Information and Software Systems Engineering
Faculty
Professors: Gomaa, Jajodia, Kerschberg, Rine, Sandhu, Sibley
Associate Professors: Ammann, Barbara, Baum, Motro, Offutt (Interim Chair)
Assistant Professors: Bose, Brodsky, Wang
Research Professors: Armour, Bechtold, Buys
Adjunct Professors: Alexander, Dinh, Hanratty, McDermott, Mills, Nguyen,
Nidiffer, Redwine, Waisanen
Undergraduate Course Work
Although there is no undergraduate degree program in information systems, courses
are offered as electives in other programs. Students may also elect an information
systems engineering concentration in the systems engineering degree program.
The Department of Information and Software Engineering (ISE) offers courses designated
INFS and SWSE in the Course Descriptions
section of this catalog.
Graduate Degree (M.S.) in Information Systems
The M.S. in Information Systems is a professional degree program that focuses
on the technical, managerial, and policy issues associated with building computer-based
information systems for modern organizations. Information is the lifeblood of every
enterprise, both private and public, and the M.S. program addresses the theoretical
and practical aspects of specifying, designing,implementing, and managing information
systems. The program prepares students for research and professional practice in
the above areas.
The M.S. program is unique in two respects: 1) it provides a balance between the
technical and management aspects of information systems, and 2) it accepts students
with baccalaureate degrees in disciplines such as business, arts and sciences, computer
science, and engineering.
The M.S. student studies the core topics of computer organization, programming
languages, operating systems, operations research and management, database management,
computer communication networks and distributed applications, systems analysis and
design, and information systems policy and administration.
Through elective courses the student acquires knowledge and skills in the areas
of office information systems, secure information systems, software engineering,
information systems engineering, data engineering, knowledge engineering, information
retrieval, decision support systems, user interface design, artificial intelligence,
network management, and object-oriented analysis, design, and programming.
An M.S. graduate may pursue a career in areas such as database administration,
management and engineering, database application programming, systems analysis and
design, information engineering, knowledge engineering, network design and administration,
systems integration, and the management of information systems.
The program is offered by the faculty of the ISE Department. All classes are scheduled
in the late afternoon and early evening to accommodate employed students.
Foundation Requirements
The M.S. program prepares students for research and practice in information systems.
The program emphasizes a balance of technical and management skills. To ensure that
students have an adequate background in mathematical methods, computer technology,
and business knowledge, the program requires the following four foundation courses,
or their equivalent:
INFS 310 Program Structure and Design Using COBOL
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
and one of the three courses listed below:
ACCT 600 Accounting and Reporting
MGMT 600 Organizational Behavior and Development
MKTG 650 Marketing Management
When a prospective student applies to the M.S. program, he or she is asked to
fill out a departmental self-evaluation form, indicating whether previously taken
courses may satisfy these foundation requirements. Upon acceptance, the student is
advised of the necessary foundation courses to be satisfactorily completed, as articulated
courses, to meet this requirement. Foundation courses do not earn credit toward the
M.S. degree; however, they must be successfully completed with a grade of B or better
before enrolling in the core curriculum.
Students may take courses through the Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program.
Appropriate courses may be transferred, with advisor approval, into this George Mason
degree program.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants for the M.S. program should meet the following minimum entrance requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- Have earned a GPA of 3.000 or better in the last 60 credits.
- Show proof of a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test
(GMAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The applicable test should have been taken
within five years of applying for admission.
- Submit the appropriate application form with three letters of recommendation
from persons directly knowledgeable of the applicant's professional and academic
competence; and a one-page goals statement and work resume.
- Submit a completed M.S. self-evaluation form that is essential for evaluating
foundation requirements by the department faculty. This form may be obtained from
the department office.
Advising
Before the beginning of each semester, the ISE Department holds an orientation
meeting to advise newly admitted and continuing students. Members of the faculty
are present to answer questions and to offer advice concerning programs of study.
