Information Science Curriculum and Course Schedule

The Master of Science in Information Science requires 39 credits.   You may need to take an additional preparatory class depending on your engineering background.   You will need at least 6 courses at the 500 level, and at least 3, but not more than 6 courses from the Management Division.  If you have questions or requests for course substitutions and approvals, please e-mail enghelp@psu.edu.

 Contact Information

610-648-3243
gvengin@psu.edu

Information Sessions
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Foundation Courses
(Preparatory courses)

PLEASE NOTE:  For  Penn State Great Valley prerequisites, please click on the course number in the column on the left.  
Do NOT use the course descriptions listed in the schedules to determine prerequisite requirements. 

Course Name

18-Credit Core Curriculum

Course Name

Schedule

IN SC 480

Software Development Lifecycle (previously INSC 497)

IN SC 431

Information Systems Architecture (previously INSC 497)

Database Design Concepts

ACCTG 512

Financial Accounting Theory and Reporting Problems

Summer 2008

Choose one of the following courses after completing MGMT 501

Communication Skills for Management

BUSAD 501

REQUIRED 3-CREDIT CAPSTONE COURSE

IT Systems Seminar

18-Credit Elective Tracks

After completing the 18-credit core curriculum, select an elective track from those listed on this page. The tracks organize courses into logical clusters but students are not restricted to following a particular track if they prefer to design their own curriculum provided they do not exceed the 9-credit limit of management electives.

Master of Science in Information Science Elective Tracks

                                                                   
Data Analytics

For careers in knowledge and data engineering including database analysis and design, data mining and knowledge extraction, decision-support systems, and business analytics and intelligence. 

PLEASE NOTE:  For  Penn State Great Valley prerequisites, please click on the course number in the column on the left.  Do NOT use the course descriptions listed in the schedules to determine prerequisite requirements.

Take 6 courses from the following:

Course Name

Schedule

Schedule

Special Topics:Business Intelligence

                                                                 
Technical Leadership

For careers in IT management, preparation for leadership positions, or increased effectiveness as team players in an IT organization.  Take 6 courses from the following:

PLEASE NOTE:  For  Penn State Great Valley prerequisites, please click on the course number in the column on the left.  
Do NOT use the course descriptions listed in the schedules to determine prerequisite requirements. 

Course Name

Schedule

Schedule

Software Project Management    
or (not both)
 Technical Project Management

N/A

N/A

Fall 2008

SYSEN 552

Creativity and Problem Solving II
(previously offered as SYSEN 597 Special Topics: Advanced Problem Solving) 
Prerequisite: SYSEN 550

Problem Solving Leadership
Prerequisites: SYSEN 550 and SYSEN 552

Invention and Creative Design

                                                          
Trusted Computing

For careers in IT security or those who want an understanding of threats and how to make computer systems more reliable and less vulnerable to attack.  

PLEASE NOTE:  For  Penn State Great Valley prerequisites, please click on the course number in the column on the left.  Do NOT use the course descriptions listed in the schedules to determine prerequisite requirements. 

Take 6 courses from the following:

Course Name

Schedule

Schedule

Information Technology Law

Web Security and Privacy

Ethics and Values in Science and Technology

Special Topics: Engineering Law

Systems Architecture

For careers in system development or those who want the latest trends in IT, systems architecture, complex system analysis and design, and Web architecture and programming. 

PLEASE NOTE:  For  Penn State Great Valley prerequisites, please click on the course number in the column on the left.  Do NOT use the course descriptions listed in the schedules to determine prerequisite requirements. 

Take 6 courses from the following:

Course Name

Schedule

Schedule

IN SC 497

Special Topics:
Information Technology Network Management I
(to become IN SC 465)  

Special Topics:
Information Technology Network Management II
Prerequisite: IN SC 497 IT Network Mgmt I
(to become IN SC 466)

Special Topics: HCI: Human Computer Interface (to become INSC 470)