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Information Systems, B.S.

B.S. in Information Systems

Curriculum

The Information Systems major is offered only as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. In addition to major requirements outlined below, all Information Systems students must fulfill the General Education requirements for the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. A total of 360 units is required for the degree.

Requirements are subject to revision. Advisor approval is required for each student's major curriculum plan.  Any proposed course substitutions to courses required for the IS major must be approved in advance by the IS Academic Advisor. 

Technical Core (Prerequisites)

Information Systems requires completion of prerequisite courses in Mathematics and Computer Science.  All prerequisites must be successfully completed prior to the start of Fall semester, third-year year.

Mathematics

Complete one (1) of the following math courses:

Units
21-112Integral Calculus
Pre-requisite of 21-111		10
21-120Differential and Integral Calculus
Pre-requisite of 21-090		10
21-127Concepts of Mathematics12
21-240Matrix Algebra with Applications10
80-210Logic and Proofs9
Computer Science

Three Computer Science courses are required. To maintain normal progress toward the Information Systems degree, students must complete 15-121 Introduction to Data Structures prior to the start of Spring Semester, second-year.

Students entering the program as freshmen will have the option to complete a Computer Science Placement Test. Depending on appropriate Advanced Placement credit and/or results of the Computer Science Placement Test, entering students may place directly into 15-112 or 15-121. 15-110 is taken as the first Computer Science prerequisite unless a student places directly into 15-112 or 15-121. Students that do not gain a placement into 15-112 or 15-121 must begin the sequence with 15-110 and must complete it with a grade of D or above prior to entering 15-112.

15-110Principles of Computing10
15-112Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science12
or 02-120 Programming for Scientists
15-121Introduction to Data Structures10

Note: Students cannot receive credit for both 15-104 Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice and 15-110 Principles of Computing. Students may also take 15-122 Principles of Imperative Computation in place of 15-121 Introduction to Data Structures but should first consult with their academic advisor prior to doing so.

Information Systems Core

In the Information Systems Core, students will learn the basic skills necessary to analyze, design, implement, and test high-quality, cost effective information systems. The Information Systems Core consists of seven courses (not including 67-100 and 67-200). 

Complete all of the following courses:

67-100Information Systems First Year Colloquium1
67-200Information Systems Research Colloquium1
67-250The Information Systems Milieux
(Spring Semester Only)		9
67-262Database Design and Development
(Fall Semester Only)		9
67-272Application Design and Development
(Spring Semester Only)		12
67-373Information Systems Consulting Project
(Spring Semester Only)		12
17-313Foundations of Software Engineering12
95-422Managing Digital Transformation9

Complete one (1) of the following three courses:

05-391Designing Human Centered Software12
05-410User-Centered Research and Evaluation
Not open to first-year students.		12
05-452Service Design12

Information Systems Breadth

In the Information Systems Breadth, students will study key areas fundamental to understanding and solving problems in information systems. At least one course is required from each of the following categories:

Professional Communications

Information systems professionals communicate with a wide range of people in most organizations and often facilitate communications between diverse groups of stakeholders. Consequently, the most successful professionals typically are those with strong communication skills. These courses help students see that the structure and presentation of information affects how well (and how easily) it can be understood and used.

Complete one (1) of the following courses:

05-317Design of Artificial Intelligence Products12
05-360Interaction Design Fundamentals12
36-315Statistical Graphics and Visualization9
51-261Communication & Digital Design Fundamentals9
or 51-262 Communication and Digital Design Fundamentals
67-265Design Fundamentals: Shaping Interactions and Experiences9
67-336Building Data Visualizations in to Information Systems9
67-338Information & Grid Design9
70-301Transformational Leadership9
70-321Negotiation and Conflict Resolution9
70-340Business Communications9
70-342Managing Across Cultures9
70-350Acting for Business9
76-270Writing for the Professions9
84-250Writing for Political Science and Policy9
88-230Human Intelligence and Human Stupidity9
88-231Thinking in Person vs. Thinking Online9
88-341Team Dynamics and Leadership9
or 70-341 Team Dynamics and Leadership
Quantitative Analysis and Research Methods

This area focuses on decision making and data analysis — essential to development of useful information systems. This area exposes students to analytic methods in the social sciences and quantitative methods for approaching complex methods.

