Program Overview

The MS in Information Science and Technology (IS&T) program is designed for students without a background in programming and/or computer science to gain the skills to be prepared for careers in computing and information technology. This program allows students with undergraduate degrees from non-computing fields to add technical expertise in order to pursue the interdisciplinary career paths of the future. Students learn skills applicable to computer networking, database management, information security, mobile app development, software engineering, software testing and quality assurance, and web development. As preparation for studying these advanced topics, fast-paced, rigorous, introductory classes with a strong foundation in algorithms, data structures and programming are offered to MS in IS&T students.

Applicants to the MS in IS&T can choose between the on-campus and online programs, both of which follow the same curriculum and content. However, the delivery formats differ, as described below:

• The on-campus format is designed for students who prefer access to campus activities and live interaction with instructors and fellow students. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. While some courses may be offered online, most of the coursework is delivered in person over a full 16-week academic term during evening hours.
• The online format is designed for students who prefer the flexibility of online learning. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. Most courses are structured to include asynchronous assignments plus a once-a-week synchronous online class meeting.

Areas of Specialization: Research interests of faculty include:

• Communication and networks
• Data warehousing, filtering and mining
• Enterprise system development and resource management
• Ethics and social issues related to technology
• Knowledge management
• Management information and database systems
• Security and privacy
• Software engineering
• System development and process management
• Usability engineering