Inspiring future innovators through technology and real-world experience
Computing drives innovation in all economic sectors, from business to science to entertainment. Our computer information systems program is designed to develop your technical skills through hands-on projects in programming, networking, database systems, software development, system administration and information security.
What is computer information systems?
Computing drives innovation in all economic sectors, from business to entertainment to manufacturing and scientific research—and computer information systems encompasses all aspects of information technology (IT) in this wide range of industries. This field examines not just how computing technology works, but also how IT solutions are designed, managed and applied to address complex problems in the workplace, in everybody's daily life or in society at large. A computer information systems degree builds the practical technical skills for a successful IT career or further education in a professional graduate program.
Why study computer information systems at UNH Manchester?
Students in the computer information systems program at UNH Manchester develop technical skills through extensive hands-on projects in programming, networking, databases, software development, cloud computing and cybersecurity. Guided by faculty experts, students explore the latest technologies in well-equipped, advanced labs. Working both independently and collaboratively, students are prepared to select, develop, integrate and administer secure computing technologies to enable users to accomplish their personal, organizational and societal goals. Real-world projects and internships with business partners open doors to network with local companies, nonprofits, government and more—all while giving students the skills and experience to pursue graduate study or careers in information technology.
Potential careers
- Cloud computing engineer
- Computer and information systems manager
- Database administrator
- Information security analyst
- Information technology analyst
- Information technology architect
- Infrastructure developer
- Network and computer systems administrator
- Software/application developer
- Web developer
The accelerated master's program is designed to give diligent students the ability to complete a B.S. in computer information systems and an M.S. in information technology in as little as five years. You're eligible to apply if you have a GPA of 3.2 or higher in your junior year or first semester of senior year. learn more
Curriculum & Requirements
The computer information systems (CIS) or information technology (IT) field, in its broadest sense, encompasses all aspects of computing technology. During their program of study, students develop a strong skillset to effectively select, develop, apply, integrate, and administer secure computing technologies to accomplish user goals.
The bachelor of science degree in Computer Information Systems prepares graduates with knowledge, skills, and professional practices to work in the highly integrated field of computing and to grow into leadership positions. The program also enables graduates to further their studies at the graduate level and pursue research in a computing-related discipline.
Career opportunities for students with an undergraduate CIS degree are varied, but may include such areas as software applications developer, data security specialist, database developer/administrator, e-commerce analyst/programmer, help desk manager, multimedia developer, network/system administrator, technical writer, technology trainer, user support specialist, testing and quality assurance specialist, or web developer. Career options exist in a wide range of organizations as all businesses, industries, and nonprofits continue to use, develop, and integrate information technology solutions.
Program Educational Objectives
Within five years of graduation, a CIS student should be able to:
- Apply knowledge and skills in core and advanced information technologies to help an organization achieve its goals.
- Advocate for users of information technologies, whether they are end users of information systems, managers of enterprise applications, developers of IT solutions, or customers of IT-reliant work systems.
- Develop, manage, and evaluate computing and communication systems and services.
- Live and work as contributing, well-rounded members of society.
For additional information about the computer information systems program, contact Michael Jonas or the UNH Manchester Office of Admissions, (603) 641-4150.
Sample Course Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| COMP 405 | Introduction to Web Design and Development | 4 |
| ENGL 401 | First-Year Writing | 4 |
| MATH 420 or MATH 422 or MATH 425 or COMP 500 | Finite Mathematics or Mathematics for Business Applications or Calculus I or Discrete Structures | 4 |
| UMST 401 | First Year Seminar | 2 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMP 424 | Applied Computing 1: Foundations of Programming | 4 |
| COMP 520 | Database Design and Development | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMP 430 | Systems Fundamentals | 4 |
| COMP 550 | Networking Concepts | 4 |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMP 525 | Data Structures Fundamentals | 4 |
| COMP 530 | Machine and Network Architecture | 4 |
| Concentration Course | 4 | |
| Discovery Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMP 560 | Ethics and the Law in the Digital Age | 4 |
| UMST 582 | Internship and Career Planning Seminar | 1 |
| Concentration Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMP 690 | Internship Experience | 4 |
| COMP 730 | Software Development | 4 |
| Concentration Course | 4 | |
| COMP Topic Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMP 715 | Information Security | 4 |
| Concentration Course | 4 | |
| COMP Topic Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMP 790 | Capstone Project | 4 |
| COMP Topic Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Elective Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 131 | |
Degree Requirements
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
Major Requirements
Students majoring in computer information systems must complete 128 credits to graduate, satisfy the University's Discovery Program, and complete 81 credits in the major with a minimum of C- in each course. Students must maintain an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.
