About the Department of Business Information Systems

Businesses are growing their positions in information technology more quickly than they can fill needed roles. This shortage of qualified IT professionals means that you will have many opportunities for a fulfilling career and may be entertaining multiple job offers even before graduation! Whether your interest is in cybersecurity, systems design, software implementation, analytics or e-commerce, we have a program that will fit your talents and the future you are looking to create.

Your bright future, powered by our mission

Our faculty are renowned for their research, teaching and industry experience. Their significant contributions to the field through research ensure that you receive the latest and most-relevant information. And our faculty's industry experience allows you to learn practical insights from real-world examples, bridging theory and application so that you have confidence in your knowledge base.

The commitment of the faculty, paired with resources like the college's Zhang Career Center, will make sure your job outlook is bright.

I spent months researching career fields, which is when I came across the computer information systems program at WMU Haworth. I learned that the discipline is the bridge between business and technology. After hearing about the student success at WMU Haworth, I knew it's where I wanted to be.

—Ricardo Campos

Student Photo

A BIS Student in downtown Kalamazoo

Enter the working world with a remarkable resume

In the Department of Business Information Systems, you will begin to build your resume on day one through your courses, which will have relevant, real-world projects that give you hands-on experiences that employers value. Those experiences increase your bandwidth as a problem solver and will be pivotal in your search for externships, internships and full-time job opportunities.

Take a look at some of the firms you'll have an opportunity to work with:

Amazon logo.
Ford logo.
General Motors logo.
Google logo.
HSBC logo.
Microsoft logo

Join outstanding alumni who've made their mark

Our alumni rise to the top of their fields, and the Department of Business Information Systems Outstanding Alumni Award recognizes the career accomplishments of our alumni. The award is the highest alumni honor the department bestows.

2026 honoree

Sky Perry, B.B.A.’07, vice president of cybersecurity, Citibank, is the recipient of the Department of Business Information Systems Outstanding Alumni Award. He has 23 years of experience in information technology, including 17 years in IT management, with a career spanning a range of industries, including retail, professional services, manufacturing, distribution, hospitality and financial services. As vice president of cybersecurity at Citibank, he leads vendor management within the global identity and access management space, navigating contract negotiations, compliance oversight and risk controls across a complex web of vendor relationships. He also drives vulnerability remediation efforts to maintain regulatory compliance and align security practices with the organization's risk appetite.

Our history, your legacy

Less than 6% of business schools worldwide have obtained AACSB accreditation—and WMU Haworth is one of them, making it an excellent choice for students seeking quality education that is a good investment of their tuition dollars. WMU Haworth has maintained its AACSB accreditation since 1970 for undergraduate programs and 1981 for its graduate programs.

Part of AACSB’s standard is an active connection to industry, which the department achieves in many ways. Here are just some of the unique opportunities available:

  • Company visits immerse you in the culture of a variety of firms and corporations, giving you exclusive access to some of the best minds in tech, many of them WMU alumni. Students make connections resulting in opportunities for mentorship, internships and full-time positions.
  • Business Analytics and Information Technology (BAIT) and the Bronco Cybersecurity Club are student organization that develop social and professional programming for students in IT, bringing in notable speakers from leading companies and providing a foundation of support for all students in the department.
  • Guest speakers and workshops are offered by the department to introduce students to the top trends in technology while providing networking opportunities.
A professor working with BIS Students
For me, I've always loved business and wanted a broad field that would allow me flexibility. With the business analytics major, I feel I can honestly work in any industry I want to.
—Isaac Glass, BAIT student organization president and intern for BNY Mellon