BS in Business Information Systems

4 Years Online Bachelors Program

Oregon State University

Program Overview

Oregon State University’s Business Information Systems program combines business strategy with technology, preparing students to analyze, develop, manage and protect information systems that help organizations make better decisions and improve operations. It is a strong fit for students interested in the intersection of business and technology, with opportunities to develop skills in programming, data management, networking, cybersecurity, business analytics and information-systems design.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by building their business and quantitative foundation through courses such as BA 160 – COB Career and Major Exploration, BA 169Z – Data Analysis Using Microsoft Excel, ECON 201Z – Principles of Microeconomics, and MTH 241 – Calculus for Management and Social Science. The year also develops communication, innovation and problem-solving skills through courses such as BA 161 – Innovation Nation—Awareness to Action and BA 162 – Innovation Nation—Ideas to Reality.

Year 2: The second year develops core business knowledge alongside professional skills. Students study BA 211Z – Principles of Financial Accounting, BA 270 – Business Process Management, BA 252 – Introduction to Organizational Behavior, and BA 260 – Foundations of the Entrepreneurial Mindset, while also developing professional communication and career-planning skills through the Blueprint curriculum.

Year 3: Students move into the technology-focused portion of the major with BA 370 – Business Information Systems Overview, BIS 272 – Business Application Development, and BIS 371 – Business Data Management. They also study BA 375 – Applied Quantitative Methods, BA 357 – Operations and Supply Chain Management, and BA 354 – Ethics in Organizations, connecting technology, data and business decision-making.

Year 4: The final year allows students to deepen their specialization through BIS electives while completing advanced subjects such as BIS 471 – Business Telecommunications and Networking, BIS 472 – Information Systems Security, and BA 466 – Integrative Strategic Experience. Depending on their interests, students can focus on areas such as business analytics and information-systems development or cybersecurity, IT auditing and information-security governance.

Focus Areas

IS Management Focus; Cybersecurity Management Focus

Learning Outcomes

Model and analyze information flows through business processes; design architectures for data capture, storage and retrieval; develop computer programs that support or automate business processes; apply networking concepts to business needs; assess cybersecurity risks; align information systems with business strategy; apply project-management approaches to information-systems projects.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is offered through Oregon State University’s College of Business, which is accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for business education and connects the program with a business school accredited at the institutional level.

Reputation (Employability & Official Statistics)

Oregon State’s College of Business reports that 450 companies recruit its students each year, while 84% of its classes have fewer than 50 students. For the online version of the BIS degree, Oregon State also reports a No. 4 national ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Programs by U.S. News & World Report on its Ecampus program page.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Oregon State’s Business Information Systems program gives students opportunities to move beyond classroom theory and work with technology, data, networking and information-security concepts in applied settings. Students can satisfy the program’s experiential-learning requirement through internships, projects, practicums, thesis work, study abroad or approved professional certifications, while the BIS curriculum itself includes programming, database management, networking and security work. Students can also participate in MECOP, a paid internship pathway in which eligible BIS students can complete two six-month internships with different companies.

Key opportunities include:

Business Application Development: BIS 272 introduces computer programming for business applications using the Python programming language, giving students a foundation in scripting and application development.
Business Data Management: BIS 371 covers relational database modeling, data retrieval, database triggers, stored procedures and NoSQL database technologies.
Information Systems Design: BIS 372 – Business Information Systems Design and Development explores system architectures, infrastructure, application development approaches and tools used by system developers and automation users.
Networking: BIS 471 – Business Telecommunications and Networking develops understanding of Internet networking and network administration in a virtualized cloud environment.
Cybersecurity: BIS 472 – Information Systems Security examines access control, identity management, intrusion prevention and detection, network security, physical security and information-security governance.
Professional Certifications: BIS students can use certifications such as CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, Google Cybersecurity, ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals, ISACA IT Audit Fundamentals, ISACA IT Risk Fundamentals, and HPE Aruba Networking Certified Campus Access Associate toward approved experiential learning/practicum opportunities.
Internships and Projects: Students can fulfill the experiential requirement through BIS 004 Internship, BIS 403 Thesis, BIS 406 Projects, BIS 409 Practicum, or BIS 410 Internship.
MECOP: Eligible BIS students can apply for a competitive paid internship experience involving two six-month placements with different MECOP companies, typically during the junior and senior years.
Industry-Connected Learning: The BIS Advisory Council provides industry insights and support for the undergraduate program and advises on curriculum, technology in business and professional development.
Austin Hall: Corvallis students study in Austin Hall, a $50 million, 100,000-square-foot facility featuring five research centers, a marketing research suite, 10 classrooms and 23 computer- and teleconference-equipped project rooms.
International Experience: Students can pursue study-abroad opportunities including the University of Technology Sydney, Vienna University of Economics & Business, and Universidad de Chile, Facultad Economia y Negocios.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Oregon State’s Business Information Systems program can pursue technology-focused business careers across areas such as systems analysis, business processes, networking, application development, cybersecurity and IT project management. The university specifically identifies career paths including computer analyst, business process analyst, network administrator, IT project manager, consultant, web developer, systems analyst and chief information officer, with graduates working for organizations including Deloitte, Dell, Intel, Nike, Salesforce and Providence Health Services.

Typical job roles include:

Business Process Analyst
IT Project Manager
Systems Analyst
Network Administrator

Students can strengthen their transition into employment through:

Career Success Center: Oregon State’s College of Business has a dedicated Career Success Center providing one-to-one support for resumes, interview preparation, job and internship searches, and career exploration. Career fairs are held each term, with 45+ recruiters participating.
Career Outcomes: The College of Business reports that 85% of undergraduates report a career outcome within six months of graduation, including a new job, existing job, continuing education or military service.
Employer Connections: The College of Business reports that 450 companies recruit its students each year. BIS graduates have worked with organizations such as Deloitte, Dell, Intel, Nike, Salesforce, Cambia, Compucom, Portland General Electric and Umpqua Bank.
MECOP: Eligible BIS students can access paid, industry-sponsored internships, completing two six-month placements with different companies.
BIS Advisory Council: Industry professionals provide insights and support to the BIS undergraduate program and help guide curriculum development, technology-in-business priorities and professional excellence.
Professional Preparation: The College of Business integrates its Blueprint curriculum throughout the undergraduate experience, developing professional, leadership, communication and financial-literacy skills.
Accreditation Value: The College of Business is AACSB-accredited, providing an internationally recognized quality framework for business education.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the bachelor's degree, students can continue into Oregon State University’s Master of Science in Information Systems, which develops advanced expertise in information systems, analytics, management and applied AI. BIS students can also use Oregon State’s Accelerated Master’s Platform in the online program to take approved graduate-level courses toward an MBA or M.S. in Business while completing their undergraduate degree.