BS in Business Information Technology

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Case Western Reserve University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Management with a Business Information Technology major combines a broad business education with programming, systems analysis, database management, quantitative modeling and information technology. It is designed for students who want to bridge business and technology and prepare for careers involving business systems, data, programming and technology-enabled decision-making.

Curriculum Structure

First Year:
Students establish their business and quantitative foundation through courses such as ACCT 100 Foundations of Accounting I, ECON 102 Principles of Microeconomics, MATH 125 Math and Calculus Applications for Life, Managerial, and Social Sci I, and MGMT 198 Experience in Business Problem Solving. The spring semester adds ACCT 200 Foundations of Accounting II, ECON 103 Principles of Macroeconomics, and MGMT 201 Contemporary Business and Communication, giving students an early understanding of accounting, economics, mathematics and business communication.

Second Year:
Students begin developing their technical capabilities with DESN 210 Introduction to Programming for Business Applications, while OPRE 207 Statistics for Business and Management Science I strengthens quantitative analysis. They also study MIDS 301 Introduction to Information: A Systems and Design Approach and ORBH 250/251 Leading People and Leading Organizations, connecting technology, information systems and leadership.

Third Year:
The third year moves into core information-technology subjects, particularly DESN 310 Systems Analysis and Design (SAD) and DESN 320 Database Management. Students also take OPRE 301 Operations Research and Supply Chain Management and BAFI 355 Corporate Finance, while beginning their BIT major electives to develop expertise in areas such as information security, UX, accounting information systems, project management or AI and blockchain.

Fourth Year:
Students integrate their business and technology knowledge through MKMR 201 Marketing Management, PLCY 399 Business Policy, and a selected BIT major elective. The year culminates in MGMT 398 Action Learning, a four-credit senior experience in which student teams work on a live business project for a real organization and apply their analytical and strategic skills to an actual business problem.

Focus Areas:
Business information technology, programming for business applications, systems analysis and design, database management, information systems, quantitative modeling, business analytics, information security, user experience, enterprise architecture, artificial intelligence, blockchain, accounting information systems and project management.

Learning Outcomes:
Students develop a broad business foundation together with competence in programming for business applications, systems analysis and design, database management and business information technologies, enabling them to use computer systems and quantitative modeling techniques to solve management and business problems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):
The Business Information Technology curriculum aligns with standards outlined by the Association for Information Systems (AIS). The Weatherhead School of Management has also maintained AACSB International accreditation since 1958, with its business accreditation most recently extended through the university's continuing accreditation process.

Reputation (Employability):
Case Western Reserve reports that 95% of business graduates are employed full time, in graduate school or otherwise pursuing their career goals within six months of graduation. The university also reports that 99% of business students complete at least one internship or career-related experience by graduation, while 64% complete two or more career-building experiences.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Business Information Technology students gain practical experience by combining technical coursework with business problem-solving, consulting and career-related experiences. The program's strongest applied component is MGMT 398 Action Learning, where senior students work in teams as consultants for real organizations, supported by faculty coaching. Weatherhead also provides access to internships, fellowships, employer projects and interdisciplinary opportunities involving business, technology, engineering and healthcare.

Students can develop practical skills through:

Programming and technical tools: DESN 210 Introduction to Programming for Business Applications develops programming capability specifically for business applications, while students can also choose programming alternatives such as Programming in Java or Elementary Computer Programming.
Systems and database projects: DESN 310 Systems Analysis and Design and DESN 320 Database Management provide focused preparation in designing business information systems and managing organizational data.
AI and emerging technology: Students can select BAFI 335 Applying Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain in Business and Finance, giving the major an opportunity to connect business technology with emerging digital applications.
Information security and UX: Major electives include DESN 321 Introduction to Information Security for Business and DESN 322 Designing the User Experience (UX), allowing students to develop specialized technology skills alongside their core business education.
Action Learning consulting: In MGMT 398 Action Learning, teams of three to four students work for 15 weeks on a real organization's business problem, conduct research, develop recommendations and present a final report to the client. Projects have included website redesign, recruiting processes, retail marketing plans and employee-engagement initiatives.
Internships and fellowships: Weatherhead reports that students can gain work experience through summer internships and semester-long co-op/practicum opportunities, supported by the school's career resources and employer relationships.
Employer projects: Weatherhead's undergraduate experience includes projects with major employers and organizations, giving students opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to actual organizational challenges.
Career-related events: Students can participate in Weatherhead Fall Career Fair, Meet the Firms, Wall Street Trek, Coffee Connections, and other employer and alumni engagement activities.
Innovation facilities: Students have access to Weatherhead's innovation ecosystem, including four innovation centers and the university's interdisciplinary technology and innovation resources.
Business facilities: Weatherhead's main facilities include the Frank Gehry-designed Peter B. Lewis Building and the George S. Dively Building, which provide technology-enhanced learning and collaboration environments.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Business Information Technology major prepares graduates for careers at the intersection of business and technology, including systems analysis, database administration, business technology and information-resource management. Its combination of business fundamentals, programming, systems design, databases, analytics and real-world consulting experience can support opportunities across technology, consulting, financial services and other business sectors.

Typical Career Roles:
Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Process Manager, Information Resource Administrator

Key progression opportunities include:

Career support: Weatherhead's Career Management Office provides career fairs, mock interviews, resume critiques, workshops and career support. Its Handshake platform allows students to search jobs and internships, view career events, attend company information sessions and arrange on-campus interviews.
Employment outcomes: Case Western Reserve reports that 98% of business graduates are employed full time, in graduate school or otherwise pursuing their career goals within six months of graduation in its 2026 business profile.
Salary information: The university reports a median salary of $70,000–$75,000 for recent CWRU business graduates; this is a business-wide figure and is not specific to the Business Information Technology major.
Employer connections: Weatherhead graduates are hired by organizations including Amazon, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, EY and JPMorgan Chase, while the university also reports employers such as Deloitte, General Motors and KPMG among recent business graduate destinations.
Corporate engagement: Weatherhead works with companies and organizations on project-based work, internships and full-time recruitment, while Action Learning provides students with direct experience solving business problems for organizational clients.
Career-building experience: CWRU reports that 99% of business students complete at least one internship or career-related experience by graduation, and 64% complete two or more career-building experiences including internships and research.
Long-term accreditation value: Weatherhead has maintained AACSB business-school accreditation since 1958, providing graduates with a business education delivered under an internationally recognized quality-assurance framework.
Graduation outcomes: CWRU reports that recent business graduates have progressed into employment with major organizations or graduate study at institutions including the University of Michigan, Columbia University, Duke University, New York University, the University of Chicago and the University of Southern California.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into master's-level study in areas that complement business technology, including Business Analytics and Intelligence, Finance, Supply Chain Management and Accountancy. Weatherhead also offers combined bachelor's/master's pathways, including Business Analytics and Intelligence, Finance and Supply Chain Management, allowing eligible students to accelerate their transition into graduate-level business education.