2014-2015 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Master of Science in Computer Information Systems

Requirements for the M.S. in Computer Information Systems

Requirements for the M.S. in Computer Information Systems

All candidates for the degree must complete a total of 33 credits, as indicated below:

Foundation Courses (6 credits)
Core (9 credits)
Technical Thread (9 credits)
Electives (3 or 6 credits)
Capstone (3 or 6 credits)

Foundation Courses (6 credits)

All candidates are expected to complete the two foundation courses, CIS 500 and CIS 501. However, a placement exam can be taken to demonstrate proficiency in the topics covered by the Foundation Courses. A successful score on the placement exam will result in waiving the requirement of the Foundation Courses (33 credits are still required for the degree).

CIS 500 - Fundamentals of Software Practice Credits: 3
CIS 501 - Fundamentals of Modern Computer Systems Credits: 3

Core (9 credits)

Students are required to complete one course in three of the following areas:

Technical Thread (9 credits)

All candidates are required to complete one of the following technical sequences:

Biomedical Informatics

CIS 661 - Introduction to Medical and Bioinformatics Credits: 3

And two of the following:

CIS 635 - Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining Credits: 3
CIS 665 - Clinical Information Systems Credits: 3
CIS 671 - Information Visualization Credits: 3
CIS 677 - High-performance Computing Credits: 3
CIS 678 - Machine Learning Credits: 3

Database Management

CIS 673 - Principles of Database Design Credits: 3
CIS 676 - Database Systems Performance Credits: 3
CIS 679 - Advanced Topics in Database Management Credits: 3

Distributed Computing

CIS 654 - Computer Networking Credits: 3
CIS 656 - Distributed Systems Credits: 3
CIS 658 - Web Architectures Credits: 3

Information Systems Management

CIS 641 - Management of Software Development Credits: 3
CIS 642 - IS Project Management Credits: 3
CIS 643 - Information Systems Policy and Strategy Credits: 3

Software Engineering

CIS 611 - Introduction to Software Engineering Credits: 3
CIS 612 - Requirements Specification Credits: 3
CIS 613 - Software Testing Credits: 3

Web and Mobile Computing

CIS 657 - Mobile Application Development Credits: 3
CIS 658 - Web Architectures Credits: 3

And one of the following:

CIS 654 - Computer Networking Credits: 3
CIS 656 - Distributed Systems Credits: 3
CIS 673 - Principles of Database Design Credits: 3

Additional Elective Courses

Any 500 or 600 level CIS course (other than Foundations Courses) can be used as an elective toward the MS-CIS degree.

Capstone

Each candidate must complete either the Capstone course, the project course, or the thesis sequence. Please contact the Graduate Program Director one semester prior to starting any of these.

CIS 693 - Master's Project Credits: 3
CIS 690 - Master's Thesis Research Credits: 3
CIS 692 - Master's Capstone Credits: 3

Computer Information Systems Graduate Certificates

A certificate in the areas of biomedical informatics, database management, distributed computing, information systems management, software design and development, or software engineering is awarded to a student who completes a content area. The last two courses in the content area must be completed at Grand Valley State University.

Admission criteria for a certificate program are identical to admission criteria for the master's degree program. Certificate candidates enroll in the standard master's degree program courses, with grading criteria being identical. Should a certificate candidate decide to change to the master's degree program, all coursework taken toward the certificate will apply to his or her master's degree program. The following certificates each require a 3-course sequence, which totals 9 credit hours: