Master of Science in Computer Information Systems
Prerequisites | Core Curriculum | Concentrations | Boston Course Schedule | Dual Degree Option
The Master of Science (MS) in Computer Information Systems program is designed for students who wish to combine technical competence in information systems with knowledge of managerial and organizational issues.
- The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated the Department of Computer Science as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Information Assurance Research.
- The Master of Science in Computer Information Systems has been accredited by the Project Management Institute’s Global Accreditation Center (GAC) for Project Management.
Program by Location and Delivery
Boston-Charles River Campus | Online | Blended
Prerequisite Requirements
- Applicants to the program are required to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and proficiency in the following areas:
- View admissions requirements here
Degree Requirements
- Students are required to finish the core curriculum and either a concentration or four no concentration electives.
- A minimum passing grade for a course in the graduate program is a C (2.0) but an average grade of B (3.0) must be maintained to be in good academic standing and satisfy the degree requirements.
Core Curriculum (Six required courses/24 credits)
- MET CS 520 Information Structures or MET CS 601 Web Application Development
- MET CS 546 Quantitative Methods for Information Systems
- MET CS 625 Business Data Communication and Networks
- MET CS 669 Database Design and Implementation for Business
- MET CS 682 Information Systems Analysis and Design
- MET CS 782 IT Strategy and Management
- Core course waivers for undergraduate & work related experience. Students who have completed courses as part of their undergraduate degree program or have work related experience on core curriculum subjects may request permission from the Department to replace the corresponding core courses with graduate level computer science electives. If a waiver is granted, it is recommended that each replacement course be in the same technical area.
Computer Networks Concentration (Four courses/16 credits)
The concentration in Computer Networks provides students with a broad foundation in information technology (IT) and an in depth understanding of computer data communication and modern networking. The six MSCIS core courses include a comprehensive introductory networking course that covers digital communications, local area, wide area, wireless and other network technologies. The core also includes courses in databases, math for IT, strategic IT, software development, and systems analysis and design. The Computer Networks concentration courses provide students with a comprehensive understanding of network design and implementation, network performance analysis and management, network security, and the latest networking technology. The program is designed to empower students with extensive knowledge and hands-on experience to analyze, design, procure, manage and implement cutting-edge computer networking solutions and technologies.
Requirements
MET CS 635 Network Design and Implementation
MET CS 690 Network Security
MET CS 695 Enterprise Information Security
MET CS 775 Advanced Networking
Database Management and Business Intelligence Concentration (Four courses/16 credits)
The Concentration in Database Management & Business Intelligence equips students with the tools necessary to utilize the vast amounts of information provided by large amounts of data. By focusing on the integration of information technology with business problems and opportunities, this concentration enables information systems professionals to understand technological issues in addition to business concepts and fundamentals.
Requirements
MET CS 699 Data Mining and Business Intelligence
MET CS 779 Advanced Database Management
And one course selected from the following:
MET CS 674 Database Security
MET CS 689 Designing and Implementing a Data Warehouse
MET CS 780 Database Administration
And one elective selected from the no concentration list
Health Informatics Concentration (Four courses/16 credits)
The objective of this program is to expose students to modern health information technology, including heath data collection, processing and storage. The primary focus of this program is on electronic medical data generated and stored in health care and public health organizations. Individuals graduating from this program will have a solid knowledge of health information technology and systems and electronic health records as well as a solid exposure to the latest medical technologies.
Requirements
MET CS 570 Biomedical Sciences and Health IT
MET CS 580 Health Informatics
MET CS 581 Electronic Health Records
MET CS 781 Advanced Health Informatics
IT Project Management Concentration (Four courses/16 credits)
Particularly valuable for those engaged in the administration of technical projects, the concentration in IT Project Management introduces general concepts embodied in the Project Management Institute’s PMBOK, while exploring specialized techniques for software risk management, software cost estimation, and software quality management. Students also learn virtual project management, enabling them to manage geographically distributed software development. Students taking any course in this concentration are eligible to take a PMP® preparation course for free—an important step toward certification as Project Management Professionals.
