Latest News

App State students place highest in the state for Excel skills

Appalachian State University students have earned the highest scores in North Carolina on the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel certification ex...

The CIS Department welcomes new faculty

The Department of Computer Information Systems welcomes two new tenure track faculty members: Assistant Professors Dr. Lijun Chen and Dr. Yuxiao Luo, ...

App State alumnus Ron Woods, a Class of 1968 App State graduate and Hickory native, has donated five scholarships to support students at the App State Hickory campus. Jude Blochaviak, a first-year student from Taylorsville intending to major in computer information systems, center, represented the five recipients of the Ron Woods Scholarship during a recognition at halftime of the inaugural Hickory Hoops Classic game, held Dec. 21 at Catawba Valley Community College’s Tarlton Complex in Hickory.

Alumnus Ron Woods donates scholarships to support 5 students at App State Hickory campus

HICKORY, N.C. — Appalachian State University alumnus Ron Woods, a Class of 1968 App State graduate and Hickory native, has funded scholarships for f...

Team Cybersharks practicing to compete

App State ranks in top 10% for cybersecurity nationally

Appalachian State University has been named to the Cyber Power Rankings, a list of the top 100 schools teaching real-world cybersecurity tas...

Dr. Scott Hunsinger (pictured) was honored as the 2023 ISCAP-EDSIG Fellows inductee for his sustained, long-term, meaningful and effective support of the organization in its ongoing mission to improve IS Education, mentor IS students, and foster the careers of IS faculty. He has participated in multiple leadership roles including President and Vice President and continues to serve as Senior Editor of JISAR.

CIS faculty win awards at Information Systems & Computing Academic Professionals conference

Three faculty from Appalachian State's Department of Computer Information Systems received awards November 1-4 at the Information Syste...

Xiong to serve as associate dean for advanced studies in business

Xiong to serve as associate dean for advanced studies in business

Dr. Jason Xiong, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Information Systems, will serve as associate dean for advanced studies in b...

Research from 9 Walker College faculty members will be featured March 30-31 during the Appalachian Research in Business Symposium

Research from nine Walker College of Business faculty members will be featured as part of the Appalachian Research in Business Symposium, to be h...

Dr. Xiong named finalist in Boone Chamber's 4 Under 40 Awards

Xiong named finalist in Boone Chamber's 4 Under 40 Awards

Jason Xiong, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Information Systems and director of Appalachian State University's&nb...

Dr. Jason Xiong earns CRAM award for research.

CIS Associate Professor, Dr. Jason Xiong earns GRAM award.

Three faculty members in the Walker College of Business have been awarded Graduate Research Assistant Mentoring Program (GRAM) funding ...

Woolard, Jensen, Young

New Faculty Join CIS Department

The Department of Computer Information Systems welcomes three new team members, lecturer Scott Jensen, and adjunct faculty members Fred Woolard and Ga...

Great Courses, Great Faculty, Great Careers

When considering any business major, students should look closely at three dimensions:

  1. The quality of the courses offered.
  2. The passion, engagement and knowledge of the faculty that teach them.
  3. The career options that the major provides. 

Our programs excel in all three areas. The Department of Computer Information Systems (CIS) offers courses that leverage cutting-edge business concepts and technologies to promote relevant skills.

Our award-winning instructors have extensive industry experience and are recognized across campus for their high level of student engagement. Our faculty take a genuine interest in seeing our students succeed. Finally, we know that the end game for business students is to launch a meaningful career.

Our CIS program prepares students for a myriad of nontechnical and technical career paths as systems analysts and designers, systems integrators, process engineers, project managers, IT administrators, system developers, and many others. Projected growth for CIS careers is consistently high (over 20% through 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics), and starting salaries are among the highest of all business disciplines.

Mission, Vision and Values

The department fosters a collegial and collaborative work environment, in which we engage with our students to promote academic and professional excellence. Read more.

Welcome from the chair

In today's dynamic business environment, information systems have become the engines of business, the means for making better business decisions and the platform for global collaboration. The ability to leverage information technology is now a competitive necessity, and information systems skills have become imperative regardless of business industry, size or geographic location. Accordingly, the CIS department seeks to develop professionals with strong analytical and critical thinking skills, who are capable of analyzing, designing and implementing innovative business information systems projects; creating competitive advantage by optimizing operational efficiency and furthering strategic goals. 

Our Computer Information Systems programs have curricula that promote solid business acumen and technical fundamentals, arming students with a unique blend of knowledge, and enabling them to serve as the vital bridge between professionals in functional business areas and information technology (IT). We offer a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Computer Information Systems.