We live in a world of “big data,” where the sheer quantity and complexity of information has reached unprecedented scales. Advances in information technology (e.g. mobile devices, sensors, computers, communication networks) make it possible to continuously capture, transmit, and store large amounts of raw data – and these advances are expanding daily, in nearly every industry. Hidden within these digital assets lie opportunities for revolutionizing how organizations do business, from reinventing the consumer experience, to improving operating efficiencies, to increasing profitability.  Moreover, the use of data for modeling, simulation, and analysis spans a number of different industries such as communications, digital media, healthcare, retail, energy, and government, to name a few.

In order to affect these kinds of macro-level changes, organizations are increasingly in need of individuals with the skill sets to transform terabytes, and in cases petabytes, of data into meaningful knowledge, and then apply this knowledge to real world problems.

Students in the M.S. in Information Systems program will develop the technical, analytic, business and contextual skills to identify and analyze large-scale, data-driven solutions within the 21st century organizations. For students interested in focusing on the unique challenges that face urban information systems such as transportation, energy, building performance, and public safety, a track in urban sustainability is available.

Career Prospects
Forecasts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirm the need for information professionals with these data-specific skills, and predict a 22% growth for IT-related jobs through 2018; and The Economist estimates that information management specifically is growing at nearly 10% per year. Graduates of the M.S. in Information Systems program will be prepared for a variety of technical positions such as Data Modeler, Information Systems Analyst, Quantitative Developer, Business Analyst, Software Engineer, and Data Scientist, in private-sector companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

Students who opt for the track in urban sustainability will be prepared for jobs that help make cities “smarter,” such as working on systems to reprogram the electricity grid, relieve traffic congestion, reduce building energy consumption. Furthermore, with climate change an issue that has moved to the forefront of both business and government agendas, there are rapidly expanding opportunities for individuals with the tools to develop complex sustainability solutions.

Admissions Criteria
For admission to the program, applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or another STEM field from an accredited institution, and have a GPA of 3.0 or better. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in statistics, calculus, and programming. At a minimum, students must have earned the equivalent of a B or better in the following courses:

• Undergraduate statistics for STEM majors,
• Undergraduate differential and integral calculus,
• Three upper-division undergraduate courses that make use of a higher-level programming language, and
• One undergraduate course in databases.

Proficiency in the above topics will be assessed in the admissions interview, which is required of all qualified applicants.

Program Requirements
To complete the degree, 36 credits are required, of which 24 credits are core courses and 12 credits are electives. For the urban sustainability track, at least 9 of the 12 electives must be in the track. To learn more about the curriculum, click here.

Program Contact
For more information about the program, contact 212.652.2869.