Information Systems Management

Program Description

Information systems management (ISM) is a multi-disciplinary major that focuses on the fusion of information systems, technology, and business management for two purposes: the use of information systems to solve business problems and the management of technology, which includes new product development and enterprise management. Today, it is widely accepted that managing information resources to optimize enterprise performance is as important as managing resources such as labor, capital, and raw materials. ISM supports the management of the processes of collection, manipulation, storage, distribution, and utilization of an organization's information resources as well as the use of these processes in the management of technology.

To develop information systems that address the needs of the organization-in areas such as engineering, manufacturing, finance, accounting, and marketing-ISM professionals must possess a solid mix of business and technical knowledge. They must be well versed in organizational structures, operations (including processes and the flows of data between processes), and the financial implications related to these factors. In addition, they must also be well versed in topics such as systems development tools and techniques, information architecture, networks, databases, telecommunications, and systems integration.

The essence of the ISM major at UCSC is the integration of the fundamental intellectual content of the computer science, engineering, and business management economics majors. It is a rigorous, challenging major for those students wanting to pursue careers in information systems management and the management of technology. To accomplish these objectives, students must learn the mathematics, science, and technical fundamentals of computer science and engineering as well as understand the environment in which information technology (IT) solutions will be applied through economics, business, and management of technology courses.

To graduate with a B.S. in information systems management, students normally complete 19 required courses (with one laboratory, totaling 98 quarter credits) plus four elective courses (20 quarter credits) for the information systems management major program. Students may choose, through a set of electives, to focus in one of the three areas of information systems management: information systems management (ISM), management of technology (MOT), or a combination of both. To plan for completion of these course requirements within the normative time, students should consult with an adviser as early as possible. Honors students are likely to find the rigorous management and leadership elements of the new program of significant interest. Industrial interactions and projects are key features of this major.

Information Systems Management Policies

Admissions Policy

Admission to majors in the School of Engineering is selective. First-year applicants may receive direct admission at the time they apply to UCSC based on their high school record and test scores. Admission to the major after a student has entered UCSC is based on performance in the foundation courses: Computer Science 12A (or 13H), Computer Engineering 16 or 16H, Mathematics 19A-B (or Economics 11A and 11B), and Information Systems Management 50 (or Economics 1 and 2). Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for the full admissions policy.

Disqualification and Satisfactory Progress in the Major

Please refer to the Engineering section of this catalog for the School of Engineering's major disqualification policy.

Letter Grade Policy

Information systems management requires letter grading for all courses applied toward the B.S. in information systems management, with the exception of two lower-division courses which students may elect to take Pass/No Pass (not to include course 50 or 58). This policy includes courses required for the information systems management major but sponsored by other departments.

Transfer Students

Articulation agreements with other California institutions are in place for some courses required for the ISM major; it is important for students to inquire whether specific courses meet the requirements of this major. Articulation information is available on ASSIST at www.assist.org. Courses taken at other institutions which emphasize applications of programming languages often do not count toward the ISM major at UCSC. Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for the policy regarding transfer students.

School of Engineering Policies

Please refer to the School of Engineering section of the catalog for additional policies that apply to all School of Engineering programs. These policies include admission to the major, limits on the number of times courses can be attempted, and the need for UCSC students to obtain preapproval before taking courses elsewhere.

Preparation for the Major

The information systems management major is intended for students with an interest in both computer technology and business. It is recommended that students intending to declare this major have completed four years of mathematics (through advanced algebra and trigonometry) and three years of science in high school. Completion of business-oriented computer literacy and basic programming courses is of benefit to students entering this major. Completion of any economics and/or business-related courses in high school is also beneficial, but the faculty realizes that these courses may not be available at many high schools. Completion of comparable college courses at other institutions serves to strengthen the preparation of a student for the information systems management major.

