Program Overview
Curriculum
The program requires 11 units of credit to earn the MS degree: six core courses, three electives, a leadership course, and a capstone project. Students are encouraged but not required to use their elective courses to form an area of specialization. MSCIS courses are offered at the Chicago Loop and Chicago lakefront SCS locations.
Core Courses
(6 courses)
Leadership Class (1
Course)
SCS strives to equip its students with fundamental skills in effective leadership, communication, innovation, and change management. To gain exposure to theories and best practices in these administrative areas, MSCIS students join other SCS graduate students in a 10-week leadership class. With these skills complementing the core curriculum, graduates are better prepared to face the challenges of the modern workplace.
Capstone
Project (1 Course)
The capstone project is a culminating educational experience that melds theoretical with applied knowledge. MSCIS students may pursue their capstone experience independently or as part of a team.
- CIS 498 Computer Information Systems Project
or
- CIS 590 Research Thesis Independent Project
Optional Areas of Specialization (3 Courses)
Electives allow MSCIS students the flexibility to tailor their curricula to their professional needs. These optional areas of specialization are designed to help students focus their studies effectively. The following specializations are available, with samples of courses offered in each; please see the SCS web site for detailed course schedules.
Database and
Internet Technologies
This specialization focuses on a set of skills that allow students to function in the roles of designer, analyst, project manager, or administrator - not just in the current database development environment but also in future dynamic computing environments. It focuses on the modeling and design of relational database systems as well as the development of real-world applications based on best practices and sound design principles. Practical emphasis is placed on normalization procedures, user interfaces, client/server technologies, web e-commerce databases, and database security issues. This specialization uses commercially available database systems to verify database design, balance the program load between client and server, store large-scale data into data warehouses, exchange data between databases, and process XML data flows.
Information Systems Security
Securing and safeguarding data and information is an ever-increasing urgent concern in modern times, especially in a post-9/11 world. The information systems security specialization focuses on skills that allow students to design a secured system and make recommendations for the protection of sensitive corporate data in accordance with commerce and privacy regulations. Students learn how to secure network systems (LAN, WAN, wireless). Topics include VPN, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, cryptography, anti-virus, anti-spam, and application security techniques. Students also learn the managerial and administrative aspects of security such as vulnerabilities, countermeasures, network security architectures, policy development and legal/ regulatory issues, risk management, and disaster recovery planning.
Software Project
Management and Development
This specialization is designed to meet the needs of computer professionals, allowing them to gain state-of-the-art and state-of-practice knowledge without interrupting their current career paths. The objective is to provide students with a comprehensive foundation in information systems together with the current skills required of those interested in the design, development, implementation, and quality assurance of software products.
Information Systems Management
The specialization in Information Systems Management introduces students to key information system technologies, IT strategy development, project management and information technology management techniques that apply to the entire system life cycle. The specialization emphasizes management techniques and methodologies used to ensure the successful implementation and ongoing operations of information technology capabilities in the business. Students will learn various approaches to develop IT strategies and manage technology project implementations as well as develop frameworks to apply to the ongoing management and operation of application and information technology portfolios.
Other Electives
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