The Information Systems Foundation courses emphasise the critical thinking and technology skills to create IS systems for business solutions. Students with prior background may apply to sit for waiver tests to qualify for exemptions from several of these IS foundation courses.
The courses are listed as follows, click on each to find out more as well as the learning outcomes:
Courses in this area equip students with the capability to define, design and deploy robust and secure IS systems for businesses. The concepts of analysis, integration, architecture and enterprise-wide systems, as well as the development of communication skills are emphasised.
The courses are listed as follows, click on each to find out more as well as the learning outcomes:
The IS Application Project enables the BSc (IS Management) undergraduate to develop the additional depth and experience required to become a Business IT professional. It allows a hands-on opportunity to apply IT solutions to problems either via industry or functional business areas. Industries may range from financial services, logistics & supply chain, to healthcare services; while functional business areas refer to accounting, economics, finance, marketing, operations to name a few. Projects may be of any one of the following types:
- Application development/build
We expect most students to build something — a working system, prototype or proof of concept. Develop a new application or build upon/integrate existing applications into a new system. The focus here is experience in the life cycle of a system from concept through delivery. They will deliver a working, even if small, system. - Technology demo and evaluation
Create a demonstration comparing and evaluating the capabilities of similar or competing technologies addressing a business-IT problem. The focus here is a deep understanding and benchmarking of existing technology or applications. - Faculty-directed research
Students may carry out their projects with a research faculty member. The expected project deliverable could be a survey of the state-of-the-art in a selected research area, or novel solutions and techniques targeted at the academic community.
Click on the following links for more information on:
- Summary of current and prior IS Application Projects
- Project Posters of past IS Application Projects
- Welcome to IS480 for the Current Academic Year: requirements, FAQ’s, Grading, Resources, Stakeholders and more
- IS Application Project Course Design Document
and the Course Learning Outcomes & Competencies - For IS Application Projects related to SIS faculty research, see the research interests of SIS Faculty Members
Electives provide students with the opportunity to explore IS Technology and IS Management issues in greater depth. Electives are reviewed regularly and new ones offered as appropriate. Electives may be taken in the following combination:
IS Depth Elective 1 (Any IS Technology Depth Elective)
IS Depth Elective 2 (Any IS Technology Depth Elective)
IS Depth Elective 3 (Any IS Technology or IS Management Depth Elective)
IS Depth Elective 4 (Any IS Technology or IS Management Depth Elective)
Advanced electives in the areas of computer science, information technology, information systems or e-commerce taken during an International Exchange overseas can often be approved for use as an IS depth elective. Students should check with the SIS Dean’s office to see if the electives they are considering taking while overseas can be used to fulfill one or both of the depth elective requirements.
In selected cases, electives offered by the other schools at SMU can be taken as BSc (IS Management) depth electives. For example, the Lee Kong Chian School of Business sometimes offers a course on Marketing Information Systems, and the School of Accountancy sometimes offers a course on Accounting Information Systems. SIS students must meet the pre-requisites for these courses specified by the respective school. Also, there might be availability restrictions that apply for enrolling in these specialised electives.
List of IS Depth Electives
Course Learning Outcomes & Competencies for IS Depth Electives.
These courses provide all BSc (ISM) students with a stronger foundation in quantitative thinking skills and analysis skills. Specifically addressing three areas namely:
- A course that helps students understand how to frame problems and integrate various analytical skills to model and address management concerns using spreadsheets
- A course that provides introduction to various techniques of statistical analyses that will emphasize the basic concepts and their meaning, as well as their application and interpretation to novel data and situations
- A course in problem solving but focusing on computational processes that are used by both humans and computers to “compute” how to go about solving a problem
These electives will broaden and deepen students' understanding of the basic knowledge and skills that are required to manage and direct an enterprise. This could include a basic competency in business theories and concepts, legal requirements, accounting principles, social and psychological aspects along with working tools essential in the modern business environment. They lay the groundwork for a better understanding of the roles that technology plays in today's businesses.
Students will choose from the lists of core courses offered by the other schools of SMU for their concentrations.
Information on prerequisites and course details for those courses offered by the other SMU schools may be found on the individual school's websites.
The BSc (IS Management) Programme provides an added edge through its cross-training in both Business and IT. Completing a second major further strengthens the student's foundation, greatly enhancing employability and career prospects.
The Second Major greatly enhances near term employability and longer term career prospects and flexibility. The SIS Board of Advisors, as well as every employer we speak with, strongly encourage all BSc (IS Management) students to pursue a second major either with SIS or in a non-IS concentration in one of the other schools of SMU.
Enter the world of Second Major options available to our studentsISM Second Major Requirements
For other SMU students who would like to take ISM as second major, the following are the requirements:
Compulsory Courses: Total 6
- Computer as an Analysis Tool (CAT)
- Seminar on IS Management
- IS Software Foundations
- Object Oriented Application Development
- Data Management
- Process Modelling & Solution Blueprinting
Any 1 from the following (All courses below have pre-requisites): Total 1
- Enterprise Integration
- Information Security & Trust
- Enterprise Web Solutions
- Architectural Analysis
- Usability Engineering
Any 1 IS Depth Elective from the list of IS Depth Electives.
The compulsory Foundation courses provide students with a basic background in mathematics and economics. Students who have obtained good grades in these courses taken previously may be eligible for exemptions.
The current Foundation courses are:
- Academic Writing *
- Calculus
- Introductory Economics
* Academic Writing Course is applicable from AY2008-09 intake.
The University Core is the heart of all SMU undergraduate programmes. The University Core aims to equip all students with the intellectual skills needs to operate in a dynamic and challenging environment. Students are expected to develop and fine tune analytical skills, adopt a creative approach to varying and rapidly changing situations, communicate effectively, and lead ably and successfully.
Courses in this area are:
- Analytical Skills & Creative Thinking
- Business, Government & Society
- Management Communication
- Ethics & Social Responsibility
- Leadership & Team Building
- Technology & World Change
To enlarge their scope of knowledge and broaden their perspectives, students are required to complete 3 General Education (GE) courses. All BSc (IS Management) students must do a compulsory course- Computational Thinking which will be counted as a GE.
Students may be given exemptions of up to 2 courses on the basis of good grades in the relevant courses at the GCE A-Levels, Polytechnic Diplomas, or all other recognised qualifications.
Matriculated students may refer to OASIS for the full and updated list of courses in this area.
Courses in this area engage the students in current affairs. Students in the BSc (IS Management) Programme are to take up 2 of the courses in this area.
Some examples of courses available are:
- Business Study Mission/Country Studies
- International Economics
- Political Economy of SEA/East Asia
- Economic Development in Asia
- Law and International Business
- Intellectual Property Rights
Matriculated students may refer to OASIS for the full and updated list of courses in this area.
Internship
An important feature of the BSc (IS Management) Programme is the internship programme at established local and international organisations. The internship programme provides students with opportunities to explore many types of working environments, in a variety of industries and job roles. Students can also be exposed to overseas working experience, and glean deeper cross-cultural appreciation of business practices and research in the process.
Over a third of SIS students complete two or more internships. Some SIS students have even served as many as four internships during their course of study. Internships must last at least 10 weeks continuously, on a full-time basis. It is normal though, for most students to spend 12 to 16 weeks for each internship. In special cases, students are invited by their host organisations to extend their internship up to 6 months. In such cases, students may take leave for that semester. .
Find out more about the SIS Internship Programme.
Finishing Touch
With effect from Academic Year 2011-12 onwards, all new students will be required to enroll in the “Finishing Touch” under a revamped programme offered by the Office of Career Services (OCS). This will be a series of required Career Preparation & Enrichment workshops as part of the fulfillment of their graduation requirements. More information on this will be furnished as soon as it is available.
Matriculated students may refer to the BSc (IS Management) Handbook or OASIS>SIS Resources for details.
Community Service
It is important that we give back to society and every SMU student does this through volunteering at least 80 hours of their time to serve various social and community causes. Their hours may be served intensively over a two-week period, or spread over a longer term. Many students find social service volunteering very fulfilling and often end up spending more than the minimum required number of hours in this area.
