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Program Mission, Goals and Outcomes

Program Mission

The mission of the MSIT program is designed for information technology professionals who want to advance their technical and managerial knowledge, enhanced with the education and experience needed for a leadership role in the IT industry. The program emphasizes the relevance of continuous learning to personal and professional growth through the combination of advanced technical courses and an integrated leadership and management core. Coursework highlights the relationship between IT and business as students utilize technology to improve business processes and help achieve and organization’s strategic goals. Students receive the technical and managerial education to be successful leaders in the IT industry, both now and well into the future.

Program Goals

1. Leadership and Management: Effectively and ethically lead information technology projects using sound financial reasoning and management skills, understanding and supporting the organization’s goals and its connection to society.
2. Security, Infrastructure and Applications: Design and adapt a scalable, secure corporate information technology infrastructure and applications that support specific organizational needs for a given business model while allowing for reasonable future growth of the corporate environment.
3. Data and Analytics: Identify, organize and analyze the informational needs of an organization using current data warehousing and analytics tools and determine suitable implementation and integration strategies, utilizing cloud services when appropriate.
4. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Bring together problem predicting, detecting, and solving skills with logically structured critical thinking to develop flexible solutions to business problems with robust information technology components.
5. Professional Growth: Develop an appreciation for professional development and life-long learning and the character to encourage these qualities in others.

Program Outcomes

Successful graduates of the advanced degree program will be able to successfully demonstrate each of the following learning outcomes.

1. Design and adapt scalable secure corporate networks and applications that support the specific organizational needs, for a given business model while allowing for reasonable changes to the corporate environment.
2. Identify, organize and analyze the informational needs of an organization using current data warehousing and analytics tools.
3. Effectively manage Information Technology projects using sound financial reasoning and project management skills, understanding and supporting the organization and its connection to society.
4. Apply skills in problem predicting, detecting, and solving, and thinking logically, flexibly and critically about business problems with strong Information Technology components.
5. Develop an appreciation for professional development and life-long learning and the character to encourage these qualities in others.

×ö°®ÊÓƵ Course Catalog

×ö°®ÊÓƵ is proud to offer a modern, practical, immersive curriculum for our unique degree programs. Our career-focused education brings learning to life.

×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech’s Master’s of Information Technology program prepares graduates for leadership and management in the complex technical environment of today’s evolving organizational IT needs. The curriculum includes topics in technology that are critical to IT in the enterprise such as network architecture, information system security, cloud computing, software architecture, data warehousing and analytics. Integrated with the technical curriculum are essential topics in business leadership and management, such as advanced project management, contracts and law, leadership, finance and professional ethics.

The Information Technology Degree program offers the following courses:

• Advanced Project Management
• Leadership
• Managerial Finance
• Technology and the Law
• Network Infrastructure and Design
• Data Warehousing and Data Analytics
• Software Architecture and User Interface Design
•  Information Systems Security
• Cloud Computing
• IT Professional Ethics

Topics covered during the Information Technology master’s degree program:

• Information Systems
• Data Analysis
• Software Development
• Software Engineering
• Technology Management
• Database Management Systems
• Data Management
• Network Management
• Security Threats
• Cybersecurity
• Computer Science

Q&A and Technical Standards

Questions & Answers

1. When do my classes meet?
   If you choose the on-campus course option, your course will meet in the evening, once a week from 6:30-10 p.m. Classes will usually take place at the main campus in East Greenwich, RI.At the beginning of each term you will receive a detailed schedule giving the exact time and location of all your classes. The university requires that all students be prepared to take classes and receive services at any of ×ö°®ÊÓƵ’s locations where the appropriate classes and services are offered.Classes cancelled by the university for any reason will be rescheduled.
2. How large will my classes be?The average size for a class is about 15 to 20 students; however, larger and smaller classes occur from time to time.
3. Where do my classes meet?On-campus courses meet on the East Greenwich campus. A couple of courses may be offered online.
4. Will all or some of my classes be online?You will have the opportunity to choose courses that are online or on-campus. You can mix them up any way you like to create a schedule that works for you and fits into your personal and professional life. The entire program can be completed completely online, though on-campus options exist for most courses as well.
5. How do online courses work?Online courses at ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech are crafted by a faculty-led team of learning and technology design experts to be interesting, relevant and engaging, and to have real impact on students in their lives and on their careers. They are not self-paced courses – you will have coursework to do every week and it is important to keep up.You can do your coursework at any time of day. At times, there may be synchronous online meetings, but these will not happen often. You will be learning as part of a connected community that provides support, challenges your thinking, and reminds you that you are not alone. Instructors are present in the course and work with students to help them be successful. See Online Learning at ×ö°®ÊÓƵ for more information about online courses in the MSIT program.
6. I’m not so sure about online courses. What do I need to do to be successful?×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech Online courses help acclimate you to the technology and build your skills and your confidence as you go. We provide 24×7 support via phone, email or chat to help you with computer or online system issues. Tablet computers can be useful for doing course readings, watching course videos, and catching up on course discussions; but a tablet will not be sufficient for doing all your coursework – be sure you have regular access to a laptop or desktop computer.Most importantly, you’ll need to set aside time to do your coursework. This program is challenging. In an online course, you should expect to spend as much time as you’d spend in the classroom for an on-campus course, plus time for reading, projects, group work and other assignments.
7. What are the hardware and software requirements for the program?
   

