Information Systems Technologies, Master of Science

Program Purpose

The express purpose of Wilmington University’s Master of Science program in Information Systems Technologies is to provide and advance the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by perspective and current Information Technology (IT) professionals for managing information systems. Students completing the program will obtain a better understanding of the relationship between business requirements and technology solutions with an emphasis on applying a systems approach when integrating information technology into strategic business/education/government activities. Moreover, the program capitalizes on the inter-disciplinary nature of modern information systems and the settings in which they are implemented, the MS-IST Program includes four career concentrations.

Program Competencies

The graduate student who successfully completes the M.S. in Information Systems Technologies (MS-IST) program will have a level of applicable knowledge in the following areas as appropriate to one’s field of study: 

MS-IST Information Assurance Concentration

• Integration Component - Evaluate the relationships and dependencies associated with planning, organizing, designing, managing, and implementing Information Systems in an organization.
• Business Application - Apply various models and methods for planning, organizing, designing, managing, and implementing Information Systems within a modern organization.
• Information Assurance Principles - Apply the principles of Information Assurance used to manage risks related to one or more of the following:  Use, Processing, Storage, and Transmission of information or data.
• Information Assurance Ethics and Practices - Assess the ethical practices associated with implementing IA policy, Standards and Regulation combined with systemic interrelationships within an organization

• Oral Communication - Appraise the needs of the audience and then speak in a clear and succinct manner. Research, construct, and deliver professional presentations using a variety of communication tools and techniques.
• Written Communication - Write with clarity and precision using correct English grammar: mechanics (punctuation) and usage (sentence structure and vocabulary). Exhibit competence in writing for specific purposes, diverse audiences, and genres. Correctly and ethically present scholarly writings utilizing the selected citation and writing style deemed appropriate for the student's program of study.
• Disciplined Inquiry - Employ scientific, quantitative and/or qualitative reasoning and other critical thinking strategies to analyze consequences and outcomes and to be able to recommend alternative solutions.
• Information Literacy - Using information in any format to research, evaluate, and ethically utilize information effectively and with appropriate attribution.
• Ethics - Demonstrate knowledge and application of prescribed ethical codes and behaviors prompted by the student's chosen profession.

MS-IST Management and Management Information Systems Concentration

• Integration Component - Evaluate the relationships and dependencies associated with planning, organizing, designing, managing, and implementing Information Systems in an organization.
• Business Application - Apply various models and methods for planning, organizing, designing, managing, and implementing Information Systems within a modern organization.
• Systems Theory - Evaluate the appropriateness of using systems thinking when defining diagnosing and/or developing an IS/IT system.
• Software-driven Systems - Differentiate between effective and ineffective IT strategies and/or plans for updating integrating or implementing software-driven systems.

• Oral Communication - Appraise the needs of the audience and then speak in a clear and succinct manner. Research, construct, and deliver professional presentations using a variety of communication tools and techniques.
• Written Communication - Write with clarity and precision using correct English grammar: mechanics (punctuation) and usage (sentence structure and vocabulary). Exhibit competence in writing for specific purposes, diverse audiences, and genres. Correctly and ethically present scholarly writings utilizing the selected citation and writing style deemed appropriate for the student's program of study.
• Disciplined Inquiry - Employ scientific, quantitative and/or qualitative reasoning and other critical thinking strategies to analyze consequences and outcomes and to be able to recommend alternative solutions.
• Information Literacy - Using information in any format to research, evaluate, and ethically utilize information effectively and with appropriate attribution.
• Ethics - Demonstrate knowledge and application of prescribed ethical codes and behaviors prompted by the student's chosen profession.

MS-IST Technology Project Management Concentration

• Integration Component - Evaluate the relationships and dependencies associated with planning, organizing, designing, managing, and implementing Information Systems in an organization.
• Business Application - Apply various models and methods for planning, organizing, designing, managing, and implementing Information Systems within a modern organization.
• Technology Project Management Knowledge - Identify, define, and analyze various aspects of Technology Project Management Knowledge.
• Organizational Influences - Define and analyze organizational influences upon Technology Projects.

