The Master of Science in Information Science and Technology (MSIST) is a professional graduate degree program for those who seek advanced training to meet the ever increasing need for information technology (IT) professionals. The degree will be composed of 30 credit hours and will supplement our Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology.

The MSIST will provide essential skills and knowledge in the following areas:

  • Data science: Provides students with advanced knowledge and skills to manage data sets generated by applications.
  • Information security: Focuses on techniques ensuring the security of all data captured, stored and analyzed through applications.

Admission Requirements 

Application Deadlines

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.

Admission

An applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:

  • A resume.
  • A one to two page reason statement outlining your background and your educational and professional goals.

Prerequisites

Preference will be given to those students who have a baccalaureate degree in information sciences, computer information systems, computer science, engineering, statistics, or a related field. Students with sufficient background gained through work experience or professional training in information technologies, such as networks, web services, and database development, will also be considered for admission to the program. Those who have neither of the aforementioned qualifications will be encouraged to take the following prerequisites, or their equivalents, before taking related courses:

INFOST 240Web Design I3
INFOST 410Database Information Retrieval Systems3
INFOST 440Web Application Development3

If taken, these courses must have been completed within the last five years with a grade of B or better (B- not acceptable).

Credits and Courses

The program requires 30 graduate-level credits, including 15 credits of required coursework, competency requirement and either 12 or 15 credits of elective credit depending on whether competency is demonstrated through coursework or examination.

Core Courses
INFOST 582Introduction to Data Science3
INFOST 583Survey of Information Security3
COMPST 701Computing Fundamentals for IT Professionals3
COMPST 703Software Development Life Cycle3
Programming proficiency as demonstrated by one of the following with a “C” or better:0-3
Introduction to Application Development
R Programming for Business Analytics
Introductory Programming Using Python
Problem Solving with Object-Oriented Programming
Essential Programming for Health Informatics
Data Management and Visualization in R
Programming Competency Examination
Culminating Course
INFOST 790Project Design, Implementation, and Evaluation3
Electives
12-15 credits from any INFOST or COMPST course offerings or from any of the Tracks. Number of credits is dependent on whether programming competency is demonstrated through coursework or examination. 12-15
Total Credits30

Electives

Select 12 or 15 credits of elective credits depending on whether programming competency is demonstrated through coursework or examination. Electives can be used toward Tracks. 

Electives for the Information Security Track

12 credits of coursework from any of the courses listed below. 

INFOST 465Legal Aspects of Information Products and Services (G)3
INFOST 547User-Centered Interaction Design3
INFOST 584Survey of Web and Mobile Content Development3
INFOST 660Information Policy3
INFOST 661Information Ethics3
INFOST 671Applied Web 3.0: Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain3
INFOST 691Special Topics in Information Science:1-3
INFOST 695Ethical Hacking I3
INFOST 696Ethical Hacking II3
INFOST 697Cisco Routing & Switching I3
INFOST 784Information Security Management3
INFOST 785Database Managment Systems for Information Professionals3
BUS ADM 743Information Privacy, Security & Continuity3
BUS ADM 817Connected Systems for Business3
COMPSCI 469Introduction to Computer Security3
COMPSCI 520Computer Networks3
COMPST 750Problem Solving with Object-Oriented Programming3
COMPST 751Data Structures and Algorithms3

Electives for the Data Science Track

12 credits of coursework from any of the courses listed below. 

INFOST 465Legal Aspects of Information Products and Services3
INFOST 660Information Policy3
INFOST 661Information Ethics3
INFOST 671Applied Web 3.0: Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain3
INFOST 687Data Analysis for Data Science3
INFOST 691Special Topics in Information Science:1-3
INFOST 714Metadata3
INFOST 719Advanced Topics in Information Organization3
INFOST 771Data Curation3
INFOST 784Information Security Management3
INFOST 785Database Managment Systems for Information Professionals3
BUS ADM 713Business Forecasting Methods3
BUS ADM 741Web Mining and Analytics3
BUS ADM 744Information Technology Strategy and Management3
BUS ADM 746Topics in Information Technology Management:3
BUS ADM 749Data and Information Management3
BUS ADM 754Statistical Analysis3
BUS ADM 763Marketing Analytics3
BUS ADM 769Database Marketing3
BUS ADM 810Development of Web-Based Solutions3
BUS ADM 816Business Intelligence Technologies & Solutions3
BUS ADM 914Advanced Multivariate Techniques in Management Research3
BUSMGMT 709Predictive Analytics for Managers3
BUSMGMT 744R Programming for Business Analytics3
COMPSCI 423Introduction to Natural Language Processing3
COMPSCI 425Introduction to Data Mining3
COMPSCI 557Introduction to Database Systems3
COMPSCI 710Artificial Intelligence3
COMPSCI 744Text Retrieval and Its Applications in Biomedicine3
COMPST 702Introductory Programming Using Python3
COMPST 750Problem Solving with Object-Oriented Programming3
COMPST 751Data Structures and Algorithms3
COMPST 790Advanced Topics in Computer Studies:3-9
ELECENG 711Introduction to Machine Learning3
ELECENG 890Special Topics:3
GEOG 726Geographic Information Science4
HI 741Essential Programming for Health Informatics3
HI/COMPSCI 744Text Retrieval and Its Applications in Biomedicine3
HI 760Biomedical and Healthcare Terminology and Ontology3

Electives for the Generalist Track

Any Graduate level INFOST or COMPST course. 1-3
Any course from the Data Science Track.1-3
ART 302Art and Design Workshop:3
ART 412Advanced Creative Technologies3
ART 423Experimental Typography3
ART 496Sequence and Structure3
ART 524Professional Practice in Design:3-6
ART 929Advanced Research-Design & Digital Media1-4
ARCH 583Emerging Digital Technology:3
ARCH 771Representation I3
BUS ADM 748Managing Information Technology Projects3
COMPSCI 459Fundamentals of Computer Graphics3
COMPSCI 481Server-side Internet Programming3
COMPSCI 482Rich Internet Applications3
COMPSCI 522Computer Game Design3
COMPSCI 718Advanced Computer Graphics: Modeling and Animation3
COMPSCI 737Software Project Management3
COMPSCI 743Intelligent User Interfaces3
COMPSCI 747Principles & Practices of User Interface Design3
GEOG 704Remote Sensing: Environmental and Land Use Analysis4
GEOG 705Cartography4
GEOG 726Geographic Information Science4
GEOG 804Advanced Remote Sensing3

Minimum Grade Requirement in the Required Courses

The minimum grade requirement for the required courses is a B. Students who earn a grade of B- or lower have not met the minimum requirement and will be allowed to repeat the required course once. Students are responsible for tuition in the repeated course; no credit is earned from the first attempt at the required course, or any required course for which a B- or lower is earned. Materials and assignments used previously may not be reused or resubmitted when retaking a required course unless approved by the instructor. Those who do not meet the minimum grade requirements upon repeating the course will be recommended for academic dismissal. Students may not register for a course for which any of the required courses is a prerequisite until the minimum grade requirement is met.

Additional Requirements

Time Limit

All degree requirements must be completed within five years from the date of initial enrollment in the Master’s program.

Information Science and Technology MS Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from the MSIST program will be able to:   

  1. Explain the fundamental theories, methods, and concepts of information science and technology.  
  2. Apply systems and tools of information technology to solve problems in the rapidly changing information technology field. 
  3. Develop analytical and critical thinking skills and capacities in a variety of Information Technology contexts.  
  4. Assess the quality and ethics of technology-related information as well as its value to those who will ultimately use it for decision-making.  
  5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively with all stakeholders. 

Accelerated Program Option

This program is offered as part of an accelerated graduate program. For more information, see Accelerated Graduate Degrees.