SAM AND IRENE BLACK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Advice for Majors in Management Information Systems
Program
Chair: Ido Millet
814-898-6262; ixm7@psu.edu, REDC, Room 292
You should all have one initial advising session with the program chair, Dr. Ido Millet in order to take care of course transfers and substitutions, ensure that you have an accurate check sheet reflecting where you stand in pursuit of your major, and that you understand the requirements and elective options for the major.
From that point on, all your advising should be handled by your assigned advisor. If you do not know who your adviser is, you can get this information from eLion. If you have questions that your adviser can't answer, it is up to your adviser (not you) to clear those questions with the program chair.
You should arrive for any advising session with a check sheet reflecting your current status (including courses in progress). If you lost your check sheet, a copy of the one we prepared during the initial advising session should be available in your Advising Folder at the School of Business office. You can ask to see your advising folder and use it as a basis for filling a new check sheet.
Advice About the new Summer 2007 MISBD Major Design
Scholarship Opportunity
Be sure to take a look at the SciTech scholarship opportunity described at:
http://www.pheaa.org/specialprograms/nets/Sci_Tech_Scholarship.shtml
This opportunity applies even to students who are about to graduate, since applications are accepted "up to December 31st of the academic year for which the aid is sought."
You could get $3,000 per year if you are a PA resident, in your sophomore year or above, have and keep a 3.0 GPA minimum, completed an MIS internship with a company that has some operations in PA, and work (upon graduation) in PA one year for each scholarship year.
Useful
Links:
| School of Business Prerequisites | |
| MIS Club | |
| Web-Based Tutorials |
1. All MISBD course designations have changed to MIS as part of a university-wide effort to standardize course designations.
2. Starting this Fall 2006, CMPBD 217 (COBOL) is offered.
Erie Insurance has been eager to see more potential interns and full-time recruits with COBOL skills. We've heard similar comments from a few other large financial/insurance companies. As long as student demand for the course justifies it, we will probably keep offering this course. You can use it towards the 2-1 programming requirements (for example, taking 2 levels of vb.net and 1 COBOL or as an elective. In other words, you can apply this course to the "CMPBD 297I (VB) or CENBD 360 (JAVA)" slot on the checksheet or under Non-Business Support.
You can use this course towards one of the two 1st-level programming course requirements.
This means you can have COBOL plus 2 levels of vb.net or COBOL plus 2 levels of C++.
Alternatively, you can use this course under Non-Business Support or instead of CMPBD 350
(Remember that any good MIS/CMPSC-related elective can substitute for CMPBD 350).
3. The C++ sequence: CMPBD 204 (4cr) --> CMPB 205 or CSE 103 (4cr)
--> CSE 120
has been replaced with CSE 121 (3cr) --> CSE 122.
Since CSE 121 is only 3 credits (while CMPBD 204/CSE 103 were 4 credits),
we will waive 1 credit from the major requirements area in the audit,
but you still have to reach 126 credits in total for your degree.
The missing 1 credit can be covered by any course that qualified for the electives area
(you can't use ENGL 004, ENGL 005 or MATH 004 because those courses do not count toward graduation credits).
For example, you can use 1 credit from Math 021 or Math 022.
Another option is to take one of our MIS electives that requires a 1-credit lab (MISBD 445 or MISBD 470).
You can also consider taking a 1-credit web-based training (WBT) independent study with Dr. Millet (see note #4 below).
Of course, you are free to use any other elective credits (e.g., KINES)...
4. The vb.net sequence: CMPBD 297I --> CMPBD 397E
was changed to CMPBD 204 --> CMPBD 205.
This is confusing because CMPBD 204 & CMPBD 205 used to be C++ but now they switch to being vb.net .
So, CMPBD 205 in Fall 2006 is not 2nd-level C++ -- it is the 2nd-level vb.net course (what used to be CMPBD 397E).
For the last time in Fall 2006, Dr. Noce is teaching the first-level vb.net as CMPBD 297E (used to be CMPBD 297I ). After Fall 2006, the course would switch to CMPBD 204 and will be taught by the Computer Science faculty.
Note: students who have taken CMPBD 204 or 205 as C++ and now wish to take CMPBD 204 or 205 as vb.net must contact the instructor and arrange to take the course while being registered for an independent study. This is because there is no way (even with substitution forms) to apply the credits from two instances of the same course towards graduation.
5. Your Penn State Access Account gives you free access to hundreds of computer based training courses on the web: https://wbt.psu.edu/FrameIndex.asp
A pdf document listing IT courses is available at: https://wbt.psu.edu/Docs/ITSkillscatalog.pdf
Each course is listed with the number of hours it requires.
