Information Systems Overview
The Master of Science in Information Systems program is designed to prepare students for leading roles in IT. The program is focused on providing knowledge and skills to apply the principles and concepts related to the development and management of information systems and technology locally and globally.
You could earn your Master's in less than 15 months through our year-round schedule.
The program is designed for IT professionals, executives, and baccalaureate degree graduates who realize the necessity of delivering value to customers through information technology.
- Provides students with theoretical, practical, and applied skills in computer-based information systems and the technologies that support them.
- Offers a broad perspective of the business and management environments in which information system technologies play a strategic role.
What You Can Learn In Information Systems
The Information Systems curriculum builds on a foundation of:
- Communication and problem solving
- Theoretical and applied understanding of basic technical concepts, protocols, and software/hardware components of information systems technologies
Students can enhance their understanding and practical knowledge of:
- Desktop, mobile, and web technologies
- Software and mobile app development
- Database management
- Information assurance and information system security management
- Cloud computing and virtualization
- Systems analysis
Graduates from the Information Systems program will be prepared to:
- Understand how basic software development and networking concepts apply to cloud computing and virtualization.
- Design, implement, and manage a complex relational database.
- Manage an information system project from conception through closure.
- Be aware of information assurance issues, and the essential skills required to implement and maintain security in information systems.
- Evaluate the impact of information systems on business operations and prescribe remedies.
- Design and implement an information system using the appropriate programming paradigm and programming language.
- Design and implement desktop, mobile, and web applications.
Why Choose ECPI Master's Program?
ECPI University . . . A Leader in Technology Education for 45 Years!Industry-Driven Curriculum Developed Through Ongoing Employer Feedback
- The University works closely with industry to ensure the currency and relevancy of the curriculum to the technology needs of organizations today.
- While many other graduate programs focus on theory coursework, ECPI's balances theory and application, which keeps with ECPI University's tradition of hands-on learning.
- Courses within the ECPI master's degree program emphasize applied, constructive research.
- ECPI requires a two-course capstone. This provides more depth and opportunities for collaboration between students and employers/potential employers.
Core Courses Addressing Current and Future Real-world Conditions
The program's core courses prepare students in the following areas:
- Cloud Computing and Virtualization
- Database Management Systems
- Information Assurance
- Project Management
- Desktop, Web, and Mobile Application Development
Students are exposed to emerging technologies that are shaping the enterprise computing environment in organizations.
Faculty Who Are IT Professionals
- In addition to a curriculum based on industry standards, courses are developed and taught by faculty who are experienced IT professionals.
- Faculty bring their experience and skills into the classroom to help students develop the skills in demand by organizations today.
Degree Objectives
Program objectives include:
The Master of Science in Information Systems program is designed to prepare students for the leading roles in IT demanded in a dynamic real-world environment. The program is focused on providing knowledge and skills to apply the principles and concepts related to the development and management of information systems and technology at the enterprise and individual levels, locally and globally.
The program is designed for IT professionals, executives, and baccalaureate degree graduates who realize the necessity of delivering value to customers through information technology. The degree provides students with theoretical, practical, and applied skills in computer-based information systems and the technologies that support them, as well as a broad perspective of the business and management environments in which information system technologies play a strategic role.
The curriculum builds on a foundation of communication and problem solving, theoretical and applied understanding of basic technical concepts, protocols, and software/hardware components of information systems technologies. Students enhance their understanding and practical knowledge of desktop, mobile, and web technologies; software and mobile app development; database management; information assurance and information system security management; cloud computing and virtualization, and systems analysis. A capstone project is required.
Upon successful completion of this degree program, the graduate should be able to:
- Understand how basic software development and networking concepts apply to cloud computing and virtualization.
- Design, implement, and manage a complex relational database.
- Manage an information system project from conception through closure.
- Be aware of information assurance issues, and the essential skills required to implement and maintain security in information systems.
- Evaluate the impact of information systems on business operations and prescribe remedies.
- Design and implement an information system using the appropriate programming paradigm and programming language.
