Full-Time Faculty: Linda Volonino, Chair; Edward J. Garrity, Edward J. Szewczak.
The degree in Information Systems (IS) prepares students for the current job market that is characterized by ever increasing reliance on information technology, data networks, computer security and telecommunications.
The IS curriculum provides its majors with:
- Technical and managerial skills in systems analysis, design and implementation.
- A comprehensive overview of telecommunication systems, including data and voice networks.
- The ability to design and develop interactive commercial E-Commerce Web sites.
- The knowledge to design and develop database systems, including databases for active (interactive) Internet applications.
- An understanding of the technical and legal aspects of cyber security and computer forensics, and how to defend against computer crime.
Majors will be prepared for a variety of positions as information systems analysts, Internet programmers or website designers, and computer network analysts. They will be prepared for positions in the fast-growing area of computer security. Computer security has job growth in the private sector, public sector and government.
Information Systems Curriculum
Please visit http://is.canisius.edu/ for updated course information.
| 1. | ENG 101, ENG 102, RST 101, PHI 101 (4 courses) | (12 credits) | |||
| 2. | Area Studies1: Two courses from each of these areas: I, III, IV, V, VI, VIII(12 courses) |
(36 credits) | |||
| 3. | Major course requirements: (23 or 22 courses) | ||||
| a. Common body of business knowledge: | |||||
| QNT 101 Quantitative Methods for Business | (3 credits) | ||||
| AND | |||||
| MAT 106 Calculus for the Non-Sciences | (3 credits) | ||||
| OR | (6 or 4 credits) | ||||
| MAT 111 Calculus I | (4 credits) | ||||
| OR | |||||
| MAT 115 Calculus for Business I | (4 credits) | ||||
| ACC 201 Financial Accounting | (3 credits) | ||||
| ACC 202 Managerial Accounting | (3 credits) | ||||
| ECO 101 Principles of Macroeconomics | (3 credits) | ||||
| ECO 102 Principles of Microeconomics | (3 credits) | ||||
| ECO 255 Business Statistics I | (3 credits) | ||||
| ECO 256 Business Statistics II | (3 credits) | ||||
| FIN 201 Introduction to Finance | (3 credits) | ||||
| ISB 101 Management Technology | (3 credits) | ||||
| MGT 101 Introduction to Management | (3 credits) | ||||
| MGT 325 Operations Analysis for Business | (3 credits) | ||||
| MGT 370 Managerial Environment | (3 credits) | ||||
| MGT 446 Managerial Policy Strategy | (3 credits) | ||||
| MKT 201 Principles of Marketing | (3 credits) | ||||
| b. Information Systems majors: | |||||
| ISB 211 Computer Programming for Business | (3 credits) | ||||
| ISB 215 Advanced Software Applications (includes Project Management credits) |
(3 credits) | ||||
| ISB 340 Data Base Management Systems | (3 credits) | ||||
| ISB 351 Systems Analysis and Design | (3 credits) | ||||
| ISB 451 Telecommunications | (3 credits) | ||||
| ISB 455 E-Commenrce and Web Site Design | (3 credits) | ||||
| ISB 470 Special Topics in IS: Cyber Security | (3 credits) | ||||
| ISB 480 OR IS Internship Elective: Enterprise Systems Architecture and Management |
(3 credits) | ||||
| 4. | Electives (1 or 2 courses) | (3 or 6 credits) | |||
| TOTAL (40 courses) | (120-121 credits) | ||||
Recommended Schedule:
| Fall | Spring | |||
| Freshman Year | ||||
| ENG 101 | 3 credits | ENG 102 | 3 credits | |
| QNT 101 or MAT 111 or 115 |
3 or 4 credits | MAT 106 or Elective | 3 credits | |
| ECO 101 | 3 credits | ECO 102 | 3 credits | |
| ISB 101 | 3 credits | MGT 101 | 3 credits | |
| AS VIII | 3 credits | AS VIII | 3 credits | |
| Total | 15 or 16 credits | Total | 15 credits | |
| Sophomore Year | ||||
| ISB 215 | 3 credits | ISB 211 | 3 credits | |
| ACC 201 | 3 credits | ACC 202 | 3 credits | |
| MKT 201 | 3 credits | FIN 201 | 3 credits | |
| RST 101 | 3 credits | PHI 101 | 3 credits | |
| ECO 255 | 3 credits | ECO 256 | 3 credits | |
| Total | 15 credits | Total | 15 credits | |
| Junior Year | ||||
| ISB 340 | 3 credits | ISB 351 | 3 credits | |
| AS III | 3 credits | AS VI | 3 credits | |
| AS I | 3 credits | AS V | 3 credits | |
| MGT 325 | 3 credits | MGT 370 | 3 credits | |
| AS IV | 3 credits | AS IV | 3 credits | |
| Total | 15 credits | Total | 15 credits | |
| Senior Year | ||||
| ISB 451 | 3 credits | ISB 470 | 3 credits | |
| ISB 455 | 3 credits | ISB Elective (ISB 480) OR Internship |
3 credits | |
| AS III | 3 credits | MGT 446 | 3 credits | |
| AS V | 3 credits | AS I | 3 credits | |
| Elective | 3 credits | AS VI | 3 credits | |
| Total | 15 credits | Total | 15 credits | |
| Total | 120-121 |
Information Technology Minor
The IS minor consists of 4 courses, in addition to ISB 101. There are three required ISB courses; the other two ISB courses are selected by the student. For Criminal Justice, Psychology and Digital Media majors who are interested in a custom-designed IT minor that allows a specialization, please contact the department chair.
