What you will study
In the University of Central Missouri’s CIS program, you’ll build a strong background
in leading-edge best practices for web development and UX strategies. You’ll also
learn to develop apps and expand your knowledge of programming in new mobile computing
languages.
Your new skills and knowledge will enable you to excel at a number of a roles vital
to the digital economy, such as:
- Database designer or administrator
- Big data engineer
- Data scientist
- Programming and application developer
- Software quality control engineer
- Software engineer
- Chief information officer
- Information systems / technology manager
- Database administrator
- ERP administrator
- Business decision support specialist
- Internet or intranet manager
In addition to technical learning, you’ll take classes that teach you business fundamentals.
Through courses such as Business Communication, Organizational Policy and Strategy
and Principles of Finance, you’ll learn how your skills will help an organization
succeed and reach its goals.
Excellence in Computer Information Systems
- #1: Most Popular Colleges for Computer & Information Sciences in Missouri (College Factual,
2022)
- Top 4%: Most Focused Colleges for Computer & Information Sciences (College Factual, 2022)
- Top 15%: Best Value College for Computer & Information Sciences (College Factual, 2021)
- 1 of only 13 computer information systems programs in the country accredited by both
the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Accreditation
Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
Unique Learning Opportunities
Find exciting opportunities at the University of Central Missouri to put your undergraduate
web development bachelor’s degree courses into practice:
- Internships: Learn to develop apps and gain experience working in jobs in web development through
an internship. Past CIS students have found opportunities with Cerner, Evergreen,
H&R Block and T-Mobile/Sprint.
- CIS capstone course: In the CIS program, you’ll take a senior capstone class. For this course, you’ll work
with CIS students in other concentration areas to solve a business problem by developing
an end-to-end system that blends all of your skill sets. You’ll learn more about the
other specialties, as well as how everyone’s expertise combines to create a complete
product.
- Student life: Join other students taking web development courses in the Computer Information Systems
and Analytics Organization (CISAO) student group to participate in networking events,
attend talks from tech leaders and get together for social activities.
What can you do with a degree in Computer Information Systems from UCM?
While you learn to develop apps in your courses, you’ll get professional advice in
UCM’s Career and Life Design Center to help you prepare for the job market. Mentors will work with you to build your
resume and get you ready to interview for jobs in web development.
If you plan to continue your education before beginning your career, you’ll be prepared
to enter graduate mobile and web development programs to enhance your knowledge and
technical skills.
Within six months of graduation, 100% of our CIS bachelor’s degree alumni have jobs
or grad school placements.
Career opportunities
Use the interactive tool below to explore job options in web development, career growth
projections, salary information and more.
Financial assistance options for your Computer Information Systems bachelor’s degree
You’ll benefit from the University of Central Missouri’s affordable tuition for the
CIS BSBA by graduating without the burden of excessive student debt. UCM also offers
numerous ways to help you finance your undergraduate education, including university grants, scholarships and loans, as well as access to federal
financial aid and work study.
We also offer scholarships available specifically for the CIS bachelor’s degree program:
- Alexander Gladkov Memorial Scholarship
- Boeing Company Scholarship for Computer Information Systems
- Chelsoft Solutions Company – CIS & IT Scholarship
- Computer Information Systems & Analytics Scholarship Fund
- Helen Louise Campbell Richards Memorial Scholarship
- Pennzoil Student Scholarship
- Richard and Gertrude Innes Scholarship
- Trevor Shoemaker CIS Memorial Scholarship
You can learn more about program-specific scholarships with the UCM Scholarship Finder.
Meet Dr. Qingxiong Ma
Prolific researcher and publisher
Dr. Ma teaches courses on business intelligence, systems analysis and design, information
service quality and data analytics, among others. He infuses his undergraduate web
development courses with his expertise in information technology adoption and diffusion,
e-commerce and information security management.
Meet the Faculty
Get Experience in High-Tech Labs
Learn advanced technology before you graduate
Prepare for jobs in web development in our six computer labs. UCM students in the
Mobile and Web Development degree program have access to 120 computers that feature
Oracle Academy programs, big data products, AWS licensing, a user experience design
testing lab, Microsoft Imagine, EMC Academic Alliance programs, Cisco networking components
and more.
Meet Dr. Narasimha Paravastu
Program faculty member with more than 10 years of teaching experience
Dr. Paravastu is well-published and presents his research frequently at national conferences.
He is interested mainly in OO programming and web development, including client-side
and server-side scripting. He brings this knowledge to his students in his undergraduate
web development courses.
Meet the Faculty
Career Coaching and Guidance
Mentoring sessions with tech leaders
Work with our CIS advisory board to develop a five-year career plan for jobs in web
development. These top industry professionals help you set achievable checkpoints
to measure your success. They’ll also make sure you’re taking the right web development
courses to get you where you want to be.
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CIS Program Mission
Program Mission Statement:
The primary mission of the program is to offer outcomes-based, assessment driven,
academic programs to prepare students for careers in information systems and information
technology. The program also serves the community by providing technology-related
service courses to fulfill the needs of the 21st century workforce.
Accreditation: It Means Quality
Accreditation means an external agency has found that the program meets rigorous standards
and has processes in place which will ensure its continued quality. The Harmon College
of Business and Professional Studies is accredited in Business and Accounting by AACSB
International.
In addition, the CIS program is accredited in Information Systems by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.ABET.org.
Only a dozen IS programs in the United States are so dually accredited.
Resources
Through your CIS classes, you will have access to many information technology resources
including:
- 120+ computers in six dedicated labs
- a user experience design testing lab
- numerous Cisco® networking components
- Wired and wireless access to the campus high-speed Internet
- Access to software through the Microsoft® Imagine, EMC® Academic Alliance and Oracle Academy programs
Program Educational Objectives
Program Educational Objectives
Within a few years of graduation, graduates from the Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration, with a major in Computer Information Systems (CIS),will be able to:
- Analyze business opportunities and design technology solutions by applying appropriate
processes, methodologies, and tools.
- Develop multi-platform software with usability best practices and commonly used tools.
- Design, implement and manage on-premise and cloud information system solutions.
- Identify and manage cybersecurity risks in organizations.
- Design, develop, and maintain databases and manage data resources.
- Effectively communicate and collaborate with stakeholders for a successful solution.
- Demonstrate appropriate leadership using workplace professional and ethical expectations.
Revised 6/25/2025
CIS Program Student Outcomes
- An ability to analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing
and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- An ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a
given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
- An ability to communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- An ability to recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments
in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- An ability to function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities
appropriate to the program’s discipline.
- Support the delivery, use, and management of information systems within an information
systems environment. [IS]
Annual Student Enrollment and Graduation Data
The BSBA in Computer Information Systems - is accredited by the Computing Accreditation
Commission of ABET, under the Commission’s General Criteria & Program Criteria for Information Systems.
