Admission Requirements

• Master of Science
• MBA/MS in Management Information Systems
• Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Requirements

• Master of Science
• MBA/MS in Management Information Systems
• Doctor of Philosophy

Mailing Address:
UIC Liautaud Graduate School of Business (MC 077)
815 West Van Buren Street, Suite 220
Chicago, IL 60607-3525

Campus Location: 220 RB
Program Codes: 20FS9890MS (MS); 20FS9890PHD (PhD)
Telephone: (312) 996-4573
E-mail: lgsb@uic.edu
Web Site: www.lgsb.uic.edu
Head of the Department: Peter Chalos
Director of Graduate Studies: Ranganathan Chandrasekaran

The Department of Information and Decision Sciences through the Liautaud Graduate School of Business offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science in Management Information Systems, an MBA/MS in MIS joint degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Management Information Systems. All programs are taught by nationally renowned faculty and are accredited by AACSB-International. The MS in MIS is an advanced degree in the application of information technology to solve business problems. The program is designed to train future CIOs, project managers, and technology leaders. A student in the program may specialize in managerial, technical, or a combination of the two areas. Some of the leading-edge topics that will be covered in the program include business process design, technology-enabled innovation, data warehousing, data mining, Web services, enterprise application platforms, corporate IT management, information systems security, project and vendor management, and business continuity.

The program is designed for professionals and students (a) in information systems who would like to gain advanced knowledge of the business use of information technology; and (b) in other business functions such as marketing, finance, and accounting who would like to use information systems effectively. The program is flexible and suitable for students with experience or education in information systems, business administration, computer science, engineering, healthcare, or other disciplines. A student may enroll full time or part time. A full-time student with adequate foundation can complete the program in a year. The MS degree is also offered jointly with the MBA.

The program leading to the PhD in Management Information Systems focuses on an interdisciplinary business understanding of how technology can affect an organization’s behavior, structure, and function, and on the effective use, control, and management of information and computer systems. Both the technical aspects and organizational impact of information management are assessed. A faculty on the cutting edge of modern MIS practices ensures dynamic research and teaching possibilities in this field.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Science

• Baccalaureate Field Individuals from all baccalaureate fields are encouraged to apply. The exact course requirements will be determined based on an individual’s baccalaureate field and work experience. All applicants must have had the following background course work: mathematics through the level of calculus covering integration and differentiation, and statistics through regression analysis.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate studies. Applicants with a master’s degree must have maintained a GPA of at least 3.00/4.00 in that program.
• Tests Required GMAT or GRE taken within five years of entry into the program. (Only those who have taken the GMAT will be considered for the Liautaud Scholarship).
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
• TOEFL 585 (paper-based); 239 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
• IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
• Letters of Recommendation Two required.
• Personal Statement Required.

MBA/MS in Management Information Systems

Applicants to the joint degree program must apply and be accepted to both the MBA and MS in MIS programs and must satisfy the admission requirements independently for both programs. Students already enrolled in the MBA program must apply to the joint degree program before completing more than 32 semester hours of study in the MBA program.

Doctor of Philosophy^a

• Baccalaureate Field No restrictions. Prior academic work should include mathematics/statistics, computing/analysis, and business.
• Grade Point Average At least 2.75/4.00 for the final 60 semester (90 quarter) hours of undergraduate study.
• Tests Required GMAT or GRE. The score must be from a test administered within five years from the requested date of entry. The writing assessment is required.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
• TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), OR,
• IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required from persons familiar with the intellectual skills, perseverance, and integrity of the applicant. At least one recommendation should be from an academic familiar with the applicant’s work.
• Personal Statement Required; 500 words; the statement should address the applicant’s interests and qualifications, including research interests and the impact this work is expected to have on the applicant’s career. A specific statement format is available in the application packet.
• Other Requirements All applicants must have had mathematics through the level of calculus covering integration and differentiation, and statistics through regression. Students are admitted only in the fall semester. No part-time program is available.
• Deadlines The application deadline for this program is earlier than the Graduate College deadline; contact the Liautaud Graduate School of Business Doctoral Studies Programs Office for information on current deadlines.

^aAdmission to the PhD program is competitive. Application packets and procedures are different for the PhD in MIS and must be submitted to the LGSB Office. All application materials, including transcripts and fees, must be submitted directly to this office. Transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate work must be submitted in a signed, sealed envelope.