The department also provides an advising function to students, as outlined in
the Student Advising Form available from the department. Each student is assigned
a faculty advisor with whom the student may confer on matters related to degree requirements.
A Plan of Study form for the M.S. degree should be completed and submitted by the
student soon after admission to the program. The plan serves as a planning guide
for the student.
Degree Requirements
Completion of the M.S. program requires a minimum of 30 approved graduate credits
(10 courses). To provide a common background in the fundamentals of information systems,
the following five courses are required of all students:
OR 540 Management Science
INFS 601 Operating Systems Theory and Practice
INFS 612 Data Communications and Distributed Processing
INFS 614 Database Management
INFS 622 Information Systems Analysis and Design
Students must also take one of the following two courses:
INFS 790 Information Systems Policy and Administration
INFS 798 Research Project
The research project is intended for research-oriented students who have discussed
a project with a graduate faculty member who has agreed to supervise the project.
Electives
In order for students to pursue their individual interests, they may elect four
courses. A list of preapproved qualified electives is available from the department
office. However, students may choose other electives from offerings within the School
of IT&E with the consent of the faculty advisor. A thesis option is available;
students may elect to complete a thesis for up to six elective credits.
Students may earn a certificate in software systems engineering by replacing the
INFS 622 core course with SWSE 620, and by taking the following SWSE courses as electives:
SWSE 619 Software Construction
SWSE 621 Software Design
followed by two of the following as the remaining two electives:
SWSE/CS 623 Formal Methods and Models in Software Engineering
SWSE/CS 625 Software Project Management
SWSE 630 Software Engineering Economics
SWSE/CS 631 Object-Oriented Software Development
SWSE/CS 632 User Interface Design and Development
SWSE 637 Software Testing and Quality Assurance
SWSE/CS 706 Concurrent Software Systems
SWSE/CS 720 Advanced Software Requirements
SWSE/CS 721 Advanced Software Design Methods
SWSE/CS 735 Concurrency
SWSE 763 Software Engineering Experimentation
Note: SWSE 620 should not be taken as an elective unless the student is replacing
INFS 622 as a part of the software systems engineering certificate program. Credit
is not given for taking both INFS 622 and SWSE 620; only three credits will be awarded.
Certificate in Information Engineering
The graduate certificate program in information engineering (INFE) has been designed
for persons who are involved in the specification, design, implementation, and management
of data- and knowledge-intensive information systems. The INFE program prepares students
for research, development, and professional practice in information engineering by
providing a hands-on set of courses designed to provide theoretical knowledge and
practical experience with methods and tools associated with the areas of database
management systems, data modeling, knowledge acquisition, data/knowledge representation,
and information and software engineering.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the INFE certificate program must meet the same minimum entrance
requirements as those listed for the M.S. in Information Systems program.
Each applicant must possess knowledge equivalent to that provided by the following
courses:
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
Certificate Requirements
Certificate candidates must complete five courses, with an average grade of B
or better, for a total of 15 graduate credits. To obtain the certificate, a student
needs to complete the following:
INFS 612 Data Communications and Distributed Processing
INFS 614 Database Management
SWSE 620 Software Requirements and Prototyping
SWSE 621 Software Design
and one of the following:
SWSE 625 Software Project Management
INFS 770 Methods for Information Systems Engineering
Applicants may obtain more information by contacting the information engineering
certificate program advisor in the ISE Department, Science and Technology II, Room
330, (703) 993-1640.
Certificate in Information Systems Security
The graduate certificate program in information systems security is intended for
persons who are interested in science and methods for ensuring secrecy, integrity,
and availability of information systems. The certificate in information systems security
may be pursued concurrently with any of the graduate programs in the School of IT&E.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the certificate program in information systems security must meet
the same minimum entrance requirements as those for the M.S. in Information Systems,
Software Systems Engineering, and Computer Science programs.
Each applicant must possess knowledge equivalent to that provided by the following
courses.
