MS in Computer Information Systems

Offered on the Charles River Campus, online, and in the blended format, 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.

This program requires an average of 12–20 months to complete. Students may begin the program in the fall, spring, or summer term.

Learning Outcomes

  • Advanced knowledge in the analysis and documentation of requirements for architecture, design, and implementation of computer applications systems.
  • Proficiency in software and computing skills as they pertain to the design and implementation of database systems, data communications, systems analysis, and design.
  • Competence to identify and assess current and emerging information technologies that may have strategic value for enterprise and manage the implementation of those technologies.
  • Moderate skill in programming for systems in an application programming language such as Java or Python.

Degree Recognition

The National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designated the Metropolitan College Department of Computer Science as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense and Research.

The MS in Computer Information Systems concentration in IT Project Management is accredited by the Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC); the concentration in Health Informatics is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Admissions Information

For current admissions information, please visit the Metropolitan College website.

Prerequisites

Applicants to the program are required to have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants are not required to have a degree in computer science for entry to a program within our Department of Computer Science. Upon review of your application, the department will determine if the completion of prerequisite coursework will be required, based on your academic background. The following prerequisite course may be required:

  • MET CS 200 Introduction to Computer Information Systems

Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete the core curriculum courses and have the option to complete one or more concentration(s) or no concentration. Students who want to earn one or more concentration(s) must satisfy the stated requirements of each concentration they wish to pursue. Students who choose not to pursue a concentration will take MET CS 546 Introduction to Probability and Statistics and four general electives to complete their degree.

A total of 10 courses (40 units) is required, as follows:

Core Courses (five courses/20 units)

  • MET CS 520 Information Structures with Java
    or
    MET CS 521 Information Structures with Python
  • 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

Students who have completed courses on core curriculum subjects as part of their undergraduate degree program may request permission from the Department of Computer Science to replace the corresponding core courses with graduate-level computer information systems electives. Please refer to the MET CS Academic Policies Manual for further details.

Required Course (one course/4 units)

In addition to the core curriculum and general electives, students who are not pursuing a concentration must also take the following course:

  • MET CS 546 Introduction to Probability and Statistics

General Electives (four courses/16 units)

Students who are not choosing to complete a concentration must select four general electives (16 units) from the list below, with at least three at the 600 level or above. When choosing electives, students should make sure that they have all prerequisites required by the selected course. Please note that not all electives are available in the online or blended program format.

  • MET CS 526 Data Structures and Algorithms
  • MET CS 544 Foundations of Analytics and Data Visualization
  • MET CS 555 Foundations of Machine Learning
  • MET CS 561 Financial Analytics
  • MET CS 570 Biomedical Sciences and Health IT
  • MET CS 580 Health Informatics
  • MET CS 581 Health Information Systems
  • MET CS 582 Entrepreneurship in Health IT and Biotech
  • MET CS 584 Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare Informatics
  • MET CS 599 Biometrics
  • MET CS 601 Web Application Development
  • MET CS 602 Server-Side Web Development
  • MET CS 622 Advanced Programming Techniques
  • MET CS 632 Information Technology Project Management
  • MET CS 633 Software Quality, Testing, and Security Management
  • MET CS 634 Agile Software Development
  • MET CS 635 Network Media Technologies
  • MET CS 664 Artificial Intelligence
  • MET CS 665 Software Design and Patterns
  • MET CS 674 Database Security
  • MET CS 677 Data Science with Python
  • MET CS 683 Mobile Application Development with Android
  • MET CS 684 Enterprise Cybersecurity Management
  • MET CS 685 Network Design and Management
  • MET CS 688 Web Mining and Graph Analytics
  • MET CS 689 Designing and Implementing a Data Warehouse
  • MET CS 690 Network and Cloud Security
  • MET CS 693 Digital Forensics and Investigations
  • MET CS 694 Mobile Forensics and Security
  • MET CS 695 Cybersecurity
  • MET CS 699 Data Mining
  • MET CS 701 Rich Internet Application Development
  • MET CS 763 Secure Software Development
  • MET CS 775 Advanced Networking
  • MET CS 777 Big Data Analytics
  • MET CS 779 Advanced Database Management
  • MET CS 781 Advanced Health Informatics
  • MET CS 789 Cryptography
  • MET CS 793 Special Topics in Computer Science

The following courses with “AD” or “CJ” require consent of the Computer Science department advisor:

  • MET AD 610 Enterprise Risk Management
  • MET AD 630 Financial and Managerial Accounting
  • MET AD 643 Project Communications and Leadership
  • MET AD 646 Portfolio and Program Management
  • MET AD 648 Ecommerce
  • MET AD 741 The Innovation Process: Developing New Products and Services
  • MET CJ 632 White-Collar Crime

Master’s Thesis Option in Computer Information Systems (8 units)

Students majoring in computer information systems may elect a thesis option, to be completed within 12 months. This option is available to MS in Computer Information Systems candidates who have completed at least seven courses toward their degree and have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.7 or higher. The thesis option replaces two elective courses. 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

Concentrations

Declaration of More Than One Concentration

Students in the MS in Computer Information Systems program have the option to concentrate in more than one area. Each concentration must be finished before the student officially graduates from their program. No additional concentrations may be added after graduation. In the case of some courses overlapping between one or more concentrations, only one course may count toward both concentrations. If more than one course overlaps, the student must take an elective in its place so that each concentration is completed. Not all concentrations are available in the blended format.

Second Master’s Degree Option

In appreciation of the converging needs of management and technology, the departments of Actuarial Science, Administrative Sciences, and Computer Science collaborate to offer a unique opportunity to students currently enrolled in their degree programs as well as alumni of those programs. Learn more.