Telecommunications and Information Management Major (TMLJ) (36 hours)

Telecommunications and Information Management (TMLJ) is an interdisciplinary major offered through the School of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Business Information Systems, Haworth College of Business.

The major prepares students for a variety of telecommunications and data communication subdisciplines, including telephony, data base management, network operations, cable television, satellite communication and Internet communication. The focus of the major is to give students a well balanced education in a variety of business and technical management issues.

The major offers a 21st century approach to the study of telecommunications and information technology by combining people and resources across the greater WMU campus. Students graduating as a TIM major will receive a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the College of Arts and Sciences or a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the Haworth College of Business (TMBJ).

Admission requirements:

Students will be required to formally apply and will be admitted on a selective basis. Students applying to the major from both Business Information Systems and Communication must have a minimum gpa of 2.50 and meet with the appropriate program advisor in either the School of Communication or the Department of Business Information Systems. Priority seating will be given to declared TIM majors in all required and elective courses identified with the major.

Business Students:
Students who have completed at least 42 overall semester hours, the Pre-Business curriculum requirements, and the Pre-TIM major requirements (BUS 2700, COM 2400) may apply. To graduate, students must meet the minimum requirement of 50% of their course work in the Haworth College of Business. For more information about the admission procedure, see the program advisor in the Department of Business Information Systems.

Communication Students:
Students who complete the Pre-Communication major requirements may apply for the interdisciplinary major in Telecommunications and Information Management. To graduate, students must meet all College of Arts and Sciences curriculum requirements. See the Communication advisor for more information.

Program Requirements

Pre-Major Courses (6 hours)

COM 2400 - Introduction to Media and Telecommunications Credits: 3 hours

Select Either:

BUS 2700 - Business-Driven Information Technology Credits: 3 hours
(Required of Haworth College of Business students)
or
COM 2000 - Introduction to Communication Theory Credits: 3 hours
(Required of Arts and Sciences students)

Required Core Courses (21 hours)

CIS 3260 - Networking and Data Communications Credits: 3 hours
CIS 3600 - Systems Analysis and Design Credits: 3 hours
CIS 3660 - Information Assurance and Compliance Credits: 3 hours
CIS 4600 - Business Database Applications Credits: 3 hours
COM 4480 - Telecommunications Management Credits: 3 hours
COM 5410 - Telecommunications Law and Policy Credits: 3 hours
COM 5540 - Communication Technology Credits: 3 hours

Electives (9 hours)

After consulting with the major advisor, students will be advised to choose three courses from the following courses based on their individual interest, specific need, or career planning.

CIS 2600 - Business Programming A Credits: 3 hours
CIS 2640 - Business Reporting and Analysis Credits: 3 hours
CIS 2800 - Internet Programming Credits: 3 hours
CIS 3620 - Information Technology Project Management Credits: 3 hours
CIS 3900 - Business Web Architecture Credits: 3 hours
CIS 4100 - Internship Credits: 1 to 4 hours
CIS 4640 - Business Data Mining Credits: 3 hours
CIS 4700 - e-Portals Development Credits: 3 hours
CIS 4900 - Electronic Commerce Development Credits: 3 hours
CIS 4950 - Web Administration Credits: 3 hours
CIS 4990 - Enterprise Project Credits: 3 hours
CIS 5550 - Topics in Computer Information Systems Credits: 3 hours
COM 3540 - Web Design Basics Credits: 3 hours
COM 4550 - International Telecommunications Credits: 3 hours
COM 4990 - Internship Credits: 1 to 6 hours
COM 5640 - Telecommunications Networks Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 5010 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 5690 - Intermediate Geographic Systems Credits: 4 hours

Clusters:

The following course clusters are recommended to students who wish to develop a subspecialty in either e-Business or Geographic Information Systems.

e-Business Course Cluster:

CIS 2600 - Business Programming A Credits: 3 hours
or
CIS 2800 - Internet Programming Credits: 3 hours
CIS 3900 - Business Web Architecture Credits: 3 hours

One of the following:

CIS 4700 - e-Portals Development Credits: 3 hours
CIS 4900 - Electronic Commerce Development Credits: 3 hours
CIS 4950 - Web Administration Credits: 3 hours

Geographic Information Systems:

Because each GEOG course contains 3 credit hours of lecture and 1 credit hour of lab, students who select one or more GEOG course together with other elective course(s) may exceed the required 9 hours of elective credits.

CIS 2600 - Business Programming A Credits: 3 hours
GEOG 5010 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems Credits: 4 hours
GEOG 5690 - Intermediate Geographic Systems Credits: 4 hours

Notes:

All course requirements must be met to enroll in upper-level courses. A minimum grade of “C” is required in all courses applied toward the major. The baccalaureate-level writing requirement for Arts and Sciences students is COM 4480; for Haworth College of Business students, BUS 3700.