• Oral Communication - Appraise the needs of the audience and then speak in a clear and succinct manner. Research, construct, and deliver professional presentations using a variety of communication tools and techniques.
• Written Communication - Write with clarity and precision using correct English grammar: mechanics (punctuation) and usage (sentence structure and vocabulary). Exhibit competence in writing for specific purposes, diverse audiences, and genres. Correctly and ethically present scholarly writings utilizing the selected citation and writing style deemed appropriate for the student's program of study.
• Disciplined Inquiry - Employ scientific, quantitative and/or qualitative reasoning and other critical thinking strategies to analyze consequences and outcomes and to be able to recommend alternative solutions.
• Information Literacy - Using information in any format to research, evaluate, and ethically utilize information effectively and with appropriate attribution.
• Ethics - Demonstrate knowledge and application of prescribed ethical codes and behaviors prompted by the student's chosen profession.

MS-IST Web Design Concentration

• Integration Component - Evaluate the relationships and dependencies associated with planning, organizing, designing, managing, and implementing Information Systems in an organization.
• Business Application - Apply various models and methods for planning, organizing, designing, managing, and implementing Information Systems within a modern organization.
• Web Design Tools - Apply Web Design operations and tools.
• Web Design Quality - Evaluate and apply Web Design quality and standards.

• Oral Communication - Appraise the needs of the audience and then speak in a clear and succinct manner. Research, construct, and deliver professional presentations using a variety of communication tools and techniques.
• Written Communication - Write with clarity and precision using correct English grammar: mechanics (punctuation) and usage (sentence structure and vocabulary). Exhibit competence in writing for specific purposes, diverse audiences, and genres. Correctly and ethically present scholarly writings utilizing the selected citation and writing style deemed appropriate for the student's program of study.
• Disciplined Inquiry - Employ scientific, quantitative and/or qualitative reasoning and other critical thinking strategies to analyze consequences and outcomes and to be able to recommend alternative solutions.
• Information Literacy - Using information in any format to research, evaluate, and ethically utilize information effectively and with appropriate attribution.
• Ethics - Demonstrate knowledge and application of prescribed ethical codes and behaviors prompted by the student's chosen profession.

Program Design

Students who successfully complete the graduate degree program in Information Systems Technologies will possess a working command of current informational practices that can immediately be applied in business, educational, and governmental organizations regardless of size. Degree recipients will be capable of managing complex projects from inception to completion, including professional services engagements and the acquisition and management of informational infrastructure. The managerial nature of this program is closely aligned with the business curriculum at Wilmington University, but with a decidedly technological (or alternatively, a “design”) leaning. As each student is expected to choose a concentration that caters to their vocational predispositions, competencies in the management of specifically tailored aspects of technology, and the synergies attributable to an interdisciplinary learning approach, are expected to be program outcomes. Students graduating from the MS-IST program should be prepared to provide leadership in the Information Systems (IS) field. Graduates will have the following skills, knowledge, and values:

• A core of IS knowledge
• Integration of IS and business foundations
• Broad business and real -world perspectives
• Communication, interpersonal, and team skills
• Analytical and critical thinking skills
• Specific skills leading to a career

Information Systems Foundations

Students without a sufficient level of information technology experience or expertise may be required to complete a placement exam prior to entering the MS-IST Program. Students who do not successfully complete the placement exam will be required to take the IST Fundamentals course – IST 5500 within their first semester of the MS-IST Program. IST 5500 is not a MS-IST Core course and cannot be used as an IST elective in the MSM or MBA Programs.

MS-IST Core Course Requirements (18 credits)

Concurrently or after completing the selected concentration courses, student will complete the six core courses listed and either IST 8105 or IST 8101.

IST 7000 Data Management

IST 7020 Analysis, Modeling, and Design

IST 7040 Data Communications and Networking

IST 7060 Project and Change Management

IST 7080 Cloud Management

IST 7100 IT Policy and Strategy

Information Assurance Concentration (15 credits)

Concurrently or after completing the IST core requirements, students will complete the prerequisite course SEC 6010 and three (3) other SEC 6000 series courses from the following list as well as SEC 7050 Information Assurance Integration/Capstone Course.

MAJ 7000 Contemporary Issues in Homeland Security

SEC 6010 Planning for Information Security

SEC 6015 Cloud Security Essentials

SEC 6030 Operating System and Computer Systems Security

SEC 6040 Web and Data Security

SEC 6050 Security Data Analytics

SEC 6060 Incident Handling and Response

SEC 6070 Penetration Testing

SEC 6080 Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security

SEC 6082 SCADA Architecture

SEC 6084 SCADA Risk Management and Auditing

SEC 6086 SCADA Security Awareness and Standards

SEC 6090 Topics in Information Assurance

Integration/Capstone Course

SEC 7050 Information Assurance Integration/Capstone

Management and Management Information Systems Concentration (15 credits)

Concurrently or after completing the IST core requirements, students will complete five (5) courses from the following list as well as either IST 8105 or IST 8101.

