Information Systems

Good business decisions require good information. The purpose of an information system is to provide management with the information that is essential to decision-making, and to assist in interpreting that information.

Students interested in using information technology and the Internet to solve business problems and in devising new and more efficient solutions, should consider a major in information systems. The major is intended to prepare students for their first job in information systems. In that job, you will study problems, design solutions and implement those solutions using information technology. The major will also prepare students for continued growth as a manager in information systems.

Lower Division (27 Units)

Complete with a grade of C (2.0) or better:

ACCTG 201: Financial Accounting
ACCTG 202: Managerial Accounting
ECON 101: Principles of Economics (Macro)
ECON 102: Principles of Economics (Micro)
FIN 240: Legal Environment of Business
MIS 180: Principles of Information Systems
RWS 290: Business Communications (formerly BA 290)
MATH 120 or MATH 150: Calculus for Business Analysis
STAT 119 or ECON 201: Elementary Statistics for Business or Statistical Methods

You must have a 2.0 average or better in the courses listed below in order to graduate. Students must also complete 9 units of upper division General Education (Explorations) and a total of 120 units for the degree.

Business Core (14 Units)

BA 300: Ethical Decision Making in Business (1-unit)
BA 310: Foundations of Business in a Global Environment (1-unit)
BA 323: Fundamentals of Finance
BA 350: Management & Organizational Behavior
BA 360: Introduction to Operations & Supply Chain
Prereq. Credit STAT119 or ECON 201. Recommended MATH 120
BA 370: Marketing

Information Systems Major (18 Units)

MIS 301: Statistical Analysis for Business
Prereq. MIS 180; MATH 120; STAT 119 or ECON 201
MIS 306: Information Systems Analysis
Prereq. MIS 180
MIS 315: Business Application Programming
Prereq. MIS 180
MIS 380: Data Management Systems
Prereq. MIS 180
MIS 383: Networks and Data Communications
Prereq. MIS 180
MIS 460: Project Management
Prereq. Credit of concurrent registration in BA 360

Information Systems Electives (12 Units)

12 units selected from:

MIS 305: Business Processes, ERP and Analytics
MIS 401: Business Intelligence and Analytics
MIS 420: Cloud Services, Architecture, and Security
MIS 455: Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation
MIS 481: E-Business/Web Development
Prereq. MIS 306, 315, 380
MIS 492: Digital Transformation Leadership
MIS 515: Object-Oriented Programming for Business Applications
MIS 585: Fundamentals of Cybersecurity Management

Other elective courses

MIS 429: Contemporary Issues in Information Systems
MIS 495: Management Information Systems Internship (recommended)

Information Systems Minor (18 Units)

Admission to the minor in information systems requires the following:

Completion of at least 60 units
Minimum grade point average of 2.9
Completion of Management Information Systems 180 with a grade of C (2.0) or better

The minor in information systems consists of a minimum of 18 units, including:

MIS 180: Principles of Information Systems
15 units from the following: MIS 301, 305, 306, 315, 375, 380, 383, 401, 406, 420, 429, 455, 460, 481, 482, 492, 495, 498 (with permission), 515, and 585

Courses in the minor may not be counted toward the major but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of six upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.

Current Students: Requirements may vary based upon catalog year. For year-specific information, please visit:

Requirements by Catalog Year