UCF - Graduate Catalog 2006-2007

Management Information Systems

Description

The College of Business Administration offers a Master of Science in Management Information Systems degree, as well as a doctoral (Ph.D.) program in Business Administration that includes a Management Information Systems Track.

The MIS master’s program provides another alternative to the MBA degree for students who desire specialized study and the development of a high level of professional proficiency in information technology. These areas include: Enterprise Resource Planning, systems analysis and design, systems implementation, database administration, telecommunications, and e-commerce. Students completing the M.S. degree program in MIS will be prepared to work in organizations in such areas as software developers, systems analysts, database administrators, network managers and consultants.

The Master of Science in Management Information Systems program prepares students in the technical and managerial topics essential for a successful career in the information technology (IT) field. This field is characterized by rapid advances in technology (hardware, software, telecommunications), intense international competition, faster product life cycles, and complex and specialized markets.

In such turbulent environments, the information requirements of organizations are becoming increasingly more challenging. Forward-looking companies must invest wisely in IT and the human expertise necessary to make them competitive and successful in the future. Individuals are needed who can design and manage large and complex information systems, and who can communicate effectively with customers and management.

Our goal is to develop specialists who are attuned to the latest principles, methods, and techniques of both technology and management. The MIS program at the University of Central Florida is designed to meet the challenge of producing individuals who are capable of leading such companies successfully into the future.

Degrees Offered

Master of Science in Management Information Systems
• Professional Masters in MIS Track

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

Admission to Master's Programs in the College of Business Administration

In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants must provide:

• A GPA of 3.0 (all foreign transcripts must be evaluated) and GMAT of at least 500 or a competitive GRE score on the quantitative and verbal sections.
• For applicants from countries where English is not the official language, or for an applicant whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution, an official score of at least 233 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• An essay; for details, see the college website.
• A resume.

Both GPA and test scores must be officially reported to the Division of Graduate Studies.

Application Due Dates

All application materials must be submitted by the appropriate deadline listed below.

All students applying for fellowships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

Program(s)	Fall Priority	Fall	Spring	Summer
Master of Science in Management Information Systems	Jan 15	Jun 15	Nov 1	Mar 15
Professional Masters in MIS Track			Nov 1
Note:Spring admission only. The Spring 2007 program will be offered at UCF’s Heathrow Campus.

International Applicants

Program(s)	Fall Priority	Fall	Spring	Summer
Master of Science in Management Information Systems	Jan 15	Jan 15	Jul 1	Nov 1
Professional Masters in MIS Track			Jul 1
Note:Spring admission only. The Spring 2007 program will be offered at UCF’s Heathrow Campus.

International Transfer Applicants

Program(s)	Fall Priority	Fall	Spring	Summer
Master of Science in Management Information Systems	Jan 15	Mar 1	Sep 1	Dec 15
Professional Masters in MIS Track			Sep 1
Note:Spring admission only. The Spring 2007 program will be offered at UCF’s Heathrow Campus.

Master of Science in Management Information Systems

Minimum Hours Required for M.S. in MIS—30 Credit Hours

Business Foundation—12 Credit Hours

An undergraduate degree in business, or satisfactory completion of the following foundation courses fulfills this requirement.

• ACG 6XXX Accounting Foundations (3 credit hours)
• ECO 6XXX Economic Concepts with Math Applications (3 credit hours)
• ECO 6XXX Business Statistical Concepts and Methods (3 credit hours)
• FIN 6XXX Foundations of Finance (3 credit hours)

Prerequisites

The following prerequisites (or equivalents) should be completed before enrolling in 6000-level graduate courses.

• ISM 5123 Concepts of Systems Analysis and Design (3 credit hours)
• ISM 5127 Concepts of Database Design and Administration (3 credit hours)
• ISM 5256 Concepts of Business Programming (3 credit hours)

MIS Degree Requirements

The major consists of 30 hours from three core areas: the business core, the MIS core and the MIS electives. All courses can be completed by a full-time student in one calendar year and by a part-time student in two calendar years. ISM 6305, typically taken in the last semester, serves as a capstone course and culminating experience in the program.

A required comprehensive research paper or practicum is required. The research paper is the major component of the capstone course, ISM 6305 Information Systems Management. In addition, students may elect to undertake a practicum where they gain practical real-world experience working in a professional capacity in the information systems field.

Business Core—6 Credit Hours

• MAN 6245 Organizational Behavior and Development (3 credit hours)
• 1 additional 6000-level business course (3 credit hours)

Management Information Systems Core—15 Credit Hours

• ISM 6121 Advanced Information Systems Analysis and Design (3 credit hours)
• ISM 6217 Advanced Database Administration (3 credit hours)
• ISM 6305 Information Resources Management (3 credit hours)
• ISM 6227 Management of Telecommunications (3 credit hours)
• ISM 5315 Information Systems Project Management (3 credit hours)

Electives—9 Credit Hours

• ISM 6485 Electronic Commerce (3 credit hours)
• ISM 6158 ERP Implementation (3 credit hours)
• ISM 6930 Seminar in Management Information Systems (3 credit hours)
• ISM 5219 Business Intelligence Systems (3 credit hours)
• ISM 6368 Business Knowledge Management Systems (3 credit hours)
• ISM 6908 Independent Study (3 credit hours)

Financial Support

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

• If you are interested in financial assistance, you are strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
• You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
• If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
• UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. University graduate fellowships are awarded based on academic merit and therefore are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
• Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application). For university fellowship applications, see Financing Grad School.
• For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program director of your major.

Contact Info

Master of Science in Management Information Systems

Paul Cheney, Ph.D., Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-3106
cbagrad@bus.ucf.edu

Professional Masters in MIS Track

Paul Cheney, Ph.D., Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-3106
cbagrad@bus.ucf.edu