Program: Information Systems, M.S. - San Diego State University

Apr 03, 2025

2023/2024 University Catalog

(Major Code: 07021) (SIMS Code: 222335)

General Information

The objective of the Master of Science degree in information systems is to prepare students to take a senior position associated with the information systems field across all private industries and public sectors. With the broadening spectrum of the information systems field and subsequent rich set of career opportunities, there is an ongoing need to educate students so that they can take leadership positions in both established and emerging fields of information systems. To serve the student and industry needs effectively, the program is designed to balance management knowledge of business and technology, general technical knowledge in information systems, and domain knowledge in the special area selected by the student. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be competent in leading organizations in the evaluation and adoption of information systems and technologies for strategic advantage as well as in bridging the cultural and communication gaps that often exist between information systems and business function professionals.

Admission to the Degree Curriculum

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing and the general requirements for master’s degrees as described in Admission and Registration , the student must have satisfactorily completed equivalents of the following courses as prerequisites:

B A 640 - Financial Reporting and Analysis Units: 2
B A 642 - Statistical Analysis Units: 2
B A 644 - Operations and Supply Chain Management Units: 2
The requirement to complete individual foundations core courses B A 640 , B A 642 , and B A 644 may be waived by the graduate adviser in the Management Information Systems department. Waivers are determined by evaluating prior course content, institution at which courses were taken, grades received, and time since courses were taken.

Notice of Admission

Notice of admission with classified graduate standing will be sent to the student upon the recommendation of the Fowler College of Business and the approval of the dean of the College of Graduate Studies.

Advancement to Candidacy

All students must satisfy the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees .

Students concurrently enrolled in deficiency coursework may be given permission to take the comprehensive examination prior to actual completion of all coursework. However, comprehensive examinations will not be evaluated and results will not be reported to the College of Graduate Studies until all deficiency coursework has been successfully completed. This may delay graduation.

Specific Requirements

In addition to meeting the requirements for classified graduate standing as described above and the general requirements for master’s degrees as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , the student must complete a graduate program of at least 30 approved units including at least 21 units in 600- and 700-numbered courses. Up to nine units of coursework may be accepted as transfer credit. Not more than a total of three units in courses MIS 797 - Research and MIS 798 - Special Study , may be accepted for credit toward the degree. With approval of the graduate adviser, a substitute course may be allowed in place of a required course after reviewing student credentials.

Required Core Courses

IS Technology

Nine units selected from the following courses:

MIS 686 - Enterprise Database Management Units: 3
MIS 687 - Secure Enterprise Networking and Mobile Technologies Units: 3
MIS 691 - Decision Support Systems Units: 3
MIS 695 - Business Systems Analysis and Design Units: 3
MIS 697 - Project Planning and Development Units: 3
MIS 752 - Seminar in Supply Chain and Enterprise Resource Planning Units: 3

IS Management and Analytics

Nine units selected from the following courses:

MIS 688 - Information Systems and Strategies in Organizations Units: 3
MIS 748 - Time Series Analysis for Business Forecasting Units: 3
MIS 649 - Business Analytics Units: 3
also listed as
B A 649 - Business Analytics Units: 3
MIS 750 - Strategic Project Management Units: 3
MIS 755 - Information Systems Security Management Units: 3

Career Track

Students select a career track and courses with the approval of the graduate adviser. Nine units selected from courses listed under IS Technology or IS Management and Analytics above that were not taken as part of those required units and the following courses:

MIS 515 - Object-Oriented Programming for Business Applications Units: 3
MIS 585 - Fundamentals of Cybersecurity Management Units: 3
MIS 720 - Electronic Business and Big Data Infrastructures Units: 3
MIS 691 - Decision Support Systems Units: 3
MIS 705 - Communication Strategies Units: 3
MIS 744 - Seminar in Lean Six Sigma Units: 3
MIS 753 - Global Supply Chain Analytics Units: 3
MIS 754 - Seminar in Operations Strategy Units: 3
CS 514 - Database Theory and Implementation Units: 3
GEOG 582 - GIS Programming with Python Units: 3
GEOG 594 - Big Data Science and Analytics Platforms Units: 3
LING 572 - Python Scripting for Social Science Units: 3
LING 583 - Statistical Methods in Text Analysis Units: 3
P H 627 - Advanced Statistical Methods in Public Health Units: 3

Complete a Culminating Experience

Three units selected from the following courses:

MIS 790 - Culminating Experience in Management Information Systems Units: 3
or
B A 799A - Thesis Units: 3