Requirements
MET CS 632 IT Project Management
MET CS 633 Distributed Software Development and Management
MET CS 783 Enterprise Architecture
And one elective selected from the no concentration list
Security Concentration (Four Courses/16 credits)
The Concentration in Security provides in-depth knowledge of emerging security threats and solutions to prepare technical leaders to identify, develop, and implement highly secure systems and networks that support organizational goals.
Requirements
MET CS 684 IT Security Policies and Procedures
MET CS 695 Enterprise Information Security
MET CS 674 Database Security OR MET CS 693 Digital Forensics and Investigations
And one course selected from the following:
MET CS 599 Biometrics
MET CS 690 Network Security
MET CS 703 Network Forensics
MET CS 713 Advanced Digital Forensics
MET CS 789 Cryptography
MET CS 799 Advanced Cryptography
Web Application Development Concentration (Four courses, 16 credits)
This concentration in Web Application Development provides fundamental concepts to develop web applications. The courses provide a comprehensive coverage of both client-side and server-side development. Latest topics in PHP, .NET (C# 3.0, ASP.NET 3.5, ADO.NET, LINQ, WCF, and WPF), and Enterprise Java (Servlets, JSP, Hibernate, Spring, and EJBs) are widely covered. Students will also learn and work with cutting edge technologies such as Ruby on Rails, AJAX, Flex, and Google Web Toolkit (GWT). Students will be creating real world Web application projects that will also involve interacting with databases such as Oracle, MySQL and SQLSERVER.
Requirements
MET CS 601 Web Application Development*
MET CS 701 Rich Internet Application Development
And two courses selected from the following:
MET CS 632 IT Project Management
MET CS 633 Distributed Software Development and Management
MET CS 651 Web Development with .NET
MET CS 667 Enterprise Java
MET CS 783 Enterprise Architecture
*Students choosing the Web Application Development concentration may only count MET CS 601 Web Application Development as an elective course, not as a core requirement. MET CS 520 Information Structures must be taken as a core course.
No Concentration
Students who are not choosing to complete a concentration should select four courses (16 credits) from the list below with at least three courses at the 600-level or above.
- MET CS 503 Windows .NET Application Programming with C#
- MET CS 504 Green Information Technology
- MET CS 532 Computer Graphics
- MET CS 561 Financial Informatics
- MET CS 565 Advanced Java Programming
- MET CS 567 Enterprise Systems with SAP
- MET CS 580 Health Informatics
- MET CS 581 Electronic Health Records
- MET CS 599 Biometrics
- MET CS 632 IT Project Management
- MET CS 633 Distributed Software Development and Management
- MET CS 651 Web Development with .NET
- MET CS 664 Artificial Intelligence
- MET CS 665 Software Design and Patterns
- MET CS 667 Enterprise Java
- MET CS 674 Database Security
- MET CS 684 IT Security Policies and Procedures
- MET CS 685 Network Design and Management
- MET CS 689 Designing and Implementing a Data Warehouse
- MET CS 690 Network Security
- MET CS 693 Digital Forensics and Investigations
- MET CS 695 Enterprise Information Security
- MET CS 699 Data Mining and Business Intelligence
- MET CS 701 Rich Internet Application Development
- MET CS 703 Network Forensics
- MET CS 713 Advanced Digital Forensics
- MET CS 751 Web Services
- MET CS 773 Software Quality Management
- MET CS 779 Advanced Database Management
- MET CS 780 Database Administration
- MET CS 783 Enterprise Architecture
- MET CS 789 Cryptography
- MET CS 799 Advanced Cryptography
Master Thesis Option (8 credits)
The thesis option is to be completed within twelve months. This option is available to Master of Science in Computer Information Systems candidates who have completed at least seven courses toward their degree and have a GPA of 3.7 or higher. Students are responsible for finding a thesis advisor and a principal reader within the department. The advisor must be a full-time faculty member; the principal reader may be part-time faculty with a PhD (unless waived by the department).
Dual Degree Option
Appreciating the converging nature of management skills and technology, the Computer Science Department has a special relationship with Metropolitan College’s Administrative Sciences and Actuarial Science Departments. Students in either program are able to use 8 credits from one degree toward a second degree, thereby reducing their work on the second degree by two courses. Students must be accepted independently by both departments, but they may request that application materials such as references and transcripts be forwarded from the first program to the second.