Whether developing electronic systems for a hospital’s medical records or ensuring the information security of an international bank, CIS professionals are crucial to employers in virtually every industry.
In this program, you’ll learn the important role of information systems in organizations, from the use of information technology for strategic decision-making and competitive advantage, to effective and efficient electronic business and e-commerce strategies. This expertise opens the door to many professional roles, including infrastructure architect, quality assurance specialist, project manager, programmer and systems analyst, to name a few.
Faculty members are leaders in their field, and our low student-to-faculty ratio ensures you receive personalized mentoring you need to thrive. You’ll manage projects under their guidance and independently, taking into consideration budgetary constraints, ethical and legal concerns, and many other variables.
Internships are a requirement in this program, ensuring that you gain relevant, hands-on experience. Our students have interned at such top companies and organizations as Aetna, BBC America, Cigna, Credit Suisse, The Hartford, Travelers, United Technologies and the Veterans Administration.
College Factual ranked Quinnipiac #31 out of 356 schools for top-ranked computer information systems programs, placing us in the top 10%. (College Factual, 2020)
Percentage of our program graduates who are either working or in a graduate program 6 months after graduation. (Survey of 2020 Quinnipiac Graduates)
Number of new computer and information technology occupations projected to be created from 2018 to 2028. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020)
Austin Kuppek ’19, Steve Koch ’19, Vincent Deriu ’19
Advances in digital technology have made many processes faster and more convenient, but they've also made it easier for criminals to exploit the population most vulnerable to cyberattacks — the elderly.
To address this issue, Computer Information Systems majors Austin Kuppek ’19, Steve Koch ’19 and Vincent Deriu ’19 taught patrons at the Wallingford Senior Center in Connecticut how to avoid — and recover from — the most common types of cyber fraud.
The special course covered phishing scams, ransomware attacks and other predatory tactics meant to fool victims into giving up their Social Security numbers and other highly sensitive information. It taught attendees how to recognize suspicious emails and websites as well ads how to use verification services and update their anti-virus software.
In the course’s most important segment, Deriu provided step-by-step instructions of what to do if their identities became compromised, from alerting police to filing a statement with a credit bureau to setting up an account with a credit monitoring service.
The course was a big success and gave Deriu and his classmates the chance to represent Quinnipiac while raising awareness and key points about cybercrime.
Naomi Robinson '19
Computer Information Systems major Naomi Robinson '19 originally arrived at Quinnipiac as an athletic training major. She transferred to the School of Business not long after, with a particular interest in its CIS program.
”It was very easy switching between schools,” Robinson said. ”I really appreciated the flexibility that Quinnipiac offered.”
Robinson soon found herself thriving in such complex courses as Enterprise Systems, Object Oriented Programming and Database Programming & Design. She works in an IT-related job on campus, and continues to network with representatives from large companies at career fairs and other events.
”The resources that Quinnipiac has offered have been amazing,” she said.
A member of the Student Programming Board, Robinson spent the majority of her Quinnipiac experience involved in activities on campus. Her involvement, however, has not been limited to computing organizations. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion shone as a member of both the African and Caribbean Student Union and the Black Student Union. She even started a club with her roommates called NaturallyMe, dedicated to hair care and the idea that women should embrace their natural hair type.
”These activities have allowed me to go to many different events,” Robinson said. ”I'm able to promote diversity right here on campus, and speak my mind about current issues.”
Median starting salary for computer information systems program graduates.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information systems managers are one of the top 20 highest paying jobs with their median pay in 2019 being $142,530.
Number of new computer and information technology positions projected to be created from 2018 to 2028. This is much more than the average for most occupations. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020)
Computer and information systems managers, often called information technology (IT) managers or IT project managers, plan, coordinate and direct computer-related activities in an organization. They help determine the information technology goals of an organization and are responsible for implementing computer systems to meet those goals.
Computer systems analysts, sometimes called systems architects, study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures, and design solutions to help the organization operate more efficiently and effectively. They bring business and information technology (IT) together by understanding the needs and limitations of both.
Data engineers are responsible for developing and translating computer algorithms into prototype code and maintaining, organizing, and identifying trends in large data sets.
Application developers help companies keep up with the latest technologies and developments on the web. Application developers must be able to create, develop, manage and maintain new programs and software.
Accounting software developers are responsible for creating, maintaining and improving on software that accounting organizations use to manage finances.
Enrollment and number of graduates
Number of current computer information systems majors: 128
Number of computer information systems program graduates:
Current student-to-faculty ratio of the major: 14:1
Retention and graduation rates
Median starting salary for computer information systems program graduates: $65,000
Our undergraduate admissions counselors are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.
