Master of Science in Management Information Systems

Department of Operations Management and Information Systems

Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The M.S. program in management information systems prepares students to assume leadership roles in the area of business information systems. The program effectively integrates the technical area of computer technology with business processes. The purpose of the program is to expose students to current information technologies and the application of contemporary information management theories.

The program consists of two phases. Phase One is designed to address deficiencies in undergraduate course work considered to be prerequisite for the Phase Two (30 semester hours) graduate course work. Students with significant undergraduate course work in business may be waived from some, or all, of the Phase One requirements. Exemption exams are also available to waive Phase One requirements. There is no charge for the exam, however, a student may only attempt each exam once.

Phase Two consists of 10 courses, seven of which are required of all majors and three of which consist of elective courses selected by the student with the approval of the academic program coordinator. Whereas the required courses ensure an in-depth exposure to important management information systems issues and technology, the elective courses enable the student to survey related areas or to focus in a particular area of his or her choice. Moreover, the focus can also be achieved through selecting courses from the Business Analytics Specialization and/or SAP and Business Enterprise Computing Specialization offered in the program.

The student is required to complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of approved graduate work beyond Phase One and the baccalaureate degree. Of these 30 semester hours, 21 must be in classes reserved exclusively for admitted graduate students. Students-at-large are prohibited from registering for graduate business courses without departmental approval. The total credit from courses taken for graduate credit at other accredited institutions which are accepted in transfer plus credit earned at NIU as a student-at-large may not exceed 9 semester hours.

Each MIS student will not be allowed to take more than 12 credit hours per semester.

NIU University Honors students who graduate with a B.A. or B.S. are guaranteed admission into the Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MIS) program as space permits.

Master of Science in Management Information Systems Learning Goals and Objectives

1. The NIU MIS program provides advanced study to prepare students with professional skills, values, and attitudes for the challenges of the professional practice of information technology. The learning outcomes of the professional skills, values, and attitudes are: The students will be able to:

• P1) Communicate effectively both written and orally.
• P2) Work effectively in teams to solve MIS/Business-related problems.
• P3) Understand the role of leadership in carrying out IT strategy and directing teams.
• P4) Demonstrate strong ethical principles and apply professional rules of conduct.
• P5) Demonstrate analytical skills in terms of effective decision-making and problem solving.

2. The NIU MIS program provides advanced study to prepare students to be able to make solid business driven decisions. The learning outcomes of making business driven decisions are: The students will be able to:

• D1) Understand the role of MIS in supporting organizational decision-making and for achieving competitive advantage.
• D2) Develop appropriate IT strategies & policies for organizations.
• D3) Understand the social, political, & strategic value of information creation, access, ownership, & use in a global environment.
• D4) Research & evaluate emerging technologies and MIS trends in order to develop innovative organizational solutions.

3. The NIU MIS program provides advanced study to prepare students to have MIS knowledge and skills. The learning outcomes of MIS knowledge and skills are: The students will be able to:

• S1) Demonstrate skills in modeling organizational processes, business rules, and data, as well as defining and implementing technical and process solutions.
• S2) Apply project management concepts, processes, knowledge areas, and tools to plan and manage IT projects that bring value to organizations.
• S3) Develop a computer-based application using a contemporary computer language or development tool.
• S4) Demonstrate a socio-technical understanding that systems consist of people, processes, software, hardware, and data.
• S5) Design and evaluate secure computer networks.