This is the preliminary (or launch) version of the 2020-21 VCU Bulletin. This edition includes all programs and courses approved by the publication deadline; however we may receive notification of additional program approvals after the launch. The final edition and full PDF version will include these updates and will be available in August prior to the beginning of the fall semester.
Program accreditation
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Program goal
The Master of Science in Information Systems program is designed to prepare students for specialized roles using information systems to support organizations. The program is intended to provide a graduate-level, business-technology-oriented curriculum that focuses on the design and development of information systems to solve real-world problems. Graduates of the program are expected to be able to take significant roles in planning, organizing, managing, designing, configuring and implementing systems using state-of-the-art technologies within organizations.
Student learning outcomes
- Graduates should be capable of communicating and networking effectively within their profession and within their organizations, serving the profession by applying this knowledge broadly and maintaining key technical expertise in order to sustain required levels of competitiveness.
- Graduates must have an understanding of information technology as it applies to business contexts and the skill to apply this technology effectively in specific circumstances.
- Graduates must be able to develop efficient and effective IS solutions using appropriate technologies that can deliver competitive advantages to organizations.
- Graduates must be able to develop and incorporate changes in the planning and management of IS resources based on an increased understanding of the dynamic changes in the organization, IS and global environments.
VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs
The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.
It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.
Degree candidacy requirements
A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.
Graduation requirements
As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.
Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.
Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.
Other information
School of Business policies and procedures for graduate students are available on the school’s website.
Apply online at graduate.admissions.vcu.edu.
Admission requirements
| Degree: | Semester(s) of entry: | Deadline dates: | Test requirements: |
|---|---|---|---|
| M.S. | Fall | Jul 1 | GMAT or GRE |
| Spring | Nov 1 | ||
| Summer | Mar 1 |
In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, applicants to the master’s program in business administration must submit an up-to-date resume.
Degree requirements
Students applying to the Master of Science in Information Systems must show evidence of competence in selected prerequisite areas of information systems including: application programming, systems analysis and design, database, telecommunications and hardware/software. Evidence of this competence may include formal course work, comparable training within a work environment or significant, relevant and recent work experience in the field. Students enrolled as majors in the program who do not have a formal background or equivalent training must take the appropriate undergraduate courses to satisfy the prerequisites prior to taking master’s program courses. Students without an accredited bachelor’s degree or post-baccalaureate certificate in fields such as computer science or information systems will likely need to complete several undergraduate prerequisite courses. Prerequisites are determined by the faculty adviser at the time of admission.
In addition to the VCU Graduate School graduation requirements, students who do not have a business degree must complete a minimum of two 500-level foundation courses (6 credit hours). Foundation courses may be waived for students who present satisfactory equivalent preparation at either the undergraduate or graduate level. Students who are required to take foundation courses may do so after admission. The foundation courses required will vary depending upon the student’s background, career interests and the chosen area of specialization. Students applying to the program should consult with the master’s program adviser to determine the foundation courses required for a particular area.
Prerequisite undergraduate courses
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| INFO 202 | Introduction to E-business Technologies | 3 |
| INFO 300 | Information Technology Infrastructure | 3 |
| INFO 350 | Programming | 3 |
| INFO 361 | Systems Analysis and Design | 3 |
| INFO 364 | Database Systems | 3 |
| INFO 370 | Fundamentals of Data Communications | 3 |
| MATH 211 | Mathematical Structures | 3 |
| A course in calculus | ||
Curriculum requirements
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation courses | ||
| 0-6 credits; may be waived for demonstrated equivalence. | ||
| Fundamentals of Accounting | ||
or ECON 500 | ||
or FIRE 520 | Financial Concepts of Management | |
| Statistical Fundamentals for Business Management | ||
| Core courses | ||
| INFO 610 | Analysis and Design of Database Systems | 3 |
| INFO 620 | Data Communications | 3 |
| INFO 630 | Systems Development | 3 |
| INFO 640 | Information Systems Management | 3 |
| Information system electives | ||
| Select four to six of the following: | 12-18 | |
| Ethical, Social and Legal Issues in Computer and Information Systems Security | ||
| Data-centric Re-engineering Analysis/Planning | ||
| Data Re-engineering | ||
| Data Mining | ||
| Data Warehousing | ||
| Business Process Re-engineering | ||
| Strategic Information Systems Planning | ||
| Decision Support and Intelligent Systems | ||
| Information Technology Project Management | ||
| Principles of Computer and Information Systems Security | ||
| Security Policy Formulation and Implementation | ||
| Securing the Internet of Things | ||
| Information Systems for Business Intelligence | ||
| Topics in Information Systems | ||
| Field Project in Information Systems | ||
| Guided Study in Information Systems | ||
| Other approved electives | ||
| A maximum of two non-INFO electives may be completed from the preapproved list below. | 0-6 | |
| SAP ERP and Supply Chain Management | ||
| Statistical Analysis and Modeling | ||
| Applied Multivariate Methods | ||
| Business Data Analytics | ||
| Developing and Implementing Forecasting Methods for Business | ||
| Required concentration courses | ||
| FMBA 614 | Health Care Management I: National Perspective | 3 |
| FMBA 615 | Health Care Management II: Employer's Perspective | 3 |
| FMBA 616 | Health Care Management III: Industry Perspective | 3 |
The minimum total of graduate credit hours required for this degree is 39 (45 if all foundation courses are required).
Contact
Austen Gouldman
gouldmana@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Additional contact
Graduate Studies in Business
gsib@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4622
Program website: business.vcu.edu/graduate-studies/ms-in-information-systems