Management Information Systems, M.S.
Program Director: Carol Jim, Ph.D.; jim@hood.edu
The Master of Science in Management Information Systems is an interdisciplinary degree designed to meet the growing demand for managers with business and information technology skills. Students completing the program will be able to assess corporate IT needs; formalize these needs into requirements and specifications; design integrated IT solutions; assess the cost/benefit of such solutions; determine the impact on operations of such solutions; evaluate alternative technologies; manage the development, implementation and deployment of IT solutions; manage large technology projects; and manage technical employees.
The 30-credit program provides students with knowledge and skills related to:
- Business issues associated with the management of complex, large technology projects and the people who work within those projects;
- Information technology and the issues that must be confronted in order to consider, design, develop, manage, implement and deploy successful information technology solutions within organizations.
The program is intended for students with undergraduate degrees in the computing sciences, information technology or business, or professionals with an undergraduate degree in any discipline who are already employed in an information technology area. Persons without this background can successfully enter and complete the program but may have to complete a series of foundation courses in order to attain the appropriate background for study.
Full-time graduate students who are exempt from the foundation courses should be able to complete the requirements for the degree in two years. However, the program is designed to accommodate the needs of professionals attending on a part-time basis who wish to complete their degrees by taking classes in the evening.
Application Requirements
Students applying to the Management Information Systems program must submit all official transcripts and a résumé/CV that provides educational and professional experience with specific information about mathematics background, programming background, if any, and technical skills must be submitted. Applicants should also provide a statement of purpose indicating their motivation for choosing the program and the goals they hope to achieve through completing it.
Program Requirements
Foundation Courses
The Master of Science in Management Information Systems requires the completion of four foundation courses designed to provide the appropriate prerequisite background for the major. The program director determines the required foundation courses or exemptions based on a thorough evaluation of transcripts and other supporting documents. The objective is to ensure the student is well prepared and ready to succeed in the program. Any foundation courses required are in addition to the 30 credits required for program completion. Students who are waived from foundation coursework cannot complete it for elective fulfillment.
| IT 510 | Computing Hardware and Software Systems | 3.0 |
| CSIT 512 | Elements of Computer Programming | 3.0 |
| MGMT 551 | Management Theory | 3.0 |
| MGMT 552 | Quantitative Methods for Managers | 3.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12.0 |
Required Courses
The courses required for the program provide breadth and depth of knowledge in both management and information technology. The 30-credit program requires, beyond the foundation courses,
Management Core
| MGMT 560 | Leadership & Organizational Behavior | 3.0 |
| MGMT 566 | Information Management & Technology | 3.0 |
| MGMT 564 | Production & Operations Management | 3.0 |
| | or | |
| MGMT 568 | Accounting Information Systems | 3.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 |
Information Technology Core
| IT 530/BIFX 530 | Applied Database Systems | 3.0 |
| ITMG 516 | Introduction to Data Analytics and Business Data Mining | 3.0 |
| ITMG 533 | Managing Technical Project Teams | 3.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9.0 |
Electives
Choose any four courses
Some elective courses have prerequisites that are not required as part of the MIS program. Students will need to obtain instructor permission for registration in these circumstances, which may entail a review of undergraduate transcripts.