Master of Science in Information Systems

Administrative Office - San Francisco

415-422-2592

Administrative Program Director: Moira A. Gunn, Ph.D.

The Master of Science in Information Systems (M.S.I.S.) curriculum is based on the strong and increasing demand for graduates who can meet the changing needs of an information economy. The effective and efficient use of information technology is an integral part of an organization's ability to achieve a competitive advantage in both the private and public sectors. Ethical practices and professionalism are integrated components throughout the program, along with a focus on essential career development skills (including oral, written, and presentation skills), and effective management of human resources.

The program is based upon nationally approved curriculum recommendations from the Association for Information Systems (AIS) and the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

Program Objectives

• Provide leadership in Information Systems (IS)
• Use information technology to build effective organizational systems
• Manage the organization's human capital
• To provide students with knowledge of ethical issues and the societal impacts of the Information Society.
• Analyze systems and appropriate technologies
• Determine the impact of IS policies and strategic decisions
• Understand how technology is transforming today's organizations and businesses

Program Requirements

Computer Proficiency

The curriculum is designed to accommodate students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Students entering the M.S.I.S. program need to demonstrate computer proficiency found in either an academic background (courses in the fundamentals of information systems, telecommunications and a programming language), professional training or professional experience. Students should reference their professional training and expertise in their admission Letters of Recommendation and/or in their admission Statement of Purpose and Career Goals.

Required courses are sequenced as follows

• MSIS - 612 Analysis, Modeling and Design
• MSIS - 611 Data Base
• MSIS - 620 Economics for IS Managers
• MSIS - 625 IT Policy and Strategy
• MSIS - 631 e-Business: Organizational Foundations and Technologies
• MSIS - 613 Communications and Networking
• MSIS - 651 IT Security
• MSIS - 624 Managing Projects and Change
• MSIS - 647 Global Information Systems
• MSIS - 648 Enterprise Information Systems
• MSIS - 656 Business Intelligence and Data Warehouses
• MSIS - 626 Information Technology, Ethics and Social Issues

Please see Information Systems Course Descriptions.

Degree Requirements

• Completion of all major coursework with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Information Systems, a graduate will have acquired:

• A comprehensive set of methods, techniques, and models for planning, analyzing, and designing information systems. The student is then required to implement these in a class project.
• Modern economic and financial theories for evaluating the costs and benefits of current or proposed information systems to gain insight into the importance of "go/no-go" decisions key to evaluating and managing information systems development.
• The managerial and technical requirements of human resources and will be able to respond to the needs of today's high tech environment and organization.
• The concepts, principles, issues and techniques for managing corporate data resources. Students are able to define and model the database systems and understand data administration, data warehousing, and data mining issues relevant to today's interconnected organizations
• A fundamental understanding of all aspects of telecommunications, including data, voice, image and video, and the critical need for security of networks and data inside and outside the organization
• An understanding of the effect of high-tech marketing on consumer behavior, organizational research, marketing functions, and policy are explored, and the student examines the implications of this new form of marketing on society.
• Knowledge of all aspects of managing a project and a project team from initiation through planning, analysis, design and implementation are presented. The student uses project management software to simulate projects and learns to manage on-going issues and change within a project.
• The ability to align information systems policies and strategies with corporate strategies to achieve corporate goals and competitive advantage. The importance of information architectures and infrastructure on corporations is explored.
• The ability to reflect and debate on the ethical and social issues provided by current and projected uses of information technology and the impact of information technology on the cultural of our age.