Course Descriptions
The MS·MBA core meets the criteria for advanced degrees in both business management and information systems. It covers: The MBA Core and the following information systems courses:
IS705: Issues in Managing Networked Systems
This course explores the business implications of emerging Internet-based technologies such as wireless devices and Web services. Students will learn key technical concepts underlying these technologies and will explore how this technical understanding can be connected to managerial practice. Students will be asked to apply this knowledge to a current technical issue in the web services arena. Students will assess these visions in the context of a specific business case and will examine both the technical and organizational issues that arise.
IS707: Systems Architecture
Focuses on operating systems for workstations and mainframes, with emphasis on the operating system as both a provider of services and a manager of resources. Includes discussions and case studies in management of technology and technical people, as well as in personal issues facing professionals and managers.
IS 714: Mastering IT Strategy, Management and Delivery
This is a capstone course to integrate the key concepts and approaches to managing IT in modern corporations. Using a set of leading-edge case examples, frameworks, the students will have an opportunity to understand how IT strategy supports current business models while shaping tomorrow's business models. Students will master the intricate challenges of placing IT at the core of modern enterprises. They will have an opportunity to apply their learnings to a company of their choice through a course project.
IS 717: IT Applications in Management (winter intensive)
The objective of this course is to provide an introduction to IT/IS technologies and to provide a hands-on, tutorial-driven, application development experience. The course will be divided into two sessions on each day. For three days, the first session will offer a strategic application of a technology, and the second session, will provide an overview of the technological components that enable this technology. Technologies to be discussed include enterprise systems applications such as ERP systems, SCM systems, and CRM systems. The other two days of the course will focus on using a programming environment to develop one or two simple applications. The "instructional" half of the day will cover the key constructs and components of the programming environment and the second half will be a hand-on tutorial on the application of the concepts covered.
IS883: Database Management
Provides an introduction to data management and covers the three data models (hierarchical, network, and relational) and their implementation in commercial database products. During the course, students design and implement a database for a business problem.
IS889: Telecommunications and Business Networks
Examines the data communication hardware and software characteristics that are relevant to the applications software designer, and presents a general overview of communications network design. Topics include issues in the design and use of both local area networks and wide area networks, the impact of communications technology on organizations, and trends in the communication industry.
IS803: Field Internship ( first semester)
Students complete a substantial portion of their projects working on-site with their clients approximately one day per week. Periodic reviews provide feedback on the project's progress. Presentations and feedback at the midpoint of the course enhance the project, improve communication skills, and provide support.
IS808: Field Project (second semester)
In this final phase of the project, students complete project-specific tasks and deliver final reports and presentations to appropriate client managers. In class, students discuss the productivity and quality impacts of their work, evaluate their performance as a team and as individuals within a team, discuss challenges in managing change, and critique models and methods in IS that were central to their projects.
IS828: Managing Information Security
This MBA elective (also open to undergraduates) will combine a technical and business approach to the management of information. It will address technical issues such as cryptography, intrusion detection and firewalls along with managerial ideas such as overall security policies, managing uncertainty and risk and organization factors. We will examine different aspects of computer security such as passwords, virus protection and managing computer security in dynamic environments. Topics will also include network security and how to secure wireless application and services. These technical details will be placed in a business context. The class will have a practical focus as we examine current best practices. There well be several guest speakers in the security area. This will be a project oriented class and students will present their research projects during the last several classes.
IS830: Competing in Business Networks; The Business Capability Platforms in the 21st Century
Business strategy has been profoundly affected by the pervasive connectivity enabled by the internet, modern communications and the explosion of connected devices. Add to this the emergence of intelligent sensor technologies such as Mote, RFID and many forms of nano technologies, the business strategists of today have the opportunity to fundamentally transform the nature of the modern business model. This course uses the design concepts of platforms to examine the characteristics of and the implementation issues associated with the design and deployment of these new business models.
IS837: Emerging Perspectives and Synthesis (winter intensive)
This course is intended to serve two purposes--(a) an opportunity to expose students to leading-edge faculty research that has not yet been integrated into the Master's curriculum; and (b) allow students to develop a synthesis of how technology and business domains are interwoven in the transition from an industrial age to a post-industrial age with pervasive impacts of information technology and systems. Students will be exposed to a set of leading-edge ideas by SMG faculty members as well as guest lectures and discussions. Each student will have an opportunity to reflect on these ideas by developing a paper on a chosen topic that serves to maximize learning in the program. We believe that this one-week intensive course (based on some of our experiences with a program for IBM Corporation) will be a useful synthesis of leading-edge ideas for the MS-MBA students.
IS840: Introduction to Business Programming in Java
The global adoption of Java technology has inspired more and more organizations in creating mission-critical applications in Java. Managing these business applications has already become an important issue confronted by managers. This introductory course helps students to gain an understanding of the basic Java programming concepts including OOP(object-oriented programming) paradigm. The course teaches java language syntax, database connectivity, and graphical interface implementation. The class projects are designed to develop skills in creating application software in simple yet practical business scenarios.
IS854: Practicing IT Strategy, Management and Delivery
For future business leaders who want to understand, influence and leverage technology investments more effectively. The course provides effective strategies, pragmatic options, and leading practice alternatives for linking Business and Technology Strategies, defining effective governance and organization models, and successfully delivering new technology innovation. Students will master the complex methods and practices needed to frame a problem and propose an actionable solution that would be expected from future Business Executives and Technology Managers. Students will master the complex methods and practices to frame a problem and propose an actionable solution that would be expected from Business Executives (e.g., CEO, Marketing Executive, CIO, CFO) and Technology Executives (e.g., Product Manager, Consultant, Program Manager, Sales).
IS885: Technology Tools for e-Business
Focuses on how to build and manipulate data structures in a typical hardware/software environment. Emphasis is on building structures that represent organizational entities so users can examine them. The role of the analyst/designer in this process requires sufficient understanding of the technology to be aware of the options available and of the costs and benefits of these options.
