• Apply for Admission
  • Explore Programs and Courses
  • Pathway to Student Services
  • Resources and Library Services
  • Alumni, Friends, and Community
2012/2013 Graduate Catalog

Master of Management Information Systems (MMIS)

[Program Overview] [Program Outcomes] [Curriculum] [Admission Criteria] [Application Requirements] [Transfer Credits] [Academic Standing] [Time to Completion] [Accreditation] [Faculty] [Contact Information]

Program Overview

The Master of Management Information Systems (MMIS) represents an important state-of-the-art concept in graduate education in the field of management information systems (MIS). Merging management and technology education, it is designed to help both technically-oriented information technology (IT) professionals and those from other fields gain expertise in the management of information systems in modern organizations. The MMIS promotes Metropolitan State's well-known ability to tie theory to practice, with a cutting-edge MIS education designed to have a "shelf life" that outlasts successive generations of hardware and software. The program core gives a strong background in management and information technology areas. Flexibility in elective courses, plus applications emphasis throughout courses, internships and the final integrative project gives one a strong base for the future.

The program is designed to serve several distinct groups of information management professionals who need a strong mix of management theory and practice along with technological competence. This group needs more technical education than an MBA student, but less than a student who will be working in a purely technical capacity.

  • General management professionals who need to understand how to manage the technical and IT aspects of their organizations. These students need the mix of management and technical work that leads to stronger technological understanding and analytical skills, resulting in stronger general management in firms where IT is a part of their competitive strategy.
  • Technical professionals who need to upgrade and update their technological skills while also updating their analytical and management abilities. Technical and project managers also need this type of mix, as well as systems analysts and managers who will be progressing in their careers. Any managerial or higher level professional in organizations where IT is important will find the MMIS of great value.

The MMIS prepares you in the areas of:

  • strategic IT management;
  • IT strategy and Internet strategy; supply chain management;
  • IT security management;
  • electronic commerce;
  • enterprise resource planning (ERP);
  • globalization;
  • human factors;
  • knowledge management;
  • customer relationship management (CRM);
  • managing the IT function (operationally); added distinction project management;
  • systems analysis and design;
  • social networking strategies for organizations
  • information analytics and business intelligence technology management; and
  • telecommunications.

The MMIS serves the target groups by offering a choice of distinct concentrations:

Information Management Concentration

The information management concentration has a mixture of general management, IS/IT management, and management-level conceptual technical knowledge that enables you to understand the business environment and its management while being prepared to oversee or interact with technical staff in meeting information management needs. Professionals in all organizations will find this a valuable management education.

Online MMIS

There is also an option to take the Information