Students with a major in computer information systems (CIS) develop a solid understanding of the use, design, development and management of information systems and information technology. CIS majors at Rider University prepare for a variety of professional career paths. They develop expertise with various application development and networking tools, and discover how the effective use of information systems can create new business opportunities in addition to solving existing business problems.

All of the CIS courses are designed to give students the opportunity to develop and manage projects that can be applied immediately to real organizational settings. Increasingly, firms seeking individuals with a technological specialization expect outstanding organizational communications, and interpersonal skills, in addition to excellent analytical skills. To that end, many of the CIS course projects are designed to encourage students to develop and utilize these competencies.

CIS majors begin with CIS-185 Introduction to Computing, which is also required of all business majors. This course introduces them to software including Microsoft XP, Office, and SAP R/3. After satisfactorily completing this course, students may pursue the CIS major.

The required CIS core includes Introduction to Programming, Networking and Telecommunications, and Database Management. Additionally, each CIS major will choose from one of three model plans of study and take at least three courses in the plan, plus one additional CIS elective of their choice. The three models include E-business and Multimedia,Networks and Enterprise Management, and Applications Development. Each model prepares the student for a focused career path in information technology. The choice of elective enables the student to further develop a concentration in a particular area or round out his/her knowledge base. Students work with their CIS advisors to develop a plan of study that best meets their needs.

In their last year, CIS majors take CIS-485 Management Information Systems, which focuses on the use and management of information technology for the strategic and competitive advantage of an organization. This is also a capstone for all business majors at Rider. This course emphasizes the importance of integrating enterprise-wide resources for maximum organizational effectiveness.

For graduation, the student must achieve an overall GPA of 2.0 in the major, with no course grade less than C-.