Graduate Programs in Information Systems

Individuals in all areas of private and public enterprise rely on information systems for communication, planning, control and decision support. The advanced knowledge provided by graduate-level information systems programs is needed across a wide range of commercial, non-profit and government settings. While the market-place demand for students with graduate course work in information systems is already high, the demand for such skills is predicted to steeply increase in the years ahead.

The Master of Science in Information Systems program focuses on technical, managerial and policy issues associated with constructing and managing computer-based information systems for modern organizations. All areas of private and public enterprise rely on information systems for communication, planning, providing services, control and supporting decisions. The objectives of this program are to meet the growing demand in society for graduates with high-level information system skills and provide a path for women and men from diverse fields to rapidly transition to information system career paths by providing them with foundation graduate level courses in information systems.

The  program is explicitly designed to accommodate students from wide ranging undergraduate degree backgrounds. Among the bachelor’s degrees possessed by recent MSIS graduates and current students include: Accounting, Applied Technology Leadership, Biology, Business Administration, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Ecology and Environmental Science, Economics, Education, Electronics and Instrumentation, English, Information Technology, Journalism, Library and Information Sciences, Music, Natural Resources and Environment, Nursing, Resource Economics, and Sociology. Because the question is often asked by international students, yes this degree is identified as STEM-designated degree by the Department of Homeland Security with a CIP code of 11.1003.

Students develop knowledge and technical skills in foundation areas of formal methods, programming, information system design, human computer interaction and information law and ethics. Students gain working familiarity with one or more programming languages if not already acquired. Based on this foundation, students have leeway to craft a remaining selection of courses in consultation with and approval by their academic adviser and the MSIS steering committee. Flexibility is provided to accommodate the particular backgrounds, interests and information system professional career aspirations of each student as well as to be responsive to the ever-changing technological and business environments. Thus students might choose to focus additional coursework within a specific information systems domain or pursue course interests among several applications and theory domains including business, engineering, computer science, psychology, education and additional germane science areas. The goal is to prepare graduates to succeed as information system professionals in a variety of roles and settings. For detailed requirements, see the MSIS Curriculum.

Also offered is the Graduate Certificate in Information Systems that requires half the course credits of the full MS degree.

Both the Master of Science in Information Systems and the Graduate Certificate in Information Systems may be completed entirely on campus or online. We also offer a dual graduate degree program awarding both the MSIS and MBA degrees whereby some courses may be counted towards both programs. Both degrees again may be acquired entirely online or on campus at the student’s option.

The University of Maine is located in the small New England town of Orono, Maine just north of Bangor on the Penobscot River. Offices and classrooms are in the Edwards Wing of Boardman Hall on the tree-lined campus mall.