2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Information Systems, MS


Banner Code: VS-MS-ISYS

School: Volgenau School of Engineering 

Department: Computer Science 

This professional degree program focuses on the technical, managerial, and policy issues associated with designing, building, and maintaining information systems in organizations. Data, information, and knowledge are crucial to the modern enterprise, and the MS in information systems (MS-ISYS) addresses both the theoretical and engineering aspects of specifying, designing, implementing, and managing large-scale information systems.

The goals of the MS-ISYS are to provide a high-quality program that allows students with diverse baccalaureate and professional backgrounds to obtain the MS degree; provide a technical body of knowledge, together with hands-on project experience, that will allow students to analyze, design, build, deploy, maintain, and manage information systems in large organizations such as industry, government, and nonprofits; and provide a course of study that allows professionals to pursue a technical or a managerial approach to information systems.

The career paths open to graduates include technical and management positions. Technical positions include systems analyst, data administrator, information architect, database administrator, systems architect, decision analyst, data warehouse administrator, database programmer, web-based information systems designer and programmer, information engineer, and knowledge engineer. Management positions include chief information officer, chief knowledge officer, chief privacy officer, project manager, and webmaster.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a four-year (120-credit) baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have earned a GPA of 3.00 or better in the last 60 credits. They also must meet the following requirements:

  • Show proof of a satisfactory score on the GMAT or GRE, if required. The applicable test should have been taken within five years of applying for admission. The department policy is that the GMAT or GRE is required unless the applicant has an undergraduate degree in science or engineering from a U.S. university and graduated with a GPA of 3.00 or better in the last 60 hours; a graduate degree in science or engineering from a U.S. university; or been admitted as a non-degree student and meets all the following requirements: an undergraduate degree from a U.S. university, an undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or better in the last 60 hours, and a B or better grade in all foundation courses taken at Mason or elsewhere.
  • Submit the appropriate application forms with three letters of recommendation from people directly knowledgeable of the applicant’s professional and academic competence, a one-page goals statement, and a work résumé.
  • Submit a department self-evaluation form that is essential for evaluating foundation requirements by the department faculty. This form may be obtained from the department office or the department web page.
  • International students must submit their TOEFL score.

Foundation Requirements

To ensure students have an adequate background in mathematical methods, computer technology, and programming knowledge, the program requires the following foundation courses or their equivalents: INFS 501 Discrete and Logical Structures for Information Systems, INFS 515 Computer Organization, INFS 519 Program Design and Data Structures, SWE 510 Object-Oriented Programming in Java.

Prospective students are asked to complete a department self-evaluation form indicating whether previously taken courses may satisfy these foundation requirements. On acceptance, students are advised of the necessary foundation courses to be satisfactorily completed to meet this requirement. Foundation courses do not earn credit toward the MS degree; however, they must be successfully completed with a grade of B or better before enrolling in the core curriculum.

Students may test out to indicate they have the requisite knowledge for those foundations of SWE 510, INFS 501, 515, and 519. The exams are given before classes begin in January and August, and can only be taken once. Registration is not required; students need only be present at the date, time, and location specified, and bring some form of photographic identification. Detailed information is available on the department web site. Students failing any of the exams must take the equivalent course before enrolling in the core curriculum courses.

Advising

The department holds orientation meetings in January and August to advise newly admitted and continuing students. Members of the faculty are present to answer questions and offer advice concerning programs of study. Detailed information is available on the department web site.

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 to confer on matters related to degree requirements. A plan of study form for the MS degree should be completed and submitted by the student soon after admission to the program. This plan serves as a guide for the student.

Degree Requirements


Completion of the MS program requires a minimum of 30 approved graduate credits (10 courses). To provide a common background in the fundamentals of information systems, the following four courses are required of all students:

Notes:


For students taking the emphasis area and/or graduate certificate in software engineering, SWE 620 must be substituted for INFS 622.

The core courses constitute the technical body of knowledge for the program. The elective courses are organized into the following emphasis areas: database management, data mining, electronic commerce, software engineering, knowledge management, and information security and assurance.

Elective Courses


In addition to the core courses taken as part of the MS-ISYS curriculum, students may choose an emphasis within the program by taking six courses from one of the emphasis areas listed below. Students may also choose electives spanning several emphasis areas; they may also plan their electives so as to obtain certificates offered by the department. A list of approved electives is given within emphasis areas and by graduate program. A full list is provided at the end of this section. Special courses may be used as electives with prior approval of the student’s academic advisor and the graduate coordinator.

Students, with the consent of a faculty sponsor and faculty advisor, may also elect courses in individualized study, special topics, or a 6-credit thesis, which is primarily intended for students planning to pursue a PhD in information technology with a concentration in information systems.

Listed below are the emphasis areas and the approved elective courses in each area.

Certificates


Certificates may also be obtained in the following areas: database management, data mining, electronic commerce, information engineering, information security and assurance, intelligent agents, software architecture, software engineering, foundations of information systems, web-based software engineering, biometrics, computer games technology, and computer networking. These certificates are described in the computer science certificates section of this catalog.

Approved Electives


A full list of approved electives is given below by program:

Computer Science (CS)


Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)


Total: 30 credits