MS in Information Systems & AI

Fall 2026 Cohort 

The MS in Information Systems curriculum is 30 credits. Courses are subject to change.

Students join the Smith School with a variety of technical skills and educational and professional backgrounds. The resources below have been compiled to assist incoming new MS in Information Systems & AI students with preparing for their fall coursework.

All UMD students have unlimited complimentary access to LinkedIn Learning, an online library of >60,000 videos, courses, and career development paths focused on the latest software, creative, and business skills. 

View Recording of June 26 MS in Information Systems & AI Pre-Skills Student Chat

Required Software Installation 

MS in Information Systems & AI students must have the following software ready to use on their personal computers before the first day of class:

• Access to Excel via Office 365 (Office 365 - Student Installer . TERPware) 
• R & R Studio (access/download at https://www.rstudio.com/)

MS in Information Systems & AI students will also be utilizing the following software:

• Tableau (access/download at https://www.tableau.com/academic/students; free for academic use when using @umd.edu email address)
• Python (access/download at https://www.anaconda.com/download)
• Lumivero (formerly Palisades) Decision Tools Suite (including AMPL and @Risk; access at http://vsmith.umd.edu; can be downloaded to a Windows-compatible personal computer with code from instructor)
• SQL (access at http://vsmith.umd.edu)

Required Pre-Semester Online Asynchronous Modules 

First semester courses will focus on analytical principles to guide complex decision-making. A strong understanding of basic business math, basis statistics, and spreadsheet skills will be critical to successfully completing the semester. Students who do not already have a strong familiarity with these topics should complete the following before the first day of class:

• LinkedIn Learning: Statistics Foundations 1: The Basics 
• LinkedIn Learning: Statistics Foundations 2: Probability  
• LinkedIn Learning: Excel Essential Training
• LinkedIn Learning: R for Data Science: Analysis and Visualization

Required Pre-Semester Online Synchronous Workshops

Two online synchronous workshops are required for incoming MS in Information Systems & AI students who do not have prior experience with Python. 

Workshop 1: Getting Started with Python 
Date: Sunday, August 2 
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. 
Zoom link will be provided by email

Workshop 2: Python for Data Science
Date: Sunday, August 9
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. 
Zoom link will be provided by email

Required General Business Skills Modules

The following is required for students without an undergraduate business degree:

• Managerial Economics
• Developing a Competitive Strategy
• Marketing Foundations   

Additional Optional Assignments and Reading

Incoming students do not need to be proficient with all of these tools prior to the start of classes, however, having some prior experience could help them learn more effectively.

• Business Writing and Communications
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Ten Habits of Effective Communicators 
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Tips for Better Business Writing
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Communication within Teams 
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Speaking Confidently and Effectively 
• Tableau
  Access/download at https://www.tableau.com/academic/students; free for academic use when using @umd.edu email address
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Tableau Essential Training
• Power BI
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Power BI Essential Training
• Python 
  Access/download at https://www.anaconda.com/download (also available on vSmith at https://go.umd.edu/vsmith-setup) 
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Python Quick Start 
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Python Statistics Essential Training 
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: Advanced Python
  • Books
    • Python for Data Analytics: A Business-Oriented Approach (by Daniel H. Groner) 
    • Python for Data Analysis: Data Wrangling with Pandas, NumPy, and Jupyter, 3rd Edition (by Wes McKinney)
• SQL
  Access at http://vsmith.umd.edu
  • LinkedIn Learning Course: SQL Essential Training 
  • LinkedIn Learning Learning Path: Master SQL for Data Science
• R & R Studio 
  Access/download at https://www.rstudio.com/ 
  • LinkedIn Learning Learning Path: Getting Started with R for Data Science

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Failure to register within one week of receiving instructions may result in the termination of admission to the program. Please review all of the information on this page.

HOW TO REGISTER

Directory ID and password must be set BEFORE registration; see Directions for Setting Up Directory ID and Password.

Step 1: Go to Testudo (Office of the Registrar website)

http://www.testudo.umd.edu/
Click on: Registration (Drop/Add)
Enter Directory ID and Password
Select: Fall 2026

Step 2: Enter Registration Information

Testudo will not allow students to register for courses individually. Students must register for their required courses enrolling in a designated track (Track MB11 or MB12). To register for a track, enter the information below on the "Registration (Drop/Add)" screen on Testudo.

Track MB11:

Track MB12:

Click "Submit Changes" to complete registration.

Step 3: Confirm Courses

Click "View Schedule" to confirm registration based on the schedule below.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Track MB11 Schedule:

Track MB12 Schedule:

Most MSIS courses are completed in 7-week sessions referred to as "terms". Term A meets August throughw October, and Term B meets October through December; for specific dates, review the Academic Calendar.

Please direct questions to Leean Thomas. For general registration information, please see the Registration FAQ.

The course schedule is subject to change.

Tuition & Fee information, including due dates and residency information can be found at:

MS Tuition & Fees