Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology Overview

The Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology degree is designed puts leadership skills front and center by preparing students to pursue a career managing information and technology in the digital organization.

Designed for working professionals, the MS in Information Systems & Technology program's practitioner-based approach gives you insight into real-world business requirements from faculty with real-world experience.

Students in this program can choose from one of the following specializations:

• Information Architecture and Design with an emphasis on interaction and usability studies
• Technical Specializations with an emphasis on network technologies and management
• Information Security Studies with an emphasis on computer security
• Hybrid Specialization with no required emphasis

Employment Opportunities

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Overall employment of computer network, systems, and database administrators is projected to increase by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018."

Academic Requirements

The Master of Science in Information Systems & Technology program online is designed for prospective students who have:

1. Completed an application for admission and submitted an application fee ($50)
2. An undergraduate degree with a GPA of 2.7 or better on a 4.0 scale
3. Or, an undergraduate degree and GRE scores in the 50th percentile for all three sections or completed a GRE Graduate Subject Test in Computer Science in the 50th percentile or completed a Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with a minimum raw score of 44

Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology - 48 Total Hours

Students pursuing the Master of Science in Information Systems and Technology degree are required to take a total of 12 courses as follows:

• 5 foundation courses - 20 Credits
• 6 specialization courses - 24 Credits
• 1 capstone course - 4 Credits

Foundation Curriculum - 20 Credits
Students are required to take 5 foundation courses as follows:

IST5010 - Information Technology Infrastructure

Concepts, systems development and effective use of up-to-date tools and application software, focusing on IT infrastructure, systematic approach to management, processes involved in managing IT infrastructures, best practices to IT service support and service delivery, the place of IT infrastructure and IT service in an organization, IT management frameworks, and concepts of the work processes used to manage an IT infrastructure.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

IST5020 - Information Systems Fundamentals

This course explores the real-world projects dealing with issues related to development, management, and maintenance of medium-sized and a large-scaled information system (IS) with emphasis on business IS for a distributed environment. The identification of vulnerabilities and risks inherent in the operation of IS are also explored.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

IST6000 - Principles of Systems Development

This course summarizes system development and design and software engineering methodologies, with emphasis on structured and object-oriented analysis, design and implementation of information systems, distributed information systems, information systems life cycle models, and platforms with discussions of requirements definition and management, modeling quality assurance and development environments.

Prerequisite(s): IST5010 IST5020

Credits: 4

IST6010 - Project Management

This course discusses the tools and techniques for the successful management of Information Technology (IT) projects. Topics include project selection and approval, planning, estimation techniques, scheduling methods, budgeting, IT project organizations, and project control and assessment. The course describes the need for effective project management in technology projects, with an emphasis on how technology projects are managed from start to finish. Students explore each of the nine domains of project management including project planning, scheduling, risk management, cost management, and effective project control, as well as the associated pre-project and post-project activities that need to be performed for a project.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

IST6020 - Corporate Information Systems Management

The course is an overview and case studies of contemporary information systems management in a digital enterprise. It focuses on the relevant issues of effective management of information services activities and highlights the areas of greatest potential application of the technology. The course emphasizes the skills and knowledge to identify and communicate business system needs, select the right information systems and integrate these systems into organizations to improve business performance.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

Major Curriculum: Specialization in Information Architecture and Design - 24 Credits
Students are required to take 6 major courses in their chosen area of emphasis:

IST6101 - Web Technologies

Design and implementation of distributed information systems involving the technologies developed for the World Wide Web. Client/server architectures, graphical user interfaces, concurrent and distributed programming, distributed information systems server architectures, database connectivity, and standard enterprise development packages.

Prerequisite(s):
Foundation

Credits: 4

IST6102 - Computer Security and Forensics

The course covers computer and network forensics. Course topics include: computer security incident response process; computer criminal evidence collection, analysis and handling, e-mail investigation, malicious code investigation, network traffic analysis and router investigation, hacker tools analysis, and computer/network forensic report writing. The course identifies and examines information security threats, information security methods, and implementation approaches used in IT industry.

Prerequisite(s): IST6000 IST6010 IST6020

Credits: 4

MBA5001 - Organization Behavior and Communication

This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communications. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

Emphasis in Interaction and Usability Studies

IST6160 - Information Design and Usability

Design elements, methods, and software metrics for usability assessment and improvement of interface design and architecture. This course emphasizes the critical need for site design for efficient user navigation to needed materials from the information services of large organizations.

Prerequisite(s): IST6101 IST6102 MBA5100

Credits: 4

IST6161 - Human-Computer Interaction

This course is a study of effective and productive interfaces. Topics may include design and evaluation of interactive computer systems, input and output devices, screen layouts, machine design, health issues and ergonomics, and organizational impacts.

Prerequisite(s): IST6101 IST6102 MBA5100

Credits: 4

IST6163 - Cognitive Software Design

This course serves to focus on the application of cognitive principles to improve system design and usability. Topics in this course will include system unification, locus of attention, successful navigation design, user interface issues, successful user interface design, and theory of operation.

Prerequisite(s):
Foundation

Credits: 4

Major Curriculum: Specialization in Technical Specializations - 24 Credits
Students are required to take 6 major courses in their chosen area of emphasis:

IST6101 - Web Technologies

Design and implementation of distributed information systems involving the technologies developed for the World Wide Web. Client/server architectures, graphical user interfaces, concurrent and distributed programming, distributed information systems server architectures, database connectivity, and standard enterprise development packages.

Prerequisite(s):
Foundation

Credits: 4

IST6102 - Computer Security and Forensics

The course covers computer and network forensics. Course topics include: computer security incident response process; computer criminal evidence collection, analysis and handling, e-mail investigation, malicious code investigation, network traffic analysis and router investigation, hacker tools analysis, and computer/network forensic report writing. The course identifies and examines information security threats, information security methods, and implementation approaches used in IT industry.

Prerequisite(s): IST6000 IST6010 IST6020

Credits: 4

MBA5001 - Organization Behavior and Communication

This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communications. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

Emphasis in Network Technologies and Management

IST6260 - Network Architecture and Protocols

Computer networking concepts and technologies: fundamentals of network technology and protocols, Internet protocols, multicasting, subnet and supernet addressing, routing algorithms, client-server, socket interface, bootstrap and auto configuration, file transfer, e-mail, and Internet security. Real-world projects dealing with the development, installation, and management of application systems or a variety of network environments with emphasis on distributed applications for LAN, WAN, Internet, and intranet are addressed.

Prerequisite(s): IST6101 IST6102 MBA5100

Credits: 4

IST6261 - Network Security

Principles and practice of network security, including authentication services, e-mail security, IP security, Web security, security systems and threats, wireless security, and security applications.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

IST6262 - Network Operations Management

Planning and designing a network infrastructure for an enterprise, including domain architecture design. Issues relating to choosing appropriate networking technologies and management tools for an enterprise, planning and strategizing servers for a given network infrastructure, and designing a business continuity plan are addressed, with an emphasis on planning and delivering network services to support business objectives of the organization, including monitoring, reporting, troubleshooting, and automating response capabilities.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

Major Curriculum: Specialization in Information Security Studies - 24 Credits
Students are required to take 6 major courses in their chosen area of emphasis:

IST6102 - Computer Security and Forensics

The course covers computer and network forensics. Course topics include: computer security incident response process; computer criminal evidence collection, analysis and handling, e-mail investigation, malicious code investigation, network traffic analysis and router investigation, hacker tools analysis, and computer/network forensic report writing. The course identifies and examines information security threats, information security methods, and implementation approaches used in IT industry.

Prerequisite(s): IST6000 IST6010 IST6020

Credits: 4

IST6302 - Internet Algorithms Security

Algorithms used for the Internet protocols with emphasis on their security. Topics may include network routing, Web search engine algorithms, data compression algorithms, caching, error-correcting codes, and secret-sharing protocols.

