Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MS-MIS)

Prerequisites

All MS-MIS applicants must have either (a) 2 years of technology-related work experience OR (b) an undergraduate degree in information technology, computer science or related field.

Work experience is considered technology-related if an applicant uses specialized technologies (such as ERP systems, analytical systems, etc.) or manages technologies to achieve strategic goals. All applicants should have a basic understanding of programming languages, database concepts, and software analysis and design.

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Schedule

Fall Entry

MAR 5957 Global Business Seminar is available as a flex course option, but it is available in summer and spring semesters only.

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Spring Entry

MAR 5957 Global Business Seminar is available as a flex course option, but it is available in summer and spring semesters only. 

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Summer Entry

MAR 5957 Global Business Seminar is available as a flex course option, but it is available in summer and spring semesters only.

As an MS-MIS student you take a core set of courses aimed at strengthening your technical skills and business knowledge. You may also round out your degree with courses that either build your specialized expertise in a specific business focus or choose from a slate of courses that will prepare you for your career. 

Students have the option to customize their MS-MIS by choosing 9 credit hours (3 courses) of electives in one of the following specializations. To learn more about each course, please visit the “Course Descriptions” tab. 

Business Administration
The Business Administration specialization is great for students without an undergraduate degree in business or those wanting to refresh their business skills. This specialization allows you to customize your coursework by selecting from a group of business and management classes offered across multiple disciplines.

Choose three online courses from the following: 

• BUL 5810 The Legal & Ethical Environment of Business
• MAN 5245 Organizational Behavior
• MAN 5501 Production and Operations Management
• MAN 5716 Business Conditions Analysis
• MAN 5721 Strategy and Business Policy

Healthcare Management
The college's newest specialization in Healthcare Management prepares students for business-related aspects of medical industries, including financing, insurance markets, talent acquisition and management, regulations, and legal and ethical principles.

Online courses include:

• BUL 5609 – Healthcare Law and Ethics
• MAN 5099 – Healthcare Staffing
• RMI 5745 – Healthcare Financing

 
Marketing
The Marketing specialization builds the high-demand skill set companies seeking to successfully create value within an organization. Whether students plan to pursue a career in a service-focused organization or aspire to use big data to inform managerial decisions, the specialization offers a curriculum designed to help students land their dream job.

Choose three online courses from the following:

• MAR 5409 Business to Business Sales and Marketing 
• MAR 5625 Marketing Research 
• MAR 5849 Services Marketing 
• MAR 5861 Customer Relationship Management 
• MAR 5125 Marketing Strategy in the Global Environment

 
Real Estate
The Real Estate specialization prepares students for the substantial and growing demand for advanced training in real estate finance and investment. Institutional investors, investment banks, private equity firms, portfolio lenders and other service providers are expanding their opportunities in real estate investment, lending, asset management, valuation, brokerage and other services. These posts offer higher-than-average compensation in the high-growth area of business and financial operations. Recent real estate program graduates have accepted positions at companies such as CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., MetLife Investment Management, Prudential Real Estate Investment, Starwood Capital, USAA Real Estate, Voya Investment Management and Wells Fargo. 

Online courses include: 

• REE 5105 Real Estate Valuation
• REE 5205 Real Estate Finance 
• REE 5305 Real Estate Investment 

 
Risk Management and Insurance
The RMI specialization develops a student's ability to analyze difficult financial, ethical, legal and global from different perspectives. It fosters critical thinking and enhances the discipline needed in today's RMI market. This program equips professionals to shape an industry that evolves with the world around it. 

Choose three courses from one of the following two tracks: 

Life and Health Track

• RMI 5257 Data Analytics in Risk Management & Insurance
• RMI 5136 Employee Benefit Plans
• RMI 5745 Health Care Financing
• RMI 5810 Personal Financial Planning
   

Property and Casualty Track

• RMI 5007 Insurance Fundamentals
• RMI 5257 Data Analytics in Risk Management and Insurance 
• RMI 5345 Risk Management in the Business Enterprise
• RMI 5710 Insurance Company Operations
   

*FSU's MS-MIS diplomas do not note specializations, but graduates are encouraged to share their earned expertise on their resumes and digital profiles for professional networking websites such as LinkedIn.

