Curriculum
The program consists of 45 credits (15 courses) and is organized in 10-week quarters. Students entering the program need a basic foundation of knowledge related to information systems to support the advanced work within the program. Click here to view the pre-requisites for entering the MSIS program. The following is a list of courses and an outline of the program:
Distribution Courses
Choose 12 credits (four courses) from a set of Information Science courses. The combination of Core Courses and Distribution Courses ensures appropriate technical content for the degree. Distribution classes not completed to fulfill the Distribution requirement may also be used as Free Electives. Click here to view a listing of Distribution Course options.
Elective Courses
Students must take nine credits of elective courses (typically three courses). These courses may be INFO courses, courses from other departments listed on the IST pre-approved electives list, or other graduate courses taken with an academic advisor’s approval.
With extensive IS work experience, students may receive a reduction in the elective course requirement of up to nine credits. In addition, other graduate credits that meet the requirements for transfer may apply against the elective courses.
Other INFO courses available as electives include:
Course Descriptions
INFO 503 — INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
Presents information systems development as a life-cycle process, incorporating problem definition, modeling and analysis, system design, implementation, evaluation, support, and maintenance. Provides an introduction to those modeling and analysis tools and techniques necessary for leveraging information and information technologies to achieve business objectives. Gives students practice in modeling information systems with respect to functions (functional decomposition) processes (dynamic modeling) and data (data-flow diagramming).
Back to course list
INFO 510 - INFO RESOURCES & SERVICES I
Presents applied information retrieval as the foundation for information services. Provides an overview of the present-day online resources and their printed counterparts. Focuses on the design and structure of tools used for answering questions and satisfying subject interests for clienteles. Emphasizes techniques for building effective strategies for searching large-scale retrieval systems, including the Internet. Gives opportunities to compare search engines and to evaluate retrievals.
Back to course list
INFO 511 – INFO RESOURCES & SERVICES II
Relates the applied information retrieval of INFO 510 to the larger conceptual structures of library and information science: literature-producing communities, the process of publication, publishing on the Internet, subject domains and form classes, systems for physical and intellectual access to literatures, problems of bibliographic control, and social and psychological factors affecting use of information services. Develops practical skills in creating resources such as abstracts, subject indexing, reviews of literatures, bibliographies, and websites.
Prerequisite: INFO 510
Back to course list
INFO 540 - PERSPECTIVES ON INFO SYSTEMS
Prerequisite: INFO 503
Examines various types of information systems and the ways in which theses systems support activities of individuals and organizations. Investigates application architectures that occur commonly in information systems. Provides an overview of knowledge domains that comprise the information systems discipline.
Back to course list
INFO 601 - COMP PROGRAM INFO PROCESS
Introduces algorithmic processes at an elementary level, including both numerical and non-numerical programming. Requires students to write programs in C.
Back to course list
INFO 603 - APPLICAT PROGRAM FOR INFO SYS
Prerequisite: INFO 601
Introduces issues in application programming via hands-on activities in a particular programming language, currently C. Assumes basic knowledge of the programming language and focuses on application techniques. Covers selected advanced language features, programming with standard libraries and off-the-shelf components, and layout for both data and control aspects of programming. Discusses issues of code design, style, standards, and techniques applicable to medium-and large-scale systems.
Back to course list
INFO 604 - OBJECT-ORIENTED PRGMG INFO SYS
Prerequisite: INFO 603
This course provides a hands-on introduction to object-oriented programming language. The language will be a class-based object-oriented programming language in common usage in industry. The class will cover classes, objects, constructors and destructors, access control, inheritance, and use of object libraries and language specific features.
Back to course list
INFO 605 — DATABASE MANAGEMENT I
Prerequisite or co-requisite: INFO 503
A first course in database management systems. Covers database design, data manipulation, and database integrity. Emphasizes concepts and techniques related to the entity-relationship model and relational database systems. Discusses normalization up to the third normal form and commercial query languages.
Back to course list
INFO 606 — DATABASE MANAGEMENT II
Prerequisites: INFO 601 or equivalent knowledge and INFO 605
Examines both traditional database systems and recent advances in database systems. Topics include formal treatment of normalization and denormalization, extended entity-relationship models, advanced query processing techniques, query optimization, physical database design and indexing, and object-oriented database systems.
Back to course list
INFO 607 — APPLIED INFORMATION AND DATABASE TECHNOLOGY
Prerequisite: INFO 606; prerequisite or co-requisite: INFO 620
Covers advanced topics in relational database systems and principles and techniques for data warehousing. Discusses the structure of database servers, advanced performance optimization techniques, advanced database programming (PL/SQL including stored procedures and triggers), parallel databases, transaction management, and database administration. Also covers design and implementation of data warehouse.
Back to course list
INFO 608 — HUMAN-COMPUTER INTERACTION
Prerequisite or co-requisite: INFO 503
Focuses on the design and evaluation of human-computer interfaces covering such topics as task analysis techniques for gathering design information, iterative design through prototyping, and formative and summative usability testing; theoretical foundations of HCI and cognitive modeling of user interactions; the integration of HCI techniques into the software development life cycle and the use of user constraints to generate new interaction designs.
