Contact Information
McMaster University
Department of Computing and Software
Information Technology Building
1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, ON, Canada
L8S 4K1
Business Informatics
The Faculty of Engineering began admitting students to Level II of the new Business Informatics degree in September 2007. Business Informatics has been very popular in Europe since the early 90's. The program is aimed at students with a broad range of interests and skill who want to become IT professionals and put people at the centre of IT. By offering a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) in Business Informatics we further diversify McMaster University's offerings related to IT. The McMaster Business Informatics is the first University Science Degree in Business Informatics in Canada.
What is Business Informatics?
Business Informatics is about designing information systems for maximum utility and value in an organization. This involves looking at how people work and how organizations function, as well as the design and implementation of IT systems that support their operation. The B.A.Sc. in Business Informatics meets a strong current need for IT professionals with skills in areas such as business analysis. Combining the Core of Computer Science and the Core of a Business Degree, students study the leading issues on the cross road of Business and Information Technology. The focus lies on the planning, development, implementation, operation, optimization and economic use of information and communication systems. Business Informatics specialists are often considered as the interpreters - between IT and business administration staff who often live in completely different worlds and talk at cross purposes. They need not only commercial and technical know-how for this but must also be able to express themselves well and mediate between people.
Job Opportunities in Business InformaticsThe employment opportunities for a student graduating with the B.A.Sc in Business Informatics are manifold:
- Analysis, planning, design and use of in-house information systems,
- Modelling and IT-supported optimisation of business processes,
- Management in an E-business company
- Design and setting up of database systems,
- Employment in financial institutions such as banks and insurances,
- Development of E-business applications such as WWW based commerce applications.
The Program
Here is the list of the courses required in order to complete the program.
Master's Degree in Computer Science
The Business Informatics program was designed to allow students to obtain a Master's degree after only one additional year of study. The program is under review and is expected to start in 2010 once the first students complete Level IV.
Students will also qualify for an accelerated MBA at McMaster University (final approval pending).