Prerequisite(s): Program foundation courses

Credits: 4

MBA5001 - Organization Behavior and Communication

This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communications. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

Emphasis in Computer Security

IST6261 - Network Security

Principles and practice of network security, including authentication services, e-mail security, IP security, Web security, security systems and threats, wireless security, and security applications.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

IST6360 - System Software Security

This course is an in-depth discussion of security concepts in operating systems. It examines the security issues in current operating systems and discusses the existing tools and technologies for setting up a secure system.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

IST6361 - Application Software Security

This course addresses security concepts in developing software applications. It discusses design principles for secure software development and auditing protocols for discovering vulnerabilities of existing application software, including the security issues in current programming and scripting languages, database systems, and Web servers.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

Major Curriculum: Hybrid Specialization - 24 Credits
Students are required to take 6 major courses in their chosen area of emphasis.  Students will take 6 courses from the following:

IST6101 - Web Technologies

Design and implementation of distributed information systems involving the technologies developed for the World Wide Web. Client/server architectures, graphical user interfaces, concurrent and distributed programming, distributed information systems server architectures, database connectivity, and standard enterprise development packages.

Prerequisite(s):
Foundation

Credits: 4

IST6102 - Computer Security and Forensics

The course covers computer and network forensics. Course topics include: computer security incident response process; computer criminal evidence collection, analysis and handling, e-mail investigation, malicious code investigation, network traffic analysis and router investigation, hacker tools analysis, and computer/network forensic report writing. The course identifies and examines information security threats, information security methods, and implementation approaches used in IT industry.

Prerequisite(s): IST6000 IST6010 IST6020

Credits: 4

IST6160 - Information Design and Usability

Design elements, methods, and software metrics for usability assessment and improvement of interface design and architecture. This course emphasizes the critical need for site design for efficient user navigation to needed materials from the information services of large organizations.

Prerequisite(s): IST6101 IST6102 MBA5100

Credits: 4

IST6161 - Human-Computer Interaction

This course is a study of effective and productive interfaces. Topics may include design and evaluation of interactive computer systems, input and output devices, screen layouts, machine design, health issues and ergonomics, and organizational impacts.

Prerequisite(s): IST6101 IST6102 MBA5100

Credits: 4

IST6163 - Cognitive Software Design

This course serves to focus on the application of cognitive principles to improve system design and usability. Topics in this course will include system unification, locus of attention, successful navigation design, user interface issues, successful user interface design, and theory of operation.

Prerequisite(s):
Foundation

Credits: 4

IST6260 - Network Architecture and Protocols

Computer networking concepts and technologies: fundamentals of network technology and protocols, Internet protocols, multicasting, subnet and supernet addressing, routing algorithms, client-server, socket interface, bootstrap and auto configuration, file transfer, e-mail, and Internet security. Real-world projects dealing with the development, installation, and management of application systems or a variety of network environments with emphasis on distributed applications for LAN, WAN, Internet, and intranet are addressed.

Prerequisite(s): IST6101 IST6102 MBA5100

Credits: 4

IST6261 - Network Security

Principles and practice of network security, including authentication services, e-mail security, IP security, Web security, security systems and threats, wireless security, and security applications.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

IST6262 - Network Operations Management

Planning and designing a network infrastructure for an enterprise, including domain architecture design. Issues relating to choosing appropriate networking technologies and management tools for an enterprise, planning and strategizing servers for a given network infrastructure, and designing a business continuity plan are addressed, with an emphasis on planning and delivering network services to support business objectives of the organization, including monitoring, reporting, troubleshooting, and automating response capabilities.

Prerequisite(s): None

Credits: 4

IST6302 - Internet Algorithms Security

Algorithms used for the Internet protocols with emphasis on their security. Topics may include network routing, Web search engine algorithms, data compression algorithms, caching, error-correcting codes, and secret-sharing protocols.

Prerequisite(s): Program foundation courses

Credits: 4

IST6360 - System Software Security

This course is an in-depth discussion of security concepts in operating systems. It examines the security issues in current operating systems and discusses the existing tools and technologies for setting up a secure system.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

IST6361 - Application Software Security

This course addresses security concepts in developing software applications. It discusses design principles for secure software development and auditing protocols for discovering vulnerabilities of existing application software, including the security issues in current programming and scripting languages, database systems, and Web servers.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

MBA5001 - Organization Behavior and Communication

This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communications. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building.

Prerequisite(s):

Credits: 4

Capstone Course - 4 Credits
Students must take 1 course as follows:

IST6995 - Information Systems and Technology for Strategic Business Development

The course provides students an opportunity to demonstrate professional competencies and capabilities covered in the IST curriculum by conducting a study in an advanced IT or IS-related topic or undertake the analysis, design, and implementation of a real-world application.

Prerequisite(s): All foundation and core courses

Credits: 4

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