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2012-2013 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Master of Science in Computer Information Systems

Requirements for the M.S. in Computer Information Systems

Each candidate must complete either the Capstone course, a project course, or the thesis option.

All candidates for the degree must complete a total of 33 credits, as indicated below:

  • All courses in two content areas Credits: 18
  • Three elective courses Credits: 9
  • Capstone course option Credits: 3, Project option Credits: 3 , or Thesis option Credits: 6 (Students selecting the Thesis option will take one less elective.)
  • CIS 500 - Fundamentals of Computer Science (3 credits) (Students not required to take this course must take an additional elective.)

Content Areas

Seven content areas are designed to provide sustained coverage of topics essential to the regional computing community.

Biomedical Informatics

Required course:

    Electives (choose two):

    Database Management

    Distributed Computing

    Information Systems Management

    Object-oriented Technology

    Software Design and Development

    Required courses:

    Select one:

    Software Engineering

    Additional Elective Courses

    Elective courses may be chosen from the five content areas not selected by the student or from the following list:

    All master's candidates must complete one of the following

    This option may only be taken after all courses in the two content areas have been completed.

    Capstone Course (permit required to register)

    The Capstone course topic will vary each semester. Contact the School of CIS one semester before beginning CS 692.

    Project (permit required to register)

    Contact the School of CIS for detailed information one semester before beginning the project course.

    Thesis (permits required to register for this two-course sequence)

    The thesis option includes writing, presenting, and defending a masters thesis. Contact the School of CIS for detailed information one semester before beginning CS 690. The two-course sequence for this option takes the place of either the project or the Capstone course and one elective.

    Certificate Program Requirements:

    Each of the content areas in the Computer Information Systems' Master of Science Degree Program constitutes a Certificate Program. A certificate in each of the areas of Biomedical Informatics, Database Management, Distributed Systems, Information Systems Management, Object-oriented Technology, Software Design and Development, or Software Engineering is awarded to a student who completes a content area. The last two courses in the content area must be completed at Grand Valley State University.

    Certificate Admission Criteria

    Admission criteria for a certificate program are identical to admission criteria for the master's degree program. Certificate candidates enroll in the standard master's degree program courses, with grading criteria being identical. Should a certificate candidate decide to change to the master's degree program, all coursework taken toward the certificate will apply to his or her master's degree program.

    The following certificates each require a 3-course sequence, which totals 9 credit hours:

    Biomedical Informatics Certificate:

      Electives: (choose 2):

      Database Management Certificate:

      Distributed Computing Certificate:

      Information Systems Management Certificate:

      Object-Oriented Technology Certificate:

      Software Design and Development Certificate:

      Required Courses:

      Select one:

      Software Engineering Certificate:

      Computer Information Systems Program Description

      Click here for the program description.


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