Graduate Diploma in IT Project Management
Course Descriptions
IT Project Management
This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of the principles, processes, and practices of software project management. Students learn techniques for planning, organizing, scheduling, and controlling software projects. There is substantial focus on software cost estimation and software risk management. Students will obtain practical project management skills and competencies related to the definition of a software project, establishment of project communications, managing project changes, and managing distributed software teams and projects. (MET CS 632; 4 credits)
Geographically Distributed Software Development
Low communication costs allow software applications to be produced via geographically distributed development (GDD). In addition to the traditional challenges of specifying and developing I.T. systems, GDD projects must accommodate differing cultures, time zones, and development methodologies. This course prepares students to justify, lead, participate in, and maintain such projects. Students work in geographically dispersed teams and produce documented applications. Laboratory course. Prerequisite: MET CS 682 or MET CS 673. (MET CS 633; 4 credits)
Database Design and Implementation for Business
This course uses the latest relational and object-oriented tools and techniques to investigate methods of persistent data and object-modeling and management. The Oracle 9i family of databases is used to develop the products of the course's data and object-modeling content. Strong emphasis is placed on the application of SQL and PL/SQL to database management. Topics covered include: the relational model; data modeling; object modeling; database design; architecture theory; query language-SQL; issues in database recovery, concurrency, security, integrity, and other topics; practice in SQL and PL/SQL database management. (MET CS 669; 4 credits)
Business Data Communications and Networks
Gives an overview of computer networks: hardware, software, reference models, example networks, example data communication services, standardization, TCP/IP, and emerging protocols, such as Bluetooth, WAP, 802.11, and HiperLAN. Data communications industry, voice communications, data communications concepts and technology, LAN architectures, network operating systems, network development life cycle, security, and management. IT economics: Total Cost Ownership, Return on Investment, and IT Project Portfolio Management. Credit applies towards MS in Computer Information Systems and E-Commerce concentrations but does not apply towards MS in Computer Science and MS in Telecommunication. (MET TC 625; 4 credits)
Information Systems Analysis and Design
Object-oriented methods of information systems analysis and design for organizations with data-processing resources. System feasibility, information requirements analysis, database utilization, including data dictionaries, software design and implementation management, project control, and systems-level testing and installation. Laboratory course. (MET CS 682; 4 credits)
IT Strategy and Management
This course provides an overview of contemporary information systems technology (IT) management. It explains the relevant issues of effective management of information services activities and highlights the areas of greatest potential application of the technology. No assumptions are made concerning the reader's experience with IT, but it is assumed that the reader has some coursework or work experience in administration management. (MET CS 782; 4 credits)
Information Structures
This course covers the concepts of the object-oriented approach to software design and development using the Java programming language. It includes a detailed discussion of programming concepts starting with the fundamentals of data types, control-structure methods, classes, applets, arrays, and strings, and proceeding to advanced topics such as inheritance and polymorphism, interfaces, creating user interfaces, exceptions, and streams. Upon completion of this course the students will be able to apply software engineering criteria to design and implement Java applications that are secure, robust, and scalable. (MET CS 520; 4 credits)
International and Advanced Project Management
This capstone course provides an opportunity to integrate skills and knowledge, review state-of-the-art issues, and produce deliverables required for successful project management. Students learn advanced simulation tools and techniques that can reinforce project planning and control skills, and enrich leadership skills as they pertain to change-control and decision-making. A key focus of this course is on the development and delivery of project quality management and applying a quality framework to ensure customer satisfaction. Within this topic students learn: quality planning, quality assurance, and quality control. Students also master state-of-the art topics such as: outsourcing and virtual project management—including global project management practices to overcome national boundaries, geographic distances, and cultural diversity—project portfolio management, and aligning projects to business strategy for optimized enterprise success and PMBOK practices applied in the organization. (MET AD 645; 4 credits)
