Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Information Systems MS


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Program Director: Jahangir Karimi
Telephone: 303-315-8430
E-mail: Jahangir.Karimi@ucdenver.edu

The Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program at the Business School meets industry needs by providing specializations.  The program prepares students for career paths in systems development and management services, enterprise application services, business intelligence, health information technology, information security audit and control, business consulting and development and consumer products and services. Whether students aim to be systems analysts or designers, software engineers, applications programmers, database administrators, Web developers, systems integrators, project managers, LAN administrators or application and technology consultants, the MSIS program provides the necessary knowledge and skills. Specializations in Business Intelligence, Enterprise Technology Management and Web and Mobile Computing can be completed online.

The MSIS program offers a wide choice of courses. Candidates for the MS degree are not required to take a comprehensive examination or to complete a thesis in the major field. 

We offer a 4+1 program that allows our current undergraduate information systems students to pursue the master of science degree if they achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher without taking the GMAT test.   Students are also allowed to replace two undergraduate required information systems courses with two graduate information systems courses.  Interested students please contact the Business School advising team for more information.

Information Systems Specializations


The specializations for the MS in Information Systems are designed to provide the fundamental knowledge necessary for a career as an IS professional.  The IS specializations provide students with a set of related courses necessary to acquire skills and expertise within a specific area in the development, management and use of information technology applications.

Accounting and Information Systems Audit and Control (AISAAC) Specialization


Recently, new regulatory environments have required companies to provide better documentation of their accounting and IT systems to improve the management and disclosure of their business processes for better financial and regulatory controls. Accounting and IT professionals have significant roles in audit and control activities, since they control the systems that monitor and report on finance, planning and operations. The courses within this specialization cover business-process management and financial controls; the emerging trends and practices in privacy and security; the strategies for integrating governance and compliance; and the IT organization’s financial and business intelligence services. These courses will focus on how to leverage the existing IT infrastructure to establish quality in financial and internal audit processes and address the regulatory issues associated with reporting, consolidation and document/content management more effectively and completely.

Business Intelligence Specialization


Business Intelligence (BI) systems combine operational data with analytical tools to present complex and competitive information to planners and decision makers. The objective is to improve the timeliness and quality of inputs to the decision process. BI is used to understand the capabilities available in the firm; the state-of-the-art, trends, and future directions in the markets, the technologies, and the regulatory environment in which the firm competes; and the actions of competitors and the implications of these actions. With this specialization, you get the necessary skills and knowledge in real-time data warehousing, data visualization, data mining, online analytical processing, customer relationships management, dashboards and scorecards, corporate performance management, expert and advanced intelligent systems, and hands-on experience with leading BI tools.

Business Intelligence IS Electives: (6 hours)


Select two courses numbered 6000 or higher with an ISMG prefix or an internship (by petition) plus one additional ISMG course numbered 6000 or higher.  Students pursuing an additional specialization in GIS should fill this requirement with CVEN 5381, CVEN 5382, CVEN 5383, CVEN 5384, CVEN 5385, CVEN 5386, CVEN 5387, CVEN 5390, CVEN 5391, CVEN 5392, or CVEN 5395.

Business Intelligence Free Elective: (3 hours)


Select any one course numbered 6800 or higher with BUSN prefix or any course numbered 6000 or higher with prefix of ACCT, BANA, CMDT, ENTP, FNCE, INTB, ISMG, MGMT, MKTG, MTAX, or RISK. *Students pursuing an additional specialization in GIS should fill this requirement with CVEN 5381, CVEN 5382, CVEN 5383, CVEN 5384, CVEN 5385, CVEN 5386, CVEN 5387, CVEN 5390, CVEN 5391, CVEN 5392, or CVEN 5395.

NOTE: Some of these courses have prerequisites of a BUSN course that may not be listed in your degree plan. Check with an academic advisor to see if it is possible to waive the prerequisite based on previous coursework.

Cyber Security and Information Assurance Specialization


With recent breaches in the security of many large government agencies and private corporations, cyber security is an issue of great importance to the global society. Further, as corporations increasingly depend on digital solutions in new product development - from consumer shopping experiences and payment systems to driverless cars - the consequence of an electronic security breach will likely become more severe in the future. Colorado has large role in cybersecurity, particularly given Colorado’s entrepreneurial focus, since small businesses typically cannot afford expensive security solutions that may be accessible to large corporations. The goal of this specialization is to support and enhance the cyber security of enterprises such as banks, governments, retail, health care institutions, law enforcement, construction, insurance agencies, transportation and the military. Naturally, organizations cannot outsource this protection but will have to have loyal and trustworthy employees trained in this discipline. Therefore, this area is likely to enjoy an ever-growing demand in the foreseeable future–and commensurate job opportunities.

Digital Health Innovation Specialization


With the pervasive nature of Internet-based technologies, healthcare services are undergoing significant transformations where both providers and consumers have access to information for making informed decisions yielding the best possible outcomes. While providers are adopting or upgrading to state-of-the-art IT, the ongoing liberation of healthcare data has energized technology vendors, healthcare systems, start-ups, and researchers to develop new applications, tools, and products. The digital health innovation entrepreneurship specialization is designed for developing knowledge, skills and capabilities in innovation models, business plans and market platforms for drugs, devices, diagnostics, healthcare IT products and services. 

