COMPUTER & MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Chairperson

Khanyisa Malufu

MCom, MBA, PGDE, BBA CMIS

Lecturers

  • Tipson Maleti – MCom IS, MBA, BTech (Hons) IT, DipEd
  • Fanwell Ncube – MCom IS, MBA, BBA CMIS
  • Melisa Magwizi – MSc IS,BBA C&MIS
  • Fine Masimba – MScIS , BSc Information Systems
  • Thembekile A. Shariwa – MSc IS, PGDMS, BBA CMIS
  • Braiton U. Mukhalela –  MCom IS, BSc CIS
  • Emily T. Mawoyo – MBM E-Business,MBA,BBA C&MIS BCom 
  • Fine Bhebhe – MBA, BSc, BS&CS
MISSION
The C&MIS Department subscribes to the mission of Solusi University and the Faculty of Business. Within this context, the Department exists to provide a quality degree programme that provides professional training in the area of programming, Information technology, Software design, and research primarily for Zimbabwe and the world at large.
PHILOSOPHY
Recognising the revolutionary changes that the computer has brought to modern society, the Department is committed to providing training in a variety of areas related to information technology. Students admitted to Solusi University are required to take introductory courses in Information and Communication Technology. This makes Solusi graduates unique – they are computer literate, a trademark Solusi strives to maintain. This approach arms students with skills and knowledge that not only gives them a competitive edge in the job market, but propels them into the computer age as well. Thus, the Department has set a standard worth emulating.
OBJECTIVES
The department of Computer & Management Information Systems aims to prepare students for career opportunities in the following areas:

  • Application development: programming, systems analysis and design
  • Hardware and software support
  • Data administration
  • IT training and marketing
  • Information systems management, network administration, and information technology consulting

Another objective is to prepare students for graduate studies in information systems, computer science and any other related fields.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for admission, a candidate is expected to have

  • 5 O’ levels including Mathematics and English Language
  • 2 points in 2 relevant A’ Level subjects

For students coming from countries where ‘A’ Levels are not offered, one will be considered for admission if they qualify for entry into university in their home countries. However, if admitted, the students must spend the first year in the Pre-University programme.

Applicants with 5 O’Levels including Mathematics and English Language, without A’ Level but with a National Diploma in Information Systems, Computer or Business related areas may also be admitted into the BBA C&MIS programme.

Prospective students from countries that accept ‘O’-levels for university entry are
required to complete the Pre-University programme during their first year at the University (see section for Pre-University Programme in the Bulletin).

The department does accept a limited number of students based on the Mature Age Examination, and/or professional qualification and related work experience. Generally, the number of such students shall not exceed two percent of the total enrolment in the Faculty of Business in a given year (see the section for Mature Age Entrance requirement in the Bulletin).

Requirements for Minor: Over and above meeting the Solusi University requirements for taking a minor, at least a B grade in ‘O’ level Mathematics is required.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for graduation students must have successfully completed the following requirements:

Requirements
Credit Units
General Education 27
Core 30
Concentration 48
Cognates 9
Work Experience 3
Total General 117

DEGREES OFFERED

The Computer & Management Information Systems Department offers the following:

  • Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Computers & Management Information Systems (C&MIS)
  • Bachelor of Science (BSc) Honours in Management Information Systems (MIS)
  • Minor in Management Information Systems

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONS) IN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

