Information Systems Course Descriptions

MSIS - 611. Data Base (3)

Presents the concepts, principles, issues, and techniques for managing corporate data resources; techniques for managing design and development of large database systems, including logical data models, concurrent processing, data distribution, database administration, data warehousing, data cleansing, and data mining.

MSIS - 612. Analysis, Modeling and Design (3)

Studies systems development life cycle, analysis and design techniques, information systems planning and projects identification and selection, requirements collection structuring, process modeling, data modeling, interface design and data management, system implementation and operation, system maintenance, and change management implications of systems. Globalization issues in systems are also considered. The course utilizes current methods and tools, such as rapid application development, prototyping, and visual development.

MSIS - 613. Communications and Networking (3)

Examines telecommunication fundamentals, including data, voice, image, and video. The concepts, models, architectures, protocols, standards, and security for the design, implementation, and management of digital networks are studied, as well as local and wide networks, transmission and switching efficiency, and regulatory and technical environments. Topics include security, e-commerce, web sites, and middleware.

MSIS - 620. Economics for IS Managers (3)

Presents an overview of modern economic and financial theories relevant to understanding the costs, benefits, and processes by which proposed or current information systems can be evaluated. Students explore the economic impact of legal, regulatory, and political actions on the information industry. This course may be offered online.

MSIS - 621. Systems, Technology and Change (3)

Analyzes the learning organization, critically studying both the strengths and limitations of modern virtual management practices, knowledge management systems, e-learning formats, as well as the technology that makes them possible.

MSIS - 624. Managing Projects and Change (3)

Examines the managing of projects within an organizational context, including the processes related to initiating, planning, executing, controlling, reporting, and closing a project. Project integration, scope, time, cost, quality control, and risk management, as well as managing the changes in organizations resulting from introducing or revising Information Systems are studied. Identifying project champions, working with user teams, training, and documentation, and the change management role of the Information Systems specialist are considered.

MSIS - 625. IT Policy and Strategy (3)

Examines the top management perspective for aligning competitive strategy, core competencies, and information systems; the development and implementation of policies and plans to achieve organizational goals; defining the systems that support the operational, administrative, and strategic needs of the organization, its business units, and individual employees. Approaches to managing the Information Systems function in organizations are also explored, including examination of the dual challenges of effectively controlling the use of well-established information technologies while experimenting with emerging technologies, as well as the role of the CIO.

MSIS - 626. Information Technology, Ethics and Social Issues (3)

Provides a broad survey of the individual, organizational, and cultural impact of information technology, in order to stimulate thoughtful reflection and debate upon the ethical and social issues provoked by current and projected uses of information technology.

MSIS - 630. Leveraging Human Capital in a Technological Workforce (3)

Studies the human resource department and strategic human resource management critical to the success of organizations in our current technological age, as they enter into the market and attempt to stay vital. Students analyze critical organizational structures and human resource issues through the lens of organizational culture, leadership styles, manager-employee work relationships, organizational learning and training methods, and workplace wellness concerns. Students also explore how the nature of work and management is being reshaped by technology. The course provides practical skills in identifying, assessing, analyzing, resolving and forecasting issues in light of organizational and human resource management theory, as well as developing management vision, style and values, and examining varying human resources needs through start-up, growth, stability, and transformation of an organization's identity, operational practices, and product lines.

MSIS - 631. e-Business: Organizational Foundations and Technologies (3)

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the organizational structures and the technologies that support e-business. Topics covered include, e-business strategy, business models, governance structures, electronic markets, and e-business technological infrastructure.

MSIS - 635. High-Technology Marketing (3)

Investigates the role of marketing on the economy, consumer behavior, research, policy, and marketing functions. Emphases include identifying and meeting customer needs, developing effective marketing strategies, ensuring quality of service, and achieving and sustaining competitive advantage for high-technology products and services.

MSIS - 647. Global Information Systems (3)

Studies both the flow of global data and major global databases. Global data includes all forms of digital information including Internet traffic patterns, cell phone usage, email, texting, video, audio, commercial transactions, software updates on globally-distributed systems, and other components of international data flow. Major global data bases include such entities as various national privacy policies, international agreements on data transparency and data sharing, transportation tracking, passenger tracking, public health disease reporting, bioterrorism alerts, and computer viruses/malicious code tracking.

MSIS - 648. Enterprise Information Systems (3)

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems integrate all major business functions (finance, human resources, manufacturing, inventory, etc.) into an enterprise wide shared information systems network. By making information available across traditional business unit boundaries improves efficiency and gives rise to new strategic opportunities. Ultimately such intranet information systems can be interlinked with other enterprise business partners (e.g. vendors, suppliers, financial institutions) to form powerful resource planning networks. This course will explore the technology and strategic use of enterprise information systems.

MSIS - 650. Managing Resources for IS (3)

Provides a comprehensive survey of current ideas and practices used in acquiring, allocating, and managing information technology resources, covering budgeting principles, outsourcing, internal and external client relations, import/export control rules, and vendor evaluation.

MSIS - 651. IT Security (3)

Studies contemporary issues of information security, including effective information security policies, risk assessment factors, internal application security, intranet vs. extranet security, firewalls and internet security, response to breaches of security, and operating a secure corporate network.

MSIS - 656. Business Intelligence and Data Warehouses (3)

Modern technology has the means of collecting every minute detail of a corporation's activity. To turn raw data into useful information and knowledge requires a judicious approach to extracting, cleansing, and aggregate data so that it can be used to support strategic decision making (e.g. forecasting and trend analysis, performance monitoring, etc.). This course builds on the Database course and extend the concepts learned there.