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Online Computer Information Systems Degree Bachelor's in CIS

"Derald Wise, who earned degrees from SNHU in 2014 and 2018, sitting at a desk working on a laptop with two framed SNHU degrees on the wall behind him."

Cost per credit $330

Total courses 40

Term length 8 weeks

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Program Overview Why get a computer information systems degree?

Use technology to drive effective business strategies with the online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Information Systems program at Southern New Hampshire University. A CIS degree will help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to bridge the gap between IT and business.

If you've completed your associate degree in business or an AS in IT, this program is especially well-suited for you. With 18 free electives, you can finish your program faster – saving you time and money along the way.

Skills you'll learn:

  • Business intelligence applications to analyze data models
  • Communication strategies for IT-business collaboration
  • Systems analysis, design and project management
  • Information systems tools and technologies
  • Decision-making, teamwork and leadership
2022 online degree graduate Gary Walker, standing in front of a laptop with a pair of headphones resting on his shoulders.

Courses & Curriculum Online computer information systems courses made for today's workforce

Explore key tech concepts like systems thinking, scripting, database environments, application development, and object-oriented analysis and design. You'll think about these ideas in a business context, with courses that cover client systems and support, enterprise information systems and business intelligence and reporting. You'll also apply what you've learned through a culminating capstone experience.

Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Applied Statistics for STEM are required as part of the general education program.

Degree Courses

Online computer information systems degree courses

The BS in Computer Information Systems program bridges the gap between IT and business – with minimal math and programming requirements. 

The program combines business core courses in accounting, leadership, finance and marketing with major courses focused on scripting, application development and enterprise information systems. With a balanced curriculum, you'll gain expertise at the intersection of IT and business while having the flexibility to tailor your degree with elective courses. You'll develop a strong foundation in systems analysis, project management, and technical prowess, which helps you bridge IT and business units.

Courses may include:

Course ID: BUS 210
Students will explore leadership and management theories and how to incorporate them in one's own personal style for effective contribution and collaboration in diverse team environments, and learn about the skills necessary to lead in various organizational structures and areas of business. Students will also examine how the functional areas of business are interrelated and work together in organizations.
Course ID: BUS 225
Students will learn the critical business skills required for successful leadership and management in organizations. By applying business research skills and data analysis, students will solve problems and support business decisions. Students will also explore various techniques and forms of professional communications and their uses in business contexts.
Course ID: BUS 400
Students will examine the process of formulating strategic plans and maximizing organizational potential, and explore ways in which organizational and external risk and growth opportunities impact strategy. Students will also evaluate the potential of business decisions in relation to gaining a competitive advantage and defend the ways in which strategic decisions align with organizational goals.
Course ID: DAD 220
Students will learn to create structured database environments that incorporate basic processing functionality and allow for data management, data manipulation, and data analysis. Students will also construct and analyze queries to address data requirements.
Course ID: IT 145
Students will use programming as a problem-solving technique in business and engineering applications. In writing computer code in a logical, structured, and organized manner, students will learn how to incorporate the key concepts of object orientation into their programming. Additionally, students will learn to write, review, and document interactive applications and work with Software Development Kits and Integrated Development Environment tools.
Course ID: QSO 340
As modern organizations have become more complex, they have also become more project-driven. This course uses a basic project management framework in which the project life-cycle is broken into organizing, planning, monitoring and controlling the project. You will learn the methodologies and tools necessary at each stage for managing the projects effectively in terms of time, cost, quality, risk and resources.
Course ID: MIS 215
Learn the basics of systems analysis of client systems through the lens of a business analyst. Explore common client systems within an organization, the basic architecture of the overall system, the flow of information within the system, and informed decision making as well as the importance of eCommerce for a client system.
Course ID: MIS 300
Investigate the flow and structure of data within an enterprise computer based environment. Learn to mine, compile and analyze data from client systems using appropriate tools and techniques in response to senior management inquiries.
Course ID: MIS 350
Learn about business intelligence tools and techniques for creating reports, and apply these techniques in making data centered decisions. Recommend solutions to business problems that address business needs and requirements through utilizing data visualization tools.
Course ID: MIS 490
This capstone course is the culminating experience for the Management Information Systems and Computer Information Systems programs. The aim of the capstone is to assess students' ability to synthesize and integrate the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout their coursework, rather than introducing new concepts. This course is structured to support student success in fulfilling program requirements.

Visit the course catalog to view the full BS in Computer Information Systems curriculum.

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Upcoming term starts: October 28, 2024 | January 06, 2025

Next term starts:
Sept. 02, 2024

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Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

8-week terms

Learn around your schedule

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What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
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You’ll fill out one form to verify your high school completion or GED. Then, if you’ve attended college before, you’ll submit a form for each school so we can request your transcripts for you. (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which means we meet certain standards of academic quality, and have the tools and resources necessary for students to be successful. The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on the ACBSP accreditation page.

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Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online undergraduate programs

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 120-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$330
$990
$39,600
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$231
$693
$27,720

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$9,900 $14,850 $19,800 $24,750 $29,700
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 30 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $29,700

If 45 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $24,750

If 60 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $19,800

If 75 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $14,850

If 90 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $9,900

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a bachelor's degree. Most bachelor's degrees require 120 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 90 credits, requiring a minimum of 30 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator, and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online CIS degree?

Lightning-fast access to information is no longer a "nice to have" – it's essential for any business to thrive. Therein lies the need for an educated workforce to step out into the field. With an online CIS degree, you'll be prepared for a number of career options that bring business and technology together.

CIS is crucial to the success of businesses across industries. In banking and finance, for example, account management systems host massive databases of sensitive client information. In manufacturing, information systems can improve supply chains by connecting manufacturers with their customers, suppliers, service providers and more.