Complete one (1) of the following courses:

21-325Probability9
36-202Methods for Statistics & Data Science9
36-219Probability Theory and Random Processes9
36-225Introduction to Probability Theory9
36-235Probability and Statistical Inference I9
36-303Sampling, Survey and Society9
36-309Experimental Design for Behavioral & Social Sciences9
36-315Statistical Graphics and Visualization9
36-350Statistical Computing9
36-401Modern Regression9
36-402Advanced Methods for Data Analysis9
67-285Across the Universe from Intelligent Agents to Users9
67-364Practical Data Science9
73-265Economics and Data Science9
80-305Game Theory9
80-306Decision Theory9
88-223Decision Analysis12
88-251Empirical Research Methods9
88-252Causal Inference: from Data to Decisions9
88-275Bubbles: Data Science for Human Minds9
88-300Programming and Data Analysis for Social Scientists9
94-216Introduction to Decision Analytics and Systems6
Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The focus of this area is to apply disciplined techniques to generate ideas that have value in a market, and bring them through design, feasibility testing, and frequent revision, towards a potential launch. Students must have completed 67-272 Application Design & Development in order to fulfill one of the courses below towards their Innovation and Entrepreneurship requirement. 

Complete one (1) of the following courses:

05-470Digital Service Innovation12
17-356Software Engineering for Startups12
67-428Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Focus on Startups and Emerging Technologies9
67-443Mobile Application Design and Development12
94-491Lean Innovation Lab12

Information systems concentration

The study of Information Systems can take many paths; Concentrations allow students to find the path that best suits their plans and aspirations. They also allow students to establish relationships with leading researchers in their area of interest. It is strongly recommended to determine your concentration requirement by the end of the sophomore year to ensure timely completion by the conclusion of the fourth year.

IS Concentrations:
  • AI Management
  • Data Analytics
  • Health Information Systems
  • Information Security
  • Product Management
  • Technology & Arts Enterprises
  • Technology & International Development
  • User Experience (UX) Design

Alternatively, students may choose from an approved list of minors or additional majors, including those offered through the Integrative Design, Arts, and Technology (IDeATe) initiative that blend information systems and the arts as only Carnegie Mellon University can.

Additional Majors:
Approved minors:

*

Business Administration minors

Only if the following conditions are met can the Business Administration minor also be used to meet the IS Concentration requirement.

Required Courses:

  • 70-100 Global Business
  • 70-122 Introduction to Accounting
  • 73-102 Principles of Microeconomics

Constrained Electives (take one of the following courses):

(Note: The BA minor also accepts 70-311 Organizational Behavior, but that will not count toward the Concentration.) 

Electives (Take 2 courses from this subset of courses allowed for the BA minor): 

  • 70-374 Data Mining & Business Analytics
  • 70-387 Strategy for High-Tech Products and Services
  • 70-469 End to End Business Analytics
  • 70-443 Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy
  •  70-371 Operations Management
  •  70-471 Supply Chain Management
  • 70-460 Mathematical Models for Consulting
  • 70-462 Uncertainty and Risk Modeling
  • 70-464 AI & Emerging Economies
  • 70-467 Machine Learning for Business Analytics
  • 70-374 Data Mining & Business Analytics
  • 70-387 Strategy for High-Tech Products and Services
  • 70-469 End to End Business Analytics
  • 70-443 Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategy
  • 70-371 Operations Management
  • 70-471 Supply Chain Management
  • 70-460 Mathematical Models for Consulting
  • 70-462 Uncertainty and Risk Modeling
  • 70-464 AI & Emerging Economies
  • 70-467 Machine Learning for Business Analytics

Sample Schedule

First-YearSecond-Year
FallSpringFallSpring
67-100 Information Systems First Year Colloquium67-250 The Information Systems Milieux67-200 Information Systems Research Colloquium67-272 Application Design and Development
15-110 Principles of Computing15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science67-262 Database Design and DevelopmentQuantitative Analysis Requirement
36-200 Reasoning with DataGrand Challenge Seminar15-121 Introduction to Data StructuresGeneral Education Course
76-101 Interpretation and Argument or other approved first-year writing optionsGeneral Education CourseProfessional Communications RequirementElective Course
Math RequirementGeneral Education CourseGeneral Education CourseElective Course
Elective CourseElective Course
99-101 Core@CMU

Third-YearFourth-Year
FallSpringFallSpring
17-313 Foundations of Software Engineering67-373 Information Systems Consulting Project95-422 Managing Digital TransformationConcentration Course
Concentration CourseConcentration CourseConcentration CourseGeneral Education Course
HCI RequirementGeneral Education CourseInnovation & Entrepreneurship RequirementElective Course
General Education CourseElective CourseGeneral Education CourseElective Course
Elective CourseElective CourseElective CourseElective Course
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