Master of Arts (MA) - Information Technology

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Master of Arts (MA) - Information Technology - DePaul

The Master of Arts in Information Technology program prepares individuals without specialized training in IT to work with technology specialists, write about IT, manage impacts of IT on organizations or society, or evaluate IT-oriented data.

MA in Information Technology 2009

The Master of Arts in Information Technology Program is intended to prepare professionals in the broad field of Information Technology. In particular, the program prepares graduates to interact professionally with technologists, write about IT, manage impacts of IT on organizations or society, or evaluate IT-oriented data.

The goal of the MA in Information Technology program is to prepare someone in a non-technical position to interact effectively with the technical staff and customers.

What Students Learn From This Program

The concepts, tools, and practices of information technology management.
The analysis phase of the software development life cycle.
The fundamentals of networks for voice and data communications and for the integration of voice and data streams.
The methods and problems associated with technology-triggered business transformation.
The basics of database design.
The fundamentals of project management for software systems.
The skills to acquire and analyze data.

Grade and GPA Requirements

Grades: Students must maintain a grade of B- or better in each prerequisite course and a C- or better in all other courses.

GPA: Students must maintain a graduate level GPA of 2.50 or higher while pursuing their degree. Students will not be approved for graduation with less than a 2.50 GPA. Students with a GPA of 3.90 will graduate with distinction.

Program Requirements 2009

To view Graduate Program Requirements for previous years click here.

Masters in Information Technology

Master of Arts in Information Technology 2009

Prerequisite Phase

Prerequisite Phase for the MA in Information Technology are:

Offered Fall
In class	Online
√	√	IT 130 The Internet and the Web Self Placement Test
√	√	IT 223 Data Analysis
√		IT 230 Building Internet Applications
√	√	TDC 361 Basic Communication Systems

By taking these courses and receiving a grade of a B- or better in each, the student will have completed the requirements of the Prerequisite Phase. All or part of the Prerequisite Phase may be waived if a student has the equivalent academic background. Alternatively, students with practical experience may complete a Graduate Assessment Examination (GAE) to show competency in a prerequisite. All students are blocked from enrolling in Foundation Phase courses prior to completing their prerequisites. The student must submit a Change of Status request when the Prerequisite Phase is completed to inform the Student Services offices that the block can be removed. The form must be submitted two weeks before the student intends to register for graduate level classes. The student will then be considered a fully admitted student, and may pass to the Foundation Phase of the program. Students may submit the Change of Status request by logging in to MyCDM.

Foundation Phase

Fully admitted students in the Foundation Phase may register of a maximum of four Advanced phase courses. The Foundation Phase courses for the MA in Information Technology are:

Offered Fall
In class	Online
√	√	CSC 423 Data Analysis and Regression
		HCI 445 Inquiry Methods and Use Analysis
√	√	HCI 440 Usability Engineering
√	√	CSC 451 Database Design
√	√	IS 511 Social Issues of Computing
√	√	IS 556 Enterprise Project Management
√	√	ECT 455 E-Commerce Web Site Engineering

Advanced Phase

The advanced phase provides opportunities for breadth and depth in IT, and allows for specialized interests through five elective courses for which you have required prerequisites. Listed below are suggested courses. Two of the five elective courses must be taken at the 500 level.

