Bachelor of Arts in Business Information Systems

In this foundational course, students explore the principles necessary for achieving personal and career success. GEN 101 serves as a road map, guiding students as they begin their academic journey. Through self-discovery, surveying available resources, connecting with UAGC groups, and engaging with Career Services, students learn the essential skills of planning and goal setting. Students apply their personal strengths, skills, and lifelong learning strategies to develop essential career competencies. By making these meaningful connections students gain a deeper understanding of how their education relates to their desired career path.  Congratulations on embarking on this college journey filled with growth, exploration, and endless possibilities! This course is not available for non-degree seeking students and is not available as an elective.

This course provides a comprehensive foundation in essential computer and digital literacy for the 21st century. Students will be introduced to emergent technologies such as artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and evolving web models with immersive, real-world simulations. Through hands-on labs and practical applications, students will gain proficiency in industry-standard tools, operating systems, productivity software, and internet technologies. The course also offers optional certification preparations, enabling flexible pathways toward professional opportunities and advanced career development.

Learn and use key, practical skills that are applicable at home, at work, and in all UAGC courses! As UAGC students progress in their academic journey, strategies for personal, professional, and academic success continue to develop. This introductory course takes a two-pronged approach to setting students on a path to success. It merges fundamental informational literacy concepts with essential resources and skills that prepare students for college and career. Students learn how to identify, locate, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge information obtained through UAGC Library databases and internet search engines. By applying the research process, students sharpen critical thinking skills and learn to use information ethically. The final project is a practical and relevant opportunity for students to apply their learning in personally, professionally, and academically meaningful ways.

ENG 121 is designed to introduce students to the standards of writing in both academic and professional settings. The class will operate by first introducing, and then allowing students to practice, several written communication skills. Throughout, we will work to understand writing as a process, one that is strengthened through critical thinking, deepened by research, and built on a foundation of professional standards. Students will articulate a sense of their own skills and goals, and engage in collaborative conversations with peers and their instructor so as to be able to express their ideas more effectively. During the course, students will use the writing process to scrutinize their own perspectives while challenging them to embrace a wider conversation.

This course is designed to expand students’ appreciation of film and knowledge of how films are made. Through analysis of storytelling in a visual medium, students will examine the ways in which movies are shot, develop characters, evoke emotion, depict physical reality, reflect society, and have the power to influence it. Though the focus of the course is film itself, students will gain deeper intercultural fluency while growing their skills in critical thinking, written communication, and visual analysis.

This course is a study of correct and incorrect reasoning involved in everyday activities. The fundamentals of language and argument, deductive and inductive reasoning and other aspects of practical reasoning are examined. 

This course examines and evaluates theories and arguments concerning ethics and moral reasoning from a philosophical perspective. By engaging with historical and contemporary sources, students will analyze theories about the meaning, nature, and justification of ethical concepts; determine and assess how different forms of moral reasoning apply to contemporary moral issues; become more reflective and informed about their own moral beliefs; and develop their capacity for critical practical reasoning.

In this course, students will develop and expand their research and writing skills to communicate ideas in informed, ethical, and persuasive written documents intended for a range of audiences across a range of situations and contexts. Students will receive instruction and practice in synthesis and analysis, bolstering their written communication skills with a thorough understanding of academic research while honing critical thinking skills and effective work habits. Through writing well-structured, logical, and effective academic essays, students will explore tools and develop topics in a way that is meaningful to academic and professional lives. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 121 or equivalent with a grade of “C-” or better.

This course is designed to aid students in understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Verbal and nonverbal communication patterns among people in personal, social, academic, and professional settings will be examined, within and between cultures, including both face-to-face and technologically mediated channels.  The nature of these interactions will be evaluated using contemporary communication theory. The course will enable students to identify their interpersonal communication skills and behaviors and to more critically evaluate their own oral communication and that of others. The primary goals of the course are to improve the quality of students’ communication in their personal and professional relationships, to enhance students’ experience and. confidence with oral communication, and increase awareness of the importance of interpersonal communication that is inclusive and equitable.

This course surveys American history from 1877 to the present. Emphasis is placed on the multifaceted experiences within American society; political, economic, intercultural, and social trends; and the impact of the United States in world affairs. Prerequisite: ENG 122 or successful completion of the Written Communication Competency II requirement.

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of social sciences and some of the disciplines that comprise this field, including anthropology, psychology, economics, sociology, political science, and history. In this course, students will learn important social science concepts and theoretical approaches, along with the research methods that social scientists use to study human behavior. They will also learn how research and findings from the social sciences can be applied broadly throughout society. Throughout the course and through a summative assignment, students will examine how social factors shape social behavior and some of the consequences of current social problems.

In this course, learners deepen their understanding of the importance of natural resources to mankind. Students explore physical, biological, and ecological principles, examine how human alterations affect the environment, and reflect on the controversies surrounding various approaches to addressing environmental problems and the steps some communities have taken to address these challenges.

In this course, students will explore a wide range of Algebra topics. Topics will include study of linear equations, linear relationships, slope, polynomials, and functions, including graphing relations and solving systems of equations. Emphasis will be placed on developing an awareness of historical and current uses of algebra in real life settings, in various careers, and in solving important societal problems.

