Master of Science (MS)

Information Systems

Admissions criteria for Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS)

Graduate Admissions - Masters level

Prospective students are required to submit the following: 

  • Completion of application for admission
  • Official transcripts for bachelor or graduate degree within 5 weeks of the class start date (refer to Conditional Acceptance).  (All credentials earned outside the United States must be evaluated by a NACES or AICE-member credential evaluation service).  Please speak with an admissions representative for more information.

Note: See program notes and specific requirements below for each graduate - masters level degree program

Specific requirements for admission to classified graduate status are: 

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Completion of application for admission.
  • A 2.0 overall grade point average or higher on completed requirements for the baccalaureate degree, or an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution.

For additional admissions information please see the admissions section here

Offered at Austin, Online Programs, Orlando, Richmond, Tampa, and Virginia Beach.

Note: Not all Online Program offerings are available to residents of all U.S. states. Please contact an admissions representative for further information.

The Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program prepares students for a career or advancement within the Information Systems (IS) profession, or related fields. The program is designed for professionals and continuing students with diverse backgrounds. The MSIS program curriculum focuses on merging business and IS theories while emphasizing practical applications.

The core competencies of the MSIS program covers a wide range of topics, including business intelligence, data management, knowledge acquisition, information technology (IT) governance, service management, IS development and auditing, systems analysis and design, object-oriented enterprise modeling, information security, and risk management.  

The program aims to equip students with analytical and critical-thinking skills to identify and solve problems within an interrelated systems context. Students learn to define problems and communicate solutions effectively by using oral, visual, and analytical means, as well as utilizing frameworks such as business cases, service level agreements, use cases, and corporate dashboards.

The MSIS program draws on recognized industry frameworks, best practices, and standards through alignment with certifications established by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA®), the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL®), and the Project Management Institute (PMI®). 

The program emphasizes project-based learning and students perform an IT/IS industry analysis of skills, certifications, technologies, and methodologies required in their targeted careers. This leads to the development of a portfolio of projects, which is vetted by industry experts. This approach is also supported by an elective internship course.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

After completion of the Master of Science in Information Systems, graduates will be able to: 

  1. Utilize Information Systems (IS) resources (people, processes, technology, and data) to support enterprise strategy.
  2. Communicate effectively in a variety of IS professional contexts.
  3. Evaluate IS professional decisions and actions based on legal and ethical principles
  4. Analyze IS problems through enterprise architecture methodologies.

Master of Science in Information Systems: 48 Credits

The program is offered in 11-week quarters at the Tampa campus and, starting in Fall 2025, at the Austin campus. All other campuses operate on 10-week quarters.

Foundation of Business Courses (Choose 1): 4 Credits

Course Code
Title
Quarter Credits
This course compares and contrasts the disciplines of leadership and management with an emphasis on fostering organization culture and personal ethics. Topics include historical and contemporary leadership and management theories, current leadership research, and the practice of leadership and management across a wide variety of organizational contexts.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course addresses the factors influencing human behavior in organizations. Human behavior is considered from the individual, team, and organizational levels of analysis. Concepts included in the study include motivation, leadership, communications, negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course provides an overview of microeconomic concepts and applications to common business problems. Topics include supply and demand analysis, cost analysis, economics of scale, basic market types and their characteristics, pricing, risk analysis and the role of government in economic affairs.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course provides managers with a comprehensive framework to understand and evaluate their ethical and legal responsibilities. It explores the constitutional foundation for laws and regulations impacting business decisions, including employment and civil rights laws, contracts, intellectual property, corporate governance, securities and financial transactions, and international law. This course examines key legal concepts and their application in business, focusing on contract law, employment regulations, business structures, and governmental oversight. Through case studies and legal analyses, this course develops ethical strategies for resolving business challenges and provides insights into how regulatory frameworks shape organizational decision-making.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course presents students with quantitative tools for effective business analysis and decision-making. In addition to a review of basic inferential statistics, the course includes tools such as chi-squared tests, nonparametric statistics, correlation and regression analysis, time-series analysis and forecasting, and decision analysis.