If you are interested in IT course content that amounts to 40--120 hours, it may qualify as an independent study for 1 -- 3 CR (40 hours = 1CR) applied to the Non-Business Support or electives area.
If you email me a note expressing interest in pursuing such an independent study, I will email send you the syllabus, the independent study form, and a clarifications document.
Then, email me a list of the courses (and hours for each) and I'll let you know if this can fly. I will be looking for useful course content that is not a duplication of existing content in our curriculum.
6. MISBD curriculum diagrams, reflecting the new course numbers, are now available at the following addresses:
http://www.pserie.psu.edu/academic/business/degrees/mis/misdiagram-su99.ppt
http://www.pserie.psu.edu/academic/business/degrees/mis/misdiagram-su07.ppt
Closed Sections
If this is a CMPSC/CMPBD course, overenrolling and waiting lists are handled by Lisa Harrington (lxh4@psu.edu) in the School of Science.
If this is a business course (including MIS), then talk directly to the instructor. If the instructor cannot overenroll you, then add your name to the waiting list maintained by Sue Pennington (sep3@psu.edu) at the School of Business Office.
Credit Ranges for Business and Non-Business Support Areas
You must take [6 & 12] or [3 & 15] for a total of no less than 18 Credits. In other words, you cannot opt for the minimum credits in both areas.
Where Do I Use .?
-
Second-Level Programming Course (CMPBD 205, CSE 122): can be used as if it were a 300-level course in the CMPSC/CMPBD/MIS Supporting Course area, provided you get a C or better grade in it. Alternatively, use it in the Non-Business Support area (even with a D grade).
- MISBD
3xx, 4xx: Any MIS elective can be used under either the 300/400 Level MIS/CMPSC/CMPBD
Support Area or under the Business Support Area.
- MANGT
410 (PROJECT MANAGEMENT): This course can be considered an MIS
elective; therefore, it can be used under either the 300/400 Level MIS/CMPSC/CMPBD
Support Area or under the Business Support Area.
- MANGT/SCM
465 (E-Business): MANGT/SCM 460 (Purchasing & Materials Management), MANGT/SCM 450 (Operatings Planning & Control): These SAP-related courses can be considered MIS electives; therefore
they can be used under either the 300/400 Level MIS/CMPSC/CMPBD Support Area or
under the Business Support Area. Note: see the following link for information about the SAP Certificate:
http://www.pserie.psu.edu/academic/business/degrees/sapcertificate.htm
- ACCTG 422 (Accounting Information Systems): This course can be considered an MIS elective; therefore it can be used under either the 300/400 Level MIS/CMPSC/CMPBD Support Area or under the Business Support Area.
If CMPBD 240 Shows as Missing on your Audit Report
We've had several students asking us about the mysterious CMPBD 240 shown as a missing requirement on the audit report.
CMPBD 240 is just the old number for CMPBD 204. The audit is simply not up to date on this and can't be changed until the Senate gets around to formally recognizing the change of course number. As long as you have two first-level programming courses, for example, CMPBD 204and CSE 121, you can ignore the CMPBD 240 red flag raised by the audit report.
Alternatives for CMPBD 350
I will approve any CSE, CMPBD, or MIS-related elective (some are under MANGT/SCM/ACCTG designations) as a substitution for CMPBD 350. Just be sure to initiate a substitution form with your advisor BEFORE you take the course, so that you can be sure the substitution was approved.
Computer Lab Disk Quota (P Drive)
As an MIS student, your increased disk quota (P Drive) is as follows:
If due to class work you need more space, please e-mail a request for increased disk space to the instructor whose class is generating the highest demand for disk space.
Justify your request and specify how much space you currently have and how much space you are requesting.
If deemed appropriate, your request will be forwarded by the instructor to the computer center for implementation.
The Importance of Good Electives
The Management Information Systems major has an excellent core curriculum, but, in today's job market, if you want to improve your job prospects, you must take it upon yourself to pursue as many of our recommended electives as you can.
Several years ago, the job market was red-hot, and some students were successful in pursuing a strategy focused on getting the MIS degree in the least amount of time and effort. Today, that strategy is very shortsighted.
Preliminary (2005-2006) statistics from our career planning center show large variations in starting salaries for Penn State Erie MISBD graduates:
$37,500 low
$51,600 average
$62,000 high
This wide range is explained, in no small part, by the number and type of electives taken by the students.
As you schedule your courses for the coming semesters, take the time to meet with your advisor and identify opportunities to take good electives.
Using Extra Credits
Both MIS 445 and MIS 470 have a one-credit lab. If you take these two electives, and you also have a one-credit surplus under Business or Non-Business Support (for example, a four-credit course under Non-Business Support, a four-credit internship, a 1-credit Web-Based Training Independent Study with Dr.Millet, etc.), you can ask your advisor to apply the total of three extra credits toward Business or Non-Business Support and avoid taking an extra course.
