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2014-2015 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

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Master of Science in Computer Information Systems

Requirements for the M.S. in Computer Information Systems

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

  • Foundation Courses (6 credits)
  • Core (9 credits)
  • Technical Thread (9 credits)
  • Electives (3 or 6 credits)
  • Capstone (3 or 6 credits)

Foundation Courses (6 credits)

All candidates are expected to complete the two foundation courses, CIS 500 and CIS 501. However, a placement exam can be taken to demonstrate proficiency in the topics covered by the Foundation Courses. A successful score on the placement exam will result in waiving the requirement of the Foundation Courses (33 credits are still required for the degree).

Core (9 credits)

Students are required to complete one course in three of the following areas:

Data Engineering

Project Management

Software Engineering

Networking

Technical Thread (9 credits)

All candidates are required to complete one of the following technical sequences:

Biomedical Informatics

And two of the following:

Database Management

Distributed Computing

Information Systems Management

Software Engineering

Web and Mobile Computing

And one of the following:

Additional Elective Courses

Any 500 or 600 level CIS course (other than Foundations Courses) can be used as an elective toward the MS-CIS degree.

Capstone

Each candidate must complete either the Capstone course, the project course, or the thesis sequence. Please contact the Graduate Program Director one semester prior to starting any of these.

Computer Information Systems Graduate Certificates

A certificate in the areas of biomedical informatics, database management, distributed computing, information systems management, 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.

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:

Electives (choose 2):

Database Management Certificate:

Distributed Computing Certificate:

Electives (choose 1):

Software Engineering Certificate:

Computer Information Systems Program Description

Click here for the program description.



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