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Master of Science

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 32.
• Course Work No more than two 400-level courses can be counted towards the degree.
• Required Courses: Core Knowledge(0–12 hours)—IDS 517, 520, and 521. Each course may be substituted by an elective course if the student has equivalent prior course work or work experience.
• Capstone Project Experience(4 hours)—IDS 507, 508, or 596. To be taken only after the completion of at least two Core Knowledge courses.
• IS Management (4 hours)—IDS 514, 515, or 523.
• Technical Prerequisites (0–12 hours)—IDS 401, 405, and 410. Each course may be waived based on equivalent prior course work or appropriate work experience in the technical area. These courses will not count towards the minimum degree requirement of 32 hours.
• Business Prerequisites (0–12 hours)—Two introductory courses in any two functional areas of business: operations management, IDS 355 or 532; accounting, ACTG 110, 111, or 500; finance, FIN 300 or 500; marketing, MKTG 360 or 500; or management, MGMT 340 or 541. Each course may be waived based on equivalent prior course work or appropriate work experience in the functional area. These courses will not count towards the minimum degree requirement of 32 hours.
• Electives: Three to five courses chosen with the approval of the director of graduate studies. Courses from other departments and colleges may be taken as electives with his or her approval. These courses may be chosen so as to fit career tracks in IS Consulting, Auditing and Forensics, Corporate IS Management, Supply Chain and Service Operations, Business Analytics, Enterprise Applications or IS operations.
• Comprehensive Examination None.
• Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Course work only. No other options are available.

MBA/MS in Management Information Systems

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 70.
• Course Work All requirements of both the MBA degree and the MS in MIS must be satisfied. At most 4 courses may be counted toward the requirements of both degrees. The MBA Core courses will fulfill the Business Prerequisites of the MS in MIS program. Technical prerequisites may not be used to satisfy any part of the eight-course requirement for the MS in MIS part of the joint program. No more than two 400-level courses can be counted toward the MS in MIS portion of the degree.
• MBA Required Courses: Core Courses (24 hours)—ACTG 500, ECON 520, FIN 500, IDS 532, MGMT 541, and MKTG 500.
• MBA Electives: 16 hours of 500-level courses from at least two departments within the College of Business Administration.
• MS in MIS Required Courses: Core Knowledge (0–12 hours)—IDS 517, 520, and 521. Each course may be substituted by an elective course if the student has equivalent prior course work or experience.
• Capstone Project Experience (4 hours)—IDS 507, 508, or 596. To be taken only after the completion of at least two Core Knowledge courses.
• IS Management (4 hours)—IDS 514, 515, or 523.
• Technical Prerequisites (0–12 hours)—IDS 401, 405, and 410. Each course may be waived based on equivalent prior course work or appropriate work experience in the technical area. These courses will not count towards the MS in MIS degree requirement of 32 hours. However, these or their equivalent courses may be counted towards a concentration or specialization in the MBA program.
• Business Prerequisites (0 hours)—This requirement will be fulfilled by the MBA core courses.
• Electives: Three to five courses chosen with the approval of the director of graduate studies. Courses from other departments and colleges may be taken as electives with his or her approval. These courses may be chosen so as to fit career tracks in IS Consulting, Auditing and Forensics, Corpo-rate IS Management, Supply Chain and Service Operations, Business Analytics, Enterprise Applications or IS operations.
• Comprehensive Examination None.
• Thesis, Project, or Course-Work-Only Options Course work only. No other options are available.

Doctor of Philosophy

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate, 64 from MBA, MS in MIS, MSA, or a business-related master’s degree; including between 24 and 32 hours of dissertation research.
• Course Work Breadth Requirement: Two introductory courses in any two functional areas of business (for example, IDS 532; ACTG 500; ECON 520, 521; FIN 500; MKTG 500; or MGMT 541). These courses will not count toward the 64-semester-hour requirement for entrants with a master’s degree.
• Technical Requirement: IDS 401, 405, and 410. Each course may be waived based on equivalent prior course work or appropriate work experience in the technical area. These courses will not count towards the 64-semester-hour requirement for entrants with a master’s degree.
• Basic Competency: IDS 517, 520, and 521. Each course may be waived based on equivalent prior course work or appropriate work experience in the technical area.
• MIS Specialization: Minimum of 6 courses (24 semester hours), including two IDS Research Seminars (IDS 529), three specialized courses in areas of individual interest, IS research topics (IDS 525), and additional courses in consultation with the director of the PhD program.
• Research Methods: 3–4 courses (12–16 semester hours), including statistical methods in research, behavioral research methods overview, quantitative methods in research, and additional courses to be decided in consultation with the director of the PhD program.
• Examinations Annual Evaluation: An evaluation will be held at the end of the spring semester each year that the student is in the program. The evaluation will be conducted by a committee, which will include the PhD director as the chairperson, the student’s mentor, and the entire IDS faculty who taught the student during that year. The committee will administer a written exam each year until the student passes the preliminary examination; it will determine the type and scope of the exam.
• Preliminary Examination: A written and/or oral exam, addressing advanced material in the area of inquiry and/or the student’s plans for dissertation research, is required.
• Dissertation A dissertation demonstrating the ability to conduct original, scholarly research is required. No more than 32 hours of doctoral thesis research can be applied to the degree.
• Other Requirements Students must serve as a teaching assistant or research assistant. This requirement may be waived for students with appropriate teaching or research experience.