First Course Programming Languages within US Business College MIS Curricula

There are many factors to consider when selecting a first programming language for the management information systems (MIS) program. Determining the appropriate language for introductory MIS programming courses is challenging due to the lack of research guidance that addresses the specific context of programming in MIS curricula. This paper reports a summary of results from a survey that explores the languages used within introductory programming courses in US business colleges. Findings indicate that Python has emerged as the most popular language used in MIS curricula and that many of the languages currently in use have only recently been adopted. Moreover, there is both a transition from and transition to the Java language, possibly indicating a leading and trailing language transition wave. Emergent themes suggest that integration with other courses, industry demand, and faculty training and support are essential factors in the selection process