Master of Science in Management Information Systems

Welcome to the MSMIS Program!

Information technology professionals face the challenges of providing reliable, accurate and timely information to meet the demands of society's growing dependence on information technology.

The Master of Science program in Management Information Systems (M.S.M.I.S.) at Benedictine University has been preparing professionals for rapid advances in technology, intense global competition, and more complex business environments for more than twenty years.

The M.S.M.I.S. Program is designed for professionals who understand the strategic value of information resources and the importance of managing these resources throughout an organization. Benedictine offers an innovative course of professional graduate study that integrates the body of knowledge in information technology with the student's choice of several concentrations.

Students gain an appreciation of the complexity of challenges associated with the management of information technology through group interaction, comprehensive projects, case analysis, research and active participation in the sharing of individual experience. It is through this variety of teaching methods that students are prepared to be leaders in the 21st century.

We welcome you warmly.

We wish you academic and professional success!

Information systems professionals face the challenges of providing reliable, accurate and timely information to meet the demands of society's growing dependence on information technology.

The Master of Science program in Management Information Systems (M.S. in Management Information Systems) at Benedictine University has been preparing professionals for rapid advances in technology, intense global competition and more complex business environments for more than twenty-five years.

The M.I.S. Program continues to draw upon Benedictine University's strong undergraduate computer science and computer information systems programs, as well as the strengths of established graduate interdisciplinary business and health administration programs.

The M.I.S. Program is designed for professionals who understand the strategic value of information resources and the importance of managing these resources throughout an organization. Benedictine offers an innovative course of professional graduate study that integrates the body of knowledge in information technology with the student's choice of a concentration, such as Accounting and Financial Systems, Business Administration, Health Administration, Information Systems Security, Integrated Marketing Communications, Management and Organizational Behavior, Professional Internship, and Project Management. These concentrations are not only applicable to students' professions, but are also key in broadening students' perspectives. By effectively combining management information systems with a concentration, students become technically proficient and able to address issues such as the creative and appropriate application of information technology, the effective management of information technology and the organizational and societal impacts of information technology.

The program's unique philosophy, integrative teaching methods and commitment to individual development are the basis for the professional achievements of its graduates. This approach gives students the unique opportunity to interact with the larger group of graduate students in all of Benedictine's business and health administration programs. The exposure to other students with different talents, experiences and job responsibilities is a key element in each student's development of information technology management skills.

The educational approach of the program emphasizes practical application of various business management theories and technical tools to a variety of hypothetical and real life information problems. Students gain an appreciation of the complexity of challenges associated with the management of information technology through group interaction, comprehensive projects, case analysis, research and active participation in the sharing of individual experience. It is through this variety of teaching methods that students are prepared to be leaders in the 21st century.

Learning Goals for the M.S. in Management Information Systems Program

The learning goals for the program are:

• To understand the strategic value of information resources and the importance of managing these resources throughout an organization.
• To integrate the foundational knowledge of related disciplines (information technology, business administration, management and organizational behavior, and health care) to prepare professionals to work in rapidly changing complex and global business environments.
• To emphasize practical application of various business management theories and technical tools to a variety of hypothetical and real life information problems.

The academic calendar is organized around four 10-week academic quarters. Students may be admitted for any of these quarters. It is possible to follow either a part-time or full-time program.

Many factors are weighed in assessing an applicant; there is no set admission formula and no predetermined cut-off point for test scores.

Because earning your M.S.in Management Information Systems degree requires a significant commitment, your initial advising appointment is very important. Whether you are enrolled in a certificate program, or accepted as a degree-seeking M.S. student, you must schedule an advising appointment before enrolling in your first M.I.S. class. An advising appointment provides students with important details about their curriculum sequence, establishes an academic plan for program completion, and makes students aware of essential graduate policies and M.I.S. resources. M.I.S. course prerequisites must be met for enrollment in upper level courses.

The M.S. in M.I.S. Program requires 64 quarter-hour credits, integrating 48 quarter-hour credits of core and elective M.I.S. courses with 16 quarter-hour credits of courses in one of several concentrations: Accounting and Financial Systems, Business Administration, Health Administration, Information Systems Security, Integrated Marketing Communications, Management and Organizational Behavior, Professional Internship Program, and Project Management.

The core body of knowledge in management information systems includes 28 to 32 quarter-hour credits of coursework tailored to the specific needs of the student's choice of concentration. For all concentrations, the core includes computer organization and architecture, systems analysis and design, database management systems, project management, and network planning and design. A capstone course in the strategic management of information technology is also required.

The remaining 16 to 20 quarter-hour credits of M.I.S. courses come from a wide range of elective courses. These elective topics include information technology in health care, data mining, financial information systems, electronic commerce, enterprise-wide information systems, and technology facilities management. A lecture series provides a forum for consideration of timely information technology topics. Independent study and internship opportunities are also available.

Our courses are scheduled so that a student may complete the program in two years as a full-time student (eight credit hours per quarter) or a bit longer as a part-time student.