Offered Fall
In class	Online
		CSC 424 Advanced Data Analysis
		CSC 428 Data Analysis for Experimenters
		CSC 449 Database Technologies
		ECT 480 Intranets and Portals
		ECT 556 Enterprise Architecture and Design
		ECT 565 Mobile Enterprise
		ECT 585 Legal Aspects of E-Commerce
		ECT 586 Customer Relationship Management Technologies
√	√	ECT 589 E-Commerce Technology Capstone
√	√	HCI 450 Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction
		HCI 454 Interaction Design
√	√	HCI 460 Usability Evaluation Methods
		IPD 499 Topics in Global Information Technology
√	√	IS 425 Enterprise Information
		IS 570 Enterprise System Implementation.
		IS 456 Knowledge Management Systems
		IS 482 Legal Aspects of Information Technology
		IS 483 Information Services and Operations
√	√	IS 505 Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
		IS 512 Collaborative Technologies for Leading Projects
		IS 540 Global Information Technology
√	√	IS 560 Enterprise Systems
√	√	IS 433 Information Security Management
		IS 577 Information Systems Capstone
		IS 578 Information Technology Consulting
		IS 596 Topics in Information Systems
		ITS 560 Training and User Support
√	√	SE 430 Object Oriented Modeling
√	√	SE 477 Software and Systems Project Management
√	√	TDC 463 Computer Networks and Data Systems
√	√	TDC 464 Voice Communication Networks
		TDC 476 Economics of Telecommunication Systems
√	√	TDC 511 Telecommunications Practicum
		TDC 569 Telecommunication Regulation, Policy,law and Standards

Culminating Thesis

The Culminating Thesis is an independent research article that demonstrates a student's ability to integrate both technical expertise and IT domain knowledge. Normally, it is undertaken during the student's final year in the MA program. In this work, the student is guided and assessed by a Thesis supervisor. The thesis must represent an original contribution, and may include system evaluation, empirical studies, or theoretical work. The scope and the details of the research project will be determined by the supervisor, and must be approved by the student's academic advisor. IT 698 Masters Thesis is a two-credit hour course. Students must register for this course a minimum of two times and must continue to enroll in the course in every quarter after the first quarter until the thesis is completed to the satisfaction of their supervisor. A maximum of four credit hours will apply for degree credit.

All courses in degree

CSC 423 Data Analysis and Regression
CSC 424 Advanced Data Analysis
CSC 428 Data Analysis for Experimenters
CSC 449 Database Technologies
CSC 451 Database Design
ECT 455 E-Commerce Web Site Engineering
ECT 480 Intranets and Portals
ECT 556 Enterprise Architecture and Design
ECT 565 Mobile Enterprise
ECT 585 Legal Aspects of E-Commerce
ECT 586 Customer Relationship Management Technologies
ECT 589 E-Commerce Technology Capstone
HCI 440 Usability Engineering
HCI 445 Inquiry Methods and Use Analysis
HCI 450 Foundations of Human-Computer Interaction
HCI 454 Interaction Design
HCI 460 Usability Evaluation Methods
IPD 499 Topics in Global Information Technology
IS 425 Enterprise Information
IS 433 Information Security Management
IS 456 Knowledge Management Systems
IS 482 Legal Aspects of Information Technology
IS 483 Information Services and Operations
IS 505 Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
IS 511 Social Issues of Computing
IS 512 Collaborative Technologies for Leading Projects
IS 540 Global Information Technology
IS 556 Enterprise Project Management
IS 560 Enterprise Systems
IS 570 Enterprise System Implementation.
IS 577 Information Systems Capstone
IS 578 Information Technology Consulting
IS 596 Topics in Information Systems
IT 130 The Internet and the Web
IT 223 Data Analysis
IT 230 Building Internet Applications
ITS 560 Training and User Support
SE 430 Object Oriented Modeling
SE 477 Software and Systems Project Management
TDC 361 Basic Communication Systems
TDC 463 Computer Networks and Data Systems
TDC 464 Voice Communication Networks
TDC 476 Economics of Telecommunication Systems
TDC 511 Telecommunications Practicum
TDC 569 Telecommunication Regulation, Policy,law and Standards

Career Options:

This program may be appropriate for individuals in sales, management, marketing, journalism, law, or other professions who need to interact closely with IT specialists and technicians without being an IT specialist or technician.

The program also is suited for managers of IT staff. For example, a large telecommunications company may have a non-technical sales manager for a technical sales force whose customers are also technically oriented.