3 credit hours
Instructor: Dr. Tammy Arthur/Dr. Kevin Pauli
Office: Self 201A/Self 308
Telephone: 601-925-3414/601-925-7734
E-mail: Arthur@mc.edu
Pauli@mc.edu
Office Hours: M 9a-12:30p (8/26-10/21)
M 2p-5:30p (10/22-12/14)
TR 9:15a-12n, 1:15-1:45p
Web: http://www.mc.edu/faculty/
Course Website: http://moodle.mc.edu/
I. Course Description
Introduction to Management Information Systems is a lecture and application based course that provides an introduction to the basics of information technology and its role in the organizational framework. Students will be provided with a background into the field of Information Systems and will be asked to apply the skills and techniques discussed in class in a variety of assignments.
II. Prerequisites
MIS 099 (the spreadsheet proficiency exam) is a prerequisite for this course. Students who struggled with the SPE are strongly encouraged to consider taking MIS 226 – Business Software Applications. This class is offered to help overcome any deficit a student might have in computer operations.
III. Rationale for Course
This course is based on the assertion that knowledge of information systems is essential for creating competitive organizations, adding business value, and providing useful products and services to customers (Laudon and Laudon). MIS is the interface between the technical methods and tools of the computer scientist and the organizational and financial ideas of the manager. Employers of business students expect them to be able to analyze and solve business problems using basic computer concepts and packages.
IV. Student Objectives and Outcomes
There are three primary learning goals for this course:
 To expose the student to the history, concepts, and practices central to the field of management information systems.
 To provide the student with the opportunity to consider and review these concepts using classroom discussion, business examples, and hands-on assignments.
 To help the student develop an ability to analyze problems, recommend solutions, and communicate those solutions using computer tools and techniques.
V. Academic Integrity
Mississippi College students bring the very highest ethical standards into the classroom and are expected to be scrupulously honest. Students should understand that there are consequences for unacceptable behavior and that they will be held accountable for their actions. Dishonesty, such as cheating or plagiarism, is regarded as a serious offense subject to severe penalty including, but not limited to, loss of credit and possible dismissal. Students should refer to the MC Student Handbook for examples of specific prohibited practices and the resulting punishments.
All work for this class is expected to be prepared on an individual basis unless otherwise stated by the instructor.

VII. Student Accommodation
In order for a student to receive disability accommodations under Section 504 of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, he or she must contact Student Counseling Services (SCS). SCS will assist with information regarding the appropriate policy and procedure for disability accommodations before each semester or upon immediate recognition of the disability. Student Counseling Services is located in
Alumni Hall Room #4 or you may contact them by phone at 601-925-7790. The Program Coordinator,
Holly Reeves, can be reached via email at hreeves@mc.edu
and the Director of Student Counseling
Services, Morgan Bryant at mbryant@mc.edu
.
VII. Outline of Major Topics
Foundation of Information Systems
Perspectives on IS, Types of IS, Strategic IS
Information Technology Infrastructure
Hardware and Software, Data Management, Telecommunications, Security
Using Information Systems
Enterprise Systems, E-commerce, Decision Support
Managing Information Systems
Ethical and Social Issues
VIII. Methods of Instruction
This course uses a combination of lecture (both online and traditional), classroom demonstration, class discussion, and hands-on assignments.
IX. Required Practices
This course requires the student to participate by reading, providing relevant in-class input, and completing computer assignments. This course also requires the student to work online.
X. Instructional Materials
Moodle
Course materials and assignments will be placed on Moodle.
Textbook (required)
Laudon, Kenneth C. & Laudon, Jane P. (2014). Essentials of Information Systems, 11
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Textbook Software (recommended)
ISBN: 0133576841 th ed.,
MyITLab Student Access code (Office 2013)
Computer Software
Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access
XI. Evaluation Structure
Exam 1
Exam 2
100 pts (22.2%)
100 pts (22.2%)
Exam 3
Exam 4
100 pts (22.2%)
100 pts (22.2%)
Assignments 50 pts (11.1%)
Assignments
Learning about information systems requires short periods of instruction followed by longer periods of practice. To assist in this endeavor, classroom sessions will be supplemented with application-oriented exercises. These will be (usually) completed outside of class time.
Assignments are due at the start of class on the due date. A letter grade will be subtracted from the score for each day that a lab is late. Work will not be accepted after one week.