An approved substitution form is required before you can assume this works in your case.
Frequently Asked Questions about MISBD Internships
Q: When can I take MIS 495 (Internship)?
A: Only after taking MISBD 430. Students with significant prior MIS work experience can request an exception. Note that this does not mean you cannot take an internship or part-time work position before you are done with MISBD 430; it only means you can't get academic credit for it.
Q: How do I find an internship?
A: The Career Development Center maintains a list of open positions. Make sure you are on their e-mail distribution list. You can increase your chances for getting a good internship by using other resources as well (friends, family, senior MISBD students who already had an internship, etc.). Be sure to have a resume ready and make use of the counseling services of the Career Development Center.
Q: I found a possible job, but I'm not sure if it qualifies for MISBD 495?
A: Once you know what the job would require you to do, contact the internship supervisor (currently, Ido Millet at 898-6262 or ixm7@psu.edu) to get it approved. In general, MISBD 495 requires a minimum of 120 MIS-related work hours. Activities such as data entry, where you do not have an opportunity to use the knowledge you have gained in your courses, don't qualify. Typically approved work assignments include activities such as analyzing requirements, designing, selecting, developing, maintaining, installing, supporting, or converting computer applications, networks, or Web sites.
Q: I got the OK from the faculty supervisor. How do I register for the course?
A: Go to the Black School of Business office (REDC, Room 281) and pick up the course syllabus and the Internship Guidelines Packet. You will be registered only after you complete the Drop/Add Form attached to the internship packet, get it signed by the faculty member working with you on the internship, and return it to the Black School of Business Office for the final signature needed. The Drop/Add Form will then be sent, by the School of Business staff assistant to the Registrar's Office, at which time your registration will be complete (although you will still need to get your Internship Proposal form approved and returned to the School of Business Office).
Q: What is the white Internship Proposal form used for?
A: In most cases, you won't know in detail exactly what you will be doing on the job until you start the internship. The white form is required to be returned to the School of Business Office by the end of the first week on the job. Based on the detail provided on that form, an informed final approval (or rejection) by the supervising faculty member can be rendered. This form is also signed by you and by your work supervisor. This ensures that there is a clear understanding between you and the company you will be working for. Finally, this form is like a contract. If your actual work experience deviates from the activities listed on the form, to the point where the faculty supervisor thinks the internship experience doesn't deserve academic credits, you may be required to drop the course.
Q: How many credits?
A: MISBD 495 can be taken for a maximum of 6 credits. These credits can be spread over one or several internship assignments and/or semesters. For a single internship assignment to count for 6 credits, it must not only provide for 240 work hours, but also provide a more significant work experience.
Q: How do I use the extra 3 credits in a 6-credit internship?
A: You use them, just like any other MIS elective, as a Supporting Courses in the CMPSC/CMPBD/MISBD area or in the Business Support area. You can also apply the extra 3 credits to the Non-Business Support area.
Q: Can I do my internship in the summer but register for it in the fall?
A: You must register for the internship in the semester where most of the work was conducted. In other words, you can't arbitrarily shift the registration to avoid paying for the credits.
Q: Are there class meetings?
A: The only meetings are held at the end of the semester for class presentations. It is your responsibility to contact the internship supervisor if you don't get the announcement several weeks before the end of the semester. You should monitor your e-mail. If you use a new e-mail account while on the job, make sure you forward your school e-mail messages.
Q: I'm doing my summer internship far away from campus. Do I have to fly in just to present it?
A: This is a common problem, so we typically hold a second round of summer internship presentations on the first week of the fall semester. Contact Dr. Millet if you are doing your internship as the last graduate requirement and you wish to avoid flying in just for the presentation.
Q: What does the company I would work for need to do?
A: Your supervisor needs to sign the white Internship Proposal form to indicate there is a clear agreement about what you will be doing. Then, at the end of the internship, your supervisor sends us a one-page evaluation form. We send the form and a return envelope to the supervisor when you sign up for the internship.
Q: What about pay?
A: That's between you and the company. By searching for internships on your own, you may be able to increase your chances of finding a paid internship. The Career Development Center can help you estimate the typical pay rate for certain types of part-time jobs.
Q: Any final words of wisdom about internships?
A#1: Attend internship presentations even before you qualify for an internship yourself.
A#2: The faculty supervisor can be a useful resource when tackling problems on the job. This applies to both technical challenges as well as non-technical issues such as poor supervision.
A#3: Use the MIS Club meetings to get to know senior MIS students. They can provide advice on which companies are good to work for. Some students may be looking for a replacement intern once they graduate.