Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS)
Rapid advancements in technology, dynamic markets, and the changing global business environment have led to intense global competition in which shorter product life cycles and efficient and effective computing services are a competitive necessity. Information systems professionals are required to identify innovative opportunities for leveraging IT for competitive advantage. Close alignment of IT and business is essential. Organizations need IT professionals who are effective at working closely with their business partners, and business professionals need to better understand how to work closely with their IT partners. This program is designed for information systems professionals seeking to advance their careers in the IT sector of the business, or as IT experts in other areas of business. It is also suitable for business professionals looking for ways to leverage their IT resources and provide new products and services through digital innovation. In addition to strong practical, real-world IT and management skills, graduates of the program leave with improved communication, interpersonal, and team skills. The MSIS program prepares students for careers such as: Business Analyst, Internal IT Consultant, IT Manager, Management Consultant, Data Analyst, Knowledge Manager, Social Media Expert,Technology Specialist or Product Manager. In addition to off-campus (corporate-sponsored) programs, the MSIS program is offered on campus on weekdays via Stevens WebCampus platform. Courses are offered year-round, in fall, spring and summer semesters.
Degree Requirements: The MS in Information Systems consists of 12 courses (36 credits). A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required to graduate.
Admission Requirements: The Master of Science in Information Systems program is designed for working professionals with at least two years of work experience. Applicants who do not meet this work experience requirement, but have outstanding academic records, may be considered for admission. Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree with at least a “B” average. Applications should include two letters of recommendation. Meeting minimum admissions standards does not guarantee admission; minimum requirements serve as a guide to the minimum expected qualifications necessary to be considered for admission. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Students can apply at any time during the year. International students must also submit a GMAT/GRE score.
Structure of the MSIS Program
Core Courses
The MSIS program comprises eight core courses, one lab section, and four electives:
| FIN 515 | Financial Decision Making | 3 |
| MIS 631 | Data Management | 2 |
| MIS 632 | Data Management LAB | 1 |
| | | |
| BIA 600 | Business Analytics: Data, Models & Decisions | 3 |
| | Or | |
| MIS 637 | Data Analytics and Machine Learning | 3 |
| MIS 710 | Process Innovation and Management | 3 |
| MGT 609/PME 609 | Project Management Fundamentals | 3 |
| MIS 699 | Managing Emerging Information Technology | 3 |
| MIS 730 | Integrating Information System Technologies | 3 |
| MIS 760 | Information Technology Strategy | 3 |
| | | |
MSIS Concentrations
The final 3 courses are free electives that can be chosen with the help of the faculty advisor, or a specific combination of courses selected from one of the designated concentrations in the MSIS program.
MSIS students can choose from specific 3-course concentrations:
Business Intelligence & Analytics
Business Process Management & Service Innovation
Project Management
Software Engineering
Cybersecurity Risk Management
The courses comprising each of these MSIS concentrations are listed below.
Business Intelligence and Analytics Concentration
IT is emerging from an era in which the emphasis was on producing information to one in which competitive advantage can only be obtained by sophisticated analysis of large volumes of information. There is a strong demand on Wall Street and in all areas of business for graduates with the analytic skills provided by this concentration. We recommend that MSIS students with an interest in Business Intelligence and Analytics select courses from the BI&A program, such as BIA 652 Multivariate Analytics, or BIA 660 Web Mining. In addition, specific MIS courses with focus on Business Intelligence & Analytics exist, such as:
Business Intelligence and Analytics Concentration Requirements
| MIS 635 | Designing the Knowledge Organization | 3 |
| MIS 636 | Data Integration for Business Intelligence and Analytics | 3 |
| MIS 637 | Data Analytics and Machine Learning | 3 |
With approval of their advisor students can substitute BIA courses and select FE courses in the Business Intelligence and Analytics concentration.
Business Process Management and Service Innovation Concentration
Organizations need effective and efficient processes to execute their strategies and successfully compete in a rapidly changing world of global competition. Business School faculty members are leaders in research and education on business process management (BPM) with a particular emphasis on relationship of processes to organizational strategy and structure and supply chain management. There is strong demand in all areas of business for graduates who can analyze, design and implement effective business processes.
Business Process Management Concentration Requirements
| MIS 690 | Supply Chain Management and Strategy | 3 |
| MIS 712 | Advanced Business Process Management | 3 |
| MIS 714 | Service Innovation | 3 |
With approval of their advisor students can choose BIA 650 Process Optimization and Analytics and/or BIA 674 Supply Chain Analytics as electives in the Business Process Management & Service Innovation concentration.
Cybersecurity Risk Management Concentration
Cybersecurity Risk Management Concentration Requirements
| FIN 545 | Risk Management for Financial Cybersecurity | 3 |
| MIS 645 | Cyber Security Principles | 3 |
| BIA 670 | Risk Management and Simulation | 3 |
Student can replace one of the above courses by taking one Stevens CS/ECE Cybersecurity course from the following list:
| CS 503 | Discrete Mathematics for Cryptography | 3 |
| | Or | |
| MA 503 | Discrete Mathematics for Cryptography | 3 |
| | | |
| CS 576 | Systems Security | 4 |
| CS 577 | Reverse Engineering and Application Analysis | 4 |
| CS 578 | Privacy in a Networked World | 3 |
| CS 579 | Foundations of Cryptography | 3 |
| CS 594 | Enterprise and Cloud Security | 3 |
| CS 665 | Forensic Analysis | 3 |
| CS 675 | | |
| CS 693 | Cryptographic Protocols | 3 |
| CS 695 | | |
| CPE 592 | Computer and Multimedia Network Security | 3 |
| EE 584 | Wireless Systems Security | 3 |
| SSE 623 | | |
Project Management Concentration
This concentration deals with project and program management concepts with an emphasis on managing technology-centric projects in private and public enterprises.
Project Management Concentration Requirements
| MGT 610 | Strategic Perspectives on Project Management | 3 |
| MGT 611 | Project Analytics | 3 |
| MGT 612 | Leader Development | 3 |
Software Engineering Concentration
Software Engineering Concentration Requirements
| SSW 540 | Fundamentals of Software Engineering | 3 |
| SSW 555 | Agile Methods for Software Development | 3 |
| SSW 567 | Software Testing, Quality Assurance and Maintenance | 3 |
Free Electives (no concentration option)
MSIS students may elect to take three courses that fit their interests rather than a specific concentration in the MSIS program. Courses may be chosen from within the School of Business or from other Schools at Stevens.
International students may also elect to take a Curricular Practical Training (CPT) course (MIS702) which involves an educationally relevant, practical assignment aimed at augmenting the academic content of the student’s program. Students engage in a company project related to the focus of their academic program. The project is conducted under the supervision of a faculty advisor and an industry mentor. The CPT is intended to provide students with practical experience that complements their academic knowledge through active learning under real-world conditions.