B.S.B.A. Management Information Systems

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Ashland University

Program Overview

Ashland University’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) in Management Information Systems prepares students to connect business strategy with technology, helping organizations improve operations through effective information systems. Designed for students who enjoy technology, business, analytical thinking, and problem-solving, the program combines business fundamentals, programming, database management, and systems design to develop skills relevant to modern technology-driven workplaces.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish a foundation in business and technology through subjects such as Information Technology, Introduction to Management, Microeconomics, and Principles of Marketing. These courses introduce how organizations operate and how technology supports business decisions.

Year 2: Students develop technical and financial knowledge through Business Programming I, Business Programming II, Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, and Financial Management. Programming courses help students understand how software and information systems can support business processes.

Year 3: The focus shifts toward managing business information and applying knowledge in professional settings. Students study Database Management, System Analysis & Design, Business Communications, and Operations Management, with an internship or major elective opportunity included in the curriculum.

Year 4: Students strengthen their understanding of business technology and organizational decision-making through Network Fundamentals, Business Law I, Senior Seminar, and Senior Assessment. These subjects help students bring together their technical, communication, and business knowledge as they prepare for professional opportunities.

Focus Areas

Business information systems, business programming, database management, systems analysis and design, network fundamentals, business operations, technology-supported decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to understand business processes, gather and interpret business information, apply programming and database concepts, analyze information systems, communicate technical requirements to business and IT professionals, and identify technology-based solutions to organizational challenges.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

Ashland University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). This accreditation supports the university’s academic quality assurance and the recognition and transfer of eligible academic credits.

Reputation (Employability)

Ashland’s program highlights practical consulting experience with real businesses and reports that information technology-related occupations include five of the 25 occupations identified as growing by the university, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 28% growth in demand over ten years. This is a broad occupational projection, not a program-specific graduate employment rate.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Ashland University, Management Information Systems students can connect classroom learning with practical business challenges. The program emphasizes developing logical and analytical skills, understanding how organizations gather and interpret information, and gaining consulting experience by helping real businesses address actual problems. Students can also explore internships and business-related student organizations through the College of Business and Economics.

Students can build practical experience through:

Business programming: Business Programming I and II introduce programming concepts relevant to business information systems.
Database experience: Database Management develops understanding of how business information is organized and managed.
Systems design: System Analysis & Design provides a foundation for examining business needs and designing suitable information systems.
Internship opportunity: The curriculum includes BUS 339 Internship/Major Elective, offering an opportunity to connect academic learning with workplace experience.
Real-business consulting: Students can gain practical consulting experience by helping businesses develop solutions to actual problems.
Business communication: Business Communications helps students explain technical and business requirements clearly to different audiences.
Faculty interaction: Small classes provide opportunities for individual attention and support from professors.
Student organizations: The College of Business and Economics offers student organizations for business-related involvement and development.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of Ashland University’s Management Information Systems program can pursue opportunities where business knowledge and technology intersect. Their preparation in programming, databases, systems analysis, networks, and business communication can support roles in information systems, business analysis, IT operations, and technology-focused business services.

Potential career paths include:

Management Information Systems Analyst
Business Systems Analyst
Database Administrator
IT Project Coordinator

Additional career development opportunities include:

Career preparation: The program’s practical consulting experience and internship opportunity can help students build experience relevant to professional applications.
Business problem-solving: Working with real business problems helps students practice identifying needs and developing technology-supported solutions.
STEM-related scholarship: Management Information Systems is among the Ashland programs eligible for the Choose Ohio First Scholarship. Eligible students may receive $3,000 per academic year for up to four years, subject to the scholarship’s stated requirements.
Employment outlook: The university program page cites a Bureau of Labor Statistics projection of 28% growth in demand for information technology-related jobs over ten years. This is an occupational projection rather than a guaranteed graduate outcome.
Accreditation: Ashland University’s Higher Learning Commission accreditation provides institutional quality assurance and supports credit recognition and transfer.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates may consider postgraduate study in information systems, information technology, business analytics, data analytics, cybersecurity, or business administration, depending on their academic background and the admission requirements of the chosen institution. Ashland’s Choose Ohio First scholarship also identifies graduate study as one possible pathway for eligible students.