DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS — COURSES
MSIS 105
Introduction to Information Systems
Introduces computers, information systems, and their use in society for students with minimal prior knowledge in this area. Topics include overviews of current information technology concepts and components, the Internet, and productivity software tools. The course offers an extensive hands-on component in the use of current technology. This course cannot be counted toward the management information systems or management science concentration in the College of Management.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 110
Introduction to Computers and Information Systems
Introduces systems thinking principles, computers, information systems, and their use in business decision making. Topics include management information systems concepts and components, issues involving information management, productivity software tools. The course offers an extensive hands-on component in the use of state-of-the-art technology.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 111
Managerial Statistics
Provides the student with the basic statistical techniques needed for business decision making in areas such as operations management, quality improvement, marketing research, finance, and general management. The course examines collection and presentation of data, frequency distributions, basic probability, statistical inference, and regression. Students use statistical software for data presentation and analysis.
: MATH 129.
: MSIS 110.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 123
Introduction to Information Security
This course will present an overview of the threats to your information technology infrastructure and intellectual property, with an emphasis on the detection and prevention of intrusions or theft. The protection of services such as the World Wide Web, file sharing, and e-mail will be analyzed. The vulnerabilities and hardening of major operating systems such as Linux and Microsoft’s Windows 2000 will be discussed. The course takes a holistic approach, discussing the technical but focusing on the need for proper training and procedures in the maintenance of an effective yet secure information technology infrastructure. While the material of the course is technical in nature, no systems administration or software development experience is assumed. A good familiarity with the use of the Internet and computers is required, and some knowledge of TCP/IP would be helpful.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 124
Introduction to Visual Basic.NET
This is an introductory course for Visual Basic.NET, an object-oriented, event-driven language that is a subset of the Visual Studio.NET environment. It is designed to provide the beginning Visual Basic programmer with the tools to create Visual Basic applications that conform to well-adopted Windows standards. In addition, it will introduce the students to object-oriented programming concepts, which are key to successful Windows and Web-based development efforts. While students are expected to have familiarity with basic Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows 2000 concepts, little or no programming experience is required.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 212
Managerial Decision Making
Provides the student with knowledge of more advanced decision making tools building upon the skills developed in MSIS 110 and MSIS 111. The emphasis of this course is on using management information systems and quantitative analysis tools to improve the quality of managerial decision making. Topics include decision theory and analysis, optimization, simulation, and forecasting. Students use advanced functions in spreadsheet packages and decision support software for analysis of practically oriented problems in various management setting.
: MSIS 110 and MSIS 111.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 224
Advanced Visual Basic.NET
This is an advanced course for Visual Basic.NET, an object-oriented, event-driven language that is a subset of the Visual Studio.NET environment. It is designed to provide programmers familiar with the basic concepts and functionality of Visual Basic.NET with the tools to create more robust application programs that would be applicable in many organizations today. Students must have taken an introductory Visual Basic.NET course or have practical experience with Visual Basic.Net in order to take this course.
: MSIS 124.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 230
Relational Databases
This course provides a thorough review of basic relational database concepts and how to apply these concepts to a variety of application problems. The course focuses on the use and properties of relational database management systems. Topics covered include DBMS architecture levels, data modeling, data definition and manipulation capabilities of Structured Query Language programming, and programming techniques for accessing relational databases.
: MSIS-IT 124.
MSIS 290
Information Systems Development and Management
This course is designed to offer a comprehensive understanding of systems development and management in organizations by examining currently used techniques and system development methodologies. A range of life-cycle models are considered, including prototyping, evolutionary development, and object-oriented approaches. The aim is to present a balanced overview of the process of analyzing user requirements, designing and developing computerized information systems to meet these requirements, and managing the information resource function. The course introduces students to the pitfalls of systems development and implementation in organizations, with the aim of developing the student’s critical thinking skills.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 301
Operations Management
Introduces the student to the concepts and techniques used by organizations to support their fundamental task of producing goods and services. This course includes a balanced view of the manufacture of tangible goods and the production of less-tangible services. Topics covered include product and process strategy, quality management, production planning for manufacturing and for service organizations, and inventory management. The course also includes an examination of the interactions of operations management, quantitative decision making techniques, and information technology. Students use management science techniques and software to examine a wide variety of operations management problems.