Quarter Credits : 4

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Sub-Total Quarter Credits
4.00

Foundation Information Systems and Technology: 12 Credits

Course Code
Title
Quarter Credits

This course covers foundational concepts of information technology (IT) infrastructure. The course describes the major components of an organization’s IT infrastructure and examines essential considerations of enterprise architecture security, data management, networking, and operations. Further, the course explores key processes involved in managing an IT infrastructure, including best practices of service delivery, IT service support, and continuing maintenance.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course considers real-world issues pertaining to the development, operations, management and maintenance of an organization’s information systems (IS) with an emphasis on effective business decision making within an enterprise system. The course also explores key considerations of security risk mitigation inherent in the operation of IS.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course will teach students how organizations can evaluate new emerging technology trends in areas related to information systems and technology, including data and knowledge management, information networks, applications, and hardware. Knowledge from this course should enable students to help their organizations build competitive advantage by identifying, evaluating the adoption, and managing emerging technologies, as they evolve their enterprise systems.

Quarter Credits : 4

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Sub-Total Quarter Credits
12.00

Core: 28 Credits

Course Code
Title
Quarter Credits

This course covers topics on system development and software engineering methodologies, with emphasis on object-oriented analysis, design and implementation of information systems. The students will apply formal systems analysis and design methods and tools in developing functional requirements and software architecture specifications for realistic information systems applications.

Quarter Credits : 4

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System development and design and software engineering methodologies, with tools and techniques for the successful management of IT projects, project selection and approval, planning, estimation techniques, scheduling methods, budgeting, IT project organizations, and project control and assessment. Students explore each of the nine domains of project management including project planning, scheduling, risk management, cost management, and effective project control, as well as the associated pre-project and post-project activities that need to be performed for a project.

Quarter Credits : 4

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The course uses case studies to provide an overview of contemporary information systems management in a digital enterprise. It focuses on the relevant issues of effective management of information services activities and highlights the areas of greatest potential application of information technology. The course emphasizes best practices aiming to identify and communicate business system needs, select the right information systems in alignment with an enterprise’s critical mission and goals, and integrate these systems into the enterprise’s technology infrastructure targeting successful business performance outcomes. 

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course introduces decision support systems (DSS) for engineering and business applications within an enterprise. Students will explore how DSS enhance organizational decision-making and improve efficiency. The course covers knowledge generation, management processes, and methodologies for developing effective tools that aid in data-driven decision-making.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course explores the principles and best practices for modeling, designing, developing, and managing data assets in large enterprises. Students will examine database architectures used in large-scale commercial systems and learn how data management systems support data collection, organization, and distribution. The course also provides a comprehensive overview of data governance, covering the full business data life cycle—from system requirements and data preparation to warehousing—ensuring alignment with an organization’s mission and goals.

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course examines Information Systems Audit, Control (governance), and Compliance concepts and management practices in the context of Information Systems Management. The course introduces the fundamentals of information technology (IT) auditing and assurance methodologies, major rules of regulatory compliance, as well as IT governance frameworks. The course covers areas needed to prepare for the CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) certification exam from the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

Quarter Credits : 4

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This course explores information security within an enterprise setting. Students will examine security challenges from technical, formal, and informal perspectives to better understand modern threats. By analyzing security needs for both small businesses and large enterprises, they will learn to design tailored solutions that address unique organizational requirements.

Quarter Credits : 4

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Sub-Total Quarter Credits
28.00

Capstone: 4 Credits

Course Code
Title
Quarter Credits

This course allows students to showcase their professional skills from the MSIS curriculum. They will build a comprehensive portfolio, explore an advanced IT or IS topic, or develop a real-world application through analysis, design, and implementation. The course also prepares MSIS graduates to plan their careers and navigate the job market with confidence.

Quarter Credits : 4

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Sub-Total Quarter Credits
4.00
Total Credits
48