Professional Graduate Series
Areas of Specialization:
Professional graduate series provide an integrated, streamlined sequence of courses in select fields of study at Northwestern. They are designed to make returning to school more manageable for busy professionals and students who want only to focus on a particular area of study or earn a professional credential. Each series is designed to function both as a complete educational experience and as a portal to further study for a graduate degree.
Admissions standards and requirements for students in the professional graduate series are identical to those for the corresponding master's degree programs, so students may be confident that their educational experience will be rigorous but cost a fraction of the time and tuition required for a full degree. Students may transfer to the degree program and earn credit for any professional graduate series course completed with a grade of B or higher.
The professional graduate series usually can be completed in a year by taking one or two courses per quarter. It must be completed within two years of the date of acceptance. Upon successful completion of course work, students receive a certificate.
Curriculum
Database
and Internet Technologies
The curriculum of the professional graduate series in database and Internet technologies is focused on the exploration, design, and implementation of data models applied to information systems. The program emphasizes the interrelationship of back-end and front-end systems, providing students with a specialization in methods of bridging these technologies. The program benefits e-commerce and computer technology professionals working in programming, networks, application development, design, telecommunications, database management, multimedia, and software-development life cycles. Students leave the program prepared for management positions involving the initiation, implementation, and management of Internet applications.
Information Systems Security
The professional graduate series in information systems security enables graduates to analyze and implement technical and managerial safeguards to ensure the security of business computer systems. Skills gained in this program will allow the graduate to design a secured system and make recommendations for the protection of sensitive corporate data in accordance with commerce and privacy regulations. The program focuses on two main components: the technical component and the management component. For the technical component, students will learn all technical knowledge and skills needed to secure network (LAN, WAN, wireless) systems, as
well as VPN, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, cryptography, anti-virus, anti-spam and application security techniques. For the management component, students will learn the 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
The primary focus of this professional graduate series is the design, implementation, evaluation, and underlying enabling technologies of modern distributed applications. The curriculum is structured to generate a balanced array of expertise in the areas of conceptual problem solving, technical systems development, application design, communications and organizational interface, and project management and implementation. Intended to increase the depth of knowledge of computer technology professionals at diverse levels, this series benefits midlevel technicians who want to increase their potential for advancement as well as managers who require a better understanding of emerging technologies.
Information Systems Management
The curriculum of the professional graduate series 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 program 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. This program is designed for IT professionals who aspire to identify, build and manage the ongoing operations of strategic systems. This program is also for business professionals whose responsibilities include oversight of IT technology for their business function. Graduates of the program will gain a broad understanding of the key issues and challenges of managing information technology systems and be able to apply key frameworks, models and management methodologies to facilitate IT strategies, system implementations and ongoing system operations.
Certificate of Completion
Prior to completion of their fourth course, students must
submit the Application
for Professional Graduate Series Certificate (PDF format)
to be awarded the certificate.
Other Study Options
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