CORE COURSES

ACCT 113-Fundamentals of Financial Accounting (3 Credits)
The purpose of the course is to provide an understanding of the basic concepts and techniques of Accounting and their application to the business world. Emphasis is placed on understanding the Accounting Cycle, the content and preparation of Financial Statements for Sole proprietorships as well as partnerships. Further an introduction to financial statement analysis will be done through exploring various tools of analyzing.
ACCT 271-Accounting Software Packages (3 Credits)
The course is designed to introduce students to accounting software packages such as Sun Accounting, Pastel Accounting and others that are commonly used by the industry. It is a review of all accounting procedures: creating journals, posting to ledger accounts, trial balance extraction, and processing financial statements all done on a computer with hands on experience. The course will have lab periods, which are compulsory.
ECON 115-Principles of Economics (3 Credits)
Explores the theories currently used to explain how people choose what to consume and produce. This analysis is extended to well-defined groups such as business firms. The course also explores the phenomenon called ‘the market’ with its prices and the way in which people react to them.
FNCE 274-Financial Management (3 Credits)
The focus of this course is in the area of financial management. We will show managers how to interface with accounting and finance departments, help them to understand how firms meet their financial objectives utilizing financial decision making. This course will also explain financial tools and techniques, which can be used to help firms maximize value by improving decisions relating to capital budgeting, capital structure, and working capital management. This course will deal with a number of related topics, including multinational financial management, risk management, mergers and acquisition.
MGMT 155-Principles of Management (3 Credits)
An introduction to the concepts of effective and efficient management of business organisations. The primary emphasis includes the history and development of management thought, functions of management, organization, leadership & motivation, controlling, budgeting & non – budgetary controls .
MGMT 166-Entrepreneurship (3 Credits)
The course looks at Mercantile Law. It is intended to familiarize students with the basic laws that cover contracts, sales partnerships, negotiable instruments, bailments, sureties, and bankruptcies.
MGMT 241-Business Law I (3 Credits)
The course looks at Mercantile Law. It is intended to familiarize students with the basic laws that cover contracts, sales partnerships, negotiable instruments, bailments, sureties, and bankruptcies.
MGMT 242-Business Law II (3 Credits)
This course is a company law intended to familiarize students with the basic laws that cover the nature and classification of companies, promotion and formation of companies, Memorandum of and Articles of Association, membership, share, dividends, share capital, winding and amalgamation.
MGMT 396-Strategic Management (3 Credits)
This course enables the students to develop, and fine tune skills in the analysis of strategic and organisational problems and issues. Strategic Management is concerned with those aspects of general management that have material effects on the survival and success of business enterprises. This essentially means that any problem or opportunity – accounting, marketing, finance, production, organisation, or personnel – if it materially affects a film’s performance, then it is a strategic concern. Thus, this course is necessarily integrative and interdisciplinary.
MKTG 126-Principles of Marketing (3 Credits)
This course covers a general survey of the major marketing methods, techniques, institutions and practices, examined from the viewpoint of their effects on the exchange of processes involved in moving goods from producers to ultimate consumers, creation, analysis and maintenance of market.

COGNATE COURSES

MATH 152-Discrete Mathematics (3 Credits)
This course covers selected topics in discrete mathematics, such as logic, set theory, relations, functions, algebraic structures and graph theory.
MATH 182-Business Calculus (3 Credits)
This is an introduction to calculus of functions of one variable including finding extreme; partial derivatives; applications of continuous random variables and multivariate calculus.
STAT 285-Statistical Methods I (3 Credits)
This is a study of basic descriptive and inferential statistics, including probability distributions, simple linear regression, statistical inference involving the binomial, normal, t, F and Chi-Square distributions.
BSIA 400-Industrial Attachment (10 to 12 months) (3 Credits)
Students enrolled in the department of C&MIS are required to complete 3 Credits of Industrial attachment. The main objective of the attachment is to provide the students with practical exposure in the area of study and develop abilities to apply theory to practice. Only students who have successfully completed all their first and second year course requirements are eligible to take this course. The duration of industrial attachment is not less than 10 consecutive months. Industrial attachment is coordinated and supervised by the Department. International students are at liberty to do this course in their respective country of origin

