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 The George Washington University Master of Science in Information Systems Technology 
   

MS-IST > MIS, ISD, ISPM > Curriculum

MIS, ISD, ISPM Graduate Program Curriculum

   

Additional Information

 

   
 
Key Dates

Complete
Academic Calendar

Course Schedules

Main Campus,
Washington, DC,
(MIS, ISD, ISPM)

Virginia Campus, Ashburn
(ISD, MIS)

  Graduate Education Center, Arlington (MIS)
                                                  

 

Curriculum

Note: Except as otherwise indicated, all ISTM and DNSC courses were formerly known as MGT courses with the same numeric course number and course title. For example, "ISTM 284, Database Systems" was formerly called "MGT 284, Database Systems." ISTM 290, Intro to Tech Proj Mgt, formerly known as MGT 231, Project Management, is an exception to the new course number/name system. Courses not designated as electives are required and shown against a blue background in the table below.

 CIO University Partner   

Management Information Systems
(MIS)

Information Systems Development
(ISD)

Information Systems Project Management
(ISPM)

Common Required Courses

ISTM 280
Information Systems Development and Applications

ISTM 282
Telecommunications and Enterprise Networks

ISTM 284
Database Systems

Capstone
ISTM 287
Design of On-line Information Systems

MIS Additional Required Courses

Choose four
technical electives:
ISTM 241
ISTM 248

ISTM 277
ISTM 283
ISTM 285
ISTM 286
ISTM 289
 ISTM 290**

** Special Topics to be determined

- and -

Choose two
recommended electives:
MGT 210
MGT 215
ISTM 230
ISTM 232
ISTM 235
ISTM 239

ISTM 249
ISTM 272
ISTM 274
 ISTM 290
*
MGT 298

* "Intro to Tech Project Management"

 
Other electives may be considered by your faculty advisor.
 

ISPM Additional Required Courses

MGT 201

MGT 210

Virginia Campus and Arlington
ISTM
226

- or -
Main Campus
DNSC
226

MGT 215

Virginia Campus and Arlington
ISTM 224

- or -
Main Campus
DNSC 224

ISTM 271

ISTM 230

ISTM 290*
*
Only the course titled "Intro to Tech Project Management" satisfies this requirement.

ISTM 290*
*
Only the course titled "Intro to Tech Project Management" satisfies this requirement.

Choose two
electives:
MGT 210
MGT 215
ISTM 230
ISTM 232
ISTM 235
ISTM 239

ISTM 241
ISTM 248

ISTM 272
ISTM 274
ISTM 277
DNSC 279
ISTM 283
ISTM 285
ISTM 289
MGT 298

Note: Choose ISTM 272 and ISTM 274 to qualify for CIO University certification.

Choose two
electives:
ISTM 232
ISTM 235
ISTM 239
ISTM 248

ISTM 277
ISTM 283
ISTM 285
ISTM 289
 ISTM 290**

** Special Topics to be determined

Management Information Systems
(MIS)

Information Systems Development
(ISD)

Information Systems Project Management
(ISPM)

 
Technology Core, including Capstone Course

ISTM 280 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 282 Telecommunications and Enterprise Networks

Telecommunications and networking as applied to enterprises in the commercial and public sector. A survey of the technologies and applications of telecommunications systems. Emphasis on selection of the proper technologies and configurations necessary to support business applications.

ISTM 284 Database Systems

Use of the latest techniques for developing and implementing an effective database system. Topics include database organization, creation and maintenance; evaluation criteria; standardization of database systems; and analysis of the state-of-the art in database development.

ISTM 287 Design of Online Information Systems (Capstone Project)

Capstone project course. Analysis, design, and implementation of on-line information systems. Systems analysis, database design, dialog design, response time and reliability calculations, system testing, and project planning.

Additional Required Courses and Electives

MGT 201 Organization and Management

Integrative approach to organizational concepts, management principles, philosophy, and theory in public and private organizations. Evolution of management thought, functions, and practices, stressing present management approaches, general systems theory, and contingency management.

MGT 210 Individual and Group Dynamics in Organizations

The course is designed to improve theoretical and personal understanding of the roles of interpersonal and group dynamics in management. Focus on individual and group behavior in various organizational settings.

MGT 215 Conflict Management: Theory, Concepts, and Methods

Exploration of various approaches to the causes of conflict and its resolution. Students study and experience ways to make conflict a creative rather than a destructive experience. Methods of conflict resolution are practiced. Conflict is explored at the micro (person-to-person) and macro (system-to-system) levels.

