- Course Type CLEP
- Subject Business and Management
- Level Introductory
- Length 8 Modules
- Video Length 7h 47m
- Reading Pages 200
- Institution Modern States
ABOUT THIS COURSE
Information Systems reviews the material typically taught in an introductory college-level business information systems course. The course introduces key terminology and concepts, along with their applications in real-world contexts. Major areas include office applications, internet and web technologies, hardware and systems, software development, programming concepts, data management, and the social and ethical dimensions of information systems.
This is a free, self-paced Modern States course with no prerequisites. It is aligned to the CLEP® Information Systems exam and is designed to prepare you to succeed on the test and earn college credit at no cost.
Modern States originally developed this course in collaboration with Gregory Gardner, Ph.D. of State University of New York at Potsdam. Dr. Kamaljeet Sanghera of George Mason University supported course enhancements published in 2025.
Course Overview
Information Systems Course Overview - Modern States
| Module | Topic | Video Length | Total pages of required reading |
| Module 1: What are Information Systems? 00:36:26 total video length 28 total reading pages |
1: Introduction to What are Information Systems? | 0:01:05 | – |
| 1.1: Introduction to Information Systems | 0:05:14 | 8 | |
| 1.2: What Is Information? | 0:04:24 | – | |
| 1.3: Key Elements of Information Systems | 0:03:55 | 4 | |
| 1.4: History of Information Systems | 0:06:58 | – | |
| 1.5: Information Systems Today | 0:07:43 | 15 | |
| 1.6: What We Mean by “Digital” | 0:07:07 | 1 | |
| 1: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 2: Hardware and Systems Technology 01:47:05 total video length 36 total reading pages |
2: Introduction to Hardware and Systems Technology | 0:02:13 | – |
| 2.1: What is a Computer? | 0:06:57 | 8 | |
| 2.2: How Does a Computer Operate? | 0:05:12 | 8 | |
| 2.3: Types of Data Storage and Memory | 0:08:26 | 4 | |
| 2.4: More About Memory and Storage | 0:06:49 | – | |
| 2.5: Telecommunications – How We Move Data | 0:08:48 | 4 | |
| 2.6: Telecommunications – Bandwidth | 0:08:48 | – | |
| 2.7: Wireless Technologies | 0:08:12 | 3 | |
| 2.8: Input/Output Devices | 0:05:18 | – | |
| 2.9: Networks and Connected Computers | 0:08:26 | 4 | |
| 2.10: Servers and Routers | 0:08:18 | 3 | |
| 2.11: Network Architectures | 0:07:46 | – | |
| 2.12: Mobile Technologies | 0:05:35 | 2 | |
| 2.13: Satellites and Microwaves | 0:09:31 | – | |
| 2.14: RFID and GPS | 0:06:46 | – | |
| 2: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 3: Software Development and Programming Concepts 01:30:30 total video length 27 total reading pages |
3: Introduction to Software Development and Programming Concepts | 0:01:07 | – |
| 3.1: What is Software? | 0:04:09 | 7 | |
| 3.2: Primary Types of Software | 0:04:42 | – | |
| 3.3: Operating Systems | 0:07:23 | – | |
| 3.4: Software Applications | 0:05:48 | – | |
| 3.5: Common Office Applications | 0:04:00 | 4 | |
| 3.6: Spreadsheets | 0:08:57 | – | |
| 3.7: Software Development | 0:12:14 | 6 | |
| 3.8: Common Software Development Processes | 0:05:06 | 2 | |
| 3.9: Coding and Common Software Languages | 0:08:09 | 8 | |
| 3.10: Implementing New Software Tools | 0:06:00 | – | |
| 3.11: Software Standards | 0:06:28 | – | |
| 3.12: Software Methodologies | 0:08:35 | – | |
| 3.13: Programming Concepts | 0:07:52 | – | |
| 3: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 4: The Internet and the World Wide Web 01:05:46 total video length 13 total reading pages |
4: Introduction to The Internet and the World Wide Web | 0:01:12 | – |
| 4.1: History of the Internet | 0:06:05 | 5 | |
| 4.2: The World Wide Web and the Browser | 0:07:01 | – | |
| 4.3: What Browsers Can Do for Us | 0:05:31 | 3 | |
| 4.4: What is a Website? | 0:06:23 | – | |
| 4.5: Website Design | 0:06:48 | – | |
| 4.6: Other Creatures on the Web | 0:07:19 | – | |
| 4.7: Key Web Software Tools | 0:06:30 | – | |
| 4.8: Search Engines | 0:06:53 | – | |
| 4.9: Intranets and Cloud Computing | 0:07:07 | 2 | |
| 4.10: The Internet of Things | 0:04:57 | 3 | |
| 4: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 5: Technology Applications 01:05:36 total video length 10 total reading pages |
5: Introduction to Technology Applications | 0:01:05 | 10 |
| 5.1: What is a Database? | 0:04:30 | – | |
| 5.2: Types of Databases | 0:07:28 | – | |
| 5.3: Choosing the Right Database | 0:06:22 | – | |
| 5.4: Database Programming Tools | 0:06:31 | – | |
| 5.5: How to Search Your Database | 0:07:40 | – | |
| 5.6: Data Warehousing and Mining | 0:05:36 | – | |
| 5.7: Enterprise-Wide Data Systems | 0:05:48 | – | |
| 5.8: And More Enterprise Systems | 0:06:49 | – | |
| 5.9: Specialized Systems – GIS and Experts | 0:07:23 | – | |
| 5.10: Integrating Modern Databases | 0:06:24 | – | |
| 5: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 6: E-Commerce 00:35:49 total video length 29 total reading pages |
6: Introduction to E-Commerce | 0:00:52 | – |
| 6.1: Business on the Internet | 0:04:31 | 10 | |
| 6.2: Business and Competition | 0:07:18 | 8 | |
| 6.3: Common Business Internet Transactions | 0:07:43 | – | |
| 6.4: Threats and Opportunities Online | 0:06:59 | 11 | |
| 6.5: The Likely Future of E-Commerce | 0:08:26 | – | |
| 6: Summary | – | – | |
| Module 7: Social and Ethical Implications and Issues 01:05:14 total video length 57 total reading pages |
7: Introduction to Social and Ethical Implications and Issues | 0:01:06 | – |
| 7.1: Security and Risk | 0:07:32 | 22 | |
| 7.2: Malware, Privacy, and Encryption | 0:11:07 | – | |
| 7.3: Identity Theft – Who Are We? | 0:06:31 | – | |
| 7.4: Privacy and Social Media | 0:04:15 | – | |
| 7.5: Intellectual Property Rights | 0:05:27 | 14 | |
| 7.6: Workforce Impacts | 0:05:13 | – | |
| 7.7: In- and Out-Sourcing | 0:05:07 | – | |
| 7.8: Jobs and Job Designs | 0:05:29 | 6 | |
| 7.9: Health and Ergonomics | 0:03:51 | – | |
| 7.10: Artificial Intelligence – People 2.0? | 0:06:16 | 6 | |
| 7.11: Careers in IS Now and Tomorrow | 0:03:20 | 9 | |
| 7: Summary | – | – |
