MIS and ISD Graduate Program Curriculum

Curriculum Flexible curriculum and schedule Follows traditional semester format (fall, spring, and optional summer session) Designed for working professionals or full-time students Technology Core, including Capstone Course Additional Required Courses and Electives

Additional Information Technical prerequisites CIO University certification available for all tracks Classes offered at all three locations Up to six credit hours can be transferred into the program with approval of faculty advisor Choose from two fields of study (MIS and ISD) consisting of 33 credit graduate level hours, plus 9 credits of potentially waived technical prerequisites. All fields of study require the completion of eight core technology courses: ISTM 201, ISTM 202, ISTM 203, ISTM 204, ISTM 205, ISTM 206, ISTM 207, and the capstone project, ISTM 210 About the program Admissions

Key Dates Complete Academic Calendar Course Schedules Main Campus, Washington, DC, (MIS and ISD) Virginia Campus, Ashburn (MIS and ISD)   Graduate Education Center, Arlington (MIS)

Curriculum

Note: This new curriculum is effective as of Fall 2009.  Students entering the program prior to the Fall 2009 semester will meet with their advisor to discuss their options.

Management Information Systems (MIS)	Information Systems Development (ISD)
Common Required Courses
ISTM 201 Information Systems Development and Applications
ISTM 202 Relational Databases
ISTM 203 Telecommunications and Enterprise Networks
ISTM 204 Information Technology Project Management
ISTM 205 Internet Computing
ISTM 206 Information Systems Security
ISTM 207 Information Resources Management
Capstone ISTM 210 Integrated Information Systems Capstone
Choose three recommended electives: ISTM 221 ISTM 222 ISTM 223 ISTM 224 ISTM 225 Other electives may be considered by your faculty advisor.
	Choose three electives: ISTM 211 ISTM 213 ISTM 214 ISTM 215
Management Information Systems (MIS)	Information Systems Development (ISD)

 
Technology Core, including Capstone Course

ISTM 201 Information Systems Development and Applications

Each stage of the information systems life cycle is discussed in terms of technologies, impact, and management. Topics include structured and object-oriented analysis, prototyping, software reuse, testing, life-cycle costs, software development environments, and organizational and behavioral aspects of development projects

ISTM 202 Relational Databases

The course provides an introduction to the theory of relational databases and an in-depth discussion of relational database design at the conceptual, logical and physical levels. Structured query language (SQL) is also covered in depth.

ISTM 203 Telecommunications and Enterprise Networks

This course covers telecommunications and networking as applied to enterprises in the commercial and public sector.  It provides a survey of the technologies and applications of telecommunication systems with emphasis on wireless, mobile and Internet communication protocols. Emphasis is placed upon selection of technologies and configurations necessary to support business applications. Hands-on exercises will familiarize the student with the functional characteristics of network technologies.

ISTM 204 Information Technology Project Management

This course provides a comprehensive overview of project and program management, with special emphasis on information technology projects.  Students are expected to understand and use the elements, practices and tools critical to the success of information technology project and program management. The basic tools of project management including work breakdown structure, cost, schedule and performance goal setting and risk analysis are studied.

ISTM 205 Internet Computing

This course introduces the development of Web applications. The course provides the student with the opportunity to understand modern web technologies including concepts, architectures and frameworks. This course examines the internet as hardware and software architecture for creating business applications. Topics covered include web servers, web application servers, web application development methods, client side and server side scripting, and web application development techniques.

ISTM 206 Information Systems Security

A comprehensive examination of the issues involved in computer security from the perspective of a designer, manager, and owner of a business information system. This course is designed to develop knowledge and skills for security of information and information systems within organizations. The course focuses on concepts and methods associated with planning, designing, implementing, managing, and auditing security at all levels and on all system platforms, including worldwide networks. The course presents concepts of security policies, models and the goals of a security strategy to achieve confidentiality, integrity, authentication, identification, and availability issues related to information and information systems. The student will gain an understanding of methods for assessing risk associated with accidental and intentional breaches of security. Apply the basics of Cryptographic techniques and network security for ensuring the basic security goals of security of information systems. Hands-on exercises will provide familiarity with applications for security management.

ISTM 207 Information Resource Management

Information Resources Management is an emerging discipline that helps managers assess and exploit information technology assets for competitive advantage.  This course offers students an understanding of how to manage information as a strategic resource in different organizational settings. The course highlights the role of the Chief Information Officer, and the many tasks associated with this function in managing information resources including: planning, security, technology integration, use of advisory committees, development of an enterprise model, information integration, and data administration.

ISTM 210 Integrated Information Systems (Capstone Project)

This is the CAPSTONE course in the Master of Science in Information System Technology and Management degree program from the Information System and Technology Management Department, School of Business at the George Washington University. It is normally taken during a student's final semester at the University.  This course encompasses many of the topics covered in the other courses in this degree program. The course requires that students apply many of the topics covered in the other courses in the program in a simulated employee team or small group setting. Students will be introduced to the experience of designing an on-line information system, and are required to complete an on-line system design document.  All aspects of system planning and design are included.

PREREQUISITES: ISTM 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207; completion of all prerequisites/workshops; course is to be taken during the final semester of a student's program. (Completion of prerequisites and program status data will be verified using each student's registration records and registration data.)

