Master of Science in Information Systems

The Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) provides an interdisciplinary approach to preparing graduates with expertise in information technology. The program structure allows students to build career elective choices based on their individual career goals. It is designed to meet the need for information systems leaders and innovators in a broad range of disciplines including business, education, government, healthcare, science, and the arts. The program requires 36 semester credit hours of graduate course work (excluding any prerequisite requirements) in four component areas: information systems core, a support area of the student's choosing, information systems technical course work, and an integrative capstone. The program provides a balance of practical application and theoretical concepts, while developing technical, organizational, and discipline specific knowledge and skills.

Admission Requirements

1. General admission to graduate study with at least a 2.5 GPA or minimum of 2.75 GPA in last 60 hours of undergraduate study.
2. Admission is determined by an admission index, computed as follows: Index = (undergraduate GPA X 200) + (composite verbal and quantitative GRE score). The index score must equal at least 1250 for admission. (The minimum individual scores allowed for consideration of admission, and computing of the admissions index, would be 750 for the composite [verbal and quantitative] GRE). The admission index with the GMAT is computed as follows: index = (undergraduate GPA X 200) + GMAT score. The index must equal at least 1000. The minimum score allowed for consideration for admission is 400 for the GMAT.
3. If a student already holds a Master's degree from an accredited institution, the GRE or GMAT is not required.
4. A portfolio is required which contains (1) a one-page statement outlining the student's career goals and objectives as related to the program; and (2) documentation that addresses achievement of each of the prerequisite competencies.
5. It is strongly recommended students have at least two years of work experience in IS or in their chosen specialty before admission.
6. Applications deadlines are: Spring semester application materials must be postmarked no later than December 1. Fall semester application materials must be postmarked no later than August 1. Summer semester application materials must be postmarked no later than April 15. Deadlines for international students are May 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester.
7. International students must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the English Language Institute Test of the University of Michigan, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). If the Michigan test is taken, a minimum score of 82 is required. Students taking the IELTS must score a minimum of 5.5. A TOEFL score of 500 on the old testing system or 61 on the new system is required for admission. All international students must have their transcripts evaluated by Josef Silny & Associates, International Academic Credential Evaluators, or World Education Services (WES). International residence students are required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations to be enrolled in a minimum of six hours of on-campus classroom courses each semester.
8. Students may be conditionally admitted to the MSIS program. Conditionally admitted students may only take prerequisite component courses and must have met requirements for general admission to graduate study. Once a student has completed the prerequisite requirements, he or she will be unconditionally admitted if all other admission requirements are satisfied.

Required prerequisite competencies are:

• Concepts of IS in Organizations (equivalent to MSU undergraduate coursework: CIS 311, and MNGT 475 or CMSP 367). Suggested coursework to meet a deficiency in this area would be CIS 615.
• Fundamentals of PC hardware, software applications, and networking (equivalent to MSU undergraduate coursework: CIS 101, CIS 211, CIS 340). Suggested coursework to meet a deficiency in this area would be the CIS 632 and CIS 634.
• Undergraduate foundation in mathematics and statistics (equivalent to MSU undergraduate coursework: Math 152, Math 174, Math 353 or Math 354, CIS 200 or MATH 170).
• Expertise in at least one of the following IS areas: systems analysis and design, networking and systems administration, database design and management, Web development, advanced discipline specific applications, programming, graphics, multimedia and desktop publishing, knowledge management and information architectures, or IS management and decision making. Expertise can be shown either through appropriate coursework at an undergraduate or graduate level from an accredited college or university, or through relevant work experience and/or industry-standard certifications or training.

Note: The prerequisite courses do not satisfy the requirements for the 36 hour MSIS program.

Maintaining Enrollment in the Program:

In order to maintain enrollment in the program, students are expected to achieve an appropriate level of academic performance and will be required to have a minimum 3.0 GPA to graduate. Any student receiving two grades of "C" or below in any graduate level course will be placed on probation. If a student on probation receives a third grade of "C" or below, they will be dismissed from the program.

Requirements for the Degree

1. Satisfy general degree requirements.
2. Completion of the program with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
3. Must be unconditionally admitted.

	Sem. Hrs.
Core Component	12
CIS 640 - Systems Planning and Implementation	3
CIS 641 - Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods	3
CIS 650 - Innovation, Technology & Organizational Change	3
CIS 636 - Global Information Systems	3
Support Area	6-9
Electives in student's chosen area
Integrative Component	3-6
CIS 697 - Thesis or	6
CIS 690 - Information Systems Team Project	3
Technical Component	12
CIS 698 - Advanced Supervised Field Experience	3
CIS 625 - Web Information Systems & Internet Technologies	3
CIS 628 - E-Business Application Programming	3
CIS 635 - Seminar in Information Systems	3
CIS 638 - Database Systems Design, Implementation & Mgt	3
CIS 642 - Systems Security	3
CIS 670 - Directed Research	3
CIS 699 - Selected Workshop Topics	3
HSM 650 - Health Information Technology and Clinical Transformation	3
MBI 660 - Data Warehousing and Data Mining (NKU course)	3
MBI 675 - Enter Workflow Design & Reengineer (NKU course)	3
TOTAL HOURS REQUIRED	36

MSIS graduates will be able to:

• Assume leadership positions in the information systems field.
• Use appropriate methods of inquiry to address complex workplace issues in information systems.
• Implement innovative technology-based solutions with sensitivity to ethical, legal and quality of life issues.
• Analyze organizational, technological, and economic issues to effectively design information system solutions.
• Manage systems projects from inception to completion to meet specified client needs.
• Become technical experts in one or more specialized areas of information systems.

Assessment Procedures

1. Students will successfully complete and orally defend an integrative technology-based project or thesis in the integrative component of the program. Assessment criteria will address the oral, technical, conceptual, and research competencies.
2. Within each class in the program, students are expected to achieve a minimum grade of "B," thereby achieving a minimum program GPA of 3.0.
3. Student competencies will be assessed within each course of the program.

In this section: Health Systems Management (HSM) Track

Up one level: Department of Information Systems