OPIM Changes for Academic Year 2023-2024
Analytics and Information Management (AIM), housed in the Operations and Information Management (OPIM) Department, is a fast-growing major that prepares students with knowledge and skills in managing information and technology to drive business efficiency and performance. AIM provides students with highly sought-after proficiencies that help discover business insights and identify technology improvements across business functions. Students will learn how to analyze and interpret data to make informed business decisions, manage data and information systems to mitigate security risks, formulate creative technology solutions to fulfill business requirements and manage teams to implement solutions. Students who major in AIM are eligible to apply to the Accelerated Master of Science in Business Analytics and Project Management (MSBAPM) Program
Why?
The change of name from Management Information Systems (MIS) to Analytics and Information Management (AIM) represents the significant inclusion of analytics in the field of business. AIM focuses on the balance of data analysis with information systems, and better represents the updated curriculum and plan of study. The renaming and restructuring of this major will also provide students a competitive advantage when applying into the workforce.
The objective of this major is to train students in the development and use of business information systems. Graduates will be strong in the traditional functional areas of business (accounting, marketing, finance, and management) and will have a solid understanding of the development of business information systems and analytics.
Who does this impact?
- Current seniors who are graduating in May 2023 are not impacted by these changes, and will graduate with the Management Information Systems major as long as all degree requirements are met.
- Current Business students, admitted to Business for Spring 2023 or prior, who are graduating August 2023 or later will be Analytics and Information Management majors.
- Students can continue to plan and take the same classes as written in their catalog, just referencing the updated catalog numbers below.
- Once the Fall term starts, students can plan to advance their catalog year, if they so choose, to take advantage of the new major requirements.
- More information, including updated plans of study documents, will be available in the summer once the new 2023-24 catalog is published.
- Current UConn students admitted to Business for Fall 2023 or later will be Analytics and Information Management majors and will follow the new major requirements.
- Students applying to enter UConn as a first year or transfer student in Fall 2023 or later will be Analytics and Information Management majors and will follow the new major requirements.
How are the requirements changing?
- See the University Catalog for OPIM course descriptions and prerequisites
- The major requirements listed below are completed in addition to all general education, Business core and capstone, and other bachelors degree requirements
| MIS Major Requirements | NEW AIM Major Requirements (2023-2024) |
| 18 credits | 15 credits without a concentration, or 18 credits with a concentration; limit to total OPIM credits at 27 (or 30 for Honors students) |
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Business Intelligence
In addition to AIM major requirements (see "How are the requirements changing?" above), choose two courses:
- OPIM 3301 Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Analysis (formerly OPIM 3803)
- OPIM 3302 Data Visualization (formerly OPIM 3804)
- OPIM 5603 Statistics in Business Analytics
- OPIM 5604 Predictive Modeling
IT Security
In addition to AIM major requirements (see "How are the requirements changing?" above):
- OPIM 3701 Network Infrastructure (formerly OPIM 3222)
- OPIM 3702 Risk, Trust and Modern Security
Application Development
In addition to AIM major requirements (see "How are the requirements changing?" above), choose two courses:
- OPIM 3401 Business Software Development (formerly OPIM 3220)
- OPIM 3402 Mobile Application Development (formerly OPIM 3224)
- OPIM 3403 UX/UI Design (formerly OPIM 3805)
Supply Chain Management
In addition to AIM major requirements (see "How are the requirements changing?" above), choose two courses:
- OPIM 3601 Managerial Supply Chain Management
- OPIM 3602 Supply Chain Logistics
- OPIM 5111 Supply Chain Analytics
- OPIM 5112 Strategic Sourcing
- OPIM 5113 Distribution and Logistics
These optional concentrations are only available to students in the Analytics and Information Management major in catalog year 2023-2024 and later.
| Former Catalog Numbers and Course Names | New Catalog Numbers and Course Names (new numbers/titles bolded) |
| OPIM 3220: Business Software Development | OPIM 3401: Business Software Development |
| OPIM 3221: Business Database Systems | OPIM 3204: Database Design and Management |
| OPIM 3222: Network Design and Applications | OPIM 3701: Network Infrastructure |
| OPIM 3224: Web Business Application Development | OPIM 3402: Mobile Application Development |
| OPIM 3777: IT Security, Governance and Audit | OPIM 3207: Information Security |
| OPIM 3801: Principles of Project Management | OPIM 3603: Project Management and Planning |
| OPIM 3802: Data and Text Mining | OPIM 3203: Analytics for Business Intelligence |
| OPIM 3803: Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Analysis | OPIM 3301: Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Analysis |
| OPIM 3804: Data Visualization | OPIM 3302: Data Visualization |
| OPIM 3805: Gamification in Business | OPIM 3403: UX/UI Design |
If you completed a course under its former catalog number/name, you do not need to take any action. The course will automatically satisfy the same requirement(s) as they had been before. If the same course is retaken (with the new catalog number), repeat forgiveness will be applied.
