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George Mason University
2002-03 University Catalog

Management Information Systems (MIS)

School of Management

If a student takes noncore, upper-level business courses prior to acceptance to the School of Management, those courses will not count on an undergraduate degree application for any major in the School of Management (except general elective credit). A grade of C or higher must be presented on the graduation application for each upper-level course in the major. Course prerequisites are strictly enforced. Degree status is defined as formal admission to the School of Management.

102 Spreadsheet Applications for Business (1:0:1). Hands-on course using a popular spreadsheet package. Business examples are used to teach the fundamentals of spreadsheets and their use in business applications.

301 Introduction to Business Information Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Completion of 32 hours. Introduction to fundamentals of hardware, software, networking, the Internet and its technology components. Role of technology in contemporary business. Basic relational concepts. Hands on experience in building business database applications and web sites. Projects required.

310 Introduction to Database Management Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301; degree status. Introduction to the principles of designing, maintaining, and manipulating databases. Emphasis is on relational databases. Applications are business oriented, such as accounts receivables, order entry, customer history, etc. Hands-on implementation using a software package is required.

320 Business Data Communications (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301; degree status. Broad introduction to technology components used in modern networks. Emphasis on the use of networks to facilitate business processes. Includes lab work and exercises.

330 Computer Systems Analysis and Design (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301, 310; degree status: a programming course is recommended. An introduction to the life cycle of a computer information system with emphasis on information requirements analysis, feasibility studies, economics, systems design, equipment selection, and the implementation process. Team project and computer lab are required.

411 Management and Control of Information Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301, or MIS 201 taken prior to fall 2001 and ECON 103; degree status. Discussion of the uses of an economics perspective to study issues arising in the management and control of information systems. Topics include cost/performance trends in information technology, software development cost estimation, systems project management, pricing computer services, and the strategic use of information technology.

412 E-Business Systems Development (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301, degree status. An introduction to the life cycle of the development of Web based information systems for E-business. Emphasis on technologies, methods and application development tools. Team project and computer lab are required.

430 Data Warehousing and Data Mining (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301, 310, degree status. Technologies and methods to develop decision support systems. Data warehousing and data mining techniques. Includes lab session and exercises. Term project required.

435 Knowledge Management (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301, 310, degree status. The course focuses on the new trends on how Knowledge Management works for organizations, what is the best strategy for such transition and what are the knowledge management elements.

440 E-Commerce Business Models and Applications (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301, 310, degree status. Discussion of business models on the Internet and their applications in B2B and B2C Commerce. Term project.

450 Internet Architecture and Industry (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301, 310, 320, degree status. Overview of elements of Internet architecture. Analysis of economic and regulatory issues. Internet technology and industry trends. Includes lab sessions and exercises.

491 Seminar in Management Information Systems (3:3:0). Prerequisites: MIS 301, all required courses in DMIS major; degree status. Analysis of selected topics that highlight the latest developments in the information resource management field, including contemporary research findings and case studies of information systems in business and other organizations.

499 Independent Study in Management Information Systems (1-3:3:0). Prerequisite: MIS 301, all required courses in DMIS major; degree status. Research and analysis of selected problems or topics in information resource management. Must be arranged with an instructor and approved in writing by the associate dean for undergraduate programs before registration.