Three required courses:
- ISB 211 Computer Programming for Business or ISB 215 Advanced Software Applications
- ISB 340 Database Management Systems
- ISB 351 Systems Analysis and Design
Computer forensics is the science of acquiring, preserving, retrieving and presenting data that has been processed electronically and stored on electronic media. Computer forensics refers to E-mail and instant message (IM) forensics, cellular phone and digital camera forensics, PDA and iPOD forensics, GPS and Internet forensics.
Computer forensics is appropriate for students interested in a career in information security, criminal justice, forensic accounting, law enforcement, or federal investigations—as well as computer forensics investigations for defense and plaintiff lawyers.
This is a multi-disciplinary minor designed for students who have chosen any academic major in either the School of Arts & Sciences or School of Business, but who may have an academic or career interest in computer forensics.
Required courses (all 3 credit courses):
- CRJ 227 Criminal Justice I
- CRJ 228 Criminal Justice II
- ISB 451 Networking and Telecom
- ISB 460 Computer Forensics
- ISB 470 Cyber Security
- An ethics course: MGT 370 or CRJ 482 (SOC 482)
ISB 101 Management Technology 3 credits
Introduction to information systems, hardware and software; information systems concepts in business; telecommunications; Ecommerce; enterprise systems; ethics, crime and security. Hands-on development of business applications.
ISB 202 System Dynamics 3 credits
An introduction to systems thinking and system dynamics. Uses tools and computer models to help solve interdisciplinary problems. Using computer-based models or virtual worlds, one can then test the consequences of actions before making actual decisions.
ISB 211 Computer Programming for Business 3 credits
Introduction to the Visual Basic programming language and fundamentals of software design. Database programming, interface design and general problem solving with an emphasis on business applications. Prerequisite: ISB 101.
ISB 215 Advanced Software Applications 3 credits
Project management using MS Project; advanced data analysis and graphics with MS Excel and Access; database concepts and design; presentation graphics.
ISB 222 IT Software, Research, Ethics 3 credits
(for non-business majors) This course covers MS-Excel and graphics; Internet research methods; consideration of the ethical issues of social networks, file sharing, splogs and other on-line publications.
ISB 340 Database Management Systems 3 credits
Design and application of database management systems. Topics include structured query language (SQL); data structures; querying and report writing; database design and administration; data mining and security.
ISB 451 Telecommunications and Networking 3 credits
Digital (data) and voice networks; network hardware, software and protocols. Wired and wireless communication.Prerequisite: ISB 101 or equivalent.
ISB 455 E-Commerce and Website Design 3 credits
Fundamentals of E-commerce applications and technologies. Interactive website and or consumer shopping ecommerce design and development.
ISB 460 Computer Forensics 3 credits
Introducing forensics tools to investigate computers, networks, Internet activities, Email, cell phones and other digital media devices to recover electronic evidence, even if it’s been deleted. Skills to investigate crimes involving computers or Internet. Prerequisite: ISB 101 or equivalent.
ISB 470 Cyber Security 3 credits
Technical, legal and policy defenses to protect databases and information systems. Topics considered include intrusion detection, malware, host- and network-based vulnerabilities and countermeasures, database security, identity theft and privacy. Prerequisite: ISB 451.
ISB 480 IT Project Management (Special topic) 3 credits
Lab course using MS Project. Topics include managing risk, cost overruns, schedule delays and resource allocation of IT projects; meeting customer requirements; budgeting; successful teamwork; and political issues.
ISB 499 Internship 3 credits
1 Area II is automatically fulfilled because this program is in the social sciences. Area VII is fulfilled by the mathematics courses required in this program.