Additional Electives

Information Systems Development - Track Electives

ISTM 211 Data Warehousing and OLAP

The course provides an introduction to the theory of data warehousing, dimensional data modeling and online analytical processing (OLAP). The theory is introduced through case studies, technology, and a design project. 

ISTM 213 Enterprise Web and Database Applications

The course provides the student with the theoretical foundation and a hands-on familiarity of the concepts that are dramatically changing enterprise applications.  The theoretical foundation is developed into the technologies, concepts, architectures and frameworks emerging today. As the theoretical concepts of grid and utility computing emerge in the marketplace, the architecture of enterprise applications continues to change. Future database solutions must be designed to run in a virtual, highly scalable, cloud-computing environment. This course examines the evolution of the internet from a resource for providing static information to a hardware and software architecture providing the major resources for globally distributed applications using grid and utility computing. Topics covered include web servers, web application development methods, data stores for massively distributed applications, client side and server side scripting, and web application development techniques.

This course is offered for students interested in understanding how to get the maximum value from the vast array of technologies used to build applications using the internet. Each student will manage a virtual server and build a contemporary web application from the ground up. This course teaches the development of Web applications through extensive hands-on activities.

 ISTM 214 Advanced Programming and Business Applications

This course provides advanced programming design, development and analysis topics with an emphasis on business applications. The focus of this course is not on the programming language itself. We emphasize the ability to model real world problem and develop algorithms to solve the problem. Topics include basic data structures and algorithms such as linked list, stack and tree, graph theory, sorting and searching algorithms. Students are expected to develop clear and modular programs in real world applications including decision tree, social network, search engine and other e-business applications.

 ISTM 215 Human Computer Interaction

This Course provides an introduction to and overview of the field of the human – computer interaction (HCI). HCI is an interdisciplinary field that integrates theories and methodologies from computer science, cognitive psychology, design, and many other areas. Course readings will span current theory and practice in interface specification, design and evaluation, as well as current and classic research papers in HCI.

Note: This is not a Web-Design class.
 

 Management Information Systems - Track Electives

 ISTM 221 Management Perspectives in Electronic Commerce

The Internet and new media are reshaping industries, creating new opportunities, and challenging existing commercial models and relationships. E-Commerce and e-Business is the fastest changing segment of the world economy. In this course, you will learn about critical information technologies that provide a basis for e-commerce, and their application in a variety of sectors and industries. The course will begin with coverage of the tools, skills and business concepts that surround the emergence of e-commerce and the consequences of applying these information technologies to different commercial processes from both an operational and strategic perspective. We will also explore several of the problems surrounding e-commerce such as security, privacy, content selection and rating, intellectual property rights, authentication, encryption, acceptable use policies, and legal liabilities.

ISTM 222 IS/IT strategy and implementation

Over the last few years, the business environment has been transformed in large part by leveraging capabilities of information systems and technology.  Today’s environment is often called the information age, knowledge economy, digital businesses, digital markets, etc.  Labels aside, information systems and technology are not just back-office process enablers any more, but they are of strategic importance to any business.  That is even more so as businesses become global.  To be ready to meet the challenges of this business environment, this course provides the necessary breadth and depth of knowledge needed to develop IS/IT strategies that are aligned with the business strategies, and approaches to implement those IS/IT strategies.

ISTM 223 Technology Entrepreneurship

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Insight into the process of innovation­­-entrepreneurship used to launch and build new ventures based on information technology and technology more broadly. Organizing for innovation, raising venture capital, wealth creation, managing the small technology-based venture, marketing of technology products and services, intellectual property considerations. Case studies of actual companies involved in recent technology ventures. Opportunity to develop a new venture proposal for  technology-based ventures in group projects.

ISTM 224 Management of Technology and Innovation

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Business, technological, economic, and political factors that influence the development and deployment of new technology products, processes and services. Emerging technologies and the birth of new industries. Management concepts and practices useful in managing technology and enhancing corporate innovation, corporate organizational alternatives and new management approaches. Achieving competitive advantage through technology.

ISTM 225 Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise Architecture (EA) is a conceptual tool that assists organizations with the understanding of their own information resources structure and it support for the organization’s objectives. EA provides a map of the enterprise and is a route planner for technological and organizational change.  This course focuses on the concept of enterprise information technology architecture from a technical and management perspective.  It provides the fundamental competencies underlying enterprise architecture as a comprehensive framework used to manage and align an organization's Information Technology (IT) assets, people, operations, and projects with the organization’s operational characteristics.  The course covers specific methodologies, models, technologies, and standards involved in the planning and managing or organizational IT.  Intended for students who are oriented towards technology management, the course content delves into specific functions of enterprise architects such as extracting requirements, modeling business processes, and decomposing organizational IT assets.  Specifically the course will cover service oriented architectures, performance reference models, configuration management and system development life cycles (SDLC), tiered application architectures, and methodologies for integrating technical architecture with an organizational capital investment and planning control, and project management.

ISTM 298 Directed Readings and Research

Approved independent study with faculty guidance, in Information Systems Technology.

All courses and programs are approved through the regular University procedure authorized by the Board of Trustees of the University and the Charter granted by the Congress of the United States. The University reserves the right to withdraw any course announced and to make program modifications when necessary. 

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