Digital Health Innovation Specialization Required Courses: (6 hours)


Complete the following two required courses:

Digital Health Innovation Specialization IS Electives: (6 hours)


Select any two courses numbered 6000 or higher with an ISMG prefix OR complete an internship in the IS field plus one ISMG course numbered 6000 or higher.

Digital Health Innovation Specialization Free Elective: (3 hours)


Complete any one course number 6800 or higher with a BUSN prefix OR any course number 6000 or higher with the prefix of ACCT, BANA, CMDT, ENTP, FNCE, INTB, ISMG, MGMT, MKTG MTAX or RISK.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Specialization


This specialization focuses on information technology as the primary driver of business strategy. Coursework focuses on the strategic, technological, financial and organizational issues involved with the effective management of information technology within an enterprise.​

Enterprise Technology Management (ETM) Specialization


This specialization focuses on information technology as the prime driver of business strategy. It focuses on the strategic, technological, financial and organizational issues involved with the effective management of information technology within an enterprise. The courses in this specialization cover the emerging technologies and the evolving roles and importance of IT in modern organizations; IT-enabled organizational processes and knowledge management; methods to develop, acquire and implement information systems; implementing and managing complex IT projects; security and privacy issues associated with IT.

Enterprise Technology Management IS Electives: (6 hours)


Select two courses numbered 6000 or higher with an ISMG prefix or an internship. 

*Students pursuing an additional specialization in GIS should fill this requirement with CVEN 5381, CVEN 5382, CVEN 5383, CVEN 5384, CVEN 5385, CVEN 5386, CVEN 5387, CVEN 5390, CVEN 5391, CVEN 5392, or CVEN 5395.

Enterprise Technology Management Free Elective: (3 hours)


Any course numbered 6800 or higher with BUSN prefix or any course numbered 6000 or higher with prefix of ACCT, BANA, ENTP, FNCE/RISK/CMDT, INTB, ISMG, MGMT, or MKTG.

*Students pursuing an additional specialization in GIS should fill this requirement with CVEN 5381, CVEN 5382, CVEN 5383, CVEN 5384, CVEN 5385, CVEN 5386, CVEN 5387, CVEN 5390, CVEN 5391, CVEN 5392, or CVEN 5395.

NOTE: Some of these courses have prerequisites of a BUSN course that may not be listed in your degree plan. Check with an academic advisor to see if it is possible to waive the prerequisite based on previous coursework.

Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TIE) Specialization


Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship Specialization is designed to prepare students for successful careers in innovation-related roles, allowing them to organize, develop, and commercialize information technology-based innovation in existing firms or to create new technology-based ventures. This specialization prepares students to evaluate opportunities and manage the process of innovation and builds the necessary knowledge and skills that enable leaders to seize market opportunities and drive strategic management and intelligent decision making. It includes courses in both Information Systems and Entrepreneurship and may also include an optional emphasis in Bio-innovation.

Web and Mobile Computing Specialization


This specialization focuses on building and managing large systems using platforms for website development, mobile and wireless applications, and web services and service oriented architectures. The courses provide expertise in .Net programming, business process management, internet and mobile technologies, website development technologies, data warehousing and administration, and service oriented architecture. Project management coursework enables graduates to successfully handle highly, complex systems development projects in the business world.

Web and Mobile Computing IS Electives: (6 hours)


Select any two courses numbered 6000 or higher with an ISMG prefix or an internship (by petition). 

*Students pursuing an additional specialization in GIS should fill this requirement with CVEN 5381, CVEN 5382, CVEN 5383, CVEN 5384, CVEN 5385, CVEN 5386, CVEN 5387, CVEN 5390, CVEN 5391, CVEN 5392, or CVEN 5395.

Web and Mobile Computing Free Elective: (3 hours)


Any course numbered 6800 or higher with BUSN prefix or any course numbered 6000 or higher with prefix of ACCT, BANA, CMDT, ENTP, FNCE, INTB, ISMG, MGMT, MKTG, MTAX, or RISK. 

*Students pursuing an additional specialization in GIS should fill this requirement with CVEN 5381, CVEN 5382, CVEN 5383, CVEN 5384, CVEN 5385, CVEN 5386, CVEN 5387, CVEN 5390, CVEN 5391, CVEN 5392, or CVEN 5395.

NOTE: Some of these courses have prerequisites of a BUSN course that may not be listed in your degree plan. Check with an academic advisor to see if it is possible to waive the prerequisite based on previous coursework.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Option


The Geographic Information Systems option expands upon system development skills through the understanding of geographic information systems workflows, analysis processes, and data models. This option for the Business Intelligence, Enterprise Technology Management, OR Web and Mobile Computing specialization addresses how map representations can be abstracted in geo-databases to develop intelligent GIS systems. Learn how GIS can improve efficiencies, decision making, planning, geographic accountability, science-based plans and communication. The GIS option is offered in conjunction with the College of Engineering and Applied Science and a certificate in GIS is awarded by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Student must first complete either the Business Intelligence, Enterprise Technology Management, OR Web & Mobile Computing Specialization.  

Geographic Information Systems and Geomatics (GIS) Specialization Required Course: (3 hours)


Complete the following course:

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