Transfer students who elect to major in computer information systems must earn 81 approved credits for completion of the their major, of which at least 24 credits must be completed at UNH Manchester.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Mathematics Course 1 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
MATH 420 | Finite Mathematics | |
MATH 422 | Mathematics for Business Applications | |
MATH 424B | Calculus for Life Sciences | |
MATH 425 | Calculus I | |
COMP 500 | Discrete Structures | |
| Computing Core | ||
| COMP 405 | Introduction to Web Design and Development | 4 |
| COMP 424 | Applied Computing 1: Foundations of Programming | 4 |
| COMP 430 | Systems Fundamentals | 4 |
| COMP 520 | Database Design and Development | 4 |
| COMP 525 | Data Structures Fundamentals | 4 |
| COMP 530 | Machine and Network Architecture | 4 |
| COMP 550 | Networking Concepts | 4 |
| COMP 560 | Ethics and the Law in the Digital Age | 4 |
| Project and Professional Practice 2 | ||
| COMP 715 | Information Security | 4 |
| COMP 730 | Software Development | 4 |
| UMST 582 | Internship and Career Planning Seminar | 1 |
| COMP 690 | Internship Experience | 4 |
| COMP 790 | Capstone Project | 4 |
| or COMP 791 | Senior Thesis | |
| Computing Topics 3 | ||
| Select three computing courses | 12 | |
| Concentration to Broaden and Advance Student Learning of Computing Innovations 4 | ||
| Select four courses | 16 | |
| Total Credits | 81 | |
- 1
Any of these courses, except for COMP 500 Discrete Structures, may be used to satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning Discovery requirement.
- 2
The program prepares students for the workforce and further education in a holistic way by emphasizing communication, collaboration, team work, initiative, appreciation for diversity, and self-direction and responsibility.
- 3
Advisor permission required.
- 4
Majors can creatively design a concentration of courses that meet their academic and professional goals and career plans. Four courses can be selected across a wide university curriculum, reflecting majors' interests in a liberal arts, scientific, engineering, interdisciplinary, or professional area of study. The concentration must be approved by the student's advisor before the student's junior year.
- Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
- Use systemic approaches to select, develop, apply, integrate, and administer secure computing technologies to accomplish user goals.
The student learning outcomes are aligned with criteria for accrediting information technology programs as recommended by the ABET Computing Accreditation Commission and the ACM Computing Curricula – IT 2017 Information Technology guidelines.
Explore Program Details
Technology is advancing daily, and the need for tech-savvy graduates is growing alongside it.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates positive growth in many computing professions, projecting one million more computing jobs than students in 2020. In its spring 2016 Salary Survey, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) shows computer science majors earn the top average starting salary among computer and information sciences graduates at the bachelor’s degree level.
Your CIS degree will give you the practical technical skills for an impactful, lucrative career in industries from science to education to healthcare, and beyond.
| Job Title | Job Growth | Average Salary |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | 15% | $131,600 |
| Computer Network Architect | 9% | $100,240 |
| Computer Science Teacher, Postsecondary | 13% | $72,470 |
| Computer Support Specialist | 12% | $51,470 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | 21% | $85,800 |
| Database Administrator | 11% | $81,710 |
| Information Security Analyst | 18% | $90,120 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrator | 8% | $77,810 |
| Software Developer | 17% | $100,690 |
| Web Developer | 27% | $64,970 |
As a computing major, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art lab facilities equipped with the latest hardware equipment and software development tools.