CONCENTRATION COURSES

INSY 120-Introduction to Programming (3 Credits)
TAn introduction to programming methodology using a procedural programming language, including computer usage within a network environment, problem-solving, algorithm development, control structures, arrays, functions, recursions, strings and pointers includes the study and implementation of simple linked lists, stacks, queues, and files. The course includes lectures and practical sessions each week.
INSY 140-Object Oriented Programming I (3 Credits)
Covers process management, including an asynchronous concurrent processes and deadlock, virtual storage management and job and process scheduling, multiprocessing, disk scheduling, file, and file and database systems performance and security.
INSY 160-Operating Systems Principles (3 Credits)
(Accounting reporting for legal practice and financial accounting in conformity with the companies act) Students are required to cover published accounts and financial statements in conformity with the companies act in this course. Other topics include revenue recognition, (income measurement and determination), accounting for contracts, hire purchase and leases, royalties, branch accounting, accounting for research and development cost, accounting for fundamental error and changes in accounting policies.
INSY 220-Database Systems (3 Credits)
Introduction to the major database models such as hierarchical, network, relational and object-oriented. Database design, setup, manipulation, and use are also covered. A study of database query languages is given. Other issues such as data integrity, security, backup and recovery, and database administration are discussed. A programming project is required.
INSY 250-Computer Organization (3 Credits)
Covers data representation, number base conversion, representation of negative values, representation and manipulation of algorithms for integer fractions and floating-point numbers, Boolean algebra, truth table digital logic and circuit representations of basic computational building blocks, introduction to computer architecture, interrupt schemes, and introduction to aspects of systems software, including assemblers, loaders and linkers, and operating systems. Assembly language programming is introduced.
INSY 255-PC Repairs & Maintenance (3 Credits)
The course provides student with a working knowledge of how to assemble a computer from separated components, how to handle shocking and problems related to system or to hardware. The program will cover also installing of operating systems like the Windows and Linux. It also includes a study of AC and DC electric circuit theory.
INSY 280-Computer Communications & Networks (3 Credits)
Includes communication fundamentals and networking techniques; network applications, including Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) architecture, TCP/IP protocol suite, internetworking; distributed applications (EDI, email, file transfer); client/server computing, Internet and World Wide Web issues and business opportunity; also network management and information security and integrity.
INSY 290-Data Structures & Algorithms (3 Credits)
This course provides advanced coverage of strings and string manipulation information hiding methodologies, finite state automata, lexical analysers, parsing graphs and digraphs. Programming assignments are given for some topics.
INSY 295-Object Oriented Programming II (3 Credits)
This is a hands-on course on Java Programming which emphasizes creating numerous Java applets that can be included on a web page. The Java applets centre around areas of Java syntax, graphics, threads, animation and sound, extent handling, Java’s Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT), Java applications, stream 10, strings, swing, and exception handling.
INSY 310-Web Designing (3 Credits)
The course provides student with a working knowledge of how to put onto the internet and how to use the internet in a productive way. It teaches a student on how to create a website. The following tool will also be covered: TCP/IP, FTC, TELNET, Gopher, Archie, Newsgroups, WWW and HTML.
INSY 325-Visual Programming (3 Credits)
A study of event driven and object oriented programming using Visual Programming Languages. The course covers basics of visual programming (forms, controls, and menus); creating user interface; using standard controls; programming with objects and components; managing input, storage, and output issues.
INSY 370-Information Systems Governance & Ethics(3 Credits)
This course will teach the fundamental theories and practice of corporate Information Systems Governance and Ethics. This course covers a wide range of topics which include the history of the corporation, boards of directors, the ethical issues relating to the use of ICTs, ICT policy development, etc. Class will be a mix of lecture, case and topic discussions.
INSY 485-Research Methods (3 Credits)
This course explains different approaches that can be used for research in the field of Information Systems. It is a study of quantitative and qualitative methods and procedures of research in the field of Information Systems. Topics include research design, sampling techniques, methods of data collection, processing and analyzing data, testing of hypotheses, statistical inferences and report writing. The course utilises a series of lectures and workshops in the following areas: writing skills; presentation skills; information gathering skills; and group project skills, and it culminates in the presentation of the research proposal by the student.
INSY 490-Systems Analysis & Design (3 Credits)
This provides a methodical approach to developing computer systems including systems planning, analysis, feasibility study, design, testing, implementation and software maintenance. The role of the systems analyst and cause of systems failure are stressed. Hardware and software selection is also discussed. No programming assignments are involved; however, the course builds upon concepts to which students have been exposed in previous computer courses.
INSY 495-Systems Development Project (3 Credits)
This course provides practice in systems analysis and design involving a major individual or group project. The project consists of researching and planning a major piece of software and involves report writing and verbal presentation. A separate list of projects is compiled each year of which is proposed by a client with a view to the commercial exploitation of a particular software project. The client may be a member of staff or an industrial visitor. A member of staff is also appointed to act as the student’s supervisor to offer technical advice. The student and supervisor will meet at least once a fortnight to review progress and check that a plan for completing the project is in place. This plan consists of timescales, resources, risk assessment and business planning.

GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES

Behaviour Development
CONV 111-412: Convocation (0 Credits)
ORIE 100: Orientation (0 Credits)
WOED 121-122: Work Education (0 Credits)
Health and Physical Education
PHED 116: Physical Education (2 Credits)
HLED 115: Healthier Living (2 Credits)
Mathematics
MATH 181: Business Algebra (3 Credits)
Languages Communication
COMM 102: Communication Skills and Academic Writing (3 Credits)
Natural & Social Sciences
BIOL 389: Philosophical Biology (2 Credits)
HIST 276: Selected Themes in Zimbabwean History (2 Credits)
Computers
INSY 115: Computer Concepts & Applications(3 Credits)
Ethics and Philosophy
RELT 105: Christian Beliefs (3 Credits)
RELB 180: Studies in the Gospels (3 Credits)
RELH 360: Seventh-day Adventist Heritage (2 Credits)
RELT 215: Philosophy of Christian Education (2 Credits)