- Design and implement desktop, mobile, and web applications
About the Profession
Graduates of a CIS degree program have many career options. They often have career paths that eventually lead them into IT management positions, including software project management. They are able to design and implement computer software systems (including simulations, games, business applications, and other systems). They may develop test plans and then test software applications to ensure their correct implementation. Graduates also may work as network architects or administrators who design, implement, and maintain computer networks, including wireless networks. Healthcare IT graduates perform many of the same kinds of functions as CIS majors in other areas, but specialize in performing these functions in a medical setting.
Requirements for Typical Employment Opportunities (i.e., background checks, drug screening, security clearances.)
Some positions may require background checks, drug screening, and/or security clearances, depending on the position and industry. Graduates will be expected to have good problem-solving and decision-making skills. Technical competency in Software Development, Database Design, Information Assurance, Cloud Computation and Storage, Virtualization Technologies, and Mobile App Platforms is desirable.
Entry Level Employment Opportunities By Job Title and/or Industry
Possible job titles for an M.S. CIS graduate include Desktop, Web, or Mobile Application Developer, vArchitect, Cloud Administrator, or Security Administrator. With significant, successful work experience in the field, management opportunities could be available to the graduate.
Physical Requirements
None.
Certifications Recommended for Entry Level Career.
N/A
Program Specific Academic Policies
Academic Course Overload
Due to the workload required for classes there are no course overloads permitted at the graduate level.
Attendance and Participation
The expectations at ECPI are similar to the workplace where employees are expected to arrive at work everyday prepared to add value. As such, attendance and participation in the class is critical to a graduate student's success in the course and students are expected to attend each regularly scheduled session. If the student is absent, it is his/her responsibility to contact the Faculty member and arrange for any make-up work assignments. Excessive absences may result in the termination of enrollment in a course and a grade will be assigned in accordance with the grading policies.
Class Hours and Academic Load
Graduate classes are currently only offered in the evening from 6:00pm until 10:30pm. Courses meet 2 nights per week and will meet either on a Monday and Wednesday or on a Tuesday and Thursday evening. Note: During the first week of each term, class will also be held on Friday.
Classes are scheduled on a fixed-term, semester credit hour basis. For financial aid and academic progress purposes, an academic year is 30 weeks and 18 graduate credits. Full-time graduate students may take no more than nine (9) semester credit hours per semester.
Enrollment status changes may affect the financial aid eligibility of students. Students are responsible for checking with the Financial Aid office to determine the impact of schedule changes. ECPI reserves the right to adjust class schedules.
Graduation Requirements
To meet graduation requirements, students must: complete a graduation checkout sheet; be in compliance with satisfactory progress and academic standards with a CGPA of 3.0 or greater and have passed each course with a grade of B- or better; meet program attendance and residency requirements; earn required hours; achieve all applicable skill proficiencies; be in compliance with financial terms of enrollment and; have no outstanding obligations on the student account or library account. Transcripts, degrees, and diplomas are processed approximately two weeks after completion of all graduation requirements.
Independent Study
Independent Study will not be used in Graduate course delivery.
Late Registration
There will be no late registration for Graduate courses.
Student Orientation
The University is committed to student success; therefore, new students are required to attend a mandatory two-part orientation. This orientation is designed to orient students to the University while providing information sessions on a range of topics relevant to graduate students such as the philosophy of graduate education, study skills, research, and other things to help students be successful.
Transfer Credit, Course Waiver and Course Substitutions
There will be no transfer credit and waivers and course substitutions are not permitted.
Grading Policies
During the first two classes of a course, a student may voluntarily withdraw without grade penalty and the course will appear on the student's transcript as W (withdrawal). After the first three days, if the student drops a course, a grade of F is assigned. In cases where there are extenuating circumstances and the student can provide sufficient documentation, a late withdrawal may be permitted without grade penalty and assigned a W.
