Master of Science in Information Systems

The Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program at Santa Clara University is designed to equip leaders in information technology management with the tools to harness the power of information. Created by the same outstanding faculty that provides the premier MBA education for Silicon Valley, the MSIS degree focuses on the application of technology for solving real organizational and business problems. Much of the course work is project-based, connecting learning to actual challenges in the field. Students learn how to integrate emerging technologies into organizational practices and to successfully manage complex, technically centered change processes.

Program requirements include classes that may include students from the MBA and other M.S. programs, with instruction provided by the same faculty as the MBA program and under the same AACSB accreditation.

Admissions

For admission information, refer to Chapter 2.

Program Outline

The MSIS curriculum consists of 48 units across nine core courses (30 units), one experiential learning course (6 units), and 12 additional units of electives. Students should plan to spend a minimum of 2 hours per unit each week on coursework outside of class. For example, a 2-unit course requires about 4 hours of study per week, while a 4-unit course requires about 8 hours.

For additional academic information policies, refer to Chapter 5.

For course descriptions and prerequisites for core and electives, refer to Chapter 8.

Curriculum Clusters

1. Core Business Knowledge (2 courses)

These courses provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the role of information systems in organizations, from both financial and strategic perspectives. Mastery of financial and managerial accounting principles allows our students to analyze the financial impact of information systems initiatives and make informed decisions, while knowledge of information systems strategy and management equips them to lead and manage information systems projects effectively, aligning technology solutions with organizational objectives.

ACTG 2608 Financial & Managerial Accounting (2 units)
ISBA 2409 Information Systems Strategy and Management (4 units)

2. Core Information Systems Knowledge (7 courses)

These courses provide students with a comprehensive skill set in software development, systems analysis and design, database management, project management, data analytics, and natural language processing. It Teaches our students about the technical aspects of information systems design and the strategic issues around the use of such systems.

ISBA 2401 Data Analytics with Python (4 units)
ISBA 2402 Database Management Systems - Fundamentals of SQL (2 units)
ISBA 2406 Object Oriented Software Design Analysis & Programming (4 units)
ISBA 2407 Database Analysis, Design and Management (2 units)
ISBA 2408 Software Project Management (4 units)
ISBA 2410 Information Systems Analysis and Design - Systems Modeling (4 units)
ISBA 2411 Natural Language Processing (4 units)

3. Experiential Learning (6 units)

Explores how information systems are designed and used, and how broad social and ethical questions must be considered in thinking about the use of such systems. Students must complete a major application project as part of this cluster. Students must complete either a Practicum or Capstone project to fulfill the requirement. Both experiential learning projects are worth six units in total and are completed in two quarters. For further details, refer to Chapter 5.

ISBA 2700 Industry Practicum I (2 units)
ISBA 2701 Industry Practicum II (4 units)
or

ISBA 2702 Capstone Design I (2 units)
ISBA 2703 Capstone Design II (4 units)

Required Workshops for Practicum & Capstone

Team Dynamics and Effective Communication (Winter quarter)
Presentation (Spring quarter)

**Titles for workshops & term it is offer is subject to change**

4. Electives (12 units)

The program offers a range of electives designed to help students build expertise in specific areas. Please note that not all electives will be available every academic year. Some examples of electives that may be offered include:

ISBA 2403 Machines Learning w/ Python (4 units)
ISBA 2404 Dashboards w/ Tableau (2 units)
ISBA 2412 Data Visualization (2 units)
ISBA 2413 Big Data Modeling and Analytics (4 units)
ISBA 2414 Deep Learning (2 units)
ISBA 2415 Reinforcement Learning (2 units)
ISBA 2416 Applied Cloud Computing (2 units)
ISBA 2417 Cloud Computing Architectures (4 units)
ISBA 2419 Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing (4 units)
ISBA 2420 Web Programming (2 units)
ISBA 2421 Generative AI for the Enterprise (2 units)
ISBA 2422 Data Structures and Algorithms (2 units)
ISBA 2423 Foundations of Cybersecurity (4 units)
ISBA 2424 Mobile Programming (2 units)
ISBA 2425 Enterprise Systems and Analytics (4 units)
ISBA 2426 Artificial Intelligence (4 units)
ISBA 2427 Information Technology: Ethics and Public Policy (2 units?)
ISBA 2431 Supply Chain Management (4 units)
ISBA 2432 Global Supply Chain Management (2 units)
ISBA 2433 Supply Chain Analytics (2 units)
ISBA 2435 Supply Chain Technology (2 units)
IDIS 3694 How Engineers, Business people, and Lawyers Communicate with Each Other (2 units)

International students are required to register for an internship course if they wish to engage in Curricular Practical Training (CPT). For further details and prerequisites, refer to Chapter 5.

IDIS 3797 Internship (1 unit)
IDIS 3798 Internship II (1 unit)

GBP Anywhere Program

The GBP Anywhere Program provides MBA and MS students with greater flexibility by allowing them to enroll in elective courses across different Graduate Business Programs, whether in-person or online.

International students may enroll in one online course per quarter as long as they are registered for a minimum of 6 units of in-person classes. This option is not available during their first quarter of attendance and does not apply to core courses required by the program. In their final quarter, international students must be enrolled in at least one on-campus course and cannot take only online courses. F-1 visa holders are also required to be enrolled in a minimum of 8 units each quarter. For the most current information, or if you have any questions or concerns about online course eligibility, registration requirements, or visa implications, please consult your academic advisor and the International Student Scholars (ISS) office.

Furthermore, MSBA students are granted the opportunity to enroll in one graduate-level course outside of their program, subject to meeting prerequisites, availability of space, and approval from the Faculty Director of the Program. These courses must be at the graduate level and chosen exclusively from within the Leavey School of Business. This option is available only once during the student's academic program, and enrollment is contingent upon approval and availability.

For additional information, refer to the GBP Anywhere Programs Section in Chapter 6.

Career Requirement

To support your career growth and professional advancement, all MS graduate programs at SCU require students to meet with a career coach at least once as part of the graduation requirements. This engagement is designed to help you foster a relationship with the Graduate Business Career Management Service Team early on in your program, allowing you to take full advantage of the career resources available to you both during and after your time at SCU.

These resources include workshops, career coaching sessions, resume reviews, and career reflections. We want to ensure that you’re well-prepared for your future career and that you have the tools to navigate the job market successfully, both as a student and as an alumni. While you're enrolled, you can complete these requirements at your convenience, but they must be finished by your final quarter to be eligible for graduation.

Students will also be required to submit an updated resume to the Career Team during the practicum project.