4+1 M.S. in Management Information Systems Program

Well-qualified Benedictine University students who complete an undergraduate degree in business administration, business and economics, computer science, or computer information systems are eligible to complete the M.I.S. degree with one additional year of full-time graduate study. The full-time 4+1 Program is developed specifically for recent college graduates. Admission to the Program is not automatic and an application must be completed during the student's senior year of undergraduate coursework. M.I.S. classes are conducted evenings and weekends to meet the needs of students.

Professional Internship Program

Our full-time internship program is developed specifically for recent college graduates and offers a professional internship experience as the M.I.S. Program concentration. Students complete 64 credits in M.I.S. courses including twelve credits in internship courses. The internship experience is supervised by a faculty advisor to prepare students without significant professional career experience for their future roles and responsibilities in the workplace. Classes are conducted evenings and weekends to allow for the demands of day-time internships.

International M.S. in Management Information Systems Program

M.I.S. students can prepare to enter today's dynamic global workplace with the assurance of superior personal and intellectual development, along with important understanding of today's multi-cultural environment by taking the opportunity to complete one or more courses at one of our partner universities in China or Vietnam.

Concentrations:

Accounting and Financial Systems

This concentration addresses the financial information needs of organizations that expect meaningful, timely, and accessible financial information. Furthermore, these organizations expect appropriate responses to privacy, security, regulatory, and legal requirements. This concentration is most appropriate for those students who currently hold or expect to hold accounting or financial management positions or for those students in information systems areas with significant interaction with the financial functions of their organizations.

Business Administration

This concentration provides a broad business background with exposure to major business functions, such as accounting, finance, marketing, operations and organizational behavior. It is most appropriate for those students who have or expect to have significant interaction with all functions within an organization. It is also appropriate for those students who are considering an M.B.A. degree as a dual degree.

Health Administration

This concentration lays a foundation for managing information technology in the administration of health care services. It is important for information systems professionals and health care professionals to effectively manage and apply information technologies specific to health care. This concentration is also appropriate for students considering an M.P.H. degree as a dual degree.

Information Systems Security

Business and consumers increasingly rely on Internet and Web services. Needs exist for system security professionals who can help design, configure, implement, manage, support and secure computer systems. Students with a background in accounting may take advanced courses in forensic accounting and auditing offered by the M.B.A. and M.S.A. Programs. This concentration is designed to explore the challenges and possible solutions to information systems security.

Integrated Marketing Communications

Integrated marketing communications (IMC) is a customer-centric, data-driven approach to planning and communicating with consumers. IMC is the management of all organizational communications to build positive relationships with customers and other stakeholders, stressing marketing to the individual by understanding their needs, motivations, attitudes, and behaviors. IMC emphasizes internet based marketing communication tools along with the traditional communication tools used by marketing professionals.

Management and Organizational Behavior

The Management and Organizational Behavior concentration emphasizes organizational behavior, organization development and human resource skills critical in creating high performance work teams to design, construct and implement information technology projects successfully. It is most appropriate for those students who wish to emphasize people-related skills. It is also appropriate for those students who are considering a dual degree with Management and Organizational Behavior.

Professional Internship Program

Our full-time internship program is developed specifically for recent college graduates and offers a professional internship experience as the M.I.S. concentration. Students complete 64 credits in M.I.S. courses including twelve credits in internship courses. The goal of the internship experience is to prepare students without significant professional career experience for their future roles and responsibilities in the workplace.

Project Management

Project management is one of the world's most in-demand skill sets spanning all industries and sectors of business. Project management leadership is a highly sought-after skill as intense global competition demands that new projects and business development be completed on time and within budget. Courses offer the student an understanding of organizational behavior as it relates to the individual, effective team building skills, conflict management and resolution, as well as skills to effectively manage the financial side of projects.

Certificates

Sixteen credit hours are required to earn any certificate and all courses may be applied toward the M.S. degree in M.I.S. Courses are offered throughout the year so that students may enroll in a timely fashion.

Business Analyst (16 credit hours)

This certificate program provides students with an understanding of business issues and information technology solutions. A business or systems analyst is a bridge between these areas, working with both sides to propose changes to processes and systems to meet the needs of the business.

Business Analytics (16 credit hours)

Business Analytics refers to the skills, technologies, applications and practices for iterative exploration and investigation of past business performance to gain insight and drive business planning.  It focuses on developing new insights and understanding of business performance based on data and statistical methods.

Electronic Commerce (16 credits)

This certificate program provides students with an understanding of electronic commerce.

Health Information Systems Management (16 credits)

This certificate program provides students with an understanding of the role of information technology in health care.

Information Systems Management Certificate (16 credits)

This certificate program provides students with a foundation in the information technology field.

Information Systems Management (16 credits)

Business and consumers increasingly rely on the Internet and Web services. Needs exist for system security professionals who can help design, configure, implement, manage, support, and secure computer systems. This certificate is designed to explore the challenges and possible solutions to information systems security.

Project Management (16 credits)

Managers and those in coordination and peer leadership roles will find the project management certificate an important addition to their professional credentials. Project management deals with how to initiate, plan, make financial decisions on, control, and close projects, within budget and on schedule. Topics in organization behavior, financial decision making, group dynamics, and team building complete the certificate.

Further information about concentrations can be found in the Graduate Catalog.

Full-Time Faculty

Lecturers and Senior Lecturers