Information Systems and Analytics (ISA) 2024-2025 Edition

ISA 201. Introduction to Information Technology and Analytics. 3 Credit Hours.

Information technology has become deeply integrated with every business function. This course covers the role of Information Technology in supporting business process and major enterprise wide strategic initiatives, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Supply Chain Management (SCM), and e-Business. It examines the competitive impact of evolving technologies such as Mobile Computing and Social Networking. The course also covers the social, ethical, and security issues that arise with the use of technology. Various business scenarios/problems are presented to teach students how to use IT to formulate, analyze, and solve problems and to enhance their analytical skills. Students apply what they have learned and compete "team-to-team" in a sponsored course-wide analytical case.
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 201A1558TTh11:10am - 12:25pm(J. Prichard)
Fall 2024ISA 201B1559MW9:35am - 10:50am(C. Zhang)
Fall 2024ISA 201C1560MW6:15pm - 7:30pm(D. Gannon)
Fall 2024ISA 201D1561F11:10am - 1:40pm(M. Varin)
Fall 2024ISA 201E1562MW8:00am - 9:15am(F. Varin)
Fall 2024ISA 201F1563M2:20pm - 4:50pm(F. Varin)
Fall 2024ISA 201G1564F8:00am - 10:30am(M. Varin)
Fall 2024ISA 201H1565TTh12:45pm - 2:00pm(A. Chaudhury)
Fall 2024ISA 201I1566TTh11:10am - 12:25pm(K. Sousa)
Fall 2024ISA 201J1567TTh3:55pm - 5:10pm(K. Sousa)
Fall 2024ISA 201K1568TTh2:20pm - 3:35pm(A. Chaudhury)
Fall 2024ISA 201L2283TTh8:00am - 9:15am(K. Sousa)
Winter Session 2025ISA 201A2048MTWThFS8:30am - 11:30am(C. Zhang)
Spring 2025ISA 201B4191MW9:35am - 10:50am(C. Zhang)
Spring 2025ISA 201C4193MW6:15pm - 7:30pmTBD
Spring 2025ISA 201D4194MW7:50pm - 9:05pmTBD
Spring 2025ISA 201E4195TTh9:35am - 10:50am(K. Sousa)
Spring 2025ISA 201F4196TTh11:10am - 12:25pm(K. Sousa)
Spring 2025ISA 201G4197TTh2:20pm - 3:35pm(K. Sousa)
Spring 2025ISA 201H4198TTh6:15pm - 7:30pmTBD
Spring 2025ISA 201I4199F8:00am - 10:30am(M. Varin)
Spring 2025ISA 201J4200F11:10am - 1:40pm(M. Varin)

ISA 201G. Introduction to Global Information Technology and Analytics. 3 Credit Hours.

This course will provide a foundation of information technology concepts and application development in a global context. Students are expected to learn how various information technologies can be used to strengthen the business competitiveness globally, how information culture may vary in different countries, and how this variation may impact the adoption of information technologies. Students are expected to learn managerial issues pertaining to development of global information systems. Students will gain experience with database and spreadsheet tools (Access and Excel) which are necessary to be more productive in a global environment.
Prerequisites: BSIB major and GFOB 100G
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Spring 2025ISA 201GA4201M2:20pm - 4:50pm(F. Varin)
Spring 2025ISA 201GB4490TTh6:15pm - 7:30pmTBD

ISA 203. Honors Business Information Technology and Analytics. 3 Credit Hours.

This course introduces students to the key role that information technology plays in business organizations. Major topics include business information systems, information ethics and social issues, security, database fundamentals, telecommunication, e-commerce, m-commerce and traditional and emerging systems development methodologies. Students will also gain experience in developing a functional database application for a business case and then use the data in the database to create spreadsheet analyses to solve business problems related to the different business functions contained in the business case such as finance, marketing and management.
Prerequisites: Honors Program
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Spring 2025ISA 203HN4516MW8:00am - 9:15am(A. Chaudhury)

ISA 210. Introduction to Data Science. 3 Credit Hours.

This course will introduce students to the field of Data Science and help them gain a foundational understanding of Data Science basic principles and tools as well as an understanding of how Data Scientists contribute to solving meaningful problems across many domains. The concepts, techniques and tools presented in this course will serve as a gateway to more focused courses that lead to becoming an effective Data Scientist. The content of the course will include an introduction to the field of Data Science, what it means to be a Data Scientist, steps in a Data Science project understanding data, data collection and integration, exploratory data analysis, supervised and unsupervised machine learning, text mining, modeling, data product creation, evaluation, effective visualization and communication and ethical issues in Data Science. The focus will be on breadth rather than depth and integration of concepts.
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 210A1569TTh11:10am - 12:25pm(T. Dougherty)

ISA 221. Introduction to Programming. 3 Credit Hours.

This course introduces computer programming using high level programming languages. The course begins with a review of control structures and data types with emphasis on structured programming, syntax, repetition structures, decision structures, list and array processing. Emphasis is placed on programming methods, including creating and manipulating objects, classes, and using object-oriented tools such as the class debugger. This course also introduces students to the ideas of data abstraction and object-oriented programming. Other topics include simple analysis of algorithms, basic searching and sorting techniques, and an introduction to software engineering issues through code discussions.
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 221A1570MW9:35am - 10:50am(F. Varin)
Spring 2025ISA 221A4247MW8:00am - 9:15am(F. Varin)
Spring 2025ISA 221B4248MW12:45pm - 2:00pm(F. Varin)

ISA 310. Data Visualization. 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines the art and science of data visualization. It explores various visualization techniques and the way that shape, size, color, orientation, and motion influence the way information is comprehended. In this course we will study a wide-range of visualization techniques for creating effective visualizations. We will explore well established visualization techniques using products like Excel and Tableau, techniques that are used for visualizing social network through Gephi, while also pushing the boundaries of visualizations by developing our own using Python. Through class discussions we will discuss appropriateness of the various techniques while trying multiple techniques on the same dataset to explore the effectiveness of visual comprehension.
Prerequisites: ISA 221 or instructor permission, and sophomore standing
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 310A1571TTh12:45pm - 2:00pm(R. Ryan)
Spring 2025ISA 310A4249TTh9:35am - 10:50am(R. Ryan)

ISA 311. Introduction to Cybersecurity. 3 Credit Hours.

The rapid growth of IT and our dependence upon it have made it imperative that students understand the importance of security both in the workplace and at home. Smart devices have made our lives more convenient in recent years, however, they have also exposed us to increasing threats as bad actors find new ways of exposing our persona data as well as threatening businesses with ransomware. This course is designed to introduce students to the many aspects of cybersecurity using a hands-on approach in a virtual lab. This course will explore common threats such as SQL injection attacks, cross-site scripting, mobile and wireless security, packet sniffing and spoofing and how to best secure your personal and business assets. Additionally, public and private key security and encryption will be examined.
Prerequisites: ISA 201
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 311A1572TTh12:45pm - 2:00pm(M. Varin)

ISA 312. Mobile Device Application Programming. 3 Credit Hours.

This is a course in programming methodologies for mobile applications. Students apply a program development process involving problem definition, graphic design methodologies, and pseudo coding. The course will be devoted to writing, debugging, testing, and deploying a variety of applications for mobile devices. Topics include software development kits for mobile applications, Java, and mobile website development.
Prerequisites: ISA 221
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Varies.

ISA 314. Visual Basic Programming. 3 Credit Hours.

This is a course in programming methodologies using the popular Visual Basic.Net Language. Students apply a structured program development process involving problem definition, graphic design methodologies, and pseudo-coding. The course will be devoted to writing, debugging, testing and documenting a variety of programs for business applications. This course will provide students with the background and foundation for their continuing development as programmers.
Prerequisites: ISA 201 and junior standing
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Varies.

ISA 320. Information Technology in Supply Chain Management. 3 Credit Hours.

