2025-2026 Graduate Catalog Information Technology

The School of Information Technology offers several graduate certificate programs. The certificates are designed for individuals who would like to gain specialized knowledge in one of the areas of the certificates without the commitment of completing an entire degree program. The certificate programs provide students with focused studies and exposure to the very latest topics and trends in the IT industry and various opportunities for career advancement. Courses completed as part of the certificates may also be counted towards the requirements of the Master of Science in Computer Science or Information Systems with official admission to the corresponding graduate program. Students must apply for the certificate before beginning coursework.

The Master of Science in Computer Science major is designed to give students the knowledge and tools necessary for studying important current issues in computer science to obtain productive employment or pursue advanced degrees. It emphasizes foundational knowledge in computer science and programmatic application of these fundamental concepts in leading edge applications. It is appropriate for a range of students, including industry computing professionals seeking career advancement, students wishing to expand on their undergraduate computer science work and/or prepare for doctoral degree, and individuals wishing to make a career change.

This degree requires the student to complete a 33- semester-hour thesis, project, or course option. It assumes an undergraduate knowledge base in computer science, which students with some types of computer-related undergraduate degrees will typically have acquired. Students lacking sufficient background will need to complete fundamental courses before enrolling in the MS Computer Science degree courses.

Students lacking sufficient background should expect to complete some or all of the following courses with a grade of B or better: 

• IT 168: Structured Problem Solving Using the Computer 
• IT 179: Introduction to Data Structures
• IT 180: C++ Programming
• IT 225: Computer Organization 
• IT 279: Algorithms and Data Structures 
• IT 383: Principles of Operating Systems 
• IT 378: Database Processing

The graduate coordinator will determine specific requirements.

Option I — Thesis

This 33-hour option requires: 

• 18-hour core: IT 426, IT 427, IT 428, IT 441, IT 448, IT 483 
• 6 hours: IT 499 Master's Thesis 
• 9 hours from: IT 429, IT 440, IT 443, IT 444, IT 452, IT 456, IT 458, IT 467, IT 478, IT 482, IT 487, IT 488, IT 497

Option II — Project

This 33-hour option requires: 

• 18-hour core: IT 426, IT 427, IT 428, IT 441, IT 448, IT 483
• 6 hours: IT 494 Master's Project 
• 9 hours from: IT 429, IT 440, IT 443, IT 444, IT 452, IT 456, IT 458, IT 467, IT 478, IT 482, IT 487, IT 488, IT 497

Option III — Courses

This 33-hour option requires: 

• 18-hour core: IT 426, IT 427, IT 428, IT 441, IT 448, IT 483 
• 15 hours from: IT 429, IT 440, IT 443, IT 444, IT 452, IT 456, IT 458, IT  467, IT 478, IT 482, IT 487, IT 488, IT 497

MS in Information Systems offers four different sequences: Geographic Information Systems, Internet Application Developme, Network and Security Management, and Systems Development Sequence. Within the Geographic Information Systems sequence, the student may choose to complete a 35-semester hour thesis option (Option I), a 35-semester hour project option (Option II), or a 35 semester-hour course option (Option III). Within the other three sequences, the student may choose to complete a 33-semester hour thesis option (Option I), a 33-semester hour project option (Option II), or a 33-semester-hour course option (Option III). This degree assumes an undergraduate knowledge base in information technology, which students with computer-related undergraduate degrees typically have acquired. Students lacking sufficient background will need to complete fundamental courses before enrolling in the Information Systems core courses.

Students lacking sufficient background should expect to complete some or all of the following courses with a grade of B or better: IT 250 Fundamentals of Information Assurance and Security, IT 254 Hardware and Software Concepts, IT 275 Java as a Second Language OR IT 168 Structured Problem Solving Using the Computer AND IT 178 Computer Applications Programming, IT 276 Data Communications, IT 378 Database Processing. The graduate coordinator will determine specific requirements.

The MS in Information Systems has a 15-hour core requirement for options II and III: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496. For option 1 it has an 18 hour core requirement: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, and IT 497.

• If the thesis option is selected, IT 497, must be taken during the first year in the program.