ISTM 224 Executive Decision Making (Virginia Campus and Graduate Education Center, Arlington)
DNSC 224 Executive Decision Making (Main Campus)

Concepts and methods for making complex decisions in both business and government; identifying criteria and alternatives, setting priorities, allocating resources, strategic planning, resolving conflict, and making group decisions.
 

ISTM 226 Decision Support Systems (Virginia Campus and Graduate Education Center, Arlington)
DNSC 226 Decision Support Systems (Main Campus)

Framework, processes, and technical components for building decision support systems dealing with unstructured and under-specified problems from managerial and organizational perspectives. Construction and exploration of decision support systems models.

ISTM 230 Management of Technology Innovation

Competitive, economic, and political factors that influence technology innovation in public and private organizations, domestically and internationally. Management of research and development: project selection, resource allocation, technology planning, management of development projects. Quality, manufacturing, and intellectual property issues.

ISTM 232 International Science and Technology

Technology transfer among advanced countries and LDC's. Comparative science and technology policies and capabilities of countries. Technology basis for international trade, licensing, patenting, and joint ventures. Global transfer of military technologies and export controls. Technology in economic development.

ISTM 235 Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The process of innovation and entrepreneurship used to launch and build new ventures. Organizing for innovation, raising venture capital, tax considerations, managing the small technology-based venture, marketing technology. Case studies of recent low- to high-tech ventures. Developing a business plan for a technology-based venture.

ISTM 239 Seminar: Competitiveness and Technology

Capstone course integrating the field of management of science, technology, and innovation. Commercialization of technology in the private sector and the impact on competitiveness. Implementation of technology in the public sector. Technology development, from new product concept to utilization.

ISTM 248 Data Warehouse Design

Key concepts in data warehouse design, including measurement of business processes, dimensional modeling, theories of data warehouse development, and methods of exploiting the data warehouse. Differences between relational databases and data warehouses.

ISTM 241 Information Systems Security

An advanced course in information technology, emphasizing the philosophies principles, and practices of security management in and impact of privacy legislation on computer-based systems. Risk assessment, state-of-the-art measures, trends in the information security field, and roles of the various levels of management and technological staff.

ISTM 249 Seminar in Hypermedia Information Systems

Current trends and in the design and implementation of hypermedia information systems. Integration of database, text, image, voice, video, and knowledge in information systems. The course will also explore how the same technologies can be used to produce multimedia presentations for both CD-ROM and web distribution.

ISTM 271 Principles of Management Information Systems

Integration of management, information, and systems concepts into a unified framework. Management information systems development, design, implementation and evaluation strategies

ISTM 272 Information Resource Management

An overview of the use of information by organizations and the strategies, policies, and technology used to manage information resources and security. Computer networking and national and international telecommunications are examined within the technical, legal, economic, and social environments of systems operations.

ISTM 274 Survey of Advanced IT Technologies

Recent examples of new technologies are analyzed, and strategies of technology planning, project selection and resource allocation are discussed from these perspectives.

ISTM 277 Design and Evaluation of User Interfaces

Effective user interfaces are one of the key success factors of an effective information system. This course addresses both the design and evaluation of user interfaces. Focusing on, but not limited to, web based systems, common tools such as VBScript and JavaScript are employed to demonstrate the concepts presented. Methods such as GOMS, cognitive walkthroughs and participatory design are used for both design and evaluation of interfaces

DNSC 279 Special Topics in Neural Networks

Fundamental concepts of neural networks and its use in business applications such as data mining finance telecommunications, network management, and data security. The relationship between neural networks and expert systems is examined.

ISTM 283 Higher Level Languages

The structure and organization of high-level languages in relation to the systems development process. Object-oriented design and programming using the JAVA programming language. Programming assignments demonstrate the concepts presented.

ISTM 285 Database and Intelligent Systems

Analysis and solution of complex information problems through commercially available database and intelligent systems; development of evaluation methodology, comparison of implementation strategies. Hands-on experience with major commercial systems.

ISTM 289 Web Technologies

Conceptualization, design, and development of business applications using the World Wide Web and emerging web technologies.

*ISTM 290 Special Topics:  Introduction to Tech Project Management

Practical examination of how projects can be managed from start to finish, including specific emphasis on planning and controlling to avoid common pitfalls. Identifying needs, defining requirements, project costing, scheduling, resource allocation, and project politics. Configuration management, microcomputer applications.

**ISTM 290 Special Topics

TBA

MGT 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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