MGT 6400 Global Leadership

MGT 7300 Business Finance

MGT 7504 Ethical Issues in Management

MGT 7508 Change Management

MGT 7591 Leadership and Communication

MGT 7750 Strategy and Decision-Making

MGT 7900 Topics in Management

Technology Project Management Concentration (15 credits)

After completing IST 7060 and either concurrently or after completing the IST core requirements, students will complete five (5) courses from the following list.

IPM 6015 Project Scoping and Scheduling

IPM 6030 IT/IS Project Risk Management

IPM 6040 IT/IS Project Quality Management

IPM 6050 Agile Project Management

IPM 6060 Technology Project Leadership and Teamwork

IPM 6090 Special Topics in IT/IS Project Management

Web Design Concentration (15 credits)

Concurrently or after completing the IST core requirements, students will complete the pre-requisite course DSN 6000 and three (3) other DSN 6000 series courses from the following list as well as DSN 7010 Web Design Integration/Capstone.

DSN 6000 Web Design and Architecture

DSN 6040 Web Design with JavaScript

DSN 6050 Markup Languages Advanced Authoring

DSN 6060 Database/Web Design Integration

DSN 6073 Server-Side Web Development

DSN 6080 Internet Development/Design for Competitive Advantage

DSN 6090 Topics in Web Design and Programming

Integration/Capstone Course

DSN 7010 Web Design Integration/Capstone Course

Capstone Course or Supervised Field Experience/Internship (3 credits)

Students in the M.S. IST Program will take either IST 8105 or IST 8101 in their final semester.  IST 8105 is a 7-week capstone course for students who do not anticipate doing an internship in their final semester.

IST 8105 IST Capstone

OR

IST 8101 Field Experience/Internship

IST 8105 IST Capstone (3 credits) - is a capstone course for all M.S. IST Program Students.  The course will have a summative project associated with (a) investigating a current IT management/system issue or (b) evaluating an IT management/system scenario.  The current IT management/system issue or the scenario may be assigned by the instructor or selected by the student for instructor approval.

Eligibility for IST 8105: 

• Students must be in the final year of their M.S. IST program with a majority of the program requirements completed.  A majority of the program requirements means students have successfully completed all IST7000 series courses (18 credits) and, at least, three of their program's concentration courses (9 credits) before registering for IST 8105.

Note:  Attending the first IST 8105 class meeting is required.  An absence from the first class meeting will result in an administrative drop from the course.

Eligibility for IST 8101 Supervised Field Experience/Internship (3 credits):

• Students must be in the final year of their M.S. IST program with a majority of the program requirements completed. A majority of the program requirements means students have successfully completed all IST 7xxx series courses (18 credits) and, at least, three of their program’s concentration courses (9 credits) before registering for IST 8101.
• Students must have a valid and verified co-op or internship before the beginning of an IST 8101 course. Students who cannot obtain a co-op or internship before the beginning of the IST 8101 course must register for IST 8105, however, if the student obtains a valid and verified co-op or internship prior to the end of the IST 8101 DROP/ADD period, they may become eligible for IST 8101 registration approval.
• Students must obtain Program Chair approval to register for IST 8101.

Note:  Attending the first 8101 class meeting is required. An absence from the first, class meeting will result in an administrative drop from the course.

There are two possible IST 8101 completion options:

• Option one provides students in the Web Design Concentration with an opportunity to design and develop an electronic portfolio.
• Option two enables students to gain practical IT experience through a technical internship while documenting their IT experiences using an Action Research methodology.

The Complete MS-IST Curriculum

Well-prepared students may complete the M.S. IST Program in a minimum of 36 credits. The MS-IST Curriculum includes:

• 18 credits of core courses (IST7000 - IST7100), (i.e., IST 7xxx series courses)
• 3 credits of a Capstone/Field Experience course (i.e., IST 8105 or IST 8101)
• 15 credits in one of the program’s concentrations
• Meeting all other qualifications for the degree

Qualifications for Degree

To qualify for the Master of Science degree in Information Systems Technologies, a student must successfully complete a minimum of 36 credit hours (12 courses), which includes 15 credits in an IST concentration and 3 credits in either a Capstone Course or a Field Experience/Internship course. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. The program must be completed within five years.

This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2023-2024 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2022 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.