Build skills to manage Information Systems
Information Systems Major
This major concentrates on the advanced techniques, current methodologies and tools involved in the analysis, design and implementation of large, scalable computer information systems. Information systems technology skills are in demand! Graduates of this major will fill career opportunities as senior systems analysts and designers, and project leaders.
In this major you will learn:
- systems planning
- applying development methodologies and modelling using CASE, database, client and network tools
- rapid application design and development
- designing, building, and testing software, web-based solutions, data warehouses, and databases
- basic ERP system customizations and report creation
- working with object-oriented design techniques
On average, you can expect to spend:
- 27 hours per week attending classes over the 2 academic semesters
- 40-60 hours per week studying, completing assignments and doing research
- 40 hours per week working at the employer's place of business during work experience semesters
Internship Courses
Students must complete one academic year (two 4-month semesters) of mandatory work experience in their related major. Students must have successfully completed 8 academic courses prior to registering for their first work experience term.
Contact the BAIST internship co-ordinator to have the planned work experience evaluated: BAISTinternship@nait.ca.
- Length: two 4-month semesters (8 months total)
- Type of Experience: directly related to the major area selected.
- Salary: will vary by employer, usually based on your prior education and experience.
- Relocation: Students can complete their work experience anywhere.
An internship evaluation will be completed by the student and supervisor.
To complete each 4-month term of work experience, a student must complete each of the following:
- the employer student evaluation pamphlet provided by this program
- research project report
- a student journal report providing feedback on projects worked on and a review of the learning experience
How to get into the BAIST Program
The Bachelor of Applied Information Systems Technology (BAIST) program is a 4-year degree based on a 2+2 model.
- Years 1 & 2 - Spent obtaining a diploma in a field related to your major concentration of study. See How to Apply for accepted equivalent diplomas.
- Years 3 & 4 - 2 semesters of academic courses in a major area of study and 2 semesters of credit work experience, which rounds out your applied degree.
Additional Requirements and Considerations
In order to have the best opportunity for success, the BAIST - Information Systems program recommends that students have the following skillsets prior to applying and selecting their major:
- Programming - introductory to advanced training in Object Oriented languages (C, C++, C#, JAVA) and frameworks such as .NET
- Data Theory - database concepts, tools, management, SQL
- System Analysis and Design
- Business Processes - communication, organization and information flow, introductory accounting, project management
- Logical Problem Solving
- Operating System and Data Communications Systems - Windows, TCP/IP
Advanced credit
You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced Credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses), Credential Recognition (for completed certificates, diplomas or degrees) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
Transfer Credit & Credential Recognition: In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Recognition of Prior Learning website and on the Request for Transfer Credit or Credential Recognition form (pdf), your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:
- You must have completed the course or program no more than 3 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
- You must have a minimum mark of A- in the course(s) or program
Contact the program for additional information about Advanced Credit.
If you do not qualify for transfer credit or credential recognition, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) may be an option.
How to get into the BAIST Program
The Bachelor of Applied Information Systems Technology (BAIST) program is a 4-year degree based on a 2+2 model.
- Years 1 & 2 - Spent obtaining a diploma in a field related to your major concentration of study. See How to Apply for accepted equivalent diplomas.
- Years 3 & 4 - 2 semesters of academic courses in a major area of study and 2 semesters of credit work experience, which rounds out your applied degree.
Additional Requirements and Considerations
In order to have the best opportunity for success, the BAIST - Information Systems program recommends that students have the following skillsets prior to applying and selecting their major:
- Programming - introductory to advanced training in Object Oriented languages (C, C++, C#, JAVA) and frameworks such as .NET
- Data Theory - database concepts, tools, management, SQL
- System Analysis and Design
- Business Processes - communication, organization and information flow, introductory accounting, project management
- Logical Problem Solving
- Operating System and Data Communications Systems - Windows, TCP/IP
Advanced credit
You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced Credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses), Credential Recognition (for completed certificates, diplomas or degrees) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
Transfer Credit & Credential Recognition: In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Recognition of Prior Learning website and on the Request for Transfer Credit or Credential Recognition form (pdf), your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:
- You must have completed the course or program no more than 3 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
- You must have a minimum mark of A- in the course(s) or program
Contact the program for additional information about Advanced Credit.
If you do not qualify for transfer credit or credential recognition, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) may be an option.
Career Outcomes
Job Opportunities
- Computer Analyst
- Computer Programmer
- Information Systems Consultant
- Project Leader
- Systems Analyst
- Website Developer
Industries
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- High-tech companies
- Civic, Provincial and Federal governments
Median Starting Salary
The expected starting salary for individuals with a(n) Bachelor of Applied Information Systems Technology – Information Systems Degree is $58,370.
This salary information was based on graduate data from the past 3 years and reflects annual salaries for graduates who claimed they were working more than 30 hours per week. Graduates who quoted salaries below $10,000 and above $200,000 per year have been excluded. Note that NAIT publishes the median salary instead of the average to minimize the potential of outlying salaries distorting the mean. Data represented here may differ from other data sources due to differences in definition or differences in timing.
Grad Employment Rate
Employment rates are reported by NAIT alumni, are for information purposes, and do not guarantee future employment opportunities. Please note that data for newer programs may not be included within this report.
Download report
Take your career planning to the next level
This program can be used as a step toward earning higher credentials and/or certifications.
Further education at other institutions
Graduates of this program are eligible to enter some master degree programs. Contact the university(s) of your choice for specific entrance requirements.