Back to course list
INFO 610 - ANALY OF INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS
Prerequisite: INFO 608
This course focuses on the evaluation of human-computer interfaces covering such topics as heuristic evaluation, inspection and design reviews, cognitive walkthroughs, ethnographic observation, user testing, interviews, and questionnaires; the usability engineering lifecycle, comparison of usability evaluation methods, selection or design of appropriate methods, reporting usability evaluation findings, and the development of user interface standards and guidelines.
Back to course list
INFO 611 - DESIGN OF INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS
Prerequisite: INFO 608
Focuses on interactive sysem design methods in common use covering such topics as interactive design, iterative design, usability analysis, prototyping and evaluation, mental models, conceprual models, interaction styles, the use of guidlines; normative, descriptive, and formative approaches to work analysis; modeling user's activities, defining and validating requirements, presenting interactive system designs, abd the theoretical foundations underlying the design of interactive systems.
Back to course list
INFO 612 - KNOWLEDGE BASE SYSTEMS
Prerequisite: INFO 503
Introduces the concepts, principles, and techniques of knowledge base systems, with a focus on implementation of a working expert system. Presents the expert system development life cycle with a focus on analysis and conceptual modeling techniques.
Back to course list
INFO 613 - XML AND DATABASES
Prerequisites: INFO 604 and INFO 605
Introduces background and basics of XML and XML Schema. Focuses on storing and extracting XML data in Relational Database Systems. Covers the process of modeling real-world problems in XML. Investigates native XML database management systems. Discusses current issues in XML and XML storage research.
Back to course list
INFO 614 — DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING AND NETWORKING
Prerequisite or co-requisite: INFO 503
Presents the fundamentals of data communications, networking and distributed computing technologies. Focuses on the broad foundational coverage of key technologies as well as the key concepts in network planning, design and management. Major topics include network models, data and voice communications, local-area and wide-area technologies, IP networks and their applications, internetworking (with an emphasis on the Internet), client/server systems and distributed computing applications.
Back to course list
INFO 616 — COMPUTER-SUPPORTED COOPERATIVE WORK
Prerequisite: INFO 614; prerequisite or co-requisite: INFO 620
Examines human and technical issues and concepts of computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW). Covers topics including the ways groups work in the networked organization, intelligent workflow, various types of CSCW technology, CSCW software design and implementation issues, and future directions of this technology.
Back to course list
INFO 617 — INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEM DYNAMICS
Prerequisite or co-requisite: INFO 620
Introduces simulation, particularly of business processes, using the principles of system dynamics.
Back to course list
INFO 620 — INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
Prerequisites: INFO 605 and INFO 608
Offers an advanced treatment in systems analysis and design with special emphasis on object-oriented analysis and design techniques based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML). Discusses major modeling techniques of UML including use-case modeling, class modeling, object-interaction modeling, dynamic modeling and state diagrams and activity diagrams, subsystems developments, logical design, and physical design.
Back to course list
INFO 622 - CONTENT REPRESENTATION
Focuses on fundamental decisions in designing subject access systems and alternative approaches to indexing. Explores current issues in content representation: principles of subject analysis; natural language vs. vocabulary control; manual, computer-assisted, and automatic indexing; faceted indexing and classification systems; image indexing and retrieval; indexing and the World Wide Web. Includes evaluation of indexer consistency and indexing system performance.
Back to course list
INFO 623 — INFORMATION VISUALIZATION
Under development
Back to course list
INFO 624 - INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS
Prerequisite: INFO 503
Covers the theoretical underpinnings of information retrieval to provide a solid base for further work with retrieval systems. Emphasizes systems that involve user-computer interaction. Covers aspects of information retrieval including document selection, document description, query formulation, matching, and evaluation.
Back to course list
INFO 625 - COGNITION & INFO RETRIEVAL
Prerequisite: INFO 503
Applies cognitive processing and concept formation to the case of humans interacting with information storage and retrieval systems, including automated systems. Links theoretical models of cognitive processes to research studies that examine actual information-seeking behavior.
Back to course list
INFO 626 - LANGUAGE PROCESSING
Prerequisites: INFO 601 and INFO 605
Studies the problems and techniques of automating human language use and understanding. Introduces different annotations of human language and examines how spoken language differs from written language. Includes syntactic inference, parsing, semantic interpretation, and natural language planning, and discusses how to combine analyses of spoken language with analyses of written language.
Back to course list
INFO 627 — REQUIREMENTS ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
Prerequisite: MSSE student or, prerequisite or co-requisite: INFO 620
Provides students with an opportunity to explore and experience methodologies, tools, and techniques for eliciting, analyzing, specifying, and managing requirements in modern software development organizations. Focuses on the intersection of requirements engineering, strategic IS and business planning, and business process reengineering. Students will also learn about change management in requirements engineering context in response to a fast-paced, changing world. Upon completion of the course, each student should have new skills and insights that are immediately applicable to the performance of the requirements engineering project function.
