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Information Technology and E-Business Concentration
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Credits:
18
Concentration Description
The undergraduate concentration in information technology and e-business covers areas such as managing infrastructure design, server management, security, e-business strategy, and marketing. You’ll also gain an understanding of the technologies for electronic commerce on the internet and current trends with respect to the technology of the World Wide Web, and explore various e-business models. The IT and e-business concentration is accepted in any Cambridge College bachelor’s degree as open electives.
Why Choose a Concentration in Information Technology and E-Business?
Information technology is a rapidly growing field, with higher than average salaries and job security. The information technology and e-business concentration provides valuable knowledge and training for students whose work will involve managing an organization’s IT department or who may wish to start their own electronic business. This concentration is often of interest to students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management studies or managerial accounting at Cambridge College, but can be a valuable addition to any major.
What Is Information Technology?
Information technology (IT) is a field of business encompassing the support, administration, and design of computing systems – including hardware, software, telecommunications, and other information systems. Jobs in information technology typically require at least a bachelor’s degree in an IT-related field.
What Is E-Business?
E-business is a broad terms that refers to having part or all of your business operations online. The difference between e-commerce and e-business is that e-commerce refers specifically to buying and selling online – whereas e-business encompasses any type of business activity conducted online, from marketing, to content management, to sales.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information technology jobs are projected to be among the fastest growing through 2024.
In 2017, e-commerce was responsible for around $2.3 trillion in sales and is expected to hit $4.5 trillion in 2021.
Information Technology and E-Business Concentration Learning Outcomes
The information technology and e-business concentration provides a basic understanding of business planning and the systems, opportunities, and challenges in an electronic business. When you graduate, you’ll know how to:
- Initiate a business project and carry it through to successful completion.
- Understand the use of computer technology and its strategic value to managers and organizations.
- Build a database application and perform basic database administration tasks.
- Develop a marketing plan that includes major Internet elements.
Information Technology and E-Business Careers
Information technology jobs are some of the fastest growing and most in demand. This concentration will also provide the know-how for entrepreneurs to start and manage their own e-businesses, another rapidly growing field.
A recent survey of hiring managers found that cybersecurity, cloud, data analytics, Internet of Things, and converged infrastructure are currently the highest demand information technology jobs. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Curriculum
Prequisite Course
3
Credits
Introduction to Business
BSM 200 • 3 credit(s)
Students learn how American business operates. The course begins with a study of business in its broader perspective, looking at the context within which American business fits, and the investment markets which provide the capital needed to grow. The external factors influencing business development and the role business plays in the world economy are examined. The course then focuses on the internal organization and the operations of American business, highlighting major issues associated with managing functional areas of a business, such as marketing, production, technology, and supply chain management. In the later part of the course, financial management, both personal and business, and financial institutions are studied.
Concentration Courses
18
Credits
Strategic Business Planning
BSM 413 • 3 credit(s)
Strategic Business Planning explores strategic planning from the general manager’s viewpoint. The course covers the range of strategic decision-making from establishing a strategic vision and mission, setting objectives, crafting and executing a strategy to achieve the objectives and evaluating performance and initiating corrective adjustments.
Introduction to E-Business
BSM 406 • 3 credit(s)
The course explores the systems, opportunities, challenges and strategies involved in successfully developing and maintaining electronic business. Issues covered include infrastructure design, server management, implementation, security, e-business strategy and marketing. It provides an overview of the key technologies for electronic commerce on the Internet, and reviews current trends and extensions to the technology of the World Wide Web. Electronic payment systems and related issues pertaining to authentication, security and privacy are covered. Organizational applications are explored, and the different business models underlying various types of business-consumer, business-business and intra-organizational commerce applications are analyzed. Students are also introduced to the key legal, ethical and policy issues underlying the use of electronic commerce.
Internet Marketing
BSM 420 • 3 credit(s)
The course addresses marketing on the Internet. Integrating web marketing activities into organizational marketing strategies is a major challenge for ongoing businesses and startups alike. This course focuses on the capabilities that allow business and nonprofit organizations to develop distinctive marketing approaches on the Internet. Throughout, it emphasizes the role of Internet marketing in the overall marketing strategy of an organization as well as the need for careful integration between strategies executed in cyberspace and in the physical world. Students analyze varied Internet marketing cases and develop marketing plans that include major Internet elements.
Database Management
BSM 460 • 3 credit(s)
This course introduces the fundamental concepts necessary to design, use, implement and administer database systems. The course stresses the fundamentals of database modeling and design, the languages and facilities provided by database management systems, and the techniques for implementing and administering database systems. Students learn how to use SQL to create, update and query a relational database, build a database application, and perform basic database administration tasks. Data integrity and transaction controls techniques and the impact of networks and client-server architecture on database management systems are discussed.
Project Management
BSM 470 • 3 credit(s)
This course introduces the principles of project management. In today's organizations, work is increasingly being organized in the form of temporary projects. The project manager is responsible for pulling together resources from across the organization and for delivering results on time. The course provides an overview of the basic management principles and procedures involved in starting, managing, controlling and terminating a project successfully. Topics covered include the project management process, controlling and managing a project, selecting the project team, understanding the relationships of projects to organizational goals, defining project scope, project scheduling, control and coordination techniques.
Information Technology
BSM 475 • 3 credit(s)
Technology is an integral part of every manager’s work. An understanding of computer technologies is essential for today’s successful manager. The course presents an overview of computer technology, its use, and strategic value across the enterprise environment. Subjects include hardware, software, security, networking and databases.
