Curriculum - M.S. in Information Systems - Graduate Program

M.S. in Information Systems Curriculum Overview
Foundation Courses
Core Requirements
Program Option and Sequence Requirements
Graduate Catalog

M.S. in Information Systems Curriculum Overview

The M.S. in Information Systems program features a set of core courses and four sequence choices: Information Assurance and Security, Internet Application Development, Systems Development, and Telecommunications Management. The M. S. in Information Systems program allows students to choose from three degree options and four sequences.

The Thesis Option of the IS program is designed specifically for students who either ultimately plan to continue their studies after completion of the M. S. program or are simply interested in performing research in Information Systems or Telecommunications. Students complete independent research resulting in a masters thesis under the direction of two School of Information Technology faculty members as a part of this option.

The Project Option of the IS program is designed specifically for students who are planning to enter the workforce after completion of the degree. Students complete a significant independent project under the direction of two School of Information Technology faculty members as a part of this option.

The Course Option of the IS program is designed for students who are planning to enter the workplace after completion of the degree but who do not wish to complete a masters thesis or independent project as a part of their degree.

Within these program options, student will also choose one of four sequences to complete.

The Information Assurance and Security Sequence of the IS program is designed for students who are interested in focusing specifically on information systems security-related technologies and skills. Most students choosing this sequence plan to pursue further studies in Information Systems or Information Systems Security or work as a programmer-analyst or systems developer with systems security focus, or as a project manager.

The Internet Application Development Sequence of the IS program is designed for students who are interested in learning a variety of technologies and skills related to Internet application development. Most students choosing this sequence plan to pursue further studies in Information Systems or Internet Application Development or work as a web developer, systems developer, programmer-analyst, or project manager.

The Systems Development Sequence of the IS program is designed for students who are interested in learning a variety of technologies and skills related to information systems/systems development. Most students choosing this sequence plan to pursue further studies in Information Systems or work as a programmer-analyst, systems developer, or project manager.

The Telecommunications Management Sequence of the IS program is designed for students who are interested in focusing specifically on telecommunications-related technologies and skills. Most students choosing this sequence plan to pursue higher studies in Information Systems or Telecommunications or work as a programmer-analyst or systems developer with telecommunications focus, or as a project manager.

Foundation Courses

The IS program assumes an undergraduate knowledge base in information technology, which students with computer-related undergraduate degrees will typically have acquired. Students lacking sufficient background may be admitted to the program but should expect to complete some or all of the following courses with a grade of "A" or "B" before enrolling in graduate-level courses.

ITK 254: Hardware and Software Concepts
ITK 261: Systems Development I
ITK 275: Java as a Second Language OR
ITK 177: Problem Solving for Information Technology AND
ITK 178: Computer Application Programming
ITK 375.05: Data Communications
ITK 378.05: Database Processing

The ITK graduate advisor will determine specific foundation requirements.

Core Requirements

In order to provide a solid IS foundation and a common background, each student in the M. S. in Information Systems program is required to complete all courses in the following core areas:

IS Technology
     ITK 432: Systems Analysis and Design
     ITK 478: Advanced Database Management
     ITK 350.05: Fundamentals of Information Assurance and Security
     ITK 377.05: Practical Telecommunications Networking

IS Management
     ITK 463: Information Technology Project Management
     ITK 496: Information Technology Strategy and Policy

Additional Course
     ITK 497: Introduction to Research Methodology

Program Option and Sequence Requirements

Each student will choose a program option and a degree sequence no later than the second semester of enrollment in the program.

Program Options

Thesis (30 course credit hours + 6 thesis hours)
Project (33 course credit hours + 6 project hours)
Course (39 course credit hours)

Sequence Options

Information Assurance and Security
Internet Application Development
Systems Development
Telecommunications Management

The requirements for each option and sequence may be found in the tables below.