   	Recommended Minimum
   Operating System:	Windows 10 or Macintosh OS X (10.14)
   Processor:	2+ GHz
   Memory:	4GB
   Plug-ins:	Adobe PDF Reader, Flash Adobe PDF Reader, Flash and others as required by specific courses
   Players:	QuickTime, Java Player, Java
   Browser:	Chrome, IE, Safari, Edge, Firefox (all latest versions)
   Display:	1024×768
   Software:	Office 365 (2016)
   Internet Connection:	FiOS/DSL/CABLE DSL/CABLE
   Email Account:	×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech student email account
   Sound Card:	Required
   Other (some programs):	• A webcam (the one built into your laptop or iPad should be fine) • A microphone (built into the computer or headset is handy). • A digital camera (the one on a smart phone is fine).

   Online students must be capable of installing and maintaining their own computer’s hardware and software. ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech does not assist students with the setup of their computers.

   Information about obtaining the software (if any) will be made available to you at the start of each course.

   Note: Tablets and smartphones can be convenient for reading course materials and email but will not be sufficient for doing all of your course work.

8. How long is each academic term?Courses at ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech are 10-weeks long, with four terms offered per year, starting in January, April, July, and October.
9. How long should it take me to complete my program?To complete your degree requirements in the shortest possible time, you should take the courses outlined in the prescribed curriculum.  For a typical six-term curriculum a student may complete the requirements in as little as 18 months.
10. Is ×ö°®ÊÓƵ accredited?×ö°®ÊÓƵ is accredited by the ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Commission of Higher Education. Accreditation by NECHE is recognized by the federal government and entitles ×ö°®ÊÓƵ to participate in federal financial aid programs. Some academic departments have specialized professional accreditations in addition to accreditation by NECHE. For more information on accreditation, see ×ö°®ÊÓƵ’s catalog.
11. Can I transfer the credits that I earn at ×ö°®ÊÓƵ to another college?The transferability of a course is always up to the institution to which the student is transferring. Students interested in the transferability of their credits should contact the Office of Teaching and Learning for further information.
12. Can I transfer credits earned at another college to ×ö°®ÊÓƵ?Transfer credit for appropriate courses taken at accredited institutions will be considered for courses in which the student has earned a “B” or above. An official transcript from the other institution must be received before the end of the first week of the term for transfer credit to be granted for courses to be taken during that term. Students will receive a tuition reduction for the approved IT courses based on the program rate and will be applied against the final academic term of the curriculum’s tuition amount. No tuition credit is provided for technical courses which are not a part of the curriculum.Students may transfer no more than 4 credits (one course).
13. How many credits do I need to acquire my Financial Aid?Students entering the MSIT program will be eligible for various forms of financial aid, including loans, if they take at least 4 credits per term. You can find tuition and fee information on the program Tuition and Financial Aid page.
14. What does my program cost?The cost of your program will be as outlined in your enrollment agreement, along with your cost for books and other course materials. You can find tuition and fee information on the program Tuition and Financial Aid page.
15. What kind of employment assistance does ×ö°®ÊÓƵ offer?The Career Services Office assists ×ö°®ÊÓƵ students and graduates in all aspects of the job search, including resume writing, interviewing skills, and developing of a job search strategy. Upon completion of their program, graduates may submit a resume to the Career Services Office to be circulated to employers for employment opportunities in their fields.  Employers regularly contact us about our graduates.  In addition, our Career Services Office contacts employers to develop job leads. A strong relationship with employers exists as a result of our training students to meet the needs of industry for over fifty years. No school can, and ×ö°®ÊÓƵ does not, guarantee to its graduates’ employment or a specific starting salary.
16. Where will job opportunities exist?Graduates have obtained employment in the local area. However, one of the most exciting aspects of this program is the ability to look nationally for employment opportunities.Graduates will have the depth of confidence and the technical and managerial education to successfully lead in the IT industry, both now and well into the future. Successful graduates may be able to advance their careers by qualifying for positions such as Project Manager, Network Manager, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Technical Officer (CTO), Business Analyst or Systems Integrator.
17. Do I need a computer science or information technology degree to enter the program?Yes. A B.S. degree in computer science, information technology or a related field from an accredited institution is required for before beginning this degree program. You may enroll in this program pending the completion of your current BS degree. Significant professional experience may be considered in lieu of an appropriate degree. A transcript and/or a resume should be supplied to satisfy either of these requirements.
18. What are the admissions requirements to the Master’s program?A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with a minimum GPA of 2.5, is required for admission to this degree program.  You may enroll in this program pending the completion of your current bachelor’s degree.  Successful applicants will typically have a B.S. degree in computer science, information technology or a related field, or have considerable professional experience in IT. A transcript and/or a resume should be supplied to satisfy either of these requirements.You’ll also provide a Personal Statement as part of your admission process – a brief essay that details your qualifications and interest in the program and how it will enable you to accomplish your professional goals.
19. Do I need to maintain a certain grade point average?Yes. You are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 throughout the program. The minimum passing grade for a course in the MSIT program is a C (73%).
20. What happens if I earn less than a C in a course?Students who earn less than a C in any course will be required to re-take the course the next time it is offered.  If the student does not earn a C or better in a course after the second attempt, he/she will be dismissed from the MSIT program.  Students will only be allowed to re-take two courses.
21. For whom is this program designed?The ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech Master of Science in Information Technology is designed to prepare IT professionals for advancement into management and senior management roles. The program builds essential knowledge of technical themes in enterprise IT, while also providing the core business administration, management and leadership skills that IT managers need.
22. What makes ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech’s MSIT program different from others?
    • A curriculum that balances crucial enterprise IT knowledge with mastery of business and management skills preparing you to be an IT leader in your organization.
    • Our curriculum builds a long-term, adaptable base of leadership skills to fuel your career advancement.
    • Our faculty are practitioners from the field: leading experts from top IT employers in the public and the private sectors.
    • Ten-week long courses keep you focused and are easier to digest, and enable you to finish your Master’s degree in as little as 18 months.
    • 24×7 technical support by email, chat or phone helps you work on your schedule.

