David E. Anyiwo, Chair Department of Management Information Systems Bowie State University Center for Business and Graduate Studies, Suite 3319 14000 Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD 20715 Tel: 301-860-3626 Fax: 301-860-3593 Email: danyiwo@bowiestate.edu

The Department of Management Information Systems (MIS) has a tradition of excellence in teaching and research. Our faculty members are fully committed to the education and wellbeing of our students, and have an extensive background of experience in diverse and critical areas of the information technology (IT) field, including intelligent agent-based computing, semantic web technologies, software engineering/software structures, healthcare informatics, information assurance, e-commerce and e-business technologies, product integration and process improvement, database systems, data warehousing and mining, business intelligence and decision support systems, enterprise information systems, digital business systems and security, project management, as well as human-computer interaction and collaboration. We provide a stimulating and nurturing environment in which our students are mentored and guided to become principled IT professionals and our faculty members are driven to generate ideas that advance the IT practice.

The department has vigorously pursued its mission of providing a state-of-the-art, balanced, and highly viable information systems education. It offers three degree programs: the Bachelor of Science in business administration with concentration in business information systems, the Bachelor of Science in Technology (BTech), and the Master of Science in information systems (MSIS). The MSIS program is also offered in Europe through the University of Maryland Overseas Division. In addition to the degree programs, we also offer a professional certificate program (the Information Analyst Certificate) at the graduate level. The certificate program is designed for working professionals seeking to enrich their portfolio of IT skills.

The MSIS program was restructured in the fall of 2005, following a comprehensive program review that sought to realign the curriculum to the emerging needs of the market. The enhanced curriculum reflects a vast expansion of the technical base of IT education, and includes 20 new courses distributed in three areas of concentration: information systems management, digital business and knowledge management, and information security management. The feedback from the students and their potential employers is that the new curriculum has substantially improved the quality and attractiveness of the MSIS degree program.

The BTech program is designed to enable community college graduates to complete the baccalaureate degree in integrated business technology by transferring up to 60 credits toward the degree program. We plan to deliver the entire program online in the next academic year. Furthermore, we plan to expand the base of the undergraduate degree program in business information systems by adding new practice-oriented courses in information security, health informatics, and web technologies to the curriculum next academic year.

We have made tremendous progress in the quest to enrich and facilitate the learning process by infusing additional cutting-edge technology into the classroom. Through the auspices of our local business partners, Una Telecom, Inc. and TransGlobal Business Systems, the department initiated the effort to establish an intrusion detection system (IDS) in the Business Computer Laboratory in 2005. When fully implemented, the IDS facility will enable the delivery of practical knowledge in diverse areas of information security to students. It will also support research in information assurance and forensic engineering. We also emphasize active inquiry and problem solving as a major learning mode in the design and delivery of all course offerings. All MIS courses are delivered in computer laboratories or smart classrooms and about 80% of the courses include significant online content. Our ability to offer both online and traditional classroom components for many MIS courses has enabled our students to preserve significant flexibility in their course registration options.

Our students have demonstrated excellence and talent both inside and outside the classroom. A team of MIS students won the first prize trophy at the 2004 international venture challenge for historical black institutions throughout the United States and the Caribbean islands, sponsored by the Opportunity Funding Corporation (OFC). The team also won the best business plan presentation trophy. Also, our students have received numerous citations for superior performance at work.

Thank you very much for your interest in the Department of Management Information Systems at Bowie State University. Please contact me if you need additional information about our academic or other programs. We invite you to visit our state-of-the-art facilities if you live in or are visiting the Washington metropolitan area.

With all good wishes,
David E. Anyiwo