New OPIM Course Number System
- OPIM courses with numbers 32XX note the core AIM courses
- OPIM courses with numbers 33XX note Analytics courses
- OPIM courses with numbers 34XX note Application Development courses
- OPIM courses with numbers 35XX note Business Data Analytics courses
- OPIM courses with numbers 36XX note Supply Chain courses
- OPIM courses with numbers 37XX note IT Security courses
New: Software Design
To receive a minor in Software Design, a student must earn a C+ or better in four (4) 3-credit, 3000-4000 level OPIM courses offered by the School of Business. This minor is not open to Business Data Analytics nor Analytics and Information Management majors.
- OPIM 3401 Business Software Development (formerly OPIM 3220)
- OPIM 3402 Mobile Application Development (formerly OPIM 3224)
- OPIM 3403 UX/UI Design (formerly OPIM 3805) OR OPIM/BADM 3603 Project Management and Planning (formerly OPIM/BADM 3801)
- and one 3-credit 3000/4000-level OPIM course
The Analytics minor and the Information Assurance minor were not updated for the 2023-24 academic year, and current catalog requirements should be referenced for planning purposes.
New: Supply Chain
To receive a minor in Supply Chain, a student must earn a C+ or better in four (4) 3-credit, 3000-4000 level OPIM courses offered by the School of Business. This minor is not open to Business Data Analytics nor Analytics and Information Management majors. MEM students are required to take OPIM 3601 OR OPIM 3602 as the 4th 3000/4000-level OPIM course.
- OPIM/BADM 3104 Operations Management OR MEM 1151 Intro to the MEM Program
- OPIM 3601 Managerial Supply Chain Management OR OPIM 3602 Supply Chain Logistics
- OPIM/BADM 3603 Project Management and Planning (formerly OPIM/BADM 3801) OR OPIM/BADM 3301 Spreadsheet Modeling for Business Analysis (formerly OPIM/BADM 3803)
- and one 3-credit 3000/4000-level OPIM course
Do I have to declare/complete a concentration?
No - students are not required to declare nor complete a concentration, although it is recommended.
Concentrations afford students the flexibility to focus on what interests them the most within the AIM major. A concentration can differentiate you from other students, and signals to employers what you are interested in, and where you have spent extra time and effort. The courses required for a concentration will hone your skills in that specific area and provide you with valuable context and depth in your specific subject matter. If you are unsure of what concentration you'd like to strive for, think about which core courses you were drawn to the most, as each of them corresponds to one of the offered concentrations.
Students are not locked into a concentration, and have enough flexibility in the requirements to try start one concentration, and then choose to move into a different one. The 27 OPIM credit limit does allow for one additional course beyond what is required for completing a concentration. Students can use this intentionally to explore options before committing to a concentration. The OPIM Innovate lab is also a great place to explore these subjects and technologies in brief before committing to a concentration.
Do I have to re-declare my major when MIS switches over to AIM?
No - students do not need to re-declare their major when the name change takes effect. However, if a current student (admitted to the School of Business for Spring 2023 or prior) wants to declare a concentration, that student will need to advance their catalog year (to 23-24, once available in Fall 2023) and plan to follow the new AIM major requirements. In Fall 2023, students (with catalog years 23-24 only) can declare their concentration if planning to complete one.
Will AIM be the official name of my degree when I graduate?
Students will graduate with a Bachelor of Science from the School of Business. The major will be listed as Analytics and Information Management. Concentrations and minors are not listed on diplomas.
Can AIM majors double concentrate?
No - students can select a maximum of one concentration. The 27 OPIM credit limit only allows for one additional OPIM course beyond what is required for a single concentration.
Do I have to retake a class if name or content has changed?
No - any course requirements you have already completed will continue to satisfy your major requirements, which do not change unless you choose to advance your catalog year. If you do take an equivalent class that you have already completed (even with the new course number), repeat forgiveness will apply. Use the table above, and also reference the catalog course descriptions (look for "Formerly offered as" at the end of the course description).
What happens to those who have declared an Analytics minor and choose to move into the new AIM major requirements?
The Analytics minor will be cancelled - the AIM major requirements were adjusted to emphasize the significant inclusion of analytics in the field of business. Completing both the updated AIM major requirements and Analytics minor is redundant and contains too much overlap, so it is not permitted. This is a restriction which is consistent with how other majors/minors within the same department in the School of Business are set up (as an example, Accounting majors cannot minor in Accounting). This means AIM majors can now choose an alternate minor in Business (outside of the OPIM department) if they so choose.