MS in Information Systems Specializations

The MS in Information Systems for SPS Graduates program requires 9 units of credit to earn the Master of Science degree. Students complete one core course and six elective courses based on an area of specialization. Electives allow MSIS students the flexibility to tailor their curricula to specific professional goals. Lastly, the degree also requires completion of a leadership course and a capstone project.

Please see the academic catalog for additional information regarding the curriculum. Current students should refer to curriculum requirements in place at time of entry into the program.


Analytics and Business Intelligence Specialization

This specialization provides technical and leadership training required for key positions in information technology and analytics. It provides an understanding of how to work in professional roles in today’s data-intensive and data-driven world. It reviews key technologies in analytics and business intelligence drawing from both traditional statistics and machine learning. 

  • CIS 494 Project Management Concepts
  • CIS 435 Practical Data Science Using Machine Learning
  • CIS 436 Big Data Management and Analytics
  • PREDICT 400 Math for Modelers
  • PREDICT 401 Introduction to Statistical Analysis
  • Plus any two electives available from the MSIS curriculum

*Note: Students specializing in ABI are not required to take CIS 413.


Database and Internet Technologies Specialization

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.

  • CIS 494 Project Management Concepts
  • CIS 419 Web Application Development
  • CIS 431 Database Administration
  • CIS 435 Practical Data Science Using Machine Learning
  • Plus any two electives available from the MSIS curriculum

Digital Transformation

We have entered the Fourth Industrial Age, where high bandwidth connectivity and technologies like artificial intelligence and cyber-physical integration are driving societal and business change at a scale, scope and pace unprecedented in human history. Digital transformation is the response to this revolution, designed to help businesses and institutions adapt to the realities and the ever-increasing pace of this change. Focused on more than merely digitizing existing operations and systems, digital transformation is about using tech to change fundamentally how a business acts, changing the means and the pace of interaction with customers, employees, and value chain participants. Digital transformation practitioners need to capture and drive that change. The digital transformation specialization is focused on preparing students to become leaders of transformation by providing students with a deep understanding of how to identify transformative trends, how to take advantage of change, and how to prepare and design technology strategies to deliver against that change, including data strategy and structure, designing agile organizations, and applying digital technologies to real world business problems. This specialization will include creation of a practical digital transformation plan for a real-world business or institution, providing students with the skills to think about transformation in a practical case and to deliver change that matches the moment.

Key courses in the specialization include:

  • CIS 453 Enterprise Security Strategy
  • CIS 471 Digital Transformation: Strategy and Planning
  • CIS 473 Digital Technologies\
  • CIS 475 Enterprise Data Transformation Strategies
  • CIS 477 Enterprise Architecture
  • MSDS IDS 401 Models and Theories of User-Centered Design Crypto metaverse
  • CIS 495 Enterprise Agility Framework

Health Informatics Specialization

The health informatics specialization brings information technology into the clinical environment, and blends them to create and analyze electronic health records systems and integrated delivery systems. Students learn IT as it applies to health care, including familiarity with the clinical setting, standards and interoperability, decision analysis and modeling from the unique perspective and needs of the medical industry.

  • MHI 402 Introduction to Clinical Thinking
  • MHI 403 Introduction to Medical/Health Informatics
  • MHI 405 HIT Integration, Interoperability and Standards
  • MHI 406 Decision Support Systems and Health Care
  • Plus any two available electives from the MSIS curriculum

Information Systems Management Specialization

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.

  • CIS 494 Project Management Concepts
  • CIS 457 Management of Information Security
  • CIS 460 Information Technology Management
  • CIS 465 Information Technology Strategy
  • Plus any two electives available from the MSIS curriculum

Information Systems Security Specialization

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.

  • CIS 494 Project Management Concepts
  • CIS 452 Fundamentals of Network Security
  • CIS 455 Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Techniques
  • CIS 457 Management of Information Security
  • Plus any two electives available from the MSIS curriculum

Medical Informatics Specialization

(available only to students admitted before winter 2016)

The medical informatics specialization brings information technology into the clinical environment, and blends them to create and analyze electronic health records systems and integrated delivery systems. Students learn IT as it applies to health care, including familiarity with the clinical setting, standards and interoperability, decision analysis and modeling from the unique perspective and needs of the medical industry.

  • MED INF 402 or MHI 402 Introduction to Clinical Thinking
  • MED INF 403 or MHI 403 Introduction to Medical/Health Informatics
  • MED INF 405 or MHI 405 HIT Integration, Interoperability and Standards
  • MED INF 406 or MHI 406 Decision Support Systems and Health Care
  • Plus any two available electives from the MSIS curriculum

Project Management Specialization

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.

  • CIS 494 Project Management Concepts
  • CIS 495 IT Project Management
  • CIS 496 Information Technology Finance and Communication
  • Plus any three electives available from the MSIS curriculum

Information Systems Specialization

Students seeking the broadest sampling of the field may choose the most flexible course of study with the Information Systems specialization.

  • CIS 494 Project Management Concepts
  • Plus any five electives available from the MSIS curriculum

About the Final Capstone Project

Students may pursue their capstone experience independently or as part of a team. As their final course, students take either the individual research project in an independent study format or the classroom final project class in which students integrate the knowledge they have gained in the core curriculum in a project presented by the instructor. In both cases, students are guided by faculty in exploring the body of knowledge on information systems while contributing research of practical value to the field. The capstone independent project and capstone class project count as one unit of credit.

  • CIS 498 Capstone Project (Note: Registration for this course will be closed one week prior to the start of the term) or
  • CIS 590 Thesis Research
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