ERP / SAP PROGRAM NEWS
New Graduate-level SAP Student Achievement Award offers opportunities for Metro State MIS students
Ramp up your professional skills and increase your employment opportunities
Eenterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software integrates all the functional needs of a business enterprise, encompassing Finance, Accounting, Purchasing, Sales, Logistics, Manufacturing, HR, Customer Relationship Management & Project Management. ERP software skills are in great demand in the local and national job markets, maximizing opportunities for business professionals who have to implement or use business enterprise software in their organizations.
Boost your career opportunities by earning your SAP UA certificate at Metropolitan State University
In partnership with the SAP University Alliance program, Metropolitan State University now offers a certificate in SAP ERP software. Students in Metropolitan State’s College of Management can take a sequence of three courses in order to earn a Student Achievement Award in SAP. This quasi-professional award from the SAP University Alliance Program indicates that the student has achieved a level of competence equivalent to at least one year’s working experience with SAP ERP software. This curriculum can also prepare the way for further advanced training for SAP’s professional certifications, some of which are offered by the University’s Institute for Professional Development.
To complete this certificate students take 3 courses – one course each from the 3 levels of curriculum enhancement with SAP ERP software
| “Light” SAP enhanced course 10%-15% SAP content |
MIS 320 Systems Analysis & Design | MIS 370 Retail Information Systems (The Oracle Retail Industry-Education Partnership) |
| “Medium” SAP enhanced course 25%-35% SAP content |
MIS 456 Supply Chain Information Systems | Acct 340 Accounting Information Systems |
| “Heavy” SAP enhanced course 65%-85% SAP content |
MIS 459 ERP Systems | MIS 380 Business Intelligence and Analytics |
These courses fit seamlessly into the B.S degree in Management Information Systems, as well as being partial elective options within the Business Admininstration, Supply Chain Management and Accounting degree programs. These classes are also open to those who already have college degrees and would like to broaden their knowledge by taking university courses as non-degree seeking students.
MIS 320 Systems Analysis & Design
This course presents approaches and methods for the analysis and design of IT applications. It also covers different methods for creating graphical models of IT project requirements. System development life cycle (SDLC) and alternate development approaches to information systems development are examined in detail. The course provides students with critical tools and representations (both traditional and object-oriented) for eliciting and documenting user requirements and for developing effective applications that meet organizational technology needs. Students work individually and in teams on assignments and projects. The roles of open source software, component based development and service oriented architecture in systems development are also examined.
MIS 456 Supply Chain Information Systems
This course examines the role of information systems applications involved in supporting supply chain operations. Topics covered include electronic purchasing, RFQ, reverse auctions, B2B exchanges, warehouse management systems, bar coding / RFID, mobile solutions for distribution and field force automation, ERP, reverse logistics, equipment maintenance tracking systems, transportation/shipping management and GPS. The underlying technologies of EDI and XML are also examined. Special emphasis is placed on building analysis skills for the detailed assessment of vendor software solutions in the supply chain arena.
MIS 459 ERP Systems
Introduction to ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems, components/submodules of ERP, configuration of ERP, operation of ERP for logistics and manufacturing (MRP), the ERP life cycle and the cash-to-cash cycle, the pros and cons of ERP systems as well as the risk factors that go into success or failure for ERP implementations; Open source ERP software options.
MIS 370 Retail Information Systems
This course examines the use of retail information systems applications at an advanced level to improve efficiency and effectiveness of retail stores and chain retailers. Topics covered include:
- Retail data configuration – the story of a Sku
- Merchandise planning and IT
- Purchasing & replenishment and IT
- Role of IT in Merchandising and store operations
- Post-season analytics
- The course will prominently feature hands-on exercises with actual Retail ERP software. The software used includes Oracle Retail & SAP Retail
Acct 340 Accounting Information Systems
This course provides a conceptual framework to stress the responsibility of accountant, auditor and manager for the design, operation and control of the accounting information system and the needs of information users within an organization. Traditional accounting transaction cycles are organized around events-based information technology – students learn how the accounting information system records, classifies and aggregates economic events
MIS 380 Business Intelligence & Analytics
Business Intelligence is the user-centered process of exploring data, data relationships and trends – thus helping to improve overall decision making for enterprises. This course addresses the iterative processes of accessing data (ideally stored in the enterprise data warehouse) and analyzing data in order to derive insights and communicate findings. Moreover, the course also addresses the use of software tools for analysis and visualization of data, especially report design along with the use of dashboards.
Market need/opportunity:
Oracle Retail, a business division of Oracle, Inc. based in Minneapolis, provides enterprise-level business applications to over 5,000 retailers across all industry segments in 68 countries. Implementation and support for Oracle Retail applications provides a unique and rewarding career opportunity.
A partnership was formed in 2012 between Logic Information Systems and Metropolitan State University to deliver curriculum that introduces students from inside and outside of the university to Oracle Retail software and prepares them for careers in this area.
How it works:
Each January approximately 20+ students take a course called MIS 370 Retail Information Systems. Participants learn the foundations of retail business operations and the fundamentals of selected SAP & Oracle Retail applications supporting these functions.
Students successfully complete this course are eligible for consideration for full-time jobs or internships working with Retail systems, most probably outside the Twin Cities.
It is important to note that no guarantee can be provided on the availability of jobs/internships. However, this experience could still translate to enhanced employability even for students who do not obtain a specific internship opportunity.