Information Systems Management Major Requirements

In addition to completing UCSC general education requirements, students must complete 19 required courses (with one laboratory, totaling 97 quarter credits) plus four elective courses (20 quarter credits) for the information systems management major program. To plan for completion of these course requirements within the normative time, students should consult with a School of Engineering adviser as early as possible. These 23 courses include the following:

Required Courses
(19 courses plus one laboratory)

Mathematics
(three 5-credit courses)

19A-B, Calculus for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics; or
Economics 11A and 11B, Mathematical Methods for Economists; and
21, Linear Algebra

Economics
(five required 5-credit courses)

1, Introductory Microeconomics: Resource Allocation and Market Structure
2, Introductory Macroeconomics: Aggregate

Economic Activity

10A, Economics of Accounting
100A, Intermediate Microeconomics
113, Introduction to Econometrics; or

Applied Mathematics and Statistics

113, Managerial Statistics

Computer Engineering
(three 5-credit courses and a 2-credit lab)

12/L, Computer Systems and Assembly Language/ Laboratory
16, Applied Discrete Mathematics; or 16H, Honors Applied Discrete Mathematics
150, Introduction to Computer Networks

Computer Science
(five 5-credit courses)

12A, Introduction to Programming
12B, Introduction to Data Structures
101, Abstract Data Types
115, Software Methodology
180, Database Systems

Information Systems Management
(three of the following 5-credit courses)

50, Business Information Systems
58, Systems Analysis and Design
105, Management of Technology I
125, Management of Technology II
158, Business Strategy and Information Systems

For students who wish to specialize in information systems management, the following courses are recommended:

50, Business Information Systems
58, Systems Analysis and Design
158, Business Strategy and Information Systems

It is also recommended that these students take courses 105 and 125 as electives.

For students who wish to specialize in the management of technology, the following courses are recommended:

50, Business Information Systems
105, Management of Technology I
125, Management of Technology II

It is also recommended that these students take course 158 as an elective.

For students interested in both information systems management and the management of technology, the following courses are recommended:

50, Business Information Systems
58, Systems Analysis and Design
105, Management of Technology I

It is also recommended that these students take courses 125 and 158 as electives.

Elective Courses

(four courses)

(two 5-credit School of Engineering courses)

Students select two upper-division School of Engineering electives on the basis of their particular interests. These electives may be any 5-credit upper-division School of Engineering courses, with the following limitations:

1. either Computer Engineering 153 or Electrical Engineering 153, but not both;

2. either Engineering 131 or Computer Engineering 107, but not both;

3. independent and field-study courses (193, 195, 198, 199) require prior approval and support from the department to be used as an elective.

(two 5-credit Economics courses from the following list)

100B, Intermediate Macroeconomics
101, Managerial Economics
104, Is There Truth in Numbers? The Role of Statistics in Economics
115, Introduction to Management Sciences
130, Money and Banking
131, International Financial Markets
133, Security Markets and Financial Institutions
135, Corporate Finance
136, Business Strategy
138, The Economics and Management of Technology and Innovation
139A, The Economics of Electronic Commerce
139B, E-Commerce Strategy
161, Marketing
164, Economics and the Telecommunications Industry

Optional Elective

An individual field study, Economics 193, is recommended but not required.

Information Systems Management Major Planners

The following are three sample academic plans for students to complete during their first two years as preparation for the information systems management major. Plan One A and B are suggested guidelines for students who are committed to the major early in their academic career. Plan Two is for students who are considering the major.

Comprehensive Requirement

Students complete two project-intensive courses, either the combination of Computer Science 115 and Information Systems Management 158 or the combination of Computer Science 115 and Information Systems Management 105, which constitute the comprehensive requirement for the information systems management major, based on the dual aspects of the program. Computer Science 115 addresses the technical side of the major, course 158 deals with the business and economics content, and course 105 deals with the integration of technology and business.

Computer Science 115, Software Methodology, is designed to validate students’ technical capabilities. Working in teams, students are required to apply the technical knowledge they have gained by designing, programming, and testing a complete software application.
Information Systems Management 158, Business Strategy and Information Systems, requires that students understand and use a structured methodology to evaluate the competitive use of information systems within an enterprise. This is accomplished by researching and writing a comprehensive analytical term paper using a methodology taught as part of this course.

Information Systems Management 105, Management of Technology I, requires that students understand and apply structured methodologies for the development, management, and commercialization of technologies and products. Students will work in teams on a comprehensive term project in the development, commercialization, and management of technologies such as computers, networks, semiconductors, mechatronics, and biotechnology.