20005 Assessment Report
Assessment Report for BBA in Information Systems
Spring, 2005
Introduction
The BBA-IS major is one of two undergraduate majors offered by the CIS Department. (See also BS-Computer and Information
Science.) The basic purpose of the program is to prepare students to work with information systems, primarily in the Greater
Cleveland area. In contrast to the BS-CIS major, which is a general purpose, software oriented program; and the Bachelor of
Computer Engineering major (offered by the Engineering College), which emphasizes design of computer hardware; the BBA-IS
degree emphasizes the use of information technology in business. Students are taught how to plan and implement information
systems, primarily in a business environment. The distinguishing characteristic of this program is that, in addition to their computerrelated courses, students receive a strong grounding in fundamental business concepts.
Goals
Goals were developed by all tenure-track faculty teaching in the BBA-IS program, in 2003. The goals were established by faculty
consensus following a meeting to discuss the subject. Although we believe that the goals of the program are fundamentally sound, we
also believe that there are better ways to state them, and we intend to revise the goals statement in 2005-2006.
Outcomes
Outcome measures were determined by all tenure-track faculty teaching in the BBA-IS program, in 2003. They were established by
faculty consensus following a meeting to discuss the subject. The outcomes were not changed in 2004-2005.
Research Methods
When we began conducting outcome measures we had no easily identified exit point to the program, so we have been administering
assessment tests in each of the core IST courses. About a year ago we introduced a capstone course and all majors now take this
course at or near the end of their studies. Therefore, beginning in Fall, 2005, we intend to move all assessment testing to the capstone
course, IST 465. The only exception to this is that, since our majors are part of the BBA program, they are tested for business and
communication skills in MLR 465, the BBA capstone course.
Program: BBA – Information Systems
Department: Computer & Information Science
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20005 Assessment Report
Program:
Department:
BBA – Information Systems
Completed By:
Computer & Information Science
Date:
Donald Golden
May 25, 2005
Goal 1: Students should be able to apply Information Systems concepts and principles to develop and support information systems in the
organization.
Outcomes
Research Methods
Students should have average
scores of 75% or better on
standard tests administered in
every core course.
Faculty created tests for each
course. In courses which had
more than one section, the
instructors collaborated to
produce a common test.
Findings
2003-2004
IST 211 – 81.00%
IST 221 – 76.50%
IST 311 – 67.77%
IST 321 – 48.00%
IST 331 – 82.71%
IST 341 – 68.50%
2004-05
75%
60%
70%
57%
78%
58%
Review
Actions
All faculty teaching in the IS
program reviewed the results
as a group, at the end of the
Spring, 2005 semester. The
review was made as part of an
on-going series of meetings to
discuss the program status.
At the end of Spring, 2004 we
concluded that students needed to improve basic programming skills, and appropriate
changes were made to IST
211 and 311 starting in Fall,
2004. We are waiting to see if
these changes impact higher
level courses.
We currently are evaluating
the overall structure of the
BBA-IS program in relation to
current industry trends.
Program: BBA – Information Systems
Department: Computer & Information Science
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20005 Assessment Report
Goal 2:
Students should have sufficient understanding of business concepts and principles that they can integrate information technology with
functional business areas.
Outcomes
Research Methods
Findings
Students’ business skills are
evaluated in MLR 465, the BBA
capstone course, as part of
general BBA evaluation.
Although we are not able to
distinguish BBA students by
major, we feel that the College
assessment process is adequate for testing the business
skills of IS students.
See the BBA assessment
report for further information.
Program: BBA – Information Systems
Department: Computer & Information Science
3
Review
Actions
20005 Assessment Report
Goal 3: Students should have communication skills necessary for the business environment.
Outcomes
Research Methods
Findings
Students’ communication skills
are evaluated in MLR 465, the
BBA capstone course, as part
of general BBA evaluation.
Although we are not able to
distinguish BBA students by
major, we feel that the College
assessment process is adequate for testing the communication skills of IS students.
See the BBA assessment
report for further information.
Program: BBA – Information Systems
Department: Computer & Information Science
4
Review
Actions