The capstone serves as an opportunity to reflect upon, integrate, and showcase learning achievement. Through discussions and course-embedded assessments, students will demonstrate a mastery of essential general education competencies as they relate to their personal and professional lives and provide evidence of growth through application of competency related skills to real-world situations. A minimum grade of “C-“ is required to meet course requirements. Prerequisite: 75 completed credits or permission of the student’s college or dean.

ECO 204 is an introduction to the microeconomic principles of the market system and provides a general outline of the consumer and producer choice theories. The course also discusses other important microeconomic concepts like supply and demand, externality, elasticity, pricing and profitability. Other topics include various levels of firm and industry competition associated with different market structures. Recommended prerequisites: Fulfillment of the General Education Critical Thinking competency, Quantitative Reasoning Core competency, and Digital Literacy competency. (Equivalent to ECO 308).

This course introduces the principles of financial accounting and reporting. Emphasis is placed on the accounting cycle and the application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to evaluate and record business transactions. Students will learn to prepare financial statements and analyze financial information to support business decisions.

This course develops students’ understanding of information systems, foundational technologies, and organizational application to conduct business and solve problems. This course presents information systems principles and examines how they form an integral part of modern organizations. Topics include systems concepts; organizational processes; technological aspects of information systems; Internet applications; IT security; database management; systems development life cycle; and ethical and social responsibility issues. Prerequisite: INF 103 or TEC 100; or permission of instructor.

Introduction to the legal environment of business in the United States. Examination of the Constitution, administrative law, contracts, agency, and the protection of competition, consumers, employees, investors, the environment, and international trade.

This course is a conceptual introduction to the field of statistics and its many applications in descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression analysis for business administration students with an emphasis on Excel’s tools for statistical analysis. Prerequisite: Fulfillment of Quantitative Reasoning Core Competency.

This course equips students with the skills to produce clear, concise, and well-structured scientific and technical documents tailored to diverse audiences. Through research-driven writing, students will learn to convey complex information effectively, focusing on conciseness, precision, organization, and audience awareness. Emphasis is placed on developing technical reports, proposals, and other professional documents. Prerequisites: ENG 122 or fulfillment of General Education Written Communication Competency II requirement and fulfillment of General Education Scientific Reasoning requirement.

This course is an introduction to computer programming with focus on the program development process and concepts involved in use of a higher- level, object-oriented programming language. In this hands-on, virtual lab-based course, students will analyze, design, code, and test computer programs using the JAVA programming language. Different programming language designs will be explored including building web elements, mobile applications, computer programs, and commands to different machines. Computer hardware and associated technologies are discussed. Students will acquire hands-on experience in the programming process.

This course studies the problems and needs of organizations and how business functions, staff, data, business processes, and technology can be used to achieve organizational goals and objectives. The focus is on assessment for improvement of the business and its functions. Prerequisite: Fulfillment of the Digital Literacy Competency

This hands-on, virtual lab-based course introduces students to fundamentals of database management systems, techniques for the design of databases, and principles of database administration. Database management concepts, practices, and emerging trends are evaluated. In lab sessions, students will demonstrate the ability to build databases using enterprise DBMS products such as Oracle or SQL Server. Prerequisites: INF 231 and fulfillment of the Quantitative Reasoning core competency.

A study of real-time and distributed-processing computer networks including telecommunications, data transmission techniques (protocols), design, and implementation considerations. Prerequisite: INF 231 or permission of the instructor.

BUS 352 is an introduction to the fundamental concepts used in e-business and e-commerce. This course identifies and describes the wide range of web-based applications in business. It will explore how the Internet is used for business applications, and development in a competitive environment. Activities within this course includes online research, topical discussions, analyzing e-business ideas, business level writing, and other activities designed to further insight into key course concepts. Students need to be proficient in using the Internet to research and find information.

This course provides the foundational principles and techniques to initiate, plan, execute, control, and close projects. Topics such as the project life-cycle management, project organizations and leadership, project team building will be covered. Project management methods and techniques for project charter, scope, schedule, budget, risk management, control and closeout, and project management software are also covered.

This course builds a foundational understanding of the project management procurement processes, focusing on promoting collaboration between buyers and sellers to achieve shared goals. Students will explore the key steps in acquiring external products and services, source-selection and management, and contract closure. Students will learn the project procurement management life cycle including planning, competitive solicitations, negotiations, legal considerations, contract types, and procurement ethics through effective make-or-buy decisions, comprehensive plans, and leveraging outsourcing for optimal outcomes. Prerequisite: PRM 300.

In this capstone, students will integrate knowledge and practices explored in the Bachelor of Business Information Systems program core courses. The course examines how an organization can achieve competitive advantage through the strategic alignment of information systems with organizational goals, and provides an opportunity for students to develop an Information Technology Strategic Plan. The course includes use of case analysis and interactive assignments to address industry best practices and challenges in real-world applications of IT strategic planning concepts. Prerequisites: GEN 499. This course must be taken last in the program.