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Paper (refereed) Information Systems Curriculum

Recommended Citation: Driscoll, D A, P J Lazarony, J B Arney, and E J Weiss. Selecting Prerequisite Courses for Student Admission into Undergraduate IS Programs: A New Approach. In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2000, v 17 (Philadelphia): §111.

Selecting Prerequisite Courses for Student Admission into Undergraduate IS Programs: A New Approach

Refereed

Donna A. Driscoll    [a1] [a2]
Department of Accounting and MIS
California State University Northridge    [u1] [u2]
Northridge, California, USA    [c1] [c2]

Paul J. Lazarony    [a1] [a2]
Department of Accounting and MIS
California State University Northridge    [u1] [u2]
Northridge, California, USA    [c1] [c2]

Janna B. Arney    [a1] [a2]
Department of Accounting and MIS
California State University Northridge    [u1] [u2]
Northridge, California, USA    [c1] [c2]

Earl J. Weiss    [a1] [a2]
Department of Accounting and MIS
California State University Northridge    [u1] [u2]
Northridge, California, USA    [c1] [c2]

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the correlation and effect approaches in selecting appropriate IS major prerequisites from a list of nine upper-division business core courses. Since the literature to date has focused solely on correlation, the two approaches had never previously been compared. In forming a methodology to compare the two approaches, the researchers developed two innovations: (1) an Adjusted grade point, which allowed for the control of the professor effect regardless of the statistical approach, and (2) a system of Index values, which aided in the accurate comparison of the results of the two types of statistical tests (stepwise multiple linear regressions versus independent sample means tests) utilized in this study. Conclusions that may be drawn from the study are that: (a) the design and implementation of Adjusted grade points was effective in controlling for the professor effect, (b) the design and implementation of the Index values proved to be a valid means of comparing the results of the two types of statistical tests, (c) the correlation approach is not the ideal method for choosing prerequisites, (d) the use of the effect method, and Adjusted grade points, implicated three upper-division core courses as necessary prerequisite courses for the IS major, (e) when the results of the correlation and effect methods for the IS major are compared, a different set of prerequisite classes are indicated for each approach, and (f) when the results for the IS major are compared to other majors in the college, similar results occur.

Keywords: higher education, undergraduate, course prerequisites, program admission criteria, business administration, information systems, accounting, finance, management, marketing, real estate

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