Examinations
There will be four examinations during the semester. Exams contain short answer, fill in the blank, multiple choice, and/or essay questions covering the material from the textbook, class sessions, class assignments, and individual research. Most exams also have a practical component where students will be expected to apply what they have learned by completing a hands-on computer exercise in Excel and/or Access
There will be a makeup exam given the last week of class. Any student who misses a test during the semester regardless of the reason will take a makeup at this time. Note that this exam may take a different form and cover material not necessarily included in the original exam.
No electronic devices may be used during any examination. These include (but are not limited to) telephones, iPods, calculators, translators, and PDAs.
Student’s work will hopefully be graded by the following week. Once assignments or tests are returned, students have until the following class meeting to raise any concerns they might have.
Questions should be submitted in writing via e-mail to Arthur@mc.edu
.
Participation and Attendance
Due to the nature of this hands-on class, participation per se is not evaluated. However, participation and significant contribution are expected during class sessions.
Students are responsible for any material covered in class regardless of attendance. Missed material will not be re-presented by the instructor. Students are responsible for getting any missed assignments and having them completed by the due date.
Mississippi College has adopted the practice of finding students early in the semester who may be exhibiting behaviors that could ultimately have a negative impact on their academic progress. These behaviors are often called “red flag” behaviors and include, but are not limited to, excessive absences, poor test grades, and lack of class participation or evidence of non-engagement. Identifying these behaviors early gives the instructor the opportunity to raise the “red flag” on behalf of a particular student so that the student can take the appropriate action to redirect his/her progress.
The system alerts the student, the student’s advisor, and the Office of Student Success.
These messages are intended to help a student recognize an area of concern and to encourage him/her to make some choices to improve the situation. When a student receives an Early Alert message, the student should quickly make an appointment to talk with his/her professor about the situation. Also, students can make full use of the Office of Student Success to set academic goals and connect to campus resources.
Other Classroom Policies
In order to provide my students with the educational climate they deserve, I cannot allow any student to prevent me from teaching nor will any student be allowed to keep another student from learning.
Therefore, activities that disrupt class are subject to penalty in the form of a lower final grade.
These include, but are not limited to:
 Cell phones that beep, buzz, or otherwise call your attention
 Typing into your cell phone or computer when you have not been requested to do so
 Talking or sleeping in class
 Arriving late to class

XII. TENTATIVE Schedule
Date Topic
Week 1 Chapter 1 – Perspectives on IS
Week 2 Chapter 2 – Types of ISs
Week 3 Chapter 2 – Collaboration
Week 4 Chapter 9 – Enterprise Systems
9/29 EXAM 1 – Chaps 1,2,9 & Excel practical
Week 5 Chapter 5 – Hardware/Software
Week 6 Chapter 7 – Telecommunications
10/13
Week 7
FALL BREAK
Chapter 7 – the Internet
Chapter 10 – E-Commerce
Week 8 Chapter 8 – IS Security
10/27 EXAM 2 - Chapters 5,7,8, & 10
Week 9 Chapter 6 – Database Basics
Week 10 Chapter 6 – Managing Data Resources
Week 11 Chapter 6 – Data Warehouses & Mining
11/17 EXAM 3 - Chapter 6 & Access practical
Week 12 Chapter 11 – Decision Support Systems
Week 13 Chapter 11 – Artificial Intelligence
11/26 THANKSGIVING
Week 14 Chapter 4 – Information Rights
Week 15 Chapter 4 – Property Rights
12/9 MAKEUP DAY
12/15 EXAM 4 – Chapters 4, 11 & Excel practical