Technical Standards

These technical standards set forth by the IT department establish the essential qualifications considered necessary for students admitted to the program.  The successful student must possess the following skills and abilities or be able to demonstrate they can complete the requirements of the program with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

Cognitive Ability

• Good reasoning and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to learn, remember and recall detailed information and to use it for problem solving.
• Ability to deal with materials and problems such as organizing or reorganizing information.
• Ability to use abstractions in specific concrete situations.
• Ability to separate complex information into its component parts.
• Ability to perform tasks by observing demonstrations.
• Ability to perform tasks by following written instructions.
• Ability to perform tasks following verbal instructions.
• Possession of basic keyboarding skills and knowledge of computer programs.

Communications Skills

• Ability to speak in understandable English in a classroom situation on a one-on-one basis as well as before a group.
• Ability to communicate effectively with faculty and other students.
• Ability to demonstrate and use the knowledge acquired during the classroom training process.
• Ability to verbally express technical concepts clearly and distinctly.
• Ability to express thoughts clearly.

Adaptive Ability

• Ability to remain calm in the face of computer lab equipment and/or software failure.
• Ability to maintain emotional stability and the maturity necessary to interact with members of the faculty and students in a responsible manner.
• Ability to tolerate the differences in all students, faculty, and administration.
• Ability to follow instructions and complete tasks under stressful and demanding conditions.
• Ability to adapt in a positive manner to new and changing situations with an open mind and flexibility.
• Ability to think clearly and act quickly and appropriately in stressful situations.

Physical Ability

• Ability to sit continuously at a personal computer for long periods of time in order to learn and become proficient in computer programming and networking.
• Ability to perform learned skills independently, with accuracy and completeness within reasonable time frames in accordance with classroom and business procedures.

Manual Ability

• Sufficient motor function and sensory abilities to participate effectively in the classroom laboratory.
• Sufficient manual dexterity and motor coordination to coordinate hands, eyes and fingers in the operation of computers and business equipment.

Sensory Ability

• Visual
  • Acute enough to see clearly and interpret the contents on the computer screen.

Get Ready to Lead

Online or On-Campus Program

Designed for working professionals who are ready to take on higher-level leadership positions, the graduate degree programs at ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech offer accelerated, immersive, specialized knowledge that gives you what you need for your next savvy career move. Each of our graduate programs shares an advanced technical curriculum, with a strong, integrated management core for which ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech is renowned. Take your leadership to a whole new level and be a change agent in your industry.

Our approach to online learning at ×ö°®ÊÓƵ Tech is different than most- we deliver an online curriculum in a hands-on way. This means our coursework is built in practice, not theory. Your case studies will be real-time, real-life situations, and you will actively engage with peers and faculty to create plans and solve problems together.

We believe that our graduates are our colleagues because, throughout their studies, they have forged relationships with peers and faculty members, all who are current, active experts in their respective industry. Our graduates leave with an edge over most due to the networking opportunities that exist due to our industry-expert faculty, and the instructional designers that helped create our curriculum.