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REQUIREMENTS FOR MASTERS DEGREE WITH AN
INFORMATION SYSTEMS (ISC) SPECIALIZATION:

 
Students must satisfactorily complete any prescribed CIS Graduate Professional Component courses, a comprehensive examination, and thirty-six (36) graduate credit hours for the Master of Science degree with Information Systems specialization. The thirty-six (36) graduate hours consist of twelve (12) hours of CORE courses, twelve (12) hours of REQUIRED courses, and twelve (12) semester hours of approved elective courses according to the selected CONCENTRATION option as follows:
1. CORE COURSES (12 semester hours):
All core courses must be completed with a minimum grade of “B”.
ISC 551 Human/Computer  Interface Design
ISC 560 Info Systems Analysis and Design
ISC 561 Info Systems Database Mgt
ISC 565 Info Systems Project and  Change Mgt
2. REQUIRED COURSES (12 semester hours):
CIS 518 CIS Research  Methodologies
ISC 545 Management Information Systems
ISC 559 Applications Design and Implementation
ISC 567 IS Function Integration
3. CONCENTRATIONS (12 semester hours):
A. THESIS CONCENTRATION
Acceptance to the THESIS CONCENTRATION may occur after successfully completing each Information Systems core course with a minimum grade of "B" and CIS 518 with a minimum grade of "C". Students must enroll in CIS 595 (Computer and Information Sciences Research Development) in the semester during which they defend their thesis prospectus. The thesis will normally be completed in one semester while enrolled in CIS 599 (Computer and Information Sciences Thesis). Students must enroll in CIS 599 in the semester during which they defend and/or submit their thesis. A grade of "C" in CIS 595 will result in dismissal from the THESIS CONCENTRATION to the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION. A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of Special Permission courses may be applied to the degree for the THESIS CONCENTRATION.
a. Research Development
A minimum of three (3) and maximum of six (6) semester hours credit of CIS 595, Computer and Information Sciences Research Development, may be applied towards the degree.
b. Thesis
A minimum of three (3) and maximum of six (6) semester hours credit of CIS 599, Computer and Information Sciences Thesis, may be applied towards the degree.
c. Elective Course Work
A minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6) semester hours of approved electives are required. A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of Special Permission courses may be applied to the degree for the THESIS CONCENTRATION. A list of Pre-Approved Information Systems courses and a list of Special Permission courses are given in this section.
d. Comprehensive Examination
All students in the Thesis Concentration must pass an oral comprehensive examination administered after the thesis committee accepts the thesis. The School of CIS Comprehensive Examination Policies and Procedures document and the Comprehensive Examination Application form are available at http://www.cis.usouthal.edu.
B. PROJECT CONCENTRATION
Acceptance to the PROJECT CONCENTRATION may occur after successfully completing each Information Systems core course with a minimum grade of "B" and CIS 518 with a minimum grade of "C". A required defense of the project proposal is normally made in the semester following completion of CIS 518. Students must enroll in ISC 595, Information Systems Project Proposal Development, in the semester during which they defend their project proposal. The project will normally be completed in one semester while enrolled in ISC 598, Information Systems Project. Students must enroll in ISC 598 in the semester during which they defend and/or submit their project. A grade of "C" in ISC 595 will result in dismissal from the PROJECT CONCENTRATION to the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION. A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of Special Permission courses may be applied to the degree for the PROJECT CONCENTRATION.
a. Project Proposal Development
A minimum of three (3) and maximum of six (6) semester hours credit of ISC 595, Information Systems Project Proposal Development, may be applied towards the degree.
b. Project
A minimum of three (3) and maximum of six (6) semester hours credit of ISC 598, Information Systems Project, may be applied towards the degree.
c. Elective Course Work
A minimum of three (3) and a maximum of six (6) semester hours of approved electives are required. A maximum of nine (9) semester hours of Special Permission courses may be applied to the degree for the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION. A list of Pre-Approved Information Systems courses and a list of Special Permission courses are given in this section.
d. Comprehensive Examination
All students in the Project Concentration must pass an oral comprehensive examination administered after the project committee accepts the project. The School of CIS Comprehensive Examination Policies and Procedures document and the Comprehensive Examination Application form are available at http://www.cis.usouthal.edu.
C. COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION
Information Systems students who do not choose the THESIS CONCENTRATION or the PROJECT CONCENTRATION are assumed to be in the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION. Acceptance to the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION occurs after successfully completing each Information Systems core course with a minimum grade of "B" and CIS 518 with a minimum grade of "C".
a. Elective Course Work
Twelve (12) semester hours of approved electives are required. A maximum of six (6) semester hours of Special Permission courses may be applied to the degree for the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION. None of the ISC 598, CSC 598, or CIS 599 may be applied to the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION. A list of Pre-Approved Information Systems courses and a list of Special Permission courses are given in this section. ISC 568 may be taken at most two (2) times for the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION.
b. Comprehensive Examination
All students in this Concentration must pass a written examination. Students should take the examination as soon as possible after successfully completing each Information Systems core course with a minimum grade of "B" and CIS 518 with a grade of "C". Students wishing to sit for the examination must apply online to the Director of CIS Graduate Studies by the Friday of the last week of classes in the semester prior to which the examination is to be taken. The site for the online application may be found by following the Links for Students selection on the School of CIS web site, http://cis.usouthal.edu. The policy regarding the comprehensive examination is available in the CIS office. The comprehensive examination is offered at least once a year. The School of CIS Comprehensive Examination Policies and Procedures document and the Comprehensive Examination Application form are available at http://www.cis.usouthal.edu.
4. INFORMATION SYSTEM ELECTIVES
A list of Pre-Approved Information Systems elective courses and a list of Special Permission courses are given below. All other courses must be approved by the Information Systems Coordinator.
A. PRE-APPROVED INFORMATION SYSTEMS ELECTIVES
ISC 510 Health Informatics
ISC 550 Health Systems Analysis and Design
ISC 553 Information Systems Web Site Management
ISC 555 Health Data Management and Decision Support
ISC 557 Modeling and Decision Support Systems
ISC 563 Information Systems Database Administration
ISC 568 IS Enterprise Integration (may be taken at most two (2) times - may ONLY be taken with the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION)
ISC 572 Advanced Data Management
CSC 511 Communications and Network Analysis
CSC 514 Modeling and Simulation
CSC 527 Software Engineering Principles
CSC 533 Artificial Intelligence and Heuristic Programming
B. SPECIAL PERMISSION COURSES
Approval of the Information Systems Coordinator and the Director of the CIS Graduate Studies is required for CIS graduate faculty sponsorship of a Special Permission Course. A maximum of nine (9) credit hours of Special Permission courses may be applied to the degree for the THESIS CONCENTRATION or the PROJECT CONCENTRATION; a maximum of six (6) credit hours of Special Permission courses may be applied to the degree for the COURSE ONLY CONCENTRATION.
CIS 594 Directed Study
CIS 595 Computer Science Research Development
ISC 595 Information Systems Project Proposal Development
CIS 598 Computer and Information Sciences Project
ISC 598 Information Systems Project
CIS 599 Computer and Information Sciences Thesis
DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL INFORMATION SYSTEMS COURSES: