BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems (Full Time)

Your understanding of the use of information systems in today's organisations will prepare you for a wide variety of rewarding careers.

Course overview

This course gives you the opportunity to investigate the systems that are a major part of the 'information revolution'.

As all organisations today use information technology they require staff who can understand these systems and how people deal with and react to a business world that has a strong reliance on computing power.

To enhance your employability, you will undertake themes in decision making and strategic issues in your final year. The impact of computers on the way people work is also explored, giving you a sound knowledge base of business, analysis and IT. Students will also study economics and project management to give them a full understanding of the driving forces of business demand.

Through a lively and varied mix of teaching methods and assessment, you will be challenged in both theoretical and practical areas. Special emphasis is placed on developing your presentation skills, to boost your value in today's workplace.

In addition to the full-time mode, students may study this course on a flexible part-time basis.

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Industrial focus

You can also benefit from our successful optional Industrial Placement Year scheme. This occurs after Year 2, and before choosing your area of specialism for your final year. You will be given help and support for career and placement preparation. 

Course content

Year 1

Six core units:

• Systems Analysis and Design
• Business Problem Solving
• Internet Technology
• Introduction to Databases
• Introduction to Programming
• Group Project. 

Year 2

Six core units:

• Information Systems Design
• Developing for the Internet
• Business Economics
• Business and Financial Analysis
• Human-Digital Interaction Design
• Graduate Development. 

Year 3

Three core units and two option units:

• Project (double unit)
• Strategic Information Systems
• Decision Support Systems.

Options:

• Business Operations
• Electronic Marketing
• e-Business
• Computer Law and Intellectual Property
• Curriculum Plus.   

Why choose this course?

• Accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS) as fully meeting the educational requirement for Chartered IT Professional registration.
• Dedicated technology and networking laboratories.
• Specialist Usability Laboratory available for research and analysis.
• External speakers are invited for regular BCS meetings.

Assessment

Presentations, practical work, written assignments and group work. There are few formal exams.

Key career skills

Communication, project management, teamwork, presentation and analysis. 

Projects/work experience

The optional industrial placement year offers many benefits. Past companies have included: Local authorities, Ordnance Survey, IBM, Convergys, Hewlett Packard, Lloyds TSB and Southampton Football Club.

Graduate profile

Tom Hough

Solutions Consultant at Softcat
Studying BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems at Southampton Solent University is an investment that paid off for Tom Hough, as he has just secured a job working for Softcat, an IT solutions specialist, as a Solutions Consultant. “Rated by The Times as the #1 Best Small Company (2010/11) to work for, the benefits are excellent and within the first two years I am expected to have gained Microsoft Certified IT Professional and be working towards Cisco certifications.” Tom continues: “Without my lecturer’s input and suggestion, I may well have missed this opportunity.”

Discussing why he chose Southampton Solent University, Tom explains: “I’ve grown up sailing, so was keen on going to university somewhere on the south coast. I chose Solent as I felt that the course took the specific direction I wanted, providing a mixture of applied theory and real-world application with a hands-on approach.”

“Within each subject, we were given the opportunity to apply the theory practically through assignments or by designing and building solutions to real-life problems, as well as examinations and testing,” says Tom. “In my third year, I was impressed to see how strategically planned the entire course had been; every single subject had relevance to the final outcome of your degree. The lecturers are also very approachable and the classes are small and much more personal than I expected.”