The purpose of this course is to discuss how IT is used to enable supply chain management and to improve the performance of the supply chain. Major topics include the role of IT in the supply chain, enterprise resource planning (ERP), innovative technologies in the supply chain, IT enablers for supply chain performance, and internet-based supply chain and supply chain security. Hands-on exercises in a simulated SAP ERP system and real-world cases will be used in helping students understand course concepts. This course is cross listed with GSCM 320.
Prerequisites: ISA 201 and MGT 201 or MGT 201G
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 320A1573TTh9:35am - 10:50am(A. Chaudhury)

ISA 321. Advanced Java Programming and Data Structures. 3 Credit Hours.

This course introduces students to intermediate and advanced features of the Java programming language by building on the foundation provided in ISA 221. Advanced Java topics include recursion, file I/O, abstract classes and interfaces, exception handling, generics, collection classes. The course also introduces students to the fundamental concepts of data structures and the algorithms that proceed from then. Topics include fundamental data structures (including stacks, queues, linked lists, hash tables, trees, priority queues, and graphs) and the analysis of algorithms based upon these data structures.
Prerequisites: ISA 221
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Varies.

ISA 330. Programming for Data Science. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is an advanced Python programming course focusing on common programming tools used for Data Science application development with an emphasis on libraries commonly used by Data Scientists (NumPy, Pandas, etc). Data analysts often implement their solutions using programming languages such as R and Python. Because of this, it is critical that the data analyst/scientist be comfortable in such development environments and be able to understand when a solution needs to be programmatically developed. The course covers hands-on programming techniques for analytics which includes web scraping and other data extraction techniques, data transformation, data staging, data analysis, and finally data presentation and visualization. The course will give the students the skills to highlight their capability of producing notebooks appropriate for a data analytics/data science application.
Prerequisites: ISA 221 and sophomore standing
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 330A1575MW8:00am - 9:15am(M. Tlachac)
Spring 2025ISA 330A4250TTh2:20pm - 3:35pm(M. Tlachac)

ISA 332. E Business Models. 3 Credit Hours.

E-Business is doing business activities over an IT platform that uses Internet-related protocols. E-Business activities include not only the business to consumer direct selling over the web but also business-to-business logistics, and all the back-end computer activities within the firm that use Internet protocols. Business organizations are implementing radical changes in the marketing, advertising, and delivery of their products and services. Through the implementation of electronic business technology, organizations are extending their boundaries beyond traditional "bricks and mortar" establishments to a new virtual marketplace that has global reach. Conventional business practices in the areas of advertising, marketing, production, and customer service are being radically transformed by this new platform that permits world-wide connectivity on 24/7 basis.
Prerequisites: ISA 201 and junior standing
Session Cycle: Varies
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Spring 2025ISA 332A4251MW11:10am - 12:25pm(A. Chaudhury)

ISA 340. Introduction to Machine Learning. 3 Credit Hours.

This is an introductory course requiring no previous knowledge of machine learning. We focus on using Python, and machine learning libraries such as the scikit-learn library, and work through all the steps to create a successful machine learning application. This course does not focus too much on the math, but rather on the practical aspects of using machine learning algorithms to solve problems such as fraud detection. To ground this course we will supplement machine learning algorithms and techniques with case studies and problems such as: House Price Prediction, Handwritten Character Recognition, Credit Card Fraud Detection, Market Segmentation, Churn Prediction and Drivers, Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) Prediction, Photo Classification, People Identification, Document Classification and more.
Prerequisites: ISA 330 or instructor permission, and sophomore standing
Session Cycle: Every Semester
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 340A1576MW9:35am - 10:50am(G. Dimas)
Spring 2025ISA 340A4252MW9:35am - 10:50am(G. Dimas)

ISA 341. Database Management Systems Principles. 3 Credit Hours.

This course focuses on the principles of database design and application development in a database environment. Topics will include foundations of the database approach, objectives of this approach, advantages and disadvantages of database processing. A major emphasis will be placed on the Relational Database Model and will include techniques for designing and normalizing a Relational Database. Student projects will include developing application software using a database system.
Prerequisites: ISA 201
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 341A1577TTh9:35am - 10:50am(M. Varin)
Spring 2025ISA 341A4253TTh11:10am - 12:25pm(M. Varin)

ISA 343. Infrastructure and Cloud Computing. 3 Credit Hours.

