Management Information Systems Minor

College of Management
Undergraduate minor

About this program

The Management Information Systems minor is useful for students majoring in any discipline that uses technology. In business disciplines (e.g. Accounting, Human Resource Management, Finances, etc.) it provides a foundation of technical concepts and practical concepts that will aid in designing, building and supporting the use of technology to achieve functional goals in an organization. The MIS minor can also be used as an enhancement to career paths in other disciplines that are overwhelmed by the application of technology, (e.g. Nursing, Human Services and Social Work).

Students wanting to pursue SAP UA Certification can take 3 courses -- one course each from the 3 levels of curriculum enhancement with SAP ERP software referenced by a corresponding number:

  • Light Level -- Choose either MIS 320 or MIS 370 (1);
  • Medium Level -- Choose either MIS 456 or Acct 340 (2);
  • Heavy Level -- Choose either MIS 459 or MIS 380 (3).

Enrolling in this program

Program eligibility requirements

You must earn a B- or above in MIS 100 and MIS 310, and earn a grade of S or C- or above in remaining courses to be used to meet requirements. College of Management (COM) students that major in Information Assurance or Management Information Systems cannot declare an MIS Minor.

Current students: Declare your program

Once you’re admitted as an undergraduate student and have met any further requirements your chosen program may have, you may declare a major or declare an optional minor.

Future students: Apply now

Apply to Metropolitan State: Start the journey toward your Management Information Systems Minor now. Learn about the steps to enroll or, if you have questions about what Metropolitan State can offer you, request information, visit campus or chat with an admissions counselor.

Get started on your Management Information Systems Minor

Program requirements

At least 16 credits from among the Required Courses and Electives must be completed at Metropolitan State.  See also the COM policies page for requirements that are common to all programs.

Course requirements

Requirements (24 credits)

Required (16 credits)

MIS 100 Fundamentals of Information Technology in Organizations

4 credits

This course is the first information technology foundation course in the College of Management. It focuses on the technology literacy, managerial and business problem solving dimensions of computer based information systems. It provides students with an introduction to the fundamental terminology of the hardware, software and the people involved with computer based information systems. The course includes hands on computer lab time to introduce students to word processing, database, spread sheet, and Internet microcomputer applications. This course is designed specifically to prepare students for information technology competence as needed in College of Management courses.

Full course description for Fundamentals of Information Technology in Organizations

MIS 310 Principles of Management Information Systems

4 credits

This course is designed to define the role of information systems in organizations, and in particular the roles of IS staff and end-users in developing and maintaining computer systems. The managerial aspects and implications of databases, telecommunications, hardware, software and e-commerce are included. Special attention is given to management information systems theories in the organizational setting including: infrastructure, transaction processing, operational reporting, decision support systems and executive information systems. Also included are all phases of the systems development life cycle (SDLC) as well as alternative development methodologies. The course prototypically includes analysis of real world business cases and post-implementation audit report of a recently completed management information system. All students taking this class must have completed as a prerequisite the MIS 100 Fundamentals of Information Technology in Organizations course or its approved…

Full course description for Principles of Management Information Systems

MIS 320 Information Systems Analysis and Design

4 credits

This course presents approaches and methods for the analysis and design of IT applications. It also covers different methods for creating graphical models of IT project requirements. System development life cycle (SDLC) and alternate development approaches to information systems development are examined in detail. The course provides students with critical tools and representations (both traditional and object-oriented) for eliciting and documenting user requirements and for developing effective applications that meet organizational technology needs. Students work individually and in teams on assignments and projects. The roles of open source software, component based development and service oriented architecture in systems development are also examined.

Full course description for Information Systems Analysis and Design

MIS 335 Management and Use of Databases

4 credits

Competence in management and use of organizational and external databases is a skill needed by all business people and critical to management information systems effectiveness, especially in the new era of "big data". This course teaches the development and accessing of internal and external information resources. Topics include: ensuring the availability of appropriate data; interrelating and applying data to typical business problems; normalized database design; protecting and managing information resources; scalability; and compatibility issues.

Full course description for Management and Use of Databases

Electives (8 credits)

Choose two

ACCT 340 Accounting Information Systems

4 credits

This course provides a conceptual framework to stress the responsibility of accountant, auditor and manager for the design, operation and control of the accounting information system and the needs of information users within an organization. Traditional accounting transaction cycles are organized around events-based information technology. Students learn how the accounting information system records, classifies and aggregates economic events.

Full course description for Accounting Information Systems

MIS 370 Retail Information Systems

4 credits

This course examines the use of retail information systems applications at an advanced level to improve efficiency and effectiveness of retail stores and chain retailers. Topics covered include: Retail data configuration (the story of a sku), Merchandise planning and IT, Purchasing & replenishment and IT, Role of IT in Merchandising and store operations, Post-season analytics. The course will prominently feature hands-on exercises with actual Retail management software. The software used may include Oracle Retail, SAP Retail, Microsoft Dynamics AX, etc.

Full course description for Retail Information Systems

MIS 456 Supply Chain Information Systems

4 credits

This course examines the role of information systems applications involved in supporting supply chain operations. Topics covered include electronic purchasing, RFQ, reverse auctions, B2B exchanges, warehouse management systems, bar coding / RFID, mobile solutions for distribution and field force automation, ERP, reverse logistics, equipment maintenance tracking systems, transportation/shipping management and GPS. The underlying technologies of EDI and XML are also examined. Special emphasis is placed on building analysis skills for the detailed assessment of vendor software solutions in the supply chain arena.