The grade of I (incomplete) is only used in unusual circumstances where major projects are submitted at the end of the course. A grade of I is given for incomplete work. An "I" grade will remain until the work is completed and the grade is submitted by the faculty member or until one week has elapsed after the end of the term in which the grade of "I" was received. At the end of the elapsed week, the I grade becomes a permanent F and will not be changed. When a failed course is repeated, only the grade in the repeated course counts in the student's grade point average. When a student drops a course and receives an F, the F is replaced by the higher grade earned.
Students are graded in accordance with the following scale:
| Numerical Grade | Letter Grade | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| 94-100 | A | 4 |
| 90-93 | A- | 3.7 |
| 87-89 | B+ | 3.3 |
| 84-86 | B | 3.0 |
| 80-83 | B- | 2.7 (Pass) |
| 77—79 | C+ | 2.3 |
| 74-76 | C | 2.0 |
| Below 70 | F | 0 |
| Withdraw | W | Not computed |
| Incomplete | I | Not computed |
| Passed (orientation only) | P | Not computed |
| Not passed (orientation only) | NP | Not computed |
All Graduate courses require a "B-" or better to be considered applicable toward degree completion and students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of a 3.0 or better to remain actively enrolled in the graduate program. Students who receive two grades of "C+" or below, at any time during the program, will be dismissed. A student must re-take a course for which a grade of C+ or below was earned. Even if the course is repeated, the original earned grade counts as one of those grades and the student may not receive another grade of C+ or below.
Repeat Status
Students who have failed a course (or received a C+ or below) are eligible to repeat it once as scheduling permits. A repeat may be approved by the Associate Dean of Computer and Information Science when it is satisfactorily determined that a student would benefit from repeating a class. A repeat is used as the primary probationary period for academic concerns. Satisfactory progress must be achieved by the end of a repeat period for the student to be released from probation and remain enrolled. When a failed course is repeated, only the grade in the repeated course counts in the student's cumulative grade point average and will appear on the student's transcript, but will be designated as "R" for a repeated course.
Students who repeat a course will be charged the current tuition for the course and must assume the responsibility for all associated fees. Repeating a course may interrupt the student's enrollment and may negatively impact financial aid eligibility and academic progress.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
To be in good academic standing with the college and to be eligible to receive Title IV financial aid, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress. At the end of each term, each student is evaluated on three components to determine if he/she is maintaining satisfactory academic progress:
- Cumulative grade point average (CGPA),
- Successful course completion rate, and
- Credits attempted relative to the maximum credits attempted that are allowed (1.5 times the credits in the student's program).
Students enrolled in graduate-level programs must maintain a minimum CGPA of 3.0 at the various evaluation points in the program. Students will be evaluated at the end of each semester and may only be on probation once.
Completion Rate Requirements
Students enrolled in graduate-level programs must complete a minimum of 67% of the cumulative credits attempted at the end of each term to be making satisfactory academic progress.
Maximum Program Length
Students must complete the entire program within one and one half times the standard program length, which is defined by the University as the total number of credit hours in the program.
Therefore, the maximum time frame for any program is calculated by multiplying the number of total credits by 1.5. Should any students exceed the 150% maximum time requirement, they will not be allowed to graduate from their programs of study.
Under no circumstances will a graduate student be permitted to continue past the maximum time frame or graduate with a CGPA of less than 3.0.
Students must complete the program within 24 months of matriculation.
Probation
A student will be placed on probation in the following situations:
- Failure to meet the minimum academic standards of the program (i.e., a cumulative GPA below 3.0)
- Receipt of a letter grade of a C+ or lower in any course
Graduate students on probation will have one semester to raise their CGPA to 3.00 and return to good standing. If at any evaluation point it is determined that it is mathematically impossible for the student to meet the minimum requirements, the student will be dismissed from the University.
There are no specific externship requirements for this program.
Requirements
Admissions Requirments
The M.S in Information Systems degree program has the following admissions requirements:
- Applicant must complete a personal interview with an admissions advisor to discuss career goals, interests, financial planning, and needs. This interview is typically conducted during a visit and tour of the school or, in extenuating circumstances and for online students, the interview may be completed by telephone.
- Applicant must complete a Graduate Application for Admission and an Enrollment Agreement. A non-refundable fee is submitted with the Graduate Application for Admission and does not reduce the total tuition due.
