Dakota Wesleyan University adds a new Computer-Information Systems major
Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) has introduced a new major program to its list of majors: Computer Information Systems (CIS) – a program that integrates technology, business, and communication. A campus event on December 4 was the first to share the news with the public.
The CIS major was the program that students had most frequently requested, but the school had not yet decided to offer it. It is their intention to create students who will have the ability to work in the interface of technology and business after they have learnt programming, system analysis, data management, and business together with technical writing, ethics, and general education courses besides one another.
The collaboration between DWU and Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) serves as the source of the program. While the online classes by Indiana Tech are composed of computer science fundamentals, information security, and data management, DWU, on the other hand, offers face-to-face classes in business-related subjects and general education. The hybrid mode of instruction enables students in Mitchell to complete the whole curriculum despite being far apart geographically.
Besides, they can choose to specialize in either artificial and digital intelligence, user interface/user experience design (UI/UX), or project management. The graduates of tomorrow may take up duties as AI developers, IT project managers, business systems analysts, or technology consultants, to name a few, where the highest level of demand is.
DWU administrators stated that the program is a reaction not only to the interest of students but also to the community needs. They have been informed by employers from the local area that there is a shortage of skilled workers in the region. By the addition of CIS, DWU will cooperate with the local labor market to fulfill the demand while giving students access to the industry of the future and the most recent trend of the market.
The university will begin enrolling students from fall 2026. Although there is a strong initial interest with more than a hundred people having inquired so far, they are modestly aiming at around ten students in the first batch. The growth over time will be determined by student demand and industry engagement.
The new major, in a small-town context, represents a fresh opportunity for students to help close the gap between tech education and local labor market needs.
