Information Systems and Decision Sciences, Department of

Introduction
Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes
Programs and Courses Offered

Department Chair

Bhushan Kapoor

Department Office/Website

Steven G. Mihaylo Hall 4113
657-278-2221
business.fullerton.edu/isds

Faculty

Vahideh Abedi, Nimer Alrushiedat, Rahul Bhaskar, Daniel Cavagnaro, Tammy Drezner, Zvi Drezner, Zvi Goldstein, Ester Gonzalez, Prem Gupta, Yuhong He, Pawel Kalczynski, Bhushan Kapoor, Malini Krishnamurthi, Mabel Kung, Peng Liu, Laura Marcoulides, Do Le Minh, Sinjini Mitra, Sorel Reisman, Panayiotis Skordi, Daniel Soper, Amr Soror, Laurent Tambayong, Ofir Turel, Samuel Yang, Dawit Zerom, Yi “Jenny” Zhang

Introduction

The Information Systems and Decision Sciences Department offers courses in Information Systems, Decision Sciences and Business Analytics. Information systems are computer-based systems that aid management in making decisions and assist in implementing and controlling management policies. They are used in business, industry and government operations. Applications include airline reservations, banking transactions, crime prevention networks, election returns, real estate assessment, tax records, newspaper databases, sports statistics and computer assisted learning.

Decision sciences is the application of the scientific method to decision-making in business and government using the techniques of operations research and statistics. Nearly all decision sciences problems involve solutions using computers. Operations research uses mathematical and simulation models to provide decision-makers with quantitative information pertaining to complex business situations. Statistics assists decision-makers by using techniques designed to draw inferences from experimental and sampling data.

Business analytics is a broad field consisting of a variety of business processes for data management and a wide range of analytical tools for performing data analysis to make better strategic and tactical business decisions. Business processes for data management include methods for planning, collecting, storing and structuring data into databases and data warehouses. Analytical tasks include querying, reporting, visualizing, generating online active reports and running advanced analytical techniques for classification, segmentation and prediction (e.g., data mining).

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

B.A. Business Administration

The following goals and learning outcomes have been established for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration:

Problem solving and critical thinking skills

Effectively use quantitative/analytical, problem-solving and critical thinking skills in a business situation

Interpersonal relations

Motivate self and others to achieve group and organizational goals
Diagnose and resolve conflict in group and organizational settings

Ethical awareness

Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues and responsibilities

Functional knowledge

Understand and appreciate the principles and roles of each of the major business disciplines and the interrelationships of these disciplines within a strategic framework

Multicultural awareness

Appreciate diversity and understand how workforce and market diversity challenge, benefit and influence the activities of the organization

Information technology skills

Use information technology to support business analysis and operations

Global awareness

Understand the impact of the global economy and business environment

Economic and legal environment knowledge

Demonstrate knowledge about the economic and legal environments in which business operates

Communications skills

Demonstrate knowledge and skills to communicate effectively about business issues using written and oral communications

M.S. Information Systems Concentration

The following goals and learning outcomes have been established for students pursuing a master’s degree in Information Systems:

Telecommunications

Assess the telecommunications needs of an organization
Supervise the development of a local or wide-area data and communications network

Use the Internet in support of operations

Select the appropriate telecommunications hardware and software

Managerial

Be familiar with the terminology and basic principles of business information systems and the Internet
Understand ethical, global, political, social, legal, regulatory, environmental and technology issues
Understand the impact of demographic diversity on organizations

Systems development process

Analyze the information systems needs of an organization
Design an information system to serve the needs of an organization

Data needs

Design a database system to serve the needs of an organization
Select appropriate software to operate a database system

Programming concepts

Write a computer program using the fundamental concepts of programming
Document a program
Select a particular computer language for a programming application

Collaboration

Work productively in a team or collaborative setting to achieve common goals

Research

Conduct, evaluate and synthesize research, and apply theoretical ideas to practical settings

Communications

Effectively present ideas in a logical framework in a variety of forms with proper language structure and mechanics

Programs and Courses Offered

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration

Master of Business Adminstration

Non-Degree

Information Systems Minor

Programs

Master of Science

Courses

Information Systems and Decision Sciences

Courses are designated as ISDS in the class schedule.