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
Applicants are required to submit a brief (one- to two-page) statement of educational
and work experience in the computing field. Applicants also need to complete a self-assessment
form, which can be obtained from the ISE Department. This form provides summary information
concerning background and preparation for the program.
Students not enrolled in a graduate degree program at George Mason University
should apply for the information systems security certificate program through the
Graduate Admissions Processing Center of the School of IT&E. Students enrolled
in a graduate degree program at George Mason should apply to the ISE Department for
admission into the certificate program.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate candidates must complete four courses (subject to satisfying equivalents
of INFS 601, 612, and 614), with an average grade of B or better, for a total of
12 graduate credits. To obtain the certificate, a student needs to complete the following:
- One compulsory course:
INFS/CS 762 Information Systems Security
- Three additional courses from the following:
INFS/CS 763 Applied Cryptography
INFS/CS 765 Database Security
INFS/CS 766 Network and Distributed Systems Security
INFT 862 Formal Models for Computer Security (restricted to Ph.D. students)
INFT 962 Advanced Topics in Computer Security (restricted to Ph.D. students)
Applicants may obtain more information by contacting the ISE Department, Room
330, Science and Technology II, (703) 993-1640.
Certificate in Software Systems Engineering
The graduate certificate program in software systems engineering provides knowledge,
tools, and techniques to those who are working in, or planning to work in, the field
of software engineering, but who do not want to complete all the requirements for
a master's degree in software systems engineering. The certificate in software systems
engineering may also be pursued concurrently with any of the graduate degree programs
in the School of IT&E.
Admission Requirements
Admission into the certificate program in software systems engineering is identical
to that of the master's degree in software systems engineering. Each applicant must
possess knowledge equivalent to the following undergraduate courses: structured programming
in a modern programming language, data structures, discrete mathematics, and machine
organization. The level of knowledge may also be achieved by taking the following
George Mason University courses, which are referred to as the SWSE foundation courses:
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
In addition, it is desirable, but not necessary, for applicants to have at least
one year of appropriate work experience in building and/or modifying software systems.
Applicants are required to submit a brief (one- to two-page) statement of educational
and work experience in the computing field that includes a statement of career goals
in software engineering. Applicants also need to complete a self-assessment form,
which can be obtained from the ISE Department. This form provides summary information
concerning background and preparation for the program.
Students not enrolled in a graduate degree program at George Mason should apply
for the certificate program through the Graduate Admissions Processing Center of
the School of IT&E. Students enrolled in a graduate degree program at George
Mason should apply to the ISE Department for admission into the certificate program.
Certificate Requirements
Certificate candidates must complete five courses, with an average grade of B
or better, for a total of 15 graduate credits. To obtain the certificate, a student
needs to complete the following:
- Three compulsory courses:
SWSE/CS 619 Software Construction
SWSE/CS 620 Software Requirements and Prototyping
SWSE/CS 621 Software Design
- Two additional courses (subject to satisfying prerequisites) from the following:
SWSE/CS 623 Formal Methods and Models in Software Engineering
SWSE/CS 625 Software Project Management
SWSE 630 Software Engineering Economics
SWSE/CS 631 Object-Oriented Software Development
SWSE/CS 632 User Interface Design and Development
SWSE 637 Software Testing and Quality Assurance
SWSE/CS 706 Concurrent Software Systems
SWSE/CS 720 Advanced Software Requirements
SWSE/CS 721 Advanced Software Design Methods
SWSE/CS 735 Concurrency
SWSE 763 Software Engineering Experimentation
Computer science master's students who wish to obtain the certificate in software
systems engineering should contact the ISE Department for special instructions. Applicants
may obtain more information by contacting the software systems engineering certificate
program advisor in the ISE Department, Science and Technology II, Room 330, (703)
993-1640.
Software Systems Engineering, M.S.
The M.S. in Software Systems Engineering (SWSE) provides specialized knowledge
and experience in developing and modifying large, complex software systems. It emphasizes
technical and management aspects of the software engineering process. Software engineering
is a young and emerging discipline based on computer analysis, design, construction,
testing, maintenance, economics, and management issues of software engineering. A
pragmatic approach to problem solving is the hallmark of a software engineer. Software
systems engineers are concerned with the theoretical and practical aspects of technology,
cost, and social impact of software systems that are both effective and efficient.
