Information systems as major in your BA/BSc degree program
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When you major in information systems in your BA or BSc degree program, you complete courses offered by the following chairs at Universität Hamburg:
- Institute of Information Systems (Prof. Dr. Stefan Voß)
- Prof. Dr. Markus Nüttgens
Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about information systems as a major in your bachelor's degree program in business administration. We would also like to inform you about professional and other opportunites open to you when you choose to major in information systems via the following presentation (PDF, in German only).
Information Systems: What's that?
Information systems focuses on "systems for information and for communication in economic and administrative surroundings" (see also WKWI (1994)). As such, information systems is mainly interested in software systems employed by companies for operative reasons. The main tasks of information systems are as follows:
- Analyzing and modeling operative characteristics in connection with the implementation of software systems (e.g., analyzing informational demands as well as analyzing and modeling data flows and business processes).
- Conceptualizing, designing, and developing business software systems (e.g., modeling system architectures, software project management, as well as designing databases).
- Aligning, implementing, integrating, and maintaining business software systems (e.g., choosing a standard software and aligning it to specific business demands, taking into consideration aspects such as data protection and data security).
Information systems thus comprises areas related to business and operation, such as information management or modeling business processes, as well as information technology topics, such as developing application systems or structuring databases. The information systems major equips students with basic knowledge about designing, developing, and implementing information systems that enables them to comprehend these systems from the perspectives of user, developer, and programmer and thus assume a mediating role.
How is the major in information systems structured?
| Module | CP | Semester | Comments and Prerequisites |
| Information Management | 6 | Wi Te | No prerequisites. |
| E-Business | 6 | Su Te | |
| Modeling Information Systems | 6 | Wi Te | |
| Enterprise Resource Planning | 6 | Su Te | |
| Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming | 6 | Su Te | |
| IT-Entrepreneurship | 6 | Su Te | |
| Current Problems of Information Systems | 6 | upon notice | |
| Introduction to Scientific Research in Information Systems | 6 | Wi Te | |
|
Seminar on Information Management:
|
6 | Wi Te and Su Te | partly requires the fitting module |
Note:
30 CP must be achieved overall, of which 6 CP are earned in the seminar.
Is it possible to gain credit for modules in a major in information systems?
Yes. You can gain credit for modules up to12 CP.
From the majors Finance and Insurances as well as Audit and Taxes two modules can be deduced each (according to the current module book), from the majors Operations And Supply Chain Management you can even deduce all modules (except for seminars). It is advisable to select modules that are relevant to information systems and/or modules that deal with application areas within information systems. In case of doubt please consult the current module book.
Is all of this also valid for the bachelor's degree in business engineering?
Yes. However, as the major of the business engineering bachelor's program contains only 12 CP, you have no possibility to gain credit for modules from other areas.
Are there other ways to integrate information systems modules into my bachelor's degree program?
- You can obtain credit for some information systems modules in other majors. Please consult the regulations governing those individual majors.
- In addition, all information systems modules—with the exception of the seminar—can also be chosen within the free elective area of your degree program.
Which are to Possibilities for further Studies?
MSc. B.A.:
After completing a Business Administration Bachelor's degree with a specialization in Information Systems, you can of course complete a Business Administration Master's degree. However, there is no specialization in Information Systems during the B.A. Master's degree program at the University of Hamburg, but there are only a few modules selectable in the field "Methods" and in the free optional area.
MSc. Information Systems:
If you also want to have a lot of Information Systems courses in your Master's program, you can do a Master's degree in Information Systems at the University of Hamburg. An overview of this study program can be found here.
Admission requirements for the WiInf-Master of the University of Hamburg are, amongst other criteria, 30 credits from the field of computer science, which have to be evident in your application (until July 15 of each year). In addition to the compulsory module "Introduction to Information Systems", most of the modules in the field of Information Systems count as Computer Science credits. However, the Information Systems Master's program also requires to have programming skills, which are taught during the main focus only in the module "Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming".
In order to achieve the 30 credits in Computer Science and to acquire the expected programming knowledge until application deadline, you should complete at least 2 of the 3 compulsory Computer Science modules from the Information Systems Bachelor's degree program in the free optional area of Business Administration. These are Software Development I (6 credits, each WiSe), Software Development II (6 credit, each SuSe) and Computer Science in Context (6 credits, each WiSe). For detailed advice on which modules are individually meaningful to meet these admission requirements, please contact Dr. Schneidereit.