The BSc (ISM) programme is  shaped by industry and academic leaders who understand the forces of global change and the essential skills needed to leverage Information Technology in business settings.

Our curriculum is built upon three foundation pillars. Students are grounded in foundations and applications of information systems technology and information systems management (column 1 below). They are also exposed to and educated about complex, real-world business processes through numerous  examples used in course discussions and assignments, internships, and interactions with industry professionals and leaders (column 2 below). In addition, they are educated and cross trained in business, management or social science areas through required SMU-wide foundation and core courses, and through electives taken across the five other SMU schools (column 3 below).

Nearly all SIS students go beyond the minimum number of electives required to meet the BSc (ISM) degree requirements, and do additional electives in order to meet requirements for a second major or double degree. This extra effort enables SIS students to build solid capability within all three foundation pillars. This is why BSc (ISM) students have an expanded range of career opportunities and multiple pathways for long term professional growth.

One way to "get the big picture" of the capability you will develop by completing our BSc (ISM) degree is to look at what is surrounding the three foundation pillars in the image above.  This illustrates how Business IT capability and know-how form an interactive cycle.  As the cycle iterates, IT is harnessed in increasingly powerful ways to drive change, innovation and competitive value creation in the globalised world of business. 

In other words, you must use your knowledge of business, organizations and social science to understand  complex industry domains and business processes. Once you deeply understand the needs of these domains and processes and how to make improvements, you use the best available technology building blocks to architect and design IT powered business solutions that will enable these improvements. You work with teams, often globally distributed teams,  to assemble, integrate and test  the new solutions and related processes per the necessary business performance targets and outcomes. Since all of this happens in complex environments, usually including professionals spanning a wide range of business and technology functions, as well as geographic locations, you need very strong project management skills to effectively participate as a team member and to eventually transition into project management leadership roles.

Another way to get the big picture of the capabilities and skills you will develop is to look at the Learning Outcomes for our BSc (ISM) graduates. These eight learning outcomes clearly specify the core competencies you will need to be an effective and adaptable professional who can  continue to thrive at the interface of Business and Technology in an ever changing and increasingly globalising world.