Curriculum
The academic environment at the Smith School is rigorous. As an MS in Information Systems student, you are required to complete a total of 30 credit hours in a 10 or 16 month plan. The course requirements are as follows:
Core Courses (all courses are required; 18 credits total)
- BUDT 758N: Business Process Analysis for Information Systems
- BUDT 758Y: Database Management Systems
- BUDT 758Z: Data Networks & Infrastructures
- BUSI 621: Strategic and Transformational IT
- BUSI 622: Managing Digital Business Markets
- BUSI 758B: Data Models for Decisions
- BUSI 785: Project Management in Dynamic Environments
Selectives (choose two of the following three courses; 6 credits total)
- BUDT 758K: Computer Simulation for Business Applications
- BUDT 758P: Decision Analytics
- BUDT758T: Data Mining
Selectives (choose one of the following two courses; 3 credits)
- BUDT 758F: Google Analytics
- BUDT 758B: Big Data
Electives (3 credits)
- Selections vary
Registration
Registration will take place in early-June. MS students have a pre-determined set of courses that they will take each semester. These core courses will build the foundation of the curriculum in the Smith MS program.
Books
Students typically order their books and coursepacks during the first week in August. Once you are registered for your courses, a Canvas site will be available for you to view. This site will list any required textbooks on the syllabus. Students can also locate their books at the University Book Center (UBC) in Stamp Student Union. The UBC also allows you to pre-order your books based on your course schedule.
More information regarding purchasing textbooks will be available during the registration period.
Policies and Procedures
Policy on Academic Standards
All graduate students are expected to be in good standing in order to maintain enrollment in the MS program. Good standing is defined as a 3.0 GPA. MS students with an overall GPA below 3.0 at anytime will be academically dismissed and any current registration will be canceled.
Grading System
|
Grade |
GPA |
|
A+ |
4.0 |
|
A |
4.0 |
|
A- |
3.7 |
|
B+ |
3.3 |
|
B |
3.0 |
|
B- |
2.7 |
|
C+ |
2.3 |
|
C |
2.0 |
|
C- |
1.7 |
|
D+ |
1.3 |
|
D |
1.0 |
|
D- |
0.7 |
|
F |
0.0 |
|
A+, A |
above standard; exceeds expectations (4.0) |
|
A-, B+, B |
satisfactory in all respects; meets expected standards (3.7 - 3.0) |
|
B-, C+, C, C- |
below standard but earns graduate credit (2.7 - 1.7) |
|
D+, D, D- |
poor; no credit earned - course must be repeated (1.3 - 1.0) |
|
F |
failure; no credit earned (0.0) |
|
I |
incomplete; up to faculty to use in special circumstances; (Terms are established between the faculty and students to complete the work, with a grade being given no later than one semester after the "I" was received. Students on academic probation may not receive an "I.") |
Campus Advisor
Your Advisor from the Masters Programs Office will begin sending you email communications in June. Your Advisor will provide assistance with registration, orientation, course scheduling, graduation, quality of instruction, and academic progression. Contact information for your Campus Advisor will be available in June.
Academic Integrity
The Smith School recognizes honesty and integrity as necessary cornerstones to the pursuit of excellence in academic and professional business activities. Ultimately, the viability of a business depends on the integrity and the capabilities of its members. Thus, the Smith community embraces and supports the code of academic integrity administered by the student honor council in preparing its future leaders to uphold the highest ethical standards in academic, professional and personal endeavors. Students should familiarize themselves with the honor code and policies regarding cheating on exams, unauthorized collusion on assignments, and plagiarism before beginning classes.
Student Honor Council at the University of Maryland: http://shc.umd.edu/SHC/Default.aspx.