The MS in Information Systems & Technology (IS&T) offers a technically focused, design-centric curriculum that balances technology and management scholarship to achieve pragmatic solutions to challenges facing society.

The MS in IS&T’s experiential teaching practice teaches you the concepts, skills, and applications necessary to create software and systems that optimize human performance and produce positive societal change. Our programming is flexible to accommodate working professionals looking to augment their skill sets. You will undertake collaborative, industry-oriented research with CGU faculty mentors, who are distinguished IS&T scholars and practitioners who contribute to leading journals, consult for industry-leading organizations, and hold prominent roles at global conferences and international councils. You will analyze, discuss, and contribute to the continuously expanding knowledge bank of information technology, thereby gaining the skills and connections that lead to leadership roles in business, government, education, and more.

Program Highlights
  • Well-equipped research clinics and laboratories allow you to work directly on applied and academic research; these include the IDEA Lab, Intelligent Systems Lab, and more.
  • You can pursue your MS in conjunction with another degree program at CGU, such as a PhD in History. You earn a diploma for each degree, double count some units from one program to the other, and decrease your required total units.
  • Our GIS Club convenes students and professionals interested in geographic information systems (GIS) and informs the local community about the latest GIS workshops and conferences.
  • This program is STEM designated, allowing international students who hold F-1 visas to apply for OPT work authorizations for a total of 36 months (an initial 1-year period and a 24-month OPT STEM extension) of paid work experience in the U.S. after graduation.

Program At a Glance

UNITS
36 units

ESTIMATED COMPLETION TIME*
Full-time: 1–1.5 years
Part-time: 1.5–3 years

*Actual completion times will vary and may be higher, depending on full- or part-time course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

COURSES BEGIN
Fall | Spring

DEGREE AWARDED
MS in Information Systems & Technology

Featured Courses

IST 302
Databases

Introduces concepts and techniques for database design and management emphasizing the relational model, query optimization and performance tuning, and more.

IST 303
Software Development

Provides an understanding of modern software development principles and practices to support more advanced information systems and technology courses.

IST 304
Communications & Networking

Introduces the concepts and terminology of data communication, network design, and distributed information systems.

IST 341
CS Insights via Python Programming

Engages with the full breadth of CS fundamentals, including computational thinking, software design strategies, the technologies underlying modern computation (circuits and assembly language), and both theoretical models and limits of computing.

IST 321
Delivering Value Through IS&T Leadership

Provides knowledge and techniques for students to understand how to influence and leverage Information Technology to a greater degree and integrate it with the company’s strategic business goals.

IST 340
Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining

Studies the data mining process goal of discovering nontrivial, interesting, and actionable knowledge from data in databases.

Areas of Concentration

 

Partnerships

The Center for Information Systems and Technology (CISAT) at CGU participates in industry and academic partnerships designed to create internships, collaborations, practicum courses, and other opportunities. These include:

Esri
Claremont Graduate University’s comprehensive partnership with Esri, the world’s leading supplier of geographic information system (GIS) software, offers numerous benefits, including:

Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance
CISAT is also a Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance Member, which gives our students and researchers access to the latest technologies for use in classroom assignments and projects.

IBM Watson Analytics Academic Program
To ensure students work with leading data analytics technologies, CISAT is part of the Watson Analytics Academic Program (WAP), which provides no-cost use of IBM® Watson Analytics software for classroom teaching and research.

Faculty & Research

  • Samir Chatterjee profile image

    Samir Chatterjee

    Fletcher Jones Chair of Technology Design & Management

    Research Interests

    Design science research, Health informatics, Electronics and telecommunication engineering

  • Terry Ryan profile image

    Terry Ryan

    Professor of Information Systems & Technology

    Research Interests

    Management information systems, Programming, Software development, Research methods, Statistics

  • Yan Li profile image

    Yan Li

    Associate Professor of Information Systems & Technology

    Research Interests

    Data science, Data mining, Analytics, Semantic technologies, Databases, Data warehousing, Business intelligence, ICT4D

  • Tamir Bechor profile image

    Tamir Bechor

    Research Fellow

    Research Interests

    Cybersecurity, IT leadership and management

  • Brian Hilton profile image

    Brian Hilton

    Clinical Full Professor

    Research Interests

    Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Management Information Systems (MIS), GIS solution development, Data analytics

  • Chinazunwa Uwaoma profile image

    Chinazunwa Uwaoma

    Research Assistant Professor of Information Systems & Technology

    Research Interests

    Internet of Things, Mobile Computing, Computer Communications & Networks, Healthcare Systems, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security

  • Wallace Chipidza profile image

    Wallace Chipidza

    Assistant Professor of Information Systems & Technology

    Research Interests

    Dynamics of social networks, Quantum Computing and Applications, Internet Privacy, ICT4D

Where You Can Find Our Alumni

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Brittany Galvez

Assistant Director of Admissions
T: 909-607-6728
E: brittany.galvez@cgu.edu