2023-2024
Information Systems
School of Business
Program description
The Bachelor of Science in Information Systems prepares students for successful careers as information systems professionals through a curriculum that combines technical computing knowledge, skills and techniques with relevant business knowledge. The curriculum provides hands-on experience in supporting the secure delivery and management of information systems, buoys career success through rigorous academic inquiry, and supports the information systems needs of the business community-at-large throughout Greater Richmond.
REAL opportunities are found in INFO 491, INFO 492, and INFO 493.
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Science in Information Systems produces competitive graduates for entry-level roles in information technology (IT). Through hands-on training, alumni find positions in programming, software development, web development, networking, cyber security, and database administration. Students also build management skills and are well-suited to accept roles in management, business systems analysis, IT consulting, data analytics, and IT implementation. Departmental partnerships with private and public sector organizations allow resume- and skills-building opportunities. Our alumni are employed in all sectors of the economy including multinational companies, local small businesses, start-ups, and state and federal agencies.
Change of major requirements
Students are eligible for admission into the advanced business program with a major in the School of Business upon meeting the minimum cumulative GPA requirement and successful completion of the business foundation coursework as outlined in the Bulletin here.
Bachelor-level job titles
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Computer Security Analyst
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer User Support Specialists
- Database Administrator
- Information Technology Project Managers
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Programmer
- Systems Analyst
- Web Administrators
Graduate and professional level job titles
- Chief Technology Officer
- Cybersecurity Specialist
- Director of Information Technology
- Information Technology Auditor
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
- MATH 200 or BUSN 212
Science required
- Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
- No
Additional tuition/fees
- Yes
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
- 2.0+ cumulative GPA to graduate and 2.0+ major GPA to graduate
Transfer Maps
Contact information
Department name:
Information Systems
Building/room location:
Snead Hall, Room B4210
Phone:
(804) 828-1732
Email:
businfosys@vcu.edu
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map
Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Enroll in a student success course to connect with campus advisors and build community around your interests and goals.
- Map out a 4-year course plan in the DegreeWorks Student Educational Planner.
- Meet with a writing consultant to hone your writing skills.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor to review your CSI self-report, start goal planning, and choose electives.
- Sharpen your study skills in supplemental instruction sessions at the Campus Learning Center.
- Become a mentee in the Business Mentoring program and hone in on your personal and professional goal as well as interpersonal skills through 1:1 mentoring with an industry professional.
- Take 15 credits per semester and maintain a 2.5+ cumulative GPA to declare your major in 2 years and graduate in 4 years.
- Take the math placement assessment and register for math classes each semester until you complete calculus (MATH 200 or BUSN 212).
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Apply to live in a program-in-residence or a living learning community.
- Consider applying to the Honors College.
- Get involved, meet people, and develop your interests by joining one of VCU's 50 student clubs and organizations.
- If living on campus, connect with your Resident Assistant, attend hall events, and participate in Community Council.
- Participate in RAM CAMP to get a jump start on learning about VCU’s campus community.
- Register to vote in Virginia and explore Richmond’s many museums and parks.
- Attend BOSS days to get to know business-specific student organizations & resources, stop by at least 3 tables, and choose organizations to join like the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP).
- Create a profile on RamsConnect to explore all the student organizations available for you to join.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Check out the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and follow @vcuomsa.
- Connect with the Global Education Office to explore leadership and intercultural communication skill-building programs like the Peace Corps Prep Certificate.
- Join RAMmalogues to talk with peers about social identities in the context of acceptance, belonging, and inclusion in life at VCU.
- Review Global Learning's Major Advising Sheets to explore studying abroad opportunities and other global learning opportunities.
- Visit a study abroad fair and complete Rams Abroad 101.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
- Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
- Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
- Seek research opportunities by applying for research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
- Set up a profile in the Student Opportunity Center to explore REAL opportunities.
- Excel in BUSN 225 Winning Presentations to develop the public speaking and communication skills employers want.
- Learn about and capitalize on your professional strengths by taking a free assessment like CliftonStrengths or True Colors with the Office of Student Engagement.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
- Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
- Explore “What Can I Do With This Major” to learn about employers in your field of study.
- Join Students Today Alumni Tomorrow to connect with VCU traditions and alumni networking opportunities.
- Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
- Join VCU Bizconnect to meet VCU business alumni and to schedule informational interviews with alumni to learn more about your major and career options.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center.
- Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
- Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
- Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.
- Be prepared for a challenging year of accounting, economics, and math classes by attending free tutoring sessions at the Campus Learning Center to get ahead.
- Earn grades of C or higher in INFO 202 and MATH 211 bearing in mind that INFO 202 is a corequisite to INFO 300.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
- If living on campus, join the Residence Hall Association.
- Learn about the Sophomore Year Experience in Cary & Belvedere.
- Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
- Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
- Consider joining more School of Business student organizations by attending BOSS days to get to know the business-specific organizations you can join.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship.
- Explore social issues, develop cultural competency skills, and engage with faculty through iExcel pop-up courses.
- Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty.
- Make friends with diverse perspectives and join a cultural or identity-related student organization.
- Complete a career exploration appointment with Business Career Services to investigate opportunities for working abroad.
- Learn about and capitalize on your professional strengths by taking a free assessment like CliftonStrengths or True Colors with the Office of Student Engagement.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
- Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
- Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job.
- Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio.
- Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
- Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
- Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
- Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
- Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
- Meet with a coach in the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
- Information Systems internships recruit heavily in the fall of your junior year so have your resume reviewed by Business Career Services before you leave for the summer.
Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
- See your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
- Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
- Complete INFO 350, INFO 364, and INFO 370 to meet degree prerequisites and to make sure you graduate on time.
- Talk to your advisor about your eligibility for INFO 493 Internship in Information Systems, which requires a 3.2+ major GPA and 12+ credit hours in upper-level information systems classes.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Attend civic meetings, such as school board, neighborhood association, city council, or state legislative sessions.
- Design a community-engaged research project.
- Make an appointment with the National Scholarship Office to explore post-graduate scholarship and fellowship opportunities, such as the Fulbright Student Scholarship.
- Motivate your peers by presenting at Leaders Unleashed: Student Leadership Conference or at TEDxVCU.
- Attend BOSS days to support your student organization and recruit new members.
- Become a tutor in the Campus Learning Center.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
- Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
- Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
- Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume.
- Explore your international interests and sign up for the Connect Mentoring program on VCU Bizconnect and get matched 1:1 with a business mentor who has worked abroad.
- Review the resume resource to become a competitive applicant to multinational companies by listing globally-focused Information Systems (INFO) projects on your resume.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
- Get expert advice from VCU Alumni ranging from graduate school to your career simply by asking a question through Ask A Ram.
- Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor.
- Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
- Join the Information Systems Organization (ISO) and grow your professional network by attending events.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
- Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
- Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year.
- Research professional credentials like the Information Systems Analyst (ISA) certification or the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) licensure.
- Sign-up for the Business Mentoring program on VCU Bizconnect and get matched 1:1 with a mentor for the academic year.
- Talk to advisors, faculty, and Business Career Services about job options post-graduation.
Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
- Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
- Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
- Ace BUSN 499 Business Knowledge Exam in your final year.
- Know the INFO 465 and MGMT 434 prerequisites and talk to your advisor to make sure you're on track.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
- Apply for post-graduation programs like Peace Corps, Literacy Lab, Richmond Teacher Residency, or AmeriCorps.
- Attend professional association conferences that offer student rates or scholarships.
- Serve in a leadership role on campus in a local community organization.
- Get connected with the Business Alumni Society (BAS) before you graduate.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
- Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
- Master your answers to interview questions about your experience working with diverse populations.
- Plan for how you will grow your cultural agility after graduation.
- Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
- Consider becoming an educator through programs like RTR, which prepare graduates from a variety of majors to become teachers in high-need schools.
- Meet with your academic or professional mentor and identify examples of your experiential learning to share with employers.
- Publish your original research in Auctus: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creativity.
- Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
- Talk to your information systems professors about ways to get connected in DevOps.
- Update your business resume to include new experiences you have gained and skills you have developed and meet with a Career Coach in Business Career Services.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
- Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
- Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services.
- Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
- Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
- Get a 1:1 mentor through the Business Mentoring program on VCU Bizconnect.
- Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed and do a mock interview through InterviewStream or with a career advisor.
2023-2024
Information Systems
School of Business
Concentration(s):
No concentration
| MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING | GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY | DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY | EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS | PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE | ||
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| Excel | Year 4 |
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