Back to course list
INFO 628 - INFO SYS IMPLEMENTATION
Prerequisites: INFO 603 and INFO 620
Addresses issues involved in implementing an information system in the context of a real organization, including ensuring quality in the delivered system. Focuses on the detailed design, coding, test, and distribution aspects of software system implementation.
Back to course list
INFO 629 - CONCEPTS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELL
Prerequisite: INFO 620
Introduces the concepts, principles, and techniques of artificial intelligence (AI), with emphasis on its application to information systems.
Back to course list
INFO 630 — EVALUATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Prerequisite: INFO 620
Focuses on the evaluation of software and software system development. Covers a variety of methodologies, techniques, and tools for measuring both software and software development attributes in modern software development organizations. Includes both graphical approaches for representing these attributes and statistical approaches for modeling various software relationships.
Back to course list
INFO 631 - INFO TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
Prerequisite: INFO 503
Focuses on integration of information technologies from an organizational perspective. Coverage includes IT Product and service selection and evaluation, impact of emerging technologies, standards, and vendor strategies. Emphasizes financial considerations including return on investment, time cost of money, depreciation, and system life.
Back to course list
INFO 634 - DATA MINING
Prerequisites: INFO 605 and (INFO 629 or INFO 612)
This course introduces the concepts and principles of knowledge discovery in databases (KDD), with a focus on the techniques of data mining and its function in business, governmental, medical or other information-intensive environments.
Back to course list
INFO 636 — SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROCESS I
Prerequisite: MSSE student or INFO 601 and INFO 630 and INFO 638
Focuses on behaviors and activities of individuals developing software with a disciplined software engineering approach. Provides hands-on experience in which students complete programming exercises using a defined software engineering process. Requires students to plan, estimate, measure, and analyze their work, and to define, analyze, and improve development processes and create process documentation.
Back to course list
INFO 637 — SOFTWARE ENGINEERING PROCESS II
Prerequisite: INFO 636
Focuses on behaviors and activities of teams developing software with a disciplined software engineering approach. Provides hands-on experience in which students complete team activities using a defined software engineering process. Covers topics including planning and estimating for team projects, reviews and inspections, standards, software reuse, and configuration management.
Back to course list
INFO 638 — SOFTWARE PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Prerequisite: MSSE student or INFO 620
Focuses on first-line management of software system development. Covers major themes including estimation (software cost factors, estimation models, and risk management), planning (work breakdown, scheduling, staffing, resource allocation, and creation of a project plan), and execution (team building, leadership, motivation, process tracking, control, recovery, and communication within and external to the project).
Back to course list
INFO 646 — INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT
Prerequisite: INFO 620
Addresses information technology-enabled change and policy issues in the management of information systems (IS). Stresses systems development staffing and organization, technology infrastructure, project selection, justification and funding, and data. Studies the issues and their resolution in the context of an IS plan. Emphasizes communication about the issues to senior management.
Back to course list
INFO 648 - HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS
The course presents an overview of all aspects of healthcare informatics, including medical, nursing and bioinformatics. It provides an introduction to the applications of information systems in a variety of healthcare environments, including education, research and clinical settings. It includes extensive reading and critical discussion of relevant professional research literature.
Back to course list
INFO 652 - INTERNET INFO RESOURCE DSGN
Prerequisite: INFO 511
Offers a hands-on introduction to creating sophisticated websites to support users' information needs. Covers website design, implementation, and evaluation. Requires the student to establish a website, compose its text and graphic files, use scripts for interactive application, install a search engine, and create reports on usage.
Back to course list
INFO 653 - DIGITAL LIBRARIES
Prerequisite: INFO 624 or INFO 652
This course introduces research and development in the world of digital libraries. Focuses on intellectual access to digital information resources. Topics include foundations and architectures of digital libraries, searching and resource organizing, knowledge representations and discovery, metadata and standards, interfaces and information visualization, intellectual property rights and electronic publishing.
Back to course list
INFO 654 – WEB SYSTEMS AND SERVICES I
Prerequisite: INFO 604
An introduction to technologies used on the Web including programming languages, scripting languages, and mark-up languages. No prior Web development knowledge will be assumed, but extensive familiarity with Web use and basic programming ability will be assumed.
Back to course list
INFO 655 – WEB SYSTEMS AND SERVICES II
Prerequisite: INFO 604
This course will be an updated version of INFO 655 – Programming Internet Information Systems I.
Back to course list
INFO 656 – WEB SYSTEMS AND SERVICES III
Prerequisite: INFO 655
This course will be an updated version of INFO 656 – Programming Internet Information Systems II.
Back to course list
INFO 658– INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Back to course list
INFO 710 – INFORMATION FORENSICS
Back to course list
INFO 712 – INFORMATION ASSURANCE
Back to course list
INFO 714 – INFORMATION SYSTEMS AUDITING
Back to course list
INFO 782 - ISSUES IN INFORMATICS
Prerequisite: INFO 503
Examines recent developments in a selected informatics area as a case study. Focuses on research results and leading edge application if information technology in practice. Helps students prepare for success in information science and technology fields. Addresses issues and methods for maintaining technical knowledge throughout a professional career.
Back to course list