Prerequisites: MSIS 110, MSIS 111, and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 309
Databases and Programming for Managers
Any information system consists of three layers; the user interface, the problem application, and the database. This course covers user interfaces and databases and provides a concise and applied guide to accessing relational databases with visually oriented programming languages. Students in this course will learn the principles of database design and construction and build functional user interfaces for database access. The course emphasizes the practical application of database and business programming by offering hands-on training in the use of state-of-the art technology.
: MSIS 110 and 60 credits.
MSIS 310
Client/Server Programming
Introduces students to graphical/visual programming concepts using current programming languages and Microsoft Windows Environment. The course will expose the students to both procedural and event-driven programming; it will also introduce component-based client/server implementation.
: MSIS 110 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 411
Database Management
Presents the logical concepts of database systems, the possible physical configurations, and the nature of database management software. Data analysis techniques and supporting modeling tools are reviewed and applied in individual and group projects. Discusses data as an organizational resource in the context of total quality management. Oracle is used extensively in a client/server environment. Topics include data analysis, database models, database management systems, CASE tools for data modeling, data manipulation particularly through SQL, storage allocation, and transaction design. The relevance of data as a resource and its relationship to other components of the organization are reviewed.
: MSIS 310 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 414
Computer Networks for Management
Familiarizes students with the rapidly evolving technology in the areas of data, video, and voice communication. The course studies managerial issues relating to the use and management of advanced communication technology. Students learn how to exploit the technology for business purposes such as producing innovative services, improving quality, reducing cost, and providing real-time customer service. The relevance of Internet use in business applications is demonstrated. HTML is used to illustrate the development of Internet applications. The course helps develop an ability to manage such new technologies as ISDN, advanced intelligent networks, multimedia, fiber optics, and virtual networks towards goals such as growth and portability.
: MSIS 110 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 415
Object Oriented Programming for Business
Introduces students to the concept of object oriented programming (OOP), a relatively new method of software design and implementation. OOP and procedural programming are different from the viewpoint of design. The course covers several such major concepts in OOP as abstract data type, class, object, encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism. Comparisons between programming approaches are made, but emphasis is given to the practical application of OOP to current business programming problems. Java is used to illustrate the concepts covered in class.
: MSIS 310 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 416
Object Oriented Information Systems
Provides a review of systems development principles with an object orientation as they relate to the analysis and design of database applications, knowledge base systems, and object-oriented programming. The course critically evaluates alternative approaches to information systems development and highlights the integrative nature of object oriented principles. The JAVA programming language is used extensively to illustrate the characteristic properties of current object oriented programming techniques such as encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
: MSIS 415 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 422
Decision Support Systems and Groupware
Introduces students to the use of decision support systems (DSS) when confronted with structured, semi-structured, and ill-structured problems. The course presents DSS components, supporting technologies, and design methodologies. It also emphasizes the fundamental concepts and terminologies in the fields of decision support systems, group decision support systems, and executive information systems. Windows-based tools are used to demonstrate the interaction between quantitative methods, such as simulation, and computer technology to solve business problems and answer “what-if” type questions. Students will also explore the use of powerful groupware tools that support computer-mediated team work.
: MSIS 110, MSIS 111, and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 425
Project Management
Covers techniques and managerial concepts of project management. This course prepares students to manage either complex physical projects or complex software development projects. Topics presented in this course include project life cycles, economic analysis of projects, work breakdown structure, cost estimation, and the scheduling, staffing, directing, and controlling of projects. The course also covers the use of management science techniques and computer software for project management.
: MSIS 110 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 426
e-Business and e-Commerce Infrastructure
e-Business and e-Commerce are essential parts of doing business today. Electronic Business is the use of computer-mediated networks for any process conducted by an organization (for-profit or otherwise). Electronic Commerce refers to e-Business processes that involve the transfer of ownership or rights for goods or services. Through lectures, case analyses and lab exercises, students will experience the technologies allowing alignment of Web with business priorities. Topics include development of e-Commerce Web sites, implemented through packaged solutions or their creation, using markup languages such as HTML and XML, scripting languages, database, security, and online payment technologies.
: MSIS 110.
2 Lect Hrs, 1 Lab Hr, 3 Credits
MSIS 427
Knowledge Management: Competing in the Knowledge Economy
Knowledge is increasingly becoming the most important asset in many organizations. The discipline of Knowledge Management involves developing processes to generate value using intellectual assets. This course introduces students to the concepts and practice of Knowledge Management, including the use of current knowledge management technologies. The focus of the course will be on the issues that concern the design and use of knowledge management systems, including technological, organizational, and political aspects.
: MSIS 110 and 60 credits.
MSIS 428
Information System Security
This course provides a broad overview of the threats to the security of information systems, the responsibilities and basic tools to ensure information security, and the levels of training and expertise needed in organizations to reach and maintain a state of acceptable security. Students will learn and understand the key issues associated with protecting information assets, determining the levels of protection and response to security incidents, and designing a consistent, reasonable information security system, with appropriate intrusion detection and reporting features.
: MSIS 110 and 60 credits.
MSIS 430
International Information Management
The course gives students an understanding of the international information and software industry in the context of international production of goods and services. The course discusses the historical background and evolution of the international software industry and then analyzes the information and software industry, markets, and users. It will enable students to analyze the international organization of software focusing on the creation, sourcing, consumption and regulation of software systems. The course provides conceptual frameworks and practical experiences for understanding the complexity in managing in and with the new international software industry.
: MSIS 110 and 60 credits.
MSIS 450
Applied Operations Management: Domestic and Global
Focuses on production and manufacturing issues for both services and manufacturing, and includes in-depth discussions of aggregate planning, inventory control and manufacturing systems. The course also covers the problems and possibilities that come from global operations.
: MSIS 212, MSIS 301 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 452
Quality Management
Examines approaches for planning and managing for quality within any organization, and the necessary tools for the analysis of quality problems. The course uses a total quality management framework; topics include statistical quality control concepts and tools, design and implementation of enterprise-wide quality programs, quality assurance for both manufacturing and service organizations, the economics of quality control, continuous process improvement, and employee-customer involvement.
: MSIS 110, MSIS 111 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 454
Supply Chain Management
This course teaches the leading-edge tools and techniques that enable the management of an organization to create sustainable profitable growth by managing the entire supply chain. A supply chain consists of suppliers, manufacturing centers, warehouses, distribution centers, and retail outlets. Supply chain management involves the full synchronization of market demand with flows of materials, information, other resources, and finished products through the entire system of raw materials to retail. The goal of supply chain management is to ensure that merchandise is produced and distributed at the right quantities, to the right locations, at the right time, satisfying service-level requirements while minimizing system-wide costs. Use is made of mathematical and information systems modeling techniques for supply chain management.
: MSIS 212 and MSIS 301.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 455
Decision Analysis
In this course, students will learn to make better decisions and help others to make better decisions across the range of business functions. This interactive course covers a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques that together ensure a decision quality process. These include tools for: defining the right decision context, classifying the relevant issues, identifying and clarifying what is known and not known, investigating the potential impact of uncertainty and how to handle it, generating alternatives, valuing potential outcomes, and committing to action. These techniques are applied in different organizational settings and to a variety of types of business problems.
: MSIS 212 and 60 credits.
MSIS 461
Systems Analysis and Design
Introduces recent approaches to the analysis and design of computer information systems, including the hands-on use of computer aided software engineering (CASE) tools. The changing role of the systems analyst in both operations and systems applications in today’s organizations is examined. The course critically analyzes systems development methodologies, including life cycle models and prototyping; reviews user-led developments and current approaches which facilitate user-developer collaboration; discusses effective diagramming and notational techniques now available to define and document functional requirements and operational business processes; and examines current methods used to test and evaluate the accuracy, completeness, and usability of documented requirements and convert them into efficient systems design or re-engineering processes. Topics include CASE tools, module and transaction design, human-computer interfaces, and system configuration. This course includes practical experience in analyzing and designing an organizational application. It discusses the concept of quality as applied to information systems and business process redesign as well as the role of information systems in managing quality within an organization.
: MSIS 110 and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 478
Special Topics in Management Science and Information Systems
Addresses a specific topic in management science and information systems. Special topics courses are offered as one-time supplements to the department’s curriculum. Descriptions of special topics courses are available during advance registration.
: Permission of instructor and 60 credits.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
MSIS 480
Management Science and Information Systems Internship
Provides students with opportunities for full- or part-time work experience in a management science and information systems setting. On-site supervisors and faculty sponsors provide guidance and supervision for each intern.
: 75 credits, of which 21 must be in management core; one concentration course; and minimum 2.5 GPA.
3 Credits
MSIS 488
Independent Study
A student-initiated research project on a management sciences topic, supervised by a member of the management sciences faculty. The course is open to a limited number of students each semester.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and 60 credits.
3 Credits, Hrs by arrangement