Software engineers are in demand in every segment of society affected by computing
technology. Typical employers include companies that build and sell computers, software
companies, research and development laboratories, aerospace contractors, banks, insurance
companies, and manufacturing organizations. The master's program is concerned with
both technical and managerial issues, but primary emphasis is placed on the technical
aspects of building and modifying software systems.
Foundation Requirements
Students entering the M.S. program must have course work or equivalent knowledge
in the following areas: a modern, block-structured programming language such as Ada,
C, or Pascal; data structures and algorithms; machine organization (e.g., as given
in computer system architecture or assembly language courses); and topics in discrete
mathematics including sets, relations, functions, trees, graphs, and inductive proofs.
The level of knowledge required in these areas is equivalent to that taught in undergraduate
courses in the indicated topics, and may also be achieved by taking the following
George Mason University courses, which are referred to as the SWSE foundation courses:
INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems
INFS 515 Computer Organization
INFS 590 Program Design and Data Structures
In addition, it is desirable, though not required, that entering students have
at least one year of work experience in building and/or modifying software systems.
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general admission requirements of the university, applicants
to the M.S. program must meet the following minimum entrance requirements:
- Hold a baccalaureate degree in an appropriate discipline from an accredited institution.
- Have earned a GPA of 3.000 or better in the last 60 credits of undergraduate
study.
- Provide a brief (one- to two-page) statement of educational and work experience
in the computing field that includes a statement of career goals in software engineering.
- Submit a departmental self-evaluation form, which can be obtained from the department.
This form provides summary information concerning background and preparation for
the program.
- Show proof of a satisfactory score on the GRE. The applicable test should have
been taken within five years of applying for admission.
- Submit the appropriate application form with three letters of recommendation
from persons directly knowledgeable of the applicant's professional and academic
competence.
Acceptance into the M.S. program is based on an overall assessment of the applicant's
potential ability to complete the program of study satisfactorily. Well-qualified
students with minor deficiencies may be admitted to the program in provisional status,
with specified course work to be completed within a specified time.
Advising
Before the beginning of each semester, the ISE Department holds an orientation
meeting to advise incoming and continuing students. Members of the faculty are present
to answer questions and to offer advice concerning programs of study.
The department also provides an advising function to students, as outlined in
the Student Advising Form available from the department. Each student is assigned
a faculty advisor with whom the student confers on matters related to degree requirements.
A Plan of Study form for the M.S. degree should be completed and submitted by the
student soon after admission to the program. The plan serves as a planning guide
for the student.
Degree Requirements
The M.S. in Software Systems Engineering requires a minimum of 30 graduate credits.
The following six core courses (18 credits) are required:
SWSE 619 Software Construction
SWSE 620 Software Requirements and Prototyping
SWSE 621 Software Design
SWSE 623 Formal Methods and Models
SWSE 625 Software Project Management
SWSE 626 Software Project Laboratory
and either the professional option, consisting of four electives, or the research
option, consisting of two electives and a six-credit thesis, which is primarily intended
for students planning to pursue a Ph.D. with emphasis on software systems engineering.
Electives
Electives provide students the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge in a selected
area, to gain breadth of knowledge, or, by careful selection, to complete some of
the core course requirements for the Ph.D. program. A listing of preapproved qualified
electives is available from the department office. However, students may choose other
electives from offerings within the School of IT&E with the consent of the faculty
advisor.
Ph.D. Study in Information and Software Systems Engineering
Doctoral study in information systems engineering and software systems engineering
is available through the Ph.D. in Information Technology program, which offers advanced
courses in these disciplines. The doctoral program allows the student to take a broad
range of courses and research options. The program is described on the next page.
Return to School of Information
Technology and Engineering
Return to Catalog Index
|