Master of Science in Computer Information Systems (blended)

An eLive course in the Computer Information Systems program typically includes:

1. Four on-campus sessions with lectures, discussions related to online course material, hands-on labs, and activities to develop technical and business-critical skills.
2. Online course content, conveniently accessible in Vista. This may include online lectures, videos, interactive animations, and instructor-led discussion boards. During the online weeks, students may submit homework assignments, projects, papers, and assessments via the course website.
3. Interactive, instructor-led online seminars during the weeks that students are not on campus, covering the most important topics, providing homework guidance, and answering student questions.
4. A fifth on-campus session for the final exam or project presentation.
5. Continuous support for all academic, technical, and/or logistical questions.

Applicants to the blended-format MS in Computer Information Systems program must have a bachelor’s degree, and are required to submit official transcripts of previous academic work, three letters of recommendation, personal statement, and résumé.

In addition, applicants must complete the prerequisites listed below or demonstrate an equivalent level of proficiency through prior college-level courses or a waiver examination. Students are advised to discuss their background with the graduate student advisor in order to determine the best sequence of courses.

Apply here.

Academic Standing

No grade lower than C may be used toward degree requirements. Students must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 in order to be in good academic standing and to graduate. Students with a grade point average of less than 3.0 are on academic probation and must be in a position to achieve a 3.0 within the 48 required credit hours for graduation.

Students who have prior programming experience must complete:

• MET CS 201 Introduction to Programming
• MET CS 231 Introduction to Computer Science Programmers with C++ or
  MET CS 232 Introduction to Computer Science with Java

If college-level credit courses are not in evidence, the department will determine what prerequisite courses must be completed in addition to graduate degree requirements. Students claiming equivalent proficiency in the prerequisite courses from non-academic sources must take an examination to demonstrate such proficiency.

A maximum of two graduate-level courses (8 credits) taken at Metropolitan College before acceptance into the program may be applied toward the degree.

The blended-format MS in Computer Information Systems core curriculum consists of ten required courses.

Core Curriculum

(Six courses/24 credits)

• MET CS 520 EL Information Structures or
  MET CS 601 EL Web Application Development
• MET CS 546 EL Quantitative Methods for Information Systems
• MET CS 625 EL Business Data Communication and Networks
• MET CS 669 EL Database Design and Implementation for Business
• MET CS 682 EL Information Systems Analysis and Design
• MET CS 782 EL IT Strategy and Management

Students who have completed courses on core curriculum subjects as part of their undergraduate degree program must replace the corresponding core courses with electives. It is recommended that each replacement course be in the same technical area as the original core course. Students who have work-related experience in any of the core curriculum courses may apply for a waiver by submitting appropriate documentation. When a course waiver is granted, the student must substitute a graduate-level elective for the core course.

General Electives

(Four courses/16 credits)

Students who are not pursuing a concentration in Database Management & Business Intelligence, IT Project Management, or Security must select four elective courses from the following list. Electives other than those listed below must be approved by the student’s advisor. In choosing electives, students should make sure that they have all prerequisites required by the selected course. At least three elective courses must be at the 600 level or above:

• MET CS 632 EL IT Project Management
• MET CS 633 EL Distributed Software Development and Management
• MET CS 674 EL Database Security
• MET CS 684 EL IT Security Policies and Procedures
• MET CS 693 EL Digital Forensics and Investigations
• MET CS 695 EL Enterprise Information Security
• MET CS 699 EL Data Mining and Business Intelligence
• MET CS 703 EL Network Forensics
• MET CS 713 EL Advanced Digital Forensics
• MET CS 779 EL Advanced Database Management
• MET CS 783 EL Enterprise Architecture

Master’s Thesis Option in Computer Information Systems

(8 credits)

Students majoring in Computer Information Systems may elect a thesis option, 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 department).

• MET CS 810/811 Master’s Thesis