Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Information Systems

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

San Diego State University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Information Systems at San Diego State University is designed for students who want to combine business knowledge with information technology to solve organizational problems and create more efficient technology-based solutions. Students learn how to analyze business needs, design and implement information systems, manage data and technology, and explore emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, business analytics, cloud services, cybersecurity and digital innovation.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build their business and quantitative foundation through subjects such as ACCTG 201: Financial Accounting, ECON 101: Principles of Economics (Macro), MIS 180: Principles of Information Systems, MATH 120: Calculus for Business Analysis and RWS 290: Business Communications. These courses introduce students to accounting, economics, information systems, quantitative analysis and professional communication while establishing the foundation for upper-division business study.

Year 2: Students progress into the Fowler College of Business core, developing knowledge in ethical decision-making, global business, finance, management, operations and marketing through courses such as BA 300: Ethical Decision Making in Business, BA 323: Fundamentals of Finance, BA 350: Management and Organizational Behavior and BA 370: Marketing. This stage connects technology with broader business functions and helps students understand how information systems support organizational decision-making.

Year 3: The program becomes more specialized as students study MIS 301: Statistical Analysis for Business, MIS 306: Information Systems Analysis and Design, MIS 315: Business Application Programming and MIS 380: Data Management Systems. Students learn to analyze information requirements, design systems, develop business applications and manage organizational data, while MIS 383: Networks and Data Communications introduces the infrastructure behind connected information systems.

Year 4: In the final stage, students deepen their technical and managerial capabilities through MIS 460: Project Management and a selection of advanced Information Systems electives. Options include MIS 401: Business Intelligence and Analytics, MIS 420: Cloud Services, Architecture, and Security, MIS 425: Artificial Intelligence for Business Applications, MIS 455: Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation, MIS 481: E-Business/Web Development and MIS 495: Management Information Systems Internship, allowing students to develop a direction in project management, system administration and security, or AI and data analytics.

Focus Areas

Information systems analysis and design, business application programming, data management, networks and data communications, business intelligence and analytics, cloud services and security, artificial intelligence for business, project management, digital entrepreneurship, e-business and web development, cybersecurity and data-driven applications.

Learning Outcomes

Students learn to design and construct information capabilities, create software programs to address business problems, interconnect and safeguard information-system assets, communicate technical and organizational concepts to different stakeholders, prepare professional proposals and reports, collaborate and lead in an information-systems environment, integrate data from different systems and analyze data to identify meaningful relationships and trends.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The BSBA Information Systems program is housed within SDSU's Fowler College of Business, which has maintained AACSB accreditation since 1959. The college states that AACSB accreditation reflects its commitment to established standards for business education and continuous quality improvement.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)

Fowler College of Business reports that 68% of its undergraduate students are employed or continuing their education after graduation, with an average full-time salary of $54,000. In its current rankings, Fowler is listed at #38 for Career Outcomes among public business schools by Poets & Quants for 2025; the college also reports a #41 Undergraduate Business Program among public universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 rankings.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Information Systems curriculum gives students opportunities to move beyond theory into system design, programming, data management, analytics, project management, cloud technologies and cybersecurity. Students can also choose MIS 495: Management Information Systems Internship and participate in research and innovation through SDSU's MIS Department, including the Digital Innovation Lab and AI4Business Lab, where students can explore digital transformation, business intelligence, data mining, machine learning and related applications.

Students can build professional connections through the MIS Advisory Board, which specifically aims to enrich student education through interactions with business professionals, internships and job-seeking activities. The department's advisory network includes professionals and alumni associated with organizations such as YouTube, Accenture, Qualcomm, SAP Digital Business Services, Amazon and SoftBank Investment Advisers.

Practical opportunities and program-related resources include:

MIS 495: Management Information Systems Internship — students can select a three-unit internship as an Information Systems elective, providing an opportunity to gain workplace experience in the field.
MIS 315: Business Application Programming — students develop programming knowledge aimed at solving business problems through software applications.
MIS 306: Information Systems Analysis and Design — students work with system-analysis and design concepts used to understand problems and develop information-system solutions.
MIS 401: Business Intelligence and Analytics — provides an elective pathway into business intelligence and analytics.
MIS 420: Cloud Services, Architecture, and Security — gives students an opportunity to study cloud technologies, architecture and security.
MIS 425: Artificial Intelligence for Business Applications — allows students to explore AI applications specifically in a business context.
Digital Innovation Lab (DiLab) — students and faculty collaborate on research involving digital technology, entrepreneurship and business transformation.
AI4Business Lab — research focuses on business intelligence, data mining, text mining and machine learning, with an emphasis on integrating information technology and organizational processes. The lab lists partnerships involving organizations including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Security Agency, Wiley and the U.S. Department of Energy.
James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence — SDSU students from different majors can participate in applied AI projects, collaborative research, workshops and student-proposed AI projects.
MIS Advisory Board — provides interaction with business professionals and supports internships and job-seeking activities while helping keep the curriculum connected to the San Diego technology economy.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Information Systems program prepares students for entry-level information-systems careers while also providing a foundation for continued advancement into management and specialized technology roles. SDSU identifies career options including IT manager, systems analyst, database administrator and cloud solutions architect, while the broader MIS curriculum develops capabilities relevant to business analytics, project management, cybersecurity, AI, data management and digital transformation.

Typical job roles include IT Manager, Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Cloud Solutions Architect.

Career services: The Partrick-Clayes Center for Career Development provides business-focused career resources, Handshake, events and employer connections, helping Fowler students identify and pursue professional opportunities.
Employment and salary: Fowler reports that 68% of undergraduate students are employed or continuing education after graduation, with an average full-time salary of $54,000. These figures are for Fowler undergraduate students overall, rather than exclusively for BSBA Information Systems graduates.
Industry connections: The MIS Advisory Board connects the department with the business community and includes professionals from organizations such as YouTube, Accenture, Qualcomm, SAP Digital Business Services and Amazon.
Career examples: SDSU has documented Information Systems alumni moving into technology careers, including a graduate who became a Dynamics 365 Consultant at Microsoft and another who progressed from an internship into a full-time technology position.
Professional development: The curriculum includes BA 305: Career and Professional Readiness, while students can additionally gain professional experience through internships, employer interactions and career-development services.
Accreditation value: The Fowler College of Business has held AACSB accreditation since 1959, providing an established external quality framework for its business education.
Graduation outcomes: SDSU reported that 211 students graduated from Business Administration–Information Systems in 2025, describing the major as preparation for first jobs in information systems involving technology-based business problem solving.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BSBA Information Systems, students can continue into SDSU's Master of Science in Information Systems, Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management, Master of Science in Supply Chain Innovation, or an MBA with an Information Systems specialization. The MIS Department also offers advanced certificates in Data Analytics and Cybersecurity Management, providing routes for students who want to deepen their expertise in specific technology and business areas.