BS in Business Computing

Brief Description

The degree in Business Computing is a hybrid program that provides an excellent blend of Computing technologies and Business knowledge. The program covers a breadth of Information Technologies (electronic office, programming, databases, multimedia, networking and the web) and focuses on fundamental areas of Business (Management, Marketing, Accounting, Finance and Economics). Graduates of the program will have the skills and training needed to understand Business functions, to analyze business-user information needs and to design and implement information systems.

The BS in Business Computing prepares the student for a career either in the field of Computer Science and its applications or in the field of Business. The program develops broadly educated and competent graduates ready to pursue professional careers or graduate studies in either Business or Computer Science. Training in research methods and a final year capstone project provide the theoretical and practical framework for successful performance of program graduates in industry or academia.

Degree Requirements

In order to receive the BS degree, the student must have fulfilled all the GER and major requirements and have completed at least 121 US credit hours with an overall G.P.A of 2.0 or better. All Business Computing students take a Research Methods course followed by a two semester sequence Senior Project I and II course. According to NECHE Standards, students must complete at least one fourth of their undergraduate program, including advanced work in the major or concentration, at the institution awarding the degree. As a consequence, all candidates for an ACT degree must have been in residence at the College for at least during the last two semesters of full time instruction, assuming availability and equivalency of transferable courses.

Open University degree structure

The program in Business Computing is currently validated by Open University: under this scheme, 24 are out of the 40 courses required for a Bachelor’s degree are validated by Open University. Students must necessarily take the fourth year courses at ACT. Successful students will receive a Bachelor’s degree from Open University in addition to the ACT degree for a single course of studies by meeting the following common set of requirements (in addition to meeting General Education Requirements)—courses highlighted in bold are validated by Open University. For more information, check the student handbook. The OU Regulations can be found here.

Computer Science Requirements

• Computer Science 105*: Introduction to Programming I (OU)
• Computer Science 106: Introduction to Programming II (OU)
• Computer Science 107*: Multimedia I (OU)
• Computer Science 151*: Quantitative Computing
• Computer Science 215: Data Structures (OU)
• Computer Science 205: Business Data Management (OU)
• Computer Science 206: Web Development (OU)
• Computer Science 306: Advanced Web Development (OU)
• Computer Science 312: Database Management Systems (OU)
• Computer Science 322: Computer Networks (OU)
• Computer Science 450: System Analysis and Design (OU)
• Computer Science 325: Distributed Applications (OU)
• Computer Science 443: Senior Project I (OU)
• Computer Science 444: Senior Project II (OU)

Business Requirements

(Two of the following four courses as OU and one of them as non-OU)

• Economics 101: Introductory Macroeconomics (OU)
• Accounting 101: Financial Accounting (OU)
• Management 101: Introduction to Management (OU)
• Marketing 101: Introduction to Marketing (OU)

(All of the following courses)

• Finance 201: Financial Management (OU)
• Management 201: Organizational Behavior (OU)
• Management 312: Operations Management (OU)
• Business Administration 240/241: Principles of Commercial Law/International Business Law (OU)

Other Degree Requirements

• Mathematics 101*: Elements of Finite Mathematics
• Mathematics 115*: Calculus (OU)
• Statistics 205: Statistics I (OU)
• Research 299: Research Methods (OU)

Business Computing Major Electives

(3 of the following are required)

• Computer Science 219 (OU)
• Computer Science 321 (OU)
• Computer Science 330 (OU)
• Computer Science 333 (OU)
• Computer Science 401 (OU)
• Computer Science 412 (OU)
• Computer Science 421 (OU)
• Computer Science 422 (OU)
• Computer Science 499 (OU)
• Finance 210 (OU)
• Finance 220 (OU)
• Finance 232 (OU)
• Marketing 320 (OU)
• Marketing 324 (OU)
• Management 210 (OU)

Electives

• One Computer Science or Business Elective level 300 or above (OU)
• One free elective

* Any of the Major courses above marked with an asterisk may also be taken to meet part of the GER.

Suggested Program of Studies

Year One (Level 4)

• Mathematics 101
• Mathematics 115 (OU)
• Computer Science 105 (OU)
• Computer Science 106 (OU)
• Computer Science 107 (OU)
• Ecology 110
• English 101
• English 102
• History 120
• Politics 101

Year Two (Level 4)

• Computer Science 215 (OU)
• Computer Science 205 (OU)
• Computer Science 151 (OU)
• Economics 101 (OU)
• Marketing 101 (OU)
• Accounting 101
• History 120
• Art 120
• English 204
• Psychology 101

Year Three (Level 5)

• Computer Science 206 (OU)
• Computer Science 312 (OU)
• Computer Science 306 (OU)
• Computer Science 450 (OU)
• Statistics 205 (OU)
• Finance 201 (OU)
• Management 201 (OU)
• Research Methods 299 (OU)
• Philosophy 203
• Elective (Computer Science or Business – level 300 or above)

Year Four (Level 6)

• Computer Science 322 (OU)
• Computer Science 325 (OU)
• Capstone Project: Computer Science 443 (OU)
• Capstone Project: Computer Science 444 (OU)
• Business Computing Major Elective (OU)
• Business Computing Major Elective (OU)
• Business Computing Major Elective (OU)
• Management 312 (OU)
• Business Administration 240/241 (OU)
• Free Elective