If it's a more business-focused career you seek, you may also be interested in studying management information systems (MIS) through our online bachelor's in business administration, which offers an MIS degree concentration.

Occupations

Graduates of the computer information systems degree program may pursue a number of different careers, including but not limited to:

Study an organization’s current computer systems and procedures and design improvements to them.

Plan, coordinate and direct computer-related activities in an organization. Help determine the IT goals of an organization and implement computer systems to meet those goals.

Create or support computer applications, systems and networks.

Coordinate the budget, schedule and other details of a project. Lead and guide the work of technical staff and serve as a point of contact for clients.

15%

Increase in computer and information systems manager roles through 2032, projected by the BLS.1

$169,510

Median annual pay for computer and information systems manager roles as of May 2023, according to the BLS.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Gregory Tolson '23

My degree in computer information systems allowed me to start the next chapter of my life. It prepared me to be knowledgable and successful in my career.

Gregory Tolson '23

Frequently Asked Questions

CIS stands for computer information systems.

The study of computer information systems refers to the practical use of technology in a business context. This is especially relevant in a world where data is king for organizations across industries.

From healthcare to finance, manufacturing to software, all kinds of fields rely heavily on information systems and data to drive better business decisions.

The length of time it may take you to earn your CIS degree depends on a few factors.

First, if you've attended other accredited institutions previously, you may have credits to transfer in. At Southern New Hampshire University, we'll accept up to 90 credits – that means 75% of your degree could be completed before you even begin your first class with us! (Not only does that save you years of time, but at $330 a credit, that saves you lots on tuition.)

Then, you'll want to determine the number of classes you'll be able to take at a time. SNHU's undergraduate terms are just 8 weeks long, with 6 terms per year. As a full-time student, you can take 2 classes each term, which would allow you to complete 12 courses a year.

However, many of our students also work full time, and attending SNHU as a part-time student can help make you more successful in your program. This means you'd only take 1 class each term, but it may also lengthen your journey to your degree.

Your degree is possible, and you can make it happen on your schedule.

While there may be crossover between CIS, computer science and IT, there are differences between these 3 disciplines.

Generally speaking, CIS is computer science through a business lens. While there is some overlap – such as scripting, systems design and data structures – a computer science degree puts a greater emphasis on computer algorithms and code. As a result, computer science is more math-intensive.

Many of the courses in our bachelor's in CIS program actually have more in common with an IT degree. Courses in areas like application development, object analysis and design, structured database environments and introduction to scripting are just as relevant to IT and CIS professionals alike.

Both CIS and IT professionals also act as intermediaries in their organizations. CIS professionals are liaisons for a company's top decision-makers. IT professionals, on the other hand, work across the organization to assist with tech-related issues.

That depends on your skill set and your interests. If computers and technology come naturally to you, then you probably have what it takes to earn your CIS degree.

Students entering the program may be required to take a statistics course, such as Applied Statistics for STEM. The program also requires a business core, which includes courses in accounting and finance.

That said, we also offer Pathways to Math Success assessments. Depending on your scores, you could earn up to 12 math credits toward your degree for less than $50 per assessment, saving you time and money.

It's important to note, too, that while the content of the coursework may be challenging, our community of advisors, instructors and peers are here to give you the support you need to complete your program.

As a CIS professional, you'll stand at the critical intersection of technology and business. Your expertise can help drive better, higher-impact strategic decisions. You could even play the part of trusted right-hand person for executive leadership – or better yet, become a high-level leader yourself.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the largest employers of computer and information systems managers in 2022 were1:

  • Computer systems design and related services (21%)
  • Information (14%)
  • Finance and insurance (11%)
  • Management of companies and enterprises (9%)
  • Manufacturing (7%)

All of this is to say that a CIS degree can take you just about anywhere you want to go in terms of industry.

The amount you can make upon earning your CIS degree depends on many factors – including your job title, previous experience, industry and geographic location.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that computer and information systems managers earned a median annual salary of $169,510 in 2023.1 By comparison, the median annual wage for all workers in that same time period was $48,060.1

That's for you to decide. The right computer information systems degree could position you for success in your field. In addition to well-above-average salary projections, the BLS also projects that 86,000 new jobs will be added for computer and information systems managers through 2032.1

But there are other factors to consider, too – like cost, reputability, curriculum and more. Here are just a few things that make the CIS degree at SNHU stand out:

  • Affordable program. We offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation. For active duty military and their spouses, we offer an additional 30% off our already affordable undergraduate rates. Along with the help of a dedicated military benefits team, veterans can maximize their VA benefits.
  • Flexible courses. Our convenient online courses mean you can access coursework anytime from the comfort of your own home – or wherever you are. That said, if you're looking for an online program that offers hands-on experiences, this is the place for you. Between experiential learning and access to in-person networking events and cyber competitions, you'll have plenty of opportunities to help get your foot in the door.
  • Expert faculty. Our CIS curriculum is designed and taught by professionals with years of industry expertise. This gives you an opportunity to gain insider knowledge that can help you succeed in your industry.
  • Respected university. As a private, nonprofit institution, the success of our students is and has always been our bottom line. Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the regional accreditor New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), assuring the quality you deserve for your degree.
  • Transfer-friendly. Last but not least, we accept up to 90 transfer credits for our online bachelor's in CIS program. Plus, you'll get 15 free electives. That all adds up to finishing your program faster – saving you time and money along the way.

Related Articles

Sources & Citations

1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/home.htm (viewed April 23, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm (viewed April 23, 2024)
  • https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.htm (viewed April 23, 2024)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.