Information Assurance and Security Sequence

	Thesis Option 36 total hours*	Project Option 39 total hours**	Course Option 39 total hours***
Information Assurance and Security Sequence	351.05: Data Communications Security	351.05: Data Communications Security	351.05: Data Communications Security
Information Assurance and Security Sequence	2 of: 450: Policy and Administration in IA and Security 451: Tools and Applications in IA and Security 486: Topics in IA and Security 495: IT Capstone	3 of: 450: Policy and Administration in IA and Security 451: Tools and Applications in IA and Security 486: Topics in IA and Security 495: IT Capstone	TEC 349: Technical Writing 3 of: 450: Policy and Administration in IA and Security 451: Tools and Applications in IA and Security 477: Converged Network Architectures 486: Topics in IA and Security
	499: Master's Thesis	494: Graduate Directed Project	495: IT Capstone

Internet Application Development Sequence

	Thesis Option 36 total hours*	Project Option 39 total hours**	Course Option 39 total hours***
Internet Application Development Sequence	353.05: Web Development Technologies	353.05: Web Development Technologies	353.05: Web Development Technologies
Internet Application Development Sequence	2 of: 354.05: Advanced Web Application Development 467: Human Factors in Information Systems 442: Electronic Commerce: Issues and Technologies 484: Topics in Internet App. Development 495: IT Capstone	3 of: 354.05: Advanced Web Application Development 467: Human Factors in Information Systems 442: Electronic Commerce: Issues and Technologies 484: Topics in Internet App. Development 495: IT Capstone	TEC 349: Technical Writing 3 of: 354.05: Advanced Web Application Development 467: Human Factors in Information Systems 442: Electronic Commerce: Issues and Technologies 484: Topics in Internet App. Development
	499: Master's Thesis	494: Graduate Directed Project	495: IT Capstone

Systems Development Sequence

	Thesis Option 36 total hours*	Project Option 39 total hours**	Course Option 39 total hours***
Systems Development Sequence	467: Human Factors in Information Systems	467: Human Factors in Information Systems	467: Human Factors in Information Systems
Systems Development Sequence	2 of: 341.05: Object Oriented Systems Development 460: Enterprise Systems Integration 468: Software Quality Assurance and Testing 485: Topics in Systems Development 495: IT Capstone	3 of: 341.05: Object Oriented Systems Development 460: Enterprise Systems Integration 468: Software Quality Assurance and Testing 485: Topics in Systems Development 495: IT Capstone	TEC 349: Technical Writing 3 of: 341.05: Object Oriented Systems Development 460: Enterprise Systems Integration 468: Software Quality Assurance and Testing 485: Topics in Systems Development
	499: Master's Thesis	494: Graduate Directed Project	495: IT Capstone

Telecommunications Management Sequence

	Thesis Option 36 total hours*	Project Option 39 total hours**	Course Option 39 total hours***
Telecommunications Management Sequence	479: Enterprise Telecommunications	479: Enterprise Telecommunications	479: Enterprise Telecommunications
Telecommunications Management Sequence	477: Converged Network Architectures 1 of: 371.05: Simulation and Analysis of Internet App. Performance 487: Topics in Telecommunications 495: IT Capstone	3 of: 371.05: Simulation and Analysis of Internet App. Performance 451: Tools and Applications in IA and Security 477: Converged Network Architectures 487: Topics in Telecommunications 495: IT Capstone	TEC 349: Technical Writing 3 of: 371.05: Simulation and Analysis of Internet App. Performance 451: Tools and Applications in IA and Security 477: Converged Network Architectures 487: Topics in Telecommunications
	499: Master's Thesis	494: Graduate Directed Project	495: IT Capstone

*Students in the thesis option must complete a minimum of 18 hours of 400-level course work (6 classes), not including thesis hours.

** Students in the project option must complete a minimum of 21 hours of 400-level course work (7 classes), not including project hours.

*** Students in the course option must complete a minimum of 21 chorus of 400-level course work (7 classes).

Graduate Catalog

To learn more about specific courses offered for the degree, you may access descriptions of the courses offered as a part of the program in the graduate catalog.