Career Details

The Computer Information Systems (CIS) degree at JMU prepares students for professional careers that require both the business knowledge and the technical skills to help clients design, build and deliver competitive computer-based solutions. Computer and information systems managers play a vital role in the technological direction of their organizations and must stay abreast of the latest technology to ensure the organization does not lag behind its competitors.

JMU's CIS program was recognized as one of the top ten undergraduate information technology programs in the United States (TechRepublic, 2008) and is part of the nationally recognized JMU College of Business. Professors in the program use a variety of teaching methods including projects, cases and business simulations to prepare graduates with strong technical, analytical, and problem-solving skills; effective communication and presentation skills; hands-on experience; and the ability to work effectively in individual and team-oriented environments.

Several features of JMU's CIS program are distinctive:

• Outstanding placement of graduates: the JMU CIS program is viewed as a prime recruiting school by many leading employers throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
• Course work in a variety of specialties.
• Business intelligence
• Business process management
• Computer forensics
• Computer security management
• Information technology consulting
• Information technology project management
• Excellent opportunities for internships and job-related work experience through JMU's Handshake program and an active JMU CIS alumni network of over 3,100 graduates.
• Active student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP): Students regularly compete in the National Collegiate Conference, network with industry professionals, engage in service-learning projects, and expand their leadership skills by serving as chapter leaders.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology focuses on highly relevant skills in cybersecurity, computer networking, and end-user design and development. The Information Technology degree goes beyond the science behind computers, teaching students how to design, develop, test and maintain solutions in a wide range of computing and networking application areas.

Information Technology studies are integrated to provide students with the knowledge and skills to meet the computer technology needs of business, government, healthcare, education and other organizations. In addition to core competencies in programming and networking, security and privacy, and other application-focused computing fields, the Information Technology major features a junior-level project to address a community need. Also, students in the Information Technology major are required to complete a two-semester senior capstone project, allowing them to apply the range of their abilities in a real-world context. Students in the Information Technology major are also required to select 9 credit hours of IT senior class electives from various fields such as cyber-security, web/mobile development and computer networking.

The major puts students in the middle of the exploding information revolution where they study technological advances such as object-oriented software, communication networks, multimedia systems, information security and artificial intelligence. Students will learn about computing technologies used by today’s professionals and how to use these technologies to solve real-world problems. Students will learn to analyze problems, design solutions, implement solutions using multiple computing technologies, test and install those solutions, and communicate those solutions to others in written and verbal presentations.

The curriculum is designed for individuals who seek employment in business management or for those presently in management who are seeking promotion. Job opportunities include administrative assistant, management trainee, department head, branch manager, office manager, manager of small business, and supervisor.

This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of information technology, for those who are presently in that field and who wish to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in information technology.

Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of cloud computing, for those who are presently in that field and who desire to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in cloud computing.

Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of Cybersecurity (information assurance), for those who are presently in IT or a security field and who desire to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in information security. The curriculum is mapped to the NSA/DHS Knowledge Units necessary for NOVA's designation as a Center of Academic Excellence.

This curriculum is designed for individuals who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree program in business administration with a major in accounting, business management, decision science and management, information systems, finance, marketing, etc.

The curriculum is designed primarily for students who wish to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree in computer science. The curriculum emphasizes the study of the science of computing and the use of computing in a scientific setting.

This curriculum is designed for persons who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree program in information technology.

The curriculum is designed for individuals who are interested in a professional or scientific program and who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree with a major in one of the following fields: agriculture, biology, chemistry, pre-dentistry, forestry, geology, oceanography, pharmacy, physics, physical therapy, pre-medicine, science education, or mathematics.

Purpose: This program is designed to provide knowledge in accounting, information security, and analytics to working business professionals. This program enables students to bridge the gap between accounting and technology. This program helps prepare students for the highly in demand Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) exam and/or registered CPA's for the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) exam.

This program prepares the student to design and implement traditional/legacy stand-alone and client-server applications using procedural and object-oriented development techniques. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to study for one of the following industry certifications: MCP-Programming or the Sun Certified Programming for Java 2.

Purpose:This program is designed for individuals seeking employment in either a mobile application software development firm or large organization with a mobile application development team as well as for those persons already employed who wish to update their skills in mobile application development and testing. This curriculum will prepare students for employment as junior mobile application developers as well as quality assurance test engineers for native mobile applications. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to study for the Google Associate Android Developer certification.

Purpose:This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of cloud computing, for those who are presently in that field and who desire to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in cloud computing.

Credit for Prior Learning:Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

This program provides the student with a broad background in networking technologies, administration, and support. The material presented in the certificate provides the basic knowledge covered in the Windows Server, Security+, Linux+ and Network+ Certification. It is recommended that students complete the A+ Certification before the Network+ Certification.

Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

This program is designed to provide the student with the training necessary to obtain several different CISCO certifications as outlined below. These certifications prepare the student to install and/or configure networks, including wide area networks (WANs) and local area networks (LANs). They prepare students to optimize WANs through internet access solutions that reduce bandwidth and lower WAN costs, and provide remote access by integrating remote dial-up access with remote LAN to LAN access, as well as supporting higher levels of performance required for new applications such as internet commerce and multimedia. This career studies certificate also prepares the student to sit for the CISCO Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) certification exam.

Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

This program is designed as an enhanced competency module to provide expertise in security to networking specialists. This curriculum will prepare networking specialists for employment as network security specialists or Internet security specialists. This program also helps prepare students for the Security+ and the CISSP certification exams.

The master's degree program emphasizes continuing self-development of individuals currently engaged in science-, technology- and engineering-related fields. It prepares persons who have completed undergraduate majors in these fields for entry into careers in areas that use computing technology. Both the theoretical and applied aspects of computer science are emphasized in this program. The program offers courses in a wide range of areas in computer science, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing, data mining, bioinformatics, and medical informatics.

The master's degree program emphasizes continuing self-development of individuals currently engaged in science-, technology- and engineering-related fields. It prepares persons who have completed undergraduate majors in these fields for entry into careers in areas that use computing technology. Both the theoretical and applied aspects of computer science are emphasized in this program. The program offers courses in a wide range of areas in computer science, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing, data mining, bioinformatics, and medical informatics.

The master's degree program emphasizes continuing self-development of individuals currently engaged in science-, technology- and engineering-related fields. It prepares persons who have completed undergraduate majors in these fields for entry into careers in areas that use computing technology. Both the theoretical and applied aspects of computer science are emphasized in this program. The program offers courses in a wide range of areas in computer science, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing, data mining, bioinformatics, and medical informatics.

The master's degree program emphasizes continuing self-development of individuals currently engaged in science-, technology- and engineering-related fields. It prepares persons who have completed undergraduate majors in these fields for entry into careers in areas that use computing technology. Both the theoretical and applied aspects of computer science are emphasized in this program. The program offers courses in a wide range of areas in computer science, including machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing, data mining, bioinformatics, and medical informatics.

• Prepares students to begin professional careers upon graduation by providing experience with the most current technologies needed to support the secure delivery and management of information systems
• Supports career advancement over time by giving our graduates the academic foundation in information systems needed for continued professional development
• Supports the information systems needs of the business community