Full course description for Supply Chain Information Systems

MIS 459 ERP Systems

4 credits

Introduction to ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, components/submodules of ERP, configuration of ERP, operation of ERP for logistics and manufacturing (MRP), the ERP life cycle and the cash-to-cash cycle, the pros and cons ERP systems as well as the risk factors that go into success or failure for ERP implementations, Open Source ERP software options.

Full course description for ERP Systems

MIS 380 Business Intelligence and Analytics

4 credits

Business Intelligence is the user-centered process of exploring data, data relationships and trends - thus helping to improve overall decision making for enterprises. This course addresses the iterative processes of accessing data (ideally stored in the enterprise data warehouse) and analyzing data in order to derive insights and communicate findings. Moreover, the course also addresses the use of software tools for analysis and visualization of data, especially report design along with the use of dashboards.

Full course description for Business Intelligence and Analytics

MIS 328 Applications Development I

4 credits

This course provides an overview of applications development methods for managers of information systems. The course assumes no previous programming experience. The course develops elementary concepts of structured programming in the context of a third generation programming language (typically C# ) and then proceeds towards application design using .NET C#. Students learn to apply analytical concepts to translate common business problems into programs using proper design, structure, methodology, and syntax. Students are also exposed to release management and version control concepts in the Enterprise. The goal is to understand the management issues in programming and application development.

Full course description for Applications Development I

MIS 329 Applications Development II

4 credits

This course completes the overview of applications development methods for managers of information systems as begun in the MIS 328 (Applications Development I) course. Advanced features of applications development in Visual Basic are taught, including design prototypes, object-oriented components, code debugging techniques, and utilization of code libraries. Other topics include ADO, ODBC, OLE DB, Database connections with Access and MS SQL, Multiple Tiered application development, and comparisons between WAN and Web applications (with Javascript). The goal is to understand the entire application development process adequately to be able to manage the process.

Full course description for Applications Development II

MIS 350I Management Information Systems Individual Internship

1-8 credits

Students obtain internships in selected areas of study to gain deeper understand of knowledge, skills and the context of a given field. Site supervisors give guidance and direction to customized internship projects. Faculty members serve as liaisons between the internship sites and the university, providing information to students and potential supervisors and supervising the learning experience. Students should contact the Institute for Community Engagement and Scholarship (ICES) at Metropolitan State University for more information.

Full course description for Management Information Systems Individual Internship

MIS 462 Management of Distributed Computing

4 credits

Managers need to know how to manage the diverse distributed computing environments in which they work, and leverage the opportunities these architectures provide. Integration of data and users, graphics and telephony are illustrated through emphases on client/server and N-Tier architectures, Internet, intranet/extranet, groupware, mobile, cloud and other technologies. This elective course reviews state-of-the-art technologies in each of the basic software and hardware arenas, while emphasizing management models and higher-level analysis, including the relationship with general database strategy and data warehousing. Practical projects are assigned, giving students real-world opportunities to use the tools to enhance their work and build productivity. Theory and models are taught with a management perspective as opposed to platform-specific training. Participants are asked to complete a comprehensive and applied class project and final exam.

Full course description for Management of Distributed Computing

MIS 498 Telecommunications Economics and Policy

4 credits

This course covers a range of telecommunication applications and explores how the regulatory and legal environments relating to those technologies are impacting the business enterprise. It addresses the legal impact of various telecommunication services on day-to-day business operations and analyzes the productivity and revenue-enhancement potential available to business. The course also addresses the issues of creating mass customization for end users. This course is targeted at students who are working business managers with a need to understand the impact of the new and emerging telecommunications services and how they can be harnessed to add value to business operations.

Full course description for Telecommunications Economics and Policy

MIS 467 Telecommunications and Internet Management

4 credits

This course explores the range of available network and telecommunications technologies and how they can be used to facilitate information access and dissemination at all levels of an organization and through the Internet. Trends of telecommunications services are analyzed. Telecommunications trends in the United States and Europe are addressed in detail. A range of emerging telecommunications services is explored as well as how such services radically alter the ways that organizations gather information for decision making. The widespread use of mobile technologies, the cloud and the World Wide Web has required many changes both in architecture and concept. The student learns how to manage these new environments.

Full course description for Telecommunications and Internet Management

MIS 463 Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation

4 credits

This course analyzes issues involved in the planning, development, and implementation of technological capabilities to achieve the strategic and operational objectives of an organization. Students investigate the role of product and process innovation in creating, developing and implementing new product and process technology in organizations. The course also examines the complex relationships of a firm's product and process technologies to its competitive environment and organizational structure. New technologies are reviewed and assessed through life cycle analysis, technology assessments and case studies. Technology-based product design is reviewed. Building managerial environments that enhance technological creativity is explained.

Full course description for Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation

MIS 533 Special Topics: Emerging Technologies

4 credits

This elective course is designed to address emerging technologies such as Web development, Internet/intranet/extranet, decision support systems, expert systems, rapid technology development, technology assessment, newly emerging architectures and organizational structures to address technology changes, as well as emerging strategic technology issues. Students should note that this elective course is not listed in the course schedule on a regular cycle and should consult with the MIS faculty to find out when it may be offered.

Full course description for Special Topics: Emerging Technologies