or better must be earned in each course applied toward a BIS major

Required Major Courses

Elective Major Courses

Must take a minimum of two.

MBA-level courses might also be selected with the approval of the BIS Major Coordinator (for example: Technology Innovation, Adoption, and Diffusion; Current Topics in Information Systems).

Elective choices within the BIS major can complement a second major or particular career goal. For example, students targeting marketing careers would likely find E-Commerce to be valuable. Students interested in manufacturing or supply chain would be encouraged to choose IT Systems in Supply Chains as an elective, whereas students interested in a career managing within an IT organization would be advised to select IT Architectures and Issues.

BIS majors are encouraged to enhance their technical skills by completing either CS 0007 Introduction to Computer Programming or CS 0008 Introduction to Computer Programming with Python, followed by CS 0401 Intermediate Programming Using Java.

Skills Needed

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Jobs

Business Technology Analysis
Consulting
IT Management
Operations
Customer Service/Sales

Types of Industries

Medium to Large Corporations
Government
Start-up Organizations
Retail
Consulting Firms

University of Pittsburgh Minors

“Business Information Systems is interesting because technology is so integrated into business processes today. I enjoy being a Pitt Business student because the school provides a lot of resources to help students succeed in finding jobs and internships. My classmates are also very hardworking and motivated, and everyone wants to help each other succeed.”

Deandra Prevot

Business Information Systems and Human Resources Management, Class of 2020

Academics