Bachelor of Science in Information Systems & Analytics (formerly BS ISDS)

Master technology to transform business.

Information systems and analytics professionals enjoy technology and collaborative problem-solving across teams. They are strategic thinkers who play an essential role in defining the future of business. Hello, CIO.

LSU’s BS in Information Systems & Analytics (ISA)* equips students to apply technology to solve business challenges and create opportunities. Designed in collaboration with industry partners, the curriculum blends classroom and experiential learning to prepare students for lucrative careers in the digital economy.

*This degree was formerly known as BS in Information Systems & Decision Sciences (ISDS). BS ISA is available in the 2024-2025 catalog and after.

 

What You'll Learn

Grow businesses and profits by learning to develop and strategically use innovative IT resources.

In this STEM-designated, 120-hour degree program, you will receive guidance from renowned faculty and access to industry opportunities, including internships, capstone projects, and certification prep. The BS ISA is available either as a traditional on-campus, in-person degree option or through LSU Online in a 100% online format. The cutting-edge technology used in coursework prepares students for careers in corporate settings, small and medium-sized enterprises, or entrepreneurial ventures across all industries. On-campus students may select an optional concentration in analytics, cyber risk, or digital services and consulting to further their specific career goals.

  • Business Intelligence
  • Analytics
  • Cyber Risk
  • IT Management
  • Programming
  • Cloud Computing
  • Digital Consulting
  • Predictive Modeling

  • Data Warehousing
  • Data Mining
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Artificial Intelligence

The Analytics concentration equips students with the technical tools and conceptual framework to further business success through data-driven thinking. Topics covered include artificial intelligence and data mining with a focus on business applications, multidimensional data, knowledge management, business intelligence, neural networks, and genetic algorithms. 

To satisfy the Analytics concentration requirements, students must complete nine hours of coursework, selected from the following options: ISDS 3200 Advanced Business Programming, ISDS 4100 Information Systems Consulting, ISDS 4112 Data Warehousing, ISDS 4141 Data Mining & Artificial Intelligence for Business, or ISDS 4180 Business Analysis in Practice. The course descriptions and prerequisites can be found in the LSU course catalog.

Note: To enroll in the Analytics concentration, on-campus students must: 

  • Be a declared information systems & analytics major
  • Notify the Office of Business Student Success by emailing advisor@lsu.edu to declare the concentration. 

The Cyber Risk concentration teaches students to identify and mitigate threats to an organization’s digital assets. Topics covered include security management, risk assessment, access control, encryption, application security issues, and security and privacy laws. 

To satisfy the Cyber Risk concentration requirements, students must complete nine hours of coursework, selected from the following options: ISDS 4096 Cyber Risk Management, ISDS 4100 Information Systems Consulting, ISDS 4123 Computer and Networking Security, or ISDS 4244 Information Systems Auditing. The course descriptions and prerequisites can be found in the LSU course catalog.

Note: To enroll in the Cyber Risk concentration, on-campus students must: 

  • Be a declared information systems & analytics major 
  • Notify the Office of Business Student Success by emailing advisor@lsu.edu to declare the concentration. 

The Digital Services and Consulting concentration allows students to gain the tools and knowledge needed to provide practical solutions and strategic leadership in the digital economy. Topics covered include structuring and managing the IT function, emerging trends in IT, team-based approaches to offering IT consulting advice, and cloud computing.

To satisfy the Digital Services and Consulting concentration requirements, students must complete nine hours of coursework, selected from the following options: ISDS 3120 Management of the IT Function, ISDS 4100 Information Systems Consulting, ISDS 4111 Enterprise Systems, or ISDS 4130 Cloud Computing for Business II. The course descriptions and prerequisites can be found in the LSU course catalog.

Note: To enroll in the Digital Services and Consulting concentration, on-campus students must: 

  • Be a declared information systems & analytics major
  • Notify the Office of Business Student Success by sending an email to advisor@lsu.edu to declare the concentration. 

Approved Electives for ISA and ISDS Majors (2024-2025): 

ISDS 3070 Independent Reading and Research in Information Systems and Decision Sciences (1-6)
ISDS 3075 Internship in Information Systems and Decision Sciences (3)
ISDS 3200 Advanced Business Programming (3)
ISDS 4070 Special Topics in Information Systems & Decision Sciences (1-6)
ISDS 4100 Information Systems Consulting (3)
ISDS 3105 Internet Development Tools (3)
ISDS 3120 Management of the IT Function (3)
ISDS 3303 Advanced Data Modeling using Spreadsheets (3)
ISDS 4111 Enterprise Systems (3)
ISDS 4130 Cloud Computing for Business II (3)
ISDS 4096 Cyber Risk Management (3)
ISDS 4123 Computer and Networking Security (3)
ISDS 4244 Information Systems Auditing (3)
ISDS 4112 Data Warehousing (3)
ISDS 4141 Data Mining & Artificial Intelligence for Business (3)
ISDS 4180 Business Analysis in Practice (3)

 

"Thanks to the knowledge gained in my classes and the AWS certifications I earned while pursuing my degree, I absolutely crushed my interview. I am doing work that I enjoy and earning a six-figure salary as a new graduate. My classes made a huge difference. Cloud skills are in extremely high demand. Great things will come to those who get the Solutions Architect and Certified Cloud Practitioner certifications.” 

Daniel Lichowid Jr. '24
Cloud Engineer, ECS Federal LLC

 

Career Path

LSU ISA students go on to have lucrative careers in various tech-related professions like IT consulting, IT outsourcing, business architect, business analyst, business intelligence, database administration, information systems integrator, and data science.

Recent employers that hired ISA graduates:

  • CenturyLink
  • Cognizant
  • Deloitte
  • Disney
  • Dow
  • Exxon
  • General Motors
  • IBM
  • Shell

 

"At the end of the day, every company is an IT company. Every company has cybersecurity and IT initiatives. So we’re a hot commodity. Why not go into an area that you know will be fruitful? This degree can offer boundless opportunities.” 

Ellen Herndon ’22
Advisory Analyst, Deloitte

 

Innovative Coursework & Experiential Learning

Certification: ISA students earn SAFe® Scrum Master and Amazon Web Services (AWS) solutions architect or cloud practitioner certifications while completing their degree.

Tech Skills: ISA majors learn Python, SQL, Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, R, Git, SAS, JMP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Networking Opportunities: Classroom speakers, capstone projects, and courses like CIO Hot Topics provide networking opportunities with industry professionals.

Claim a competitive edge: By adding a minor in analytics to your studies.

Minors to Enhance Your Skills

SDEIS offers three minors to enhance your degree studies. Refine your skills and gain a competitive edge on the job market with added expertise. 

Analytics Minor

Entrepreneurship Minor

Information Technology Management Minor

More About the Minors

 

 

Contact Us

SDEIS Main Office

2200 Business Education Complex
225-578-2515
sdeis@lsu.edu 

SDEIS Home

ISA Undergraduate Advisor

Jim Love
2224 Business Education Complex S.
isdsadvisor@lsu.edu 

Office of Business Student Success

2000 Business Education Complex
225-578-3211
advisor@lsu.edu