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.

Admissions

For admission requirements, please refer to Chapter 2. Admission correspondence also may be sent via email to msadmissions@scu.edu.

• On-campus Admissions intake once a year (Fall Quarter; September start)
• Online Admissions intake twice a year (Fall and Spring Quarter; September or March start)

Applicants also must have completed the following areas before enrollment:

• One (1) course in college level in a programming language

Program Outline

The MSIS curriculum consists of 48 units across eight core courses (26 units), one experiential learning course (6 units), and 10 additional units of electives.  

Students should refer to Chapter 5 regarding additional academic information policies. For course descriptions and prerequisites for core and electives, please refer to Chapter 8.

Curriculum Clusters

1. Core Business Knowledge (2 courses)

Gives students an understanding of the context in which information systems operate. Students acquire a basic knowledge of business and organizational requirements that enables them to understand how information systems are designed and successfully implemented. Students must complete all of the following courses:

• ACTG 2608 - Financial and Managerial Accounting ( 2 units)
• MSIS 2604 - Information Systems Strategy & Management (4 units)

2. Core Information Systems Knowledge (6  courses) Teaches students about the technical aspects of information systems design and the strategic issues around the use of such systems. Students must complete all of the following courses:

• MSIS 2601 - Object-Oriented Software Design (4 units)
• MSIS 2602 - Information Systems Analysis & Design - Systems Modeling(4 units)
• MSIS 2603 - Database Management Systems -  Fundamentals of SQL (2 units)
• MSIS 2606 - Software Project Management (4 units)
• MSIS 2607 - Data Analytics - Python (4)
• MSIS 2613 - Database Management Systems - Design, Development and Administration (2 units)

3. Specialization

Offers a variety of electives to help students develop capabilities in a specific area. An example of available electives:

• MSIS 2621-  Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing (4 units)
• MSIS 2622 - ERP Systems (4 units)
• MSIS 2627 - Big Data Modeling and Analytics (4 units)
• MSIS 2628 - Applied Cloud Computing (2 units)
• MSIS 2629 - Dashboards (2 units)
• MSIS 2630 - Web Programming (2 units)
• MSIS 2631 - Machine Learning (4 units)
• MSIS 2634 - Natural Language Processing  (2 units)
• MSIS 2651 - Mobile Programming (2 units)
• MSIS 2636 - Deep Learning (2 units)
• MSIS 2637 - Reinforcement Learning (2 units)
• MSIS 2638 - Cloud Computing Architectures (4 units)
• MSIS 2639 - Data Visualization (2 units)^[a]
• MSIS 2650 - Artificial Intelligence (4 units)
• MSIS 2651 - Mobile Programming (2 units)

Below are additional information system and analytical courses available through the Evening MBA program curriculum.

• ACTG 3701 - Accounting for Financial Planning and Analysis
• ACTG 3702 - Business Planning and Analytics
• OMIS 3385 - Supply Chain Analytics
• OMIS 3387 - Global Supply Chain Management
• OMIS 3388 - Supply Chain Technology
• OMIS 2805 - How Engineers, Business people, and Lawyers Communicate with Each Other (2 units)^[b]

4. Experiential Learning (10 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 a Practicum or Capstone. Both experiential learning projects are worth six units in total and are completed in two quarters.  See Chapter 5 for more information.

• MSIS 2640 - Industry Practicum I (2 units)
• MSIS 2642 - Industry Practicum II (4 units)
• MSIS 2645 - Capstone Design I (2 units)
• MSIS 2646 - Capstone Design II (4 units)

International students must enroll in an internship course if they would like to participate in a CPT. See Chapter 5 for more information and requirements.

• IDIS 3797 - Internship (1 unit)
• IDIS 3798 - Internship II (1 unit)
• IDIS 3798- Internship III (1 unit)

In addition, all MSIS students are allotted to take one graduate-level course outside of their program, provided that they have met the prerequisites, given that space is available and the Faculty Director of the Program has approved it. Graduate-level courses must be selected only from within the Leavey School of Business, and this opportunity is allowed only once during the student's academic program. Enrollment is not guaranteed.