Congdon School of Supply Chain, Business Analytics, and Information Systems

https://csb.uncw.edu/congdon/index.html

The Congdon School of Supply Chain, Business Analytics, and Information Systems provides courses and other academic support for the B.S. degree with concentrations in business analytics, information systems and cybersecurity, and supply chain management, as well as for the information technology major.

Students concentrating in Supply Chain Management receive the theoretical underpinnings from competing for jobs in a dynamic and ever-changing world. Supply chain managers design, implement and improve processes in all industries. Every industry has demand for students with a background in Supply Chain Management; from airlines, hospitals, resorts, and banking to traditional manufacturing organizations. The Supply Chain Management curriculum prepares students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to make informed strategic operating decisions in areas such as; purchasing, physical distribution, project management, service systems management, quality management, supply chain management, logistics and distribution management, management of physical inventories and computer applications. Students learn the skills needed to be effective managers and problem solvers and become experts in the concepts and technologies that can be used to improve business operations.

Students concentrating in Business Analytics receive an understanding of the three main areas of analytics: descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive. This foundational understanding of analytics combines business, computational, and presentation skills. Students can then obtain, clean, and interpret complex data and translate the data via analysis into insight that helps to drive business growth. Business analytics is rapidly becoming one of the most popular and essential jobs of the 21st century. This concentration will provide students with the opportunity to focus on using analytics skills across multiple disciplines and in multiple contexts to improve decision making and fill a growing void in the global workforce. Analytics skills are in demand across various industry sectors, from finance to healthcare to marketing. Business analytics professionals are becoming more mainstream as corporate America embraces the ready availability of data and seeks professionals who can use that data to add value to an organization. Jobs related to business analytics are projected to continue to grow and provide competitive salaries.

The Information Systems (IS) concentration prepares students to be leaders in business using information technology for competitive advantage. Students learn to recognize and analyze management needs for information and identify efficient and effective methods to provide this information. Students learn business and technical skills, making them candidates for fast career advancement in the information-driven marketplace. Information systems are used by organizations to compete successfully in today’s data-driven marketplace. IS majors build solutions using programming, web design, networks, databases, and systems analysis to solve business problems and help firms gain a competitive edge.

Cybersecurity has become integral to every aspect of business operations in today’s digital landscape. By pursuing a Cybersecurity concentration within CSB, undergraduate students gain a unique blend of managerial and technical expertise essential for navigating the complexities of modern commerce. Understanding cybersecurity principles equips students to identify, assess, and mitigate digital risks, safeguarding valuable assets and maintaining stakeholder trust. Moreover, with the cybersecurity workforce shortage, graduates with this specialization are in high demand. Entry-level positions often offer competitive salaries, reflecting the urgency and importance of protecting digital assets. Upon graduation, students can pursue diverse career paths, including roles such as cybersecurity analysts, information security consultants, risk managers, and compliance officers. With the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals across industries, graduates are poised to enter a dynamic job market with ample opportunities for growth and advancement.