- Applicant must have successfully completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science or Information Systems or related field with a basic understanding of programming and logic/design. The degree must be from an accredited academic institution recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- Applicants who do not have previous undergraduate coursework in programming and logic/design courses may be asked to validate their basic understanding of programming and logic/design through work experience or by completing one or more undergraduate courses prior to acceptance into the graduate program.
- Applicant must have an undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). For applicants who have an undergraduate CGPA or less than 3.0, the applicant must submit acceptable GMAT (minimum score 450) or GRE (minimum score 1000) test scores.
- Applicant must submit two letters of recommendation using the ECPI University Graduate Program Recommendation Form. These recommendations may be completed by academic or professional references.
- Applicant must have demonstrated work experience in the field.
- International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency with a minimum score of 550 on the written TOEFL or 79 on the TOEFL Internet (iBT) for master's level degree programs.
Only completed applications will be considered. Deadlines are midnight Eastern time on the application deadline date.
| Start date | Application Deadline | Applicant notifications |
|---|---|---|
| January | November 15 | On or after December 15 |
| August | June 15 | On or after July 15 |
| October | August 1 | On or after August 15 |
Every effort will be made to give sufficient notice regarding admission decisions prior to this deadline. Applicants can expect final notification regarding their application one term (5 weeks) before the beginning of the relevant term.
Core Curriculum
| DEGREE | Master of Science |
|---|---|
| PROGRAM | Computer and Information Science |
| CONCENTRATION | Information Systems |
| SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS | 36 |
Each student's schedule may vary depending on pre-requisite courses, transfer credits, advanced standing, and course schedules at each campus at the time of enrollment.
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| IS510 | Object-oriented Programming | 3 |
| IS520 | Database Management Systems | 3 |
| IS530 | Information Assurance | 3 |
| IS610 | Mobile Application Development | 3 |
| IS630 | Information Assurance Policy and Practice | 3 |
| IS640 | Cloud Computing and Virtualization | 3 |
| IS670 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| IS680 | Information System Project Management | 3 |
| IS698 | Information System Design I | 3 |
| IS699 | Information System Design II | 3 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| IS631 | Information System Security Management | 3 |
| IS641 | Cloud Computing Management | 3 |
| IS650 | Mobile Information System Management | 3 |
| IS690 | Special Topics in Information Systems | 3 |
| Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
Example Course Track
| DEGREE | Master of Science |
|---|---|
| PROGRAM | Computer and Information Science |
| CONCENTRATION | Information Systems |
| SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS | 36 |
Each student's schedule may vary depending on pre-requisite courses, transfer credits, advanced standing, and course schedules at each campus at the time of enrollment.
| Semester | Term | Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
1 |
IS510 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
2 |
IS520 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
|
3 |
IS530 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
|
2 |
4 |
IS610 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
5 |
IS630 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
|
6 |
IS640 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
|
3 |
7 |
IS670 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
8 |
IS680 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
|
9 |
ELECTIVE |
Elective |
3 |
|
4 |
10 |
ELECTIVE |
Elective |
3 |
11 |
IS698 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
|
12 |
IS699 |
Core curriculum |
3 |
|
| Semester | Term | Course ID | Course Name | Credits |
Future Possible Careers for This Program
| 11.0101 | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | |
|---|---|---|
| 11-3021.00 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | |
Success
Q
How long will it take to complete this program?
A
The program is designed to take 15 months to complete.*
*New program - pending or no graduates at this point.
Cost
Q
How much will tuition and fees be?
A
The cost of tuition and fees is: $24,400
Q
What about the cost of books and supplies?
A
The cost of books and supplies is: $800. Foundation course requirements can result in additional costs and increase the time to graduation.
Financing
Q
What are my financing options to pay for the program?
A
In addition to any grant and scholarship aid for which they are eligible, graduates used loans to finance their education. The median debt for program graduates is:
| Loan Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal (Title 4) Loans | $0.00 |
| Private Educational Loans | $0.00 |
| Institution Financing Plan | $0.00 |