Computer Information Systems, M.S.

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Major Code: 8372	Degree Awarded: Master of Science
Age Restriction: N	Admission Status: graduate, main campus, Extended Studies
Delivery Mode/s: online, classroom, off-site	Location/s: main campus , Hampton Roads, Orlando, Patuxent, Redstone/Huntsville, Spaceport, Virtual Site
Admission Materials: 3 letters of, recommendation, résumé strongly recommended

The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems is designed for students who seek a degree that prepares them for positions in organizations that design, develop or use computer systems. It is for students who do not necessarily have a bachelor’s degree in computer science but who wish to obtain advanced training with special emphasis on component engineering, object-oriented design and analysis, and the building and maintenance of data-driven systems. The objective of the program is to meet the demand for information systems skills and to provide a path for professionals from diverse fields to rapidly transition to computer information systems career paths.

Admission Requirements

An applicant for the master’s program in computer information systems is not required to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, but should have a background that includes mathematical proficiency beyond the level of college algebra. This proficiency can be satisfied with any college-level calculus, statistics, discrete mathematics, linear algebra or numerical analysis course or any course approved by the program chair.

The GRE test is not required for admission into this degree program but the program chair reserves the right to require it, and it is highly recommended for students with unrelated undergraduate degrees or for students who earned an undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0.

General admission requirements and the process for applying are discussed in the Academic Overview section.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems requires a minimum of 30 credit hours, as follows:

Curriculum

Electives (12-18 credit hours)

Students must successfully complete 12, 15 or 18 credit hours of electives depending whether they complete the thesis, capstone or final program examination. Students must complete at least 21 semester credit hours of CIS courses that includes the core CIS courses. All electives must be approved by the program chair and any 5000-level CIS, CSE, CYB, ECE, SYS, MTH and SWE course can be used as an elective.

With the approval of the student’s advisor and the program chair, electives may include certain 5000-level BUS, EDS, ENM or MGT courses.

Capstone courses for degrees in business and management cannot be taken as electives toward the master’s program in computer information systems. All students must take and successfully complete Projects in Computer Information Systems (CIS 5898 ), the final program examination or a minimum of six credit hours of Thesis (CIS 5999 ), to graduate. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the capstone option, because permission for the program examination option must be granted by the program chair and an approved thesis advisor must be available for the thesis option.