Other Opportunities
Post-secondary articulation agreements within Alberta are approved by the Alberta Council on Admissions and Transfer (ACAT). To view the details of specific agreements, please visit transferalberta.ca or contact articulations@nait.ca For questions regarding transfer agreements or to obtain a course description/outline that is no longer available on our website, please contact articulations@nait.ca.
Hear from a BAIST grad
"I wanted to further my career options and build on my diploma from BCIT. NAIT offered a seamless transition to a degree, helping me reinforce the concepts I’ve learned previously and apply them in more relevant and meaningful ways!"
- Noah Larmor (Bachelof of Applied Information Systems Technology '22)
Courses and Advanced Credit
Current and recently admitted students can find information and updates about their program on their My Program page in the MyNAIT Portal. To monitor your course progress and the courses still needed to graduate, visit your Academic Progress Report.
Advanced Credit
You may apply for advanced credit once you have been accepted into the program. Advanced credit can be Transfer Credit (for completed post-secondary courses) or PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition).
Transfer Credit
In addition to the common guidelines outlined on the Transfer and Credit Options section, your program has other advanced credit requirements that are applied to each request including:
- You must have completed the course or program no more than 3 year(s) ago unless a formalized articulation agreement is in place
- You must have a minimum mark of A- in the course(s) or program
Read more about advanced credit or contact us about applying for credit for this program.
Tuition & Fees
This content is specific to the selected Sep 02, 2025 intake.
The tuition and fee amounts are estimates based on current academic year's rates. For financial planning purposes, please use these totals as an approximate estimate of your costs. Actual fees may vary by term and enrolment activities. Please refer to the tuition and fees page for more detailed information.
Books, Supplies & Program Fees (est.)
Level 3 Term 1: $650
Level 3 Term 2: $650
Level 4 Term 1: $525
Level 4 Term 2: $525
Scholarships & Awards
NAIT awards over $6 million in scholarships and bursaries to more than 4,000 students each year, with the support of donors and the government. A variety of awards are available, including ones for academics, community involvement, equity/diversity grants, bursaries for financial need, program-specific awards and more!
Learn how to apply for awards
Admission Requirements
This content is specific to the selected Sep 02, 2025 intake.
Minimum entrance requirements
The specific academic requirements you must meet to be considered for admission. Where applicable, the minimum accepted Alberta high school courses are listed in round brackets ( ). Equivalent or higher-level courses are also accepted.
- A two-year diploma in an IT program related to the selected major
- An overall minimum GPA of 2.3*
- Course work must be completed within five years of the application date
- Proof of English Language Proficiency
Acceptable IT-related credentials for each major include, but are not limited to these Schools/Programs
Additional requirements & considerations
Alternative entrance pathways
If you are missing one or more of the minimum entrance requirements, you may be eligible for an alternative entrance pathway. For any pathway listed below, English language proficiency is also a requirement.
Applicants who do not have a two-year diploma may be eligible for admission if 60 post-secondary credits in an accredited IT or computing science program have been completed. A minimum of 45 credits must specifically be related to the skillsets identified in the additional requirements or considerations of the major selected.
*Applicants that do not meet the minimum GPA requirement but who have a minimum GPA of 1.7 may qualify for admission after completing the following three Open Studies courses for their desired major. These courses must be completed with a minimum grade of 67% (C+) to qualify for admission. If you are interested in the Open Studies pathway for admission, please contact the Program at baist@nait.ca prior to applying.
Information Systems
- BAIS3110 Architecture and Security
- BAIS3130 Software Engineering 1: Product Research Concepts
- BAIS3150 Software Development Tools
Network Management
- NETW3000 Network Architecture and Design
- NETW3200 Network Protocol Analysis
- COMP3000 Advanced Server Infrastructure
Applicants who completed their related education more than five years ago and are working in an IT-related field may be eligible for admission through the Recognition of Prior Learning Pathway.
If you have any questions about your entrance requirements, please contact the program at baist@nait.ca.
Post-admission requirements
Although not required for admission, you must meet the following requirement(s) in order to progress in your program.
In order to have the best opportunity for success, the program recommends that a student have the following skill sets, with the recommended minimum in class-instructional hours listed in brackets.
- Programming – introductory to advanced training in Object Oriented languages (C, C++, C#, JAVA) and frameworks such as .NET (500 hrs)
- Data Theory – database concepts, tools, management, SQL (200 hrs)
- System Analysis and Design (100 hrs)
- Business Processes - communication, organization and information flow, introductory accounting, project management (500 hrs)
- Logical Problem Solving (100hrs)
- Operating System and Data Communications Systems – Windows, TCP/IP (200 hrs)
Additional options
This program has courses that are available for Open Studies. Open Studies allows you to explore credit courses without applying to a program. It is an opportunity to get a feel for school and what program you want to be in.
Learn more about Open Studies
Dates & Deadlines
International
Applications Open:
Aug 01, 2024
International
Applications Deadline:
Once the program is full
Domestic
Applications Open:
Oct 01, 2024
Application Deadline:
Once the program is full
Term Start Date:
Sep 02, 2025
Seats are limited - Apply early! Applications will remain open for at least one month from the open date. If the program/waitlist fill after that date, applications will close.
International Applicants
This program accepts international students.
PGWP Eligibility
Graduates of this program are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), following Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requirements. Students must still meet all other PGWP eligibility requirements, including full-time and in-person study requirements.
Co-Op Work Permit
Mandatory Co-op: This program has a mandatory work-integrated learning component. International students must apply for a co-op work permit and have it approved before the start of their work placement.
Learn more about PGWP and explore eligible NAIT programs.
