Graduate Bulletin

Management Information Systems, M.S.

FOX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: March 15

Spring: September 30

Applications are processed as they are received throughout the year. International students who miss the December 15 deadline are required to submit to Temple University an evaluation of their transcript(s) by an approved educational evaluation firm.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from evaluators, typically college/university faculty or an immediate work supervisor, who can provide insight into your abilities and talents, as well as comment on your aptitude for graduate study.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration:

Knowledge of Programming:

Specific demonstrable software development experience or two semesters of sequential introductory and intermediate programming courses are required. If these courses have not yet been taken, Visual Basic or Java is recommended.

Knowledge of Information Systems:

Basic principles of computing, such as hardware and software, packaged software, databases, networking, Internet, organizational use of systems, types of information systems, and the role of information systems, are necessary. This requirement can be met through relevant work experience or by taking MIS 085.

Knowledge of Organizations:

Two years' full-time work experience is required.  In lieu of this, the student will be asked to take one or more courses from the Fox M.B.A. core such as ACCT 401, FIN 401, and MKTG 401.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline:

No.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should describe future objectives in specific terms, including how the M.S. degree will assist the applicant in achieving life goals.  Applicants should avoid the use of generalizations or blanket statements. Their statement should be limited to two pages.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE/GMAT is required. Quantitative and verbal scores on the GRE should be in the 50th percentile or above. Scores under 500 on the GMAT are not considered for the M.S. program.

Minimum TOEFL score or range of scores needed to be accepted: 575 paper-based or 230 computer-based. Any student admitted with a TOEFL score below 600 on the paper-based or 250 on the computer-based examination must pass an English skills course or successfully pass the SPEAK test during the first semester of enrollment at Temple University.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

Upper-level graduate credits from an accredited graduate business program may be transferred into the M.S. program. The credits must be part of the required degree program at Temple University. To be transferred, the grade must be a "B" or better. The Admissions Committee makes recommendations for transferring credits to the department chair. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

Campus Location:

Center City, Fort Washington

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m.

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

Core Courses (12 credits):

MIS 510: Information Systems Management and Processes

MIS 520: Database Analysis and Design

MIS 530: Information Systems Modeling and Development

MIS 540: Internet and Intranet Design

Electives and Seminars (15 credits):

2 - 5 MIS graduate courses at the 500-level or above, with the exception of MIS 501

0 - 3 approved graduate courses at the 500-level or above outside MIS

Capstone Course (3 credits):

MIS 950: Capstone in Information Technology

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Capstone Course:

M.S. students are required to take the MIS 950 capstone course, which entails writing a research paper or implementing an information system. Students select a topic in their area of interest.  The course is graded in the normal manner by the course instructor.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.mis.temple.edu/programs/Graduate/MS.htm

Department Information:

Fox School of Business and Management

LL5 Speakman Hall

1810 North 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122

misdept@temple.edu

215-204-8172

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Joseph Allegra

Program Coordinator

jallegra@temple.edu

215-204-3060

Program Coordinator:

Joseph Allegra

Program Coordinator

jallegra@temple.edu

215-204-3060

Graduate Chairperson:

Munir Mandviwalla

mandviwa@temple.edu

215-204-8172

Chairperson:

Robert Bonner

Executive Director

bob.bonner@temple.edu

215-204-7678

About the Program

The Fox School of Business and Management offers M.S. programs through which students acquire in-depth knowledge of one business discipline. These programs are ideally suited for the business professional who wishes to develop advanced mastery of one business specialization. The Management Information Systems Department at Temple University's Fox School focuses on the use, development, and management of information systems, especially those that drive electronic commerce. Integration is the hallmark of our approach. Business and information technology are integrated in teaching and research, in theory and practice, and in commerce and science. Students are prepared to step immediately into key management roles in highly specialized fields. The Fox School is the region's second largest business graduate school, with more than 1,300 students studying in 35 graduate business areas.

Time Limit for Degree Completion:  6 years

Campus Location:

Center City, Fort Washington

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered after 4:30 p.m. Students are able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Fox School of Business and Management

LL5 Speakman Hall

1810 North 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122

misdept@temple.edu

215-204-8172

Ranking:

The Fox School of Business and Management is currently ranked in the top 75 business schools by Forbes and in the top 50 programs for our Executive M.B.A. The Fox School has also been ranked 14th for technology M.B.A. programs by Computerworld and holds a specialty ranking of 26th in the nation for healthcare management programs. The Fox School has been recognized for research in numerous departments and is in the top 1% of citings of university research.

Accreditation:

All Fox School of Business and Management graduate business programs are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB International), the association for management education.

Areas of Specialization:

The M.S. in Management Information Systems requires students to take four upper-level MIS courses (MIS 510, 520, 530, 540) as the core courses. In addition, students must take a minimum of two MIS electives or as many as five such electives.  The capstone course in MIS completes the specialization.

Job Placement:

Graduates of the Fox School of Business and Management obtain jobs in computer/information technology; consulting; consumer products and services; energy/utilities; financial services/banking; government; healthcare; industrial products and services; manufacturing; pharmaceuticals; telecommunications; and tourism/transportation.

Affiliation(s):

Research is supported by the Fox School of Business and Management's Advanta Center for Financial Services Studies, the Center for e-Marketing, the Center for Healthcare Research and Management, the Ethics Resource Center, the Irwin L. Gross eBusiness Institute, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute, the Institute of Global Management Studies, the Safeguard Scientific Center for Economics Education, and the Small Business Development Center. Research interests of the Fox School faculty are also supported by numerous centers and institutes throughout Temple University. The MIS Department faculty conduct research in communication, empowerment, and management control issues in the development and use of information systems; computer support of communication, collaboration, and group learning; data warehousing; e-Business and e-Commerce; e-Publishing; innovation and diffusion; knowledge management; the social impact of IT at various levels of analysis, including individuals and groups; and virtual communities.

Interdisciplinary Study:

Students seeking an M.S. in Management Information Systems may take up to two approved graduate courses at the 500-level or above outside MIS.

Study Abroad:

The Fox School offers graduate-level courses during the summer at its Rome, Italy campus.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

Students with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above may take classes on a non-matriculated status. Non-matriculated students can take a maximum of 9 credit hours. Any additional courses require the student to be matriculated in a program.

Financing Opportunities

The Fox School of Business and Management has a limited number of scholarships for students with high academic grades and test scores. Scholarships are offered at the time of acceptance into the Fox School. The Fox School has a limited number of graduate externships for assignments in academic and administrative departments. Work assignments are generally administrative in nature and may include word and data processing. An extern provides up to 20 hours of service per week. Students are required to submit applications directly to the department in which they wish to be appointed.

Other Financial Opportunities