Two large labs set up with peer programming and shared learning in mind, stocked with:
- Dell Latitude E6420 and Dell Latitude E4500 computers with dual-booting configuration to run Windows 7 and Fedora 17
- Additional external monitors and tools to improve collaboration on team projects
- 60 dedicated Ethernet data ports to allow for network design experiments
- Wireless access
A spacious server room equipped with:
- Dell PowerEdge server computers, Ethernet data ports, and networking gear to provide instructional support for the Computing Technology courses
- A stack of Dell PowerEdge server computers running a Linux server operating system to run experiments in the Capstone Project course
- Monitoring consoles to optimize system and network administrative operations
Two server clusters:
- Speech Server Cluster consisting of a stack of Dell PowerEdge servers running Red Hat Linux server operating system to run Speech experiments in the Capstone Project course
- GPU Computing Cluster is under construction, made possible with a recent grant from NVIDIA, the world leader in visual computing. The state-of-the-art cluster will allow students to analyze medical imagery, explore models of speech and leverage GPU computing and CUDA C/C++ in their courses.
Our lab laptops are powerful development platforms configured to run a large variety of tools and utilities
- A private cloud of virtual machines running Windows and Linux server operating systems, managed with VMware vSphere, is updated each semester to meet course instruction and student project needs.
- Server applications and run-time environments (BinNami and XAMPP) are configured to provide MediaWiki, Apache web, and MySQL database services
- Shared network drives and staging server virtual machines support student project activities
- A Balsamiq academic license offers mockup building tools to design user experiences for course projects
- A Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDN AA) membership gives students access to Microsoft developer and designer tools software
Computing drives innovation in all industries, so adding a computer information systems minor to your degree builds both your resume and the foundation for highly desirable technical skills.
We've partnered with the New Hampshire community colleges below to develop curriculum guides that show you how your community college courses will transfer into UNH Manchester's computer information systems program. Click on your community college to see transferable computer information systems requirements.
- Great Bay Community College
- Manchester Community College
- Nashua Community College (networking)
- Nashua Community College (software development)
- Nashua Community College (web application development)
- NHTI - Concord's Community College
- White Mountains Community College
Questions? Contact an admission counselor for help.
The Computing Technology Industry Advisory Board (CT-IAB) advises and supports the computing technology program in its effort to meet the economic development needs in New Hampshire and the region, and to educate computing majors at UNH Manchester in three degree programs: computer information systems, B.S.; computer science, B.A.; and information technology, M.S.
The CT-IAB provides counsel and support in
- Curriculum design and authentic project experiences
- Lab infrastructure and services
- Partnerships with business, industry, government, educational and nonprofit organizations
- Developing educational pathways to computing education and careers for all, in particular for underrepresented students
- The board includes computing professionals, researchers and leaders who represent local industry, business, government, education and nonprofit organizations.
- Gunjan Choudhary, Software Development Manager, Autodesk; Adjunct Faculty, UNH Manchester
- Dan Couture, Fitbit, Senior Data Integration Engineering
- Jeff DeLangie, Director, Technology Resource Center, Manchester School District
- Eric Esposito, Director of Technology, SilverTech, Inc.
- David Hubbs, Professor, Nashua Community College
- Earl LaBatt, Principal Engineer, OPNET Technologies; Adjunct Faculty, UNH Manchester
- Ed Nelson, Production Architecture Engineer, Vantiv; Adjunct Faculty, UNH Manchester
- Suzanne Poirier, Director Software Engineering, Skillsoft
- Frank Polito, Professor and Program Chair, NHTI
- Craig Smith, Reliability Engineer, Tapjoy
- Jason Syversen, CEO & Computer Security Entrepreneur, Siege Technologies, LLC
- Chris Zalegowski, IT/IS Manager, NH Public Defender
Program News