Geographic Information Systems Sequence

Option I — Thesis

This 35-hour sequence requires: 

• 18-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, IT 497 plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 499  
• 8 hours: GEO 403, GEO 404 
• 3 hours: 1 from the following: GEO 488a04, IT 467, IT 433, IT 435

Option II — Project

This 35-hour sequence requires: 

• 15-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 494  
• 8 hours: GEO 403, GEO 404
• 6 hours: 2 of the following: GEO 405, GEO 488a04; IT 467,  IT 433, IT 435, IT 497

Option III — Courses

This 35-hour sequence requires: 

• 15-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 8 hours: GEO 403, GEO 404
• 3 hours: IT 495 
• 9 hours: 3 of the following: GEO 405, GEO 488a04; IT 467,  IT 433, IT 435, IT 497

Internet Application Development Sequence

Option I — Thesis

This 33-hour sequence requires: 

• 18-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, IT 497 plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 499 Master's Thesis 
• 9 hours: IT 433, IT 435, IT 453, IT 454, IT 458

Option II — Project

This 33-hour sequence requires: 

• 15-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475  
• 6 hours: IT 494 Master's Project
• 9 hours: IT 453, IT 454, IT 458
• 3 hours: 1 of the following: IT 433, IT 435, IT 467, IT 468, IT 468a17, IT 485,  IT 497

Option III — Courses

This 33-hour sequence requires: 

• 15-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 9 hours: IT 453, IT 454, IT 458
• 3 hours: IT 495, Capstone 
• 6 hours: 2 of the following: IT 467, IT 468, IT 485, IT 433, IT 435, IT 497

Network and Security Management Sequence

Option I — Thesis

This 33-hour sequence requires:

• 18-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, IT 497 plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 499 Master's Thesis 
• 6 hours: IT 450, IT 477 
• 3 hours: 1 of the following: IT 433, IT 435, IT 451, IT 457, IT 470, IT 476, IT 479, IT 481

Option II — Project

This 33-hour sequence requires: 

• 15-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 494 Master's Project 
• 6 hours: IT 450, IT 477 
• 6 hours: 2 of the following: IT 433, IT 435, IT 451, IT 457, IT 470, IT 476, IT 479, IT 481, IT 497

Option III — Courses

This 33-hour sequence requires: 

• 15-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 450, IT 477 
• 3 hours: IT 495, Capstone 
• 9 hours: 3 of the following: IT 433, IT 435, IT 451, IT 457, IT 470, IT 476, IT 479, IT 481, IT 497

Systems Development Sequence

Option I — Thesis

This 33-hour sequence requires:

• 18-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, IT 497 plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 499 Master's Thesis 
• 6 hours: IT 467, IT 468 
• 3 hours: 1 of the following: IT 433, IT 435, IT 468, IT 468a17, IT 485

Option II — Project

This 33-hour sequence requires: 

• 15-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 494 Master's Project
• 6 hours: IT 467, IT 468 
• 6 hours: 2 of the following: IT 433, IT 435, IT 468, IT 468a17, IT 485, IT 497

Option III — Courses

This 33-hour sequence requires: 

• 15-hour core: IT 432, IT 463, IT 478, IT 496, IT 497 plus on of the following: IT 451, IT 457, or IT 475
• 6 hours: IT 467, IT 468
• 3 hours: IT 495, Capstone 
• 9 hours: 3 of the following: IT 433, IT 435, IT 468, IT 468a17, IT 485, IT 497

The Data Science: Computer Science Graduate Certificate is designed to provide a specialized education in emerging technologies for students who seek further studies in data science. The certificate is intended to prepare students to meet the growing demand for qualifications in this field.

Three out of the four core courses, namely IT 441, IT 444, IT 448, and IT 452, are required to earn the certificate. Prerequisites: IT 279 and IT 378 or consent of the graduate advisor.

The Information Assurance and Security Graduate Certificate is designed for IT professionals who are interested in continuing education in methodologies and tools necessary for protecting information and information systems. The certificate provides an in depth study of protecting the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of information using technology, people, and policy.

Three core courses, IT 451, IT 457 and IT 450 are required to earn the certificate. Prerequisites: IT 250, IT 261 and IT 276 or consent of the graduate advisor

The Internet Application Development Graduate Certificate is designed to provide a specialized education in emerging technologies for students who seek further studies in Web development. The certificate is intended to prepare students to meet the growing demand for qualifications in this field.

Two core courses, IT 453, IT 454, and one of IT 458, IT 467, IT 468, or IT 485, are required to earn the certificate. Prerequisites: IT 261 and IT 276 or consent of the graduate advisor

The Network and Telecommunications Management Graduate Certificate is designed for IT professionals who are interested in pursuing further professional development in the Telecommunications and Networking area. This certificate program prepares students to better understand different network and telecommunications technologies and management methodologies.

Two core courses, IT 481 and IT 477 and one of IT 476 or IT 475 are required to earn the certificate. Prerequisite: IT 276 or consent of the graduate advisor.

The Systems Analyst Graduate Certificate is designed for IT professionals who are interested in pursuing further professional development in the Systems Analyst area. This certificate program prepares students to better understand different information systems development methodologies and develop the skills to manage information systems projects.

Three courses, IT 432, IT 463, and IT 478, are required to earn the certificate. Prerequisites: IT 261 and IT 378 or consent of the graduate advisor.