Master of Science in Information Science
Malvern, USA
DURATION
12 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
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STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Out-of-state Residents and Students Holding Visas| Pennsylvania Residents: $1,171 per credit hour
Introduction
Acquire the knowledge and skills needed in Information Science to meet evolving IT challenges in integration, security, and business continuity. This STEM-designated program is designed for information technology professionals who want to move into a leadership or management position within the IT field.
- Work with local companies and faculty on research projects through the Big Data Lab, Do iT Lab, and Smart Systems Research Group.
- Pursue your degree at your own pace, completing in as little as two years if attending part-time.
- Complete full-time within 12-18 months.
- Become a part of the more than 750,000 Penn State alumni across the world.
- Courses taught by world-class faculty and industry experts.
- GRE not required.
- Program is STEM-designated.
Program Advantages
- Prepare for a career in data visualization, security, cloud computing and storage, and more.
- Learn essential technical and leadership skills.
- Partner with alumni and local employers on relevant projects while fostering industry connections, networking, and job opportunities.
- Navigate problems that span a variety of industries.
- Immerse yourself in small classes and develop meaningful relationships with faculty and classmates who are business professionals and managers in the private and public sectors.
- Engage with faculty actively involved in key research areas like blockchain, applied machine learning, Internet of
- Things (IoT), smart services, smart systems, cybersecurity, data mining, and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- Take advantage of Career Management Services, which offers a variety of programs, resources, and networking opportunities for students and graduates.
- Benefit from a STEM-designated program, allowing 36 months total of Optional Practical Training (OPT).
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 "Best Online Programs," Penn State Great Valley is ranked:
- #3 in Master’s in Engineering programs
- #10 (tie) in Master’s in Computer Information Technology programs
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 "Best Online Programs for Veterans," Penn State Great Valley is ranked:
- #1 in Master’s in Engineering
Flexibility
- Seven-week courses are delivered in an in-person/online hybrid format. Some courses may be delivered fully online.
- Ability to simultaneously pursue another degree as part of the concurrent degree program.
Gallery
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
There are a variety of scholarships available to half-time and full-time students at Penn State Great Valley who meet individual scholarship criteria.
Scholarships for New Program Applicants
- Admission Scholarship for students enrolled in at least six credits per first two semesters
- Chancellor’s Scholarship for students enrolled in at least 12 credits per first two semesters
Scholarships for Enrolled Students
- Merit scholarships
- Need-based scholarships
Curriculum
- The 33-credit degree offers a balance of information systems and management theories, delving into:
- Information system architecture
- Big data and IT emerging technologies
- IT integration and business operations and continuity support
- Cybersecurity, protection, and prevention
- Enterprise IT solution design
- Enterprise digital transformation
- The program culminates with a research experience that brings together theoretical and practical experience in an exploratory format.
- Recent projects include automatically generating text and audio captions for video indexing and improved accessibility, predicting the taste of small molecules through advanced deep learning algorithms, classifying negative online behavior, enhancing business automation, and more.
- Coursework from Cyber Threat Analytics and Prevention and Data Analytics graduate certificates easily transfers to a degree program.
Courses for the Master of Science in Information Science program are hyperlinked below to the University Bulletin. Please refer to the prerequisites mentioned on this page as those listed on the University Bulletin may differ from Penn State Great Valley. All courses offered are three credits unless otherwise indicated.
- CSE 543 - Computer Security
- DAAN 825 - Large Scale Database and Warehouse
- DAAN 871 - Data Visualization for Analytics
- DAAN 881 - Data-Driven Decision Making
- DAAN 897 - Deep Learning
- DAAN 897 - Enterprise Analytics Strategies
- EA 871 - Enterprise Architecture Foundations I
- ENGMT 501 - Engineering Management Science
- I E 575 - Foundations of Predictive Analytics
- INFSY 860 - Data Communications Systems and Networks
- INFSY 863 - Network Security
- IN SC 431 - Information Systems Architecture
- IN SC 480 - Software Development Lifecycle
- IN SC 497- Special Topics: Business Intelligence
- IN SC 497 - Special Topics: Large-scale Databases & Warehouses
- IN SC 497 - Special Topics: Fundamentals of Telecommunications
- IN SC 497 - Special Topics: Network Management I
- IN SC 521 - Database Design Concepts
- IN SC 525 - Applied Data Mining
- IN SC 526 - Business Process Management and Integration
- IN SC 531 - Information Technology Law
- IN SC 539 - Information Technology Systems Seminar
- IN SC 561 - Web Security and Privacy
- IST 441 - Information Retrieval and Organization
- IST 454 - Computer and Cyber Forensics
- IST 816 - Web and Internet Information Retrieval
- S T S 589 - Ethics and Values in Science and Technology
- SWENG 400 - Software Studio (Java)
- SWENG 497 - Special Topics: Agile Processes
- SWENG 497 - Special Topics: Domain-Specific Languages
- SWENG 497 - Special Topics: Software Documentation
- SWENG 497 - Special Topics: Software Integration
- SWENG 497 - Special Topics: Tools and Processes for Software Engineers
- SWENG 510 - Secure Software Engineering
- SWENG 541 - Advanced Database Design Concepts
- SWENG 545 - Data Mining
- SWENG 568 - Enterprise Integration
- SWENG 569 - Service-Oriented Architecture
- SWENG 586 - Requirements Engineering
- SWENG 826 - Applied Human-Computer Interaction
- SWENG 837 - Software System Design
- SYSEN 505 - Technical Project Management
Please Note: Students may take either SWENG 505 Software Project Management or SYSEN 505 Technical Project Management
- SYSEN 507 - Systems Thinking
- SYSEN 536 - Decision and Risk Analysis in Engineering
- SYSEN 550 - Creativity and Problem-Solving I
- SYSEN 552 - Creativity and Problem Solving II
- SYSEN 554 - Problem-Solving Leadership
- SYSEN 555 - Invention and Creative Design
Note: Taking SYSEN 550 before SYSEN 555 is recommended but not required currently.
The Master of Science in Information Science degree requires 33 credits—18 core credits, 12 elective credits, and 3 capstone credits.
- IST 140 may be required if you don’t have a background in programming
- Mix of technology and management skills
- Courses are offered either in an in-person/online hybrid format or fully online.
- Fully in-person courses are available each semester to comply with visa requirements.
- Research experience at the end of the program brings together theoretical and practical experience.
Program Outcome
Upon completion of the information science program, our graduates will:
- Know how to describe, model, and analyze information systems in support of organizations’ operations and management in an efficient and effective manner.
- Understand known and emerging information systems theories and principles to improve and enhance IT systems.
- Be proficient in applying appropriate methodologies to design, develop, and maintain software and information systems to meet the needs of organizations.
- Have competency in implementing and managing information systems and networks while effectively protecting organizational information assets.
- Have the skills to communicate effectively, recognize responsibilities, and make informed judgments based on legal and ethical principles.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of computer and information research scientists is projected to grow 21% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
In the 2020-21 academic year, our students reported an average salary of $98,000.
Hiring Organizations
Our alumni have been hired and promoted at organizations such as:
- Amerisource Bergen
- Comcast
- GSK
- Lockheed Martin
- Merck
- Microsoft
- Oracle
- Pfizer
- PJM Interconnection
- Roblox
- SAP
- QVC
Job Titles
- Alumni have reported holding the following positions:
- Application/field engineer
- Business analyst
- Computer systems engineer/architect
- Data administrator/manager
- Data analyst
- IT specialist/manager
- Product/program manager
- Security engineer
- Software engineer
Program Leaders
Student Testimonials
English Language Requirements
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