The computing infrastructure is constantly evolving due to the technological advancement and business needs. This course introduces the hardware, system software, the cloud and their integration to drive and support business. This course also brings together the technical knowledge and managerial knowledge in various class activities to demonstrate computing infrastructure’s design, implementation and maintenance. Topics include computer hardware components, operating systems, computer networks, middleware, virtualization and Big Data support.
Prerequisites: ISA 201
Session Cycle: Fall, Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 343A1578MW11:10am - 12:25pm(C. Zhang)
Spring 2025ISA 343A4254MW11:10am - 12:25pm(C. Zhang)

ISA 345. Web Design and Development. 3 Credit Hours.

This course covers the basic principles of designing and implementing websites, focusing on the client-side technologies of web page creation. No programming background is required, although students will learn some programming through scripting languages. Course topics include web graphics, information structuring, development of interactive pages (using forms and JavaScript), event handling, implementation issues and techniques, web accessibility issues, and use of popular web development tools. Students will learn client side web development technologies such as HTML, JavaScript, jQuery, and Cascading Style Sheets.
Prerequisites: ISA 201
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

ISA 360. Data Warehousing in the Age of Big Data. 3 Credit Hours.

The main objective of this course is to provide students with an overview of the design and implementation of distributed, parallel databases that could handle massively large data sets that may include billions of rows of data. The major topic include the introduction of big data and its processing architecture, data warehouse, database components and architecture, data distribution, access, storage and data protection, and database tools and utilities. This course offers practical, hands-on experience with retrieving and manipulating data with advanced Structured Query Language (SQL), Hadoop, and NoSQL database.
Prerequisites: ISA 341
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Spring 2025ISA 360A4255TTh3:55pm - 5:10pm(A. Jaskulski)

ISA 391. Information Systems and Analytics Internship. 3 Credit Hours.

ISA internships give students the opportunity for supervised employment in an area where they can apply the information system principles and techniques they have studied through our curriculum. Interns work at least ten hours per week, meet periodically with a supervising faculty member, and prepare a substantive report on their work experience.
Prerequisites: ISA 221 and ISA 341 and junior standing is required.

ISA 441. Systems Analysis and Information Technology Consulting. 3 Credit Hours.

Programming is only a small part of designing information systems. A systems analyst works like an investigative journalist, gathering information about the business problem so that an effective technology solution can be designed and constructed. This course teaches you what to look for and how to find it. You will learn structured techniques and less-structured guidelines which will aid in the search for understanding of the organization, its existing systems, and the proposed system. Programming design techniques are also covered. Teams of students will develop a plan for building a complete computer information system for a real or fictitious company.
Prerequisites: ISA 221 and ISA 341 and senior standing
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Spring 2025ISA 441A4258MW12:45pm - 2:00pm(A. Chaudhury)

ISA 442. Project Management and Practice. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is intended to provide an introduction to Project Management as it applies to the Information Technology industry. The course will assist analysts, developers, team leaders and managers in developing an understanding of the purpose and benefits of project management by exposure to the concepts, practices, processes, tools, techniques, and resources used by the Project Manager during the project life cycle. The course will closely follow the framework of "best practices" of the Project Management Body of Knowledge, the leading professional standard for project management, with emphasis on its application to software and systems development projects.
Prerequisites: ISA 441 and senior standing
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Varies.

ISA 445. Advanced Web Programming. 3 Credit Hours.

This course complements skills and content learned in ISA 345 Web Design and Development. The focus of ISA 345 is on browser/end user aspects of web operations while this course focuses on the server/provider aspects. Students will learn to develop server-side applications that mediate between an information source such as a database and the browser-end programs using popular web-application software. An introduction to XML and server side scripting is also presented.
Prerequisites: ISA 345
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

ISA 460. Big Data Analytics. 3 Credit Hours.

The explosive growth of structured and unstructured data in the form of emails, weblogs, tweets, sensors, video and text has necessitated the use of Big Data and advanced analytics techniques to support large scale data analytics. This course brings together key Big Data tools on a Hadoop platform to show how to efficiently manage data with three main characteristics; volume, velocity and variety. Topics include the Hadoop platforms, Teradata Aster, social media analytics, link analysis, and stream analytics.
Prerequisites: ISA 340 and ISA 341
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Fall 2024ISA 460A1581TTh9:35am - 10:50am(S. Li)

ISA 470. Managing Global Information Resources. 3 Credit Hours.

Information systems provide the framework for decision making across the functional areas of an organization and are major enablers of globalization. This course provides a foundation in the principles and concepts of managing information resources in a global environment. The course focuses on alternative approaches to managing information resources such as computers, communication networks, software, data and information in organizations. Students will learn how multinational corporations are using IT to develop business solutions and obtain competitive advantage. Emphasis will be placed on viewing the organization in a global perspective, with the associated technological, cultural and operational issues that influence information resource management. Several real-world cases will be used to enhance students' understanding of the course materials.
Prerequisites: ISA 201 and junior standing
Session Cycle: Fall
Yearly Cycle: Varies.

ISA 472. IT Seccurity and Risk Management. 3 Credit Hours.

This course explores IT Security from the perspective of risk management. Assessment of IT systems is critical to developing strategies to mitigate and manage risks. This course focuses on effective assessment strategies that ultimately help the student to implement effective and proactive risk mitigation measures and risk management practices. This course focuses on the IT security threat environment, cryptography, securing networks, access control, firewalls, host hardening, application security, data protection, and incident response. A clear theoretical understanding supports a practical component. Students will learn to audit information systems and use contemporary security software including intrusion big data analysis.
Prerequisites: ISA 201 AND one of the following courses: ISA 221, ISA 311, ISA 341, ISA 343 and ISA 345. Junior Standing OR Permission of instructor
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Alternate Years.

Spring 2025ISA 472A4259TTh2:20pm - 3:35pm(M. Varin)

ISA 490. Data Science Capstone. 3 Credit Hours.

To become an expert data scientist students need practice and experience. By completing this capstone project students will get an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills that were gained throughout this major. This capstone project will test student skills in data visualization, data wrangling, data organization, machine learning, analysis, and presentation. Projects will be drawn from real-world problems and will be conducted with industry, government, and academic partners. During the project, students engage in the entire process of solving a real-world data science project, from defining the problem or opportunity, collecting and processing actual data, selecting and applying state of the art data science techniques to the problem and identifying actionable results. Emphasis will be placed on problem solving via state of the art data science pipelines and practices, and on the ability to “tell a story” using verbal, analytical, written and visualization skills.
Prerequisites: ISA 340 or instructor permission and senior standing
Session Cycle: Spring
Yearly Cycle: Annual.

Spring 2025ISA 490A4260TTh9:35am - 10:50am(S. Li)

ISA 497. Directed Study in Information Systems and Analytics. 3 Credit Hours.

This course provides an opportunity for senior information systems and analytics majors to do independent, in-depth study or research. The student works on an individual basis under the direction of a member of the ISA department. Normally the course requires the student to develop a substantial paper or project.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and department chair approval.

ISA ST400. Special Topics in Information Systems and Analytics Introduction to Blockchain. 3 Credit Hours.

This course introduces students to blockchain technology.Students will gain a full understanding of the technology from a management perspective. Students will gain the knowledge needed to understand where this emerging technology is being used and explore why companies are choosing to build their business on blockchain. We will explore how different vertical markets are using blockchain. The second half of the course will be hands-on with the students developing their own smart contract. Students will learn the Solidity programming language in order to write their own smart contracts. Existing smart contracts will be used to discuss techniques and ways to organize code. Heavy emphasis on testing will be done with a bounty like competition being used in the class which will reward students in finding flaws with each other’s smart contracts. We will deploy the smart contracts in a private Ethereum environment so students understand the full development life cycle.
Prerequisites: ISA 221 or ISA 312 or ISA 314 or ISA 321 or ISA 330.