The following items should be submitted through the Florida State Graduate Application portal, available exclusively online at admissions.fsu.edu/gradapp:

• Applicant Statement 
• An up-to-date resume, clearly indicating work experience including dates and positions held, as well as noting full-time or part-time employment
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from employers or former college professors that speak specifically to the applicant’s ability to successfully complete the program (submitted by the recommenders in the online application)
• Florida Residency Declaration if applicable
• Nonrefundable application fee of $30.00 (see University Application or go to fees.fsu.edu)

The following items should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office, 222 S. Copeland St./314 Westcott Building, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1410 or to graduateadmissions@fsu.edu:

• One (1) official transcript from all colleges and universities attended (FSU transcripts are not necessary for FSU alumni, students)
• Official test scores, if applicable:
  • GMAT or GRE scores are optional and should be submitted if they will enhance the application. Any submitted test scores become part of the application. The code to send GMAT scores to Florida State is PN8K567, and the code to send GRE scores is 5219.

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International applicants

International applicants should visit gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/international-admissions for information concerning financial responsibilities, degree equivalency, etc. International applicants are responsible for submitting the below documents in addition to the checklist items in the previous section.

English Language Proficiency Exam
International applicants whose native language is not English or who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree in an English-speaking country are required to take an English Language Proficiency exam and submit official test results in order to be admitted to Florida State University. The College of Business accepts all of the following examinations taken within the past two (2) years:

•    Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): a minimum score of 600 on the paper-based test and 100 on the internet-based test (FSU institution code 5219)
•    International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS): minimum score of 7
•    Pearson Test of English (PTE): minimum score of 66
•    Duolingo: minimum score of 120
•    Cambridge C1 Advanced Level: minimum score of 180
•    Michigan Language Assessment: minimum score of 55

Transcript Evaluation Requirement
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires all international students to submit an official course-by-course evaluation of all academic records from non-U.S. institutions prior to application review. This verifies degree equivalency and serves in place of additional official or unofficial transcripts. This evaluation must be done by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES): www.naces.org. FSU offers a partnership with The Evaluation Company (formerly SpanTran), our preferred credential evaluation service, which allows a streamlined process at a discounted rate. More information about this process is available after you submit the first part of your graduate application.

Estimated program costs for the 2024-2025 academic year

The MS-MIS program requires 33 credit hours. Below are estimated costs for the 2024-2025 academic year:

All students pay the same market rate of $750.00 per credit hour regardless of residence.  In addition, students will be responsible for applicable fees per credit hour as listed below:

• Florida Residents: $750 per credit hour (market rate); $30.18 per credit hour (fee). Total program cost is $780.18 per credit hour for 33 credit hours: $25,745.94.
• Non-Florida Residents: $750 per credit hour (market rate); $60.24 per credit hour (fee). Total program cost is $810.24 per credit hour for 33 credit hours: $26,737.92.

Note: Costs do not include required books and supplies for courses and are subject to change.

Core classes

ISM 5021 Information and Technology Management
Examines a range of topics that present managerial challenges unique to technology-oriented environments. Topics include new technology convergence, the management of technology that disrupts existing industries, measuring new technology impacts, and business continuity planning, among others.

ISM 5123 Systems Analysis & Design
In this course, students learn about the particular MIS perspective on systems development and its life cycle, from the birth of a new information system to its death and replacement. In addition, students learn about the tools, techniques, and methodologies used by systems analysts to develop information systems in organizations.

ISM 5206 Database Development & Management
This course is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the major issues underlying the organizational utilization of databases and database management systems. Theoretical, conceptual and practical concerns in the design and implementation of database systems are discussed. Organizational concerns in database use are highlighted through the use of case studies.

ISM 5315 Project Management
Designed to be relevant for all professions confronting project-related tasks, with particular attention given to the information systems context. Course content includes an overview of the foundation and supporting knowledge areas of project management, with emphasis on the systemic nature of project management.

ISM 5327 Corporate Information Security
This course examines corporate information security from several perspectives. Differences in security of physical versus digital assets are considered. Sources of security threats are identified. Solutions involving technology, people, and policy are examined, as well as proper responses to attacks on digital assets.

ISM 5404 Business Intelligence
Advances in computing technologies have greatly enhanced our ability to collect and store large amounts of data, i.e. big data. Yet, corporations today are said to be data rich but knowledge poor. This course will introduce state-of-the-art Business Intelligence and Analytics techniques to discover knowledge from massive data sets using a hands-on approach. Students will have a chance to apply such techniques on real-world data sets in various domains, including finance, healthcare, commerce and sports in order to produce actionable intelligence for enhanced managerial decision making.

ISM 5428 Knowledge Management
Overview of knowledge management concepts and use of technology to provide business intelligence necessary for organizations to function effectively in dynamic business environments.

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Elective courses

All elective courses listed below are not offered every semester. MS‐MIS students receive a list of approved MBA and specialty master’s electives each semester from their academic advisor.

ACG 5026 Financial Reporting and Managerial Control
This course provides a basic understanding of accounting systems and the financial statements to lay a foundation for financial statement analysis. The course also provides a basic understanding of cost systems and controls to lay a foundation for organizational control. (Take before FIN 5425)

BUL 5609 Healthcare Law and Ethics
This course exposes students to the basic concepts of law as applied to health care. The focus is on the application and analysis of legal and ethical principles. 

BUL 5810 The Legal & Ethical Environment of Business
An introduction to the legal, political and social institutions which affect business activity, with an emphasis on public law and governmental regulation. Landmark legislation and judicial decisions will be examined.

FIN 5425 Problems in Financial Management
An advanced case course including an in-depth study into selected topics such as valuation theory and the investment, financing, and dividend decisions of the firm. (Prerequisite: ACG 5026)

FIN 5515 Investment Management & Analysis
Analysis of financial assets with emphasis on the securities market, the valuation of individual securities, and portfolio management. (Prerequisite: FIN 5425)

MAN 5099 Staffing in Healthcare Organizations
This course focuses on key issues associated with staffing healthcare organizations, including theoretical and practical issues in areas such as workforce planning, job analysis, clinical and non-clinical recruitment/assessment/selection, succession and career planning, and legal issues specific to healthcare organizations. Discussion of these areas will be framed in the context of an evidence-based approach to workforce planning and talent management.

MAN 5245 Organizational Behavior
A dynamic examination of managerial concepts of human behavior in work organizations. Topics include motivation, leadership, reward systems, training, recruiting, selection, and job design.

MAN 5501 Production and Operations Management
Develops a conceptual framework which is useful in describing the nature of the operations function, with emphasis on identifying basic problems in managing the operations of an organization.

MAN 5716 Business Conditions Analysis
A combination of statistics and managerial economics designed to illustrate statistical methods and techniques by applying them to basic managerial issues using elementary calculus and basic statistical programs (Excel and SAS) for regressions, testing hypotheses, and applying other statistical methods to important issues in managerial economics. Also, problems of managing the firm in relation to the changing economic environment; analysis of major business fluctuations and development of forecasting techniques.

MAN 5721 Strategy and Business Policy
The relation between theories and practices of management, utilizing theories in policy decision making and including a methodology for policy decision making.

MAR 5125 Marketing Strategy in the Global Environment
This course examines the business- level marketing strategy in the context of global markets and uses the marketing-planning process as a framework for understanding how global environments, markets, and institutions affect the strategic marketing operations of the global business enterprise.

MAR 5409 Business-to-Business Sales and Marketing
This course focuses on building and managing relationships with business customers. It will cover business-to-business management issues, with an emphasis on topics at the mid-to-upper management level. Specific strategic marketing issues include problems and opportunities that leverage an understanding of the entire supply chain. Sales will deal primarily with complex, large/key account management and customer relations. Sales management issues will concentrate on managing a sales force focused on complex accounts.

MAR 5465 Purchasing and Supply Chain Management
The purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of the ideas and concepts of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management function in organizational settings. Focus is placed on the development and management of relationships with world class suppliers in an e-business environment. The course will cover the importance of developing sourcing strategies through a global supply base. Specific concepts covered include: supplier selection & development; management of a strategic supply base; electronic commerce applications; logistics and inventory issues.

MAR 5625 Marketing Research
This course focuses on the tools, techniques, and procedures involved in the marketing research process, as well as the critical thinking skills necessary to interpret marketing research findings. In addition, the course covers major analytical techniques that are used in a variety of research settings in both marketing and general business.

MAR 5849 Services Marketing
In this class, you will be exposed to a new way of thinking about marketing. No longer are manufacturing processes, defects per one‐thousand, or logistics paramount. Services are different. We will discuss how they are different, why they are different, and what strategies result from these distinctions. We will cover why people are essential to service success, why expectations are important to service consumers, how the physical environment influences service delivery, and how services firms should recover from failure. You will also learn how quality is evaluated in service firms, why value is an essential deliverable, and what role loyalty has on the bottom line.

MAR 5861 Customer Relationship Management
This course focuses on strategies to develop and maintain continuing customer relationships. Customers are arguably the single most important stakeholder of any modern corporation. Firms must employ strategies to create, promote and retain customers over the long term. Customer relationships also are key to any corporation’s overall reputation and must be managed in concert with other key stakeholder relationships.

MAR 5957 Global Business Seminar
This course consists of on-campus class meetings and an international trip to an overseas destination. On campus meetings help students understand the related international business theories as well as the inhibiting and opportunity-offering roles of local cultures in international business. The international trip is to gain access to the best business practices of world-class multinational firms in the destination city. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours. Duplicate registration allowed within the same term. Available in spring and summer only.

REE 5105 Real Estate Valuation
This course provides an advanced treatment of real estate valuation analysis. This includes a description of valuation procedures, identification of highest and best use, application of real property valuation methods, and emerging topics of special interest.

REE 5205 Real Estate Finance
This course provides an advanced treatment of topics fundamental to real estate finance. The course topics are presented in units that range from pricing mortgages to the lending process to the secondary mortgage. Topics include a discussion of primary and secondary mortgage markets, mortgage market operations, mortgage instruments and mortgage-related securities. Emerging topics of special interest are also discussed.

REE 5305 Real Estate Investment
Focused on the topic of real estate investment analysis primarily from the private investor's (equity) perspective, this course introduces students to the analytical tools and procedures used to evaluate real estate investment opportunities.

RMI 5007 Insurance Fundamentals
This course will develop concepts such as time value of money, statistical analysis, information technology, and management of risk exposure.

RMI 5136 Employee Benefit Plans
Managerial approach to employee benefit plans such as group insurance and pensions with in-depth consideration given to funding instruments and variety among plans.

RMI 5257 Data Analytics in Risk Management and Insurance
This course focuses on the use of data and analytical tools in the insurance industry. A set of tools is developed for analyzing the types of data used by insurers across various functions including loss estimation, loss reserving, underwriting, and claims. Topics will include exploring traditional and new sources of data, legal and ethical considerations, and challenges associated with forecasting and making inferences in the context of risk and uncertainty

RMI 5345 Risk Management in the Business Enterprise
Application of the risk management process, including risk control and risk financing techniques, to business risk management problems.

RMI 5710 Insurance Company Operations
Covers the fundamentals of risk, the management of pure risk, insurance mechanisms, insurer operations and the evolution of risk management. Additional focus will be giving the market trends, regulation, and new trends in risk financing.

RMI 5745 Healthcare Financing
An introduction to public and private health insurance and benefits plans. Students will learn about private insurance plans and federal and state financing programs (e.g., Medicare Medicaid/SCHIP, FEHBP). The course will cover forms of employer-sponsored coverage, including self-funded and fully insured, managed care plans, and understanding the implications of private vs. public forms of insurance coverage. Topics include payer and provider incentives for cost management, access to care, health plan strategies, regulatory and legal considerations pertaining to eligibility and coverage, the use of cost-containment mechanisms, case management, and quality and accountability.

RMI 5810 Personal Financial Planning
Analyzes loss exposures facing individuals and families, basic personal-lines property-liability insurance (auto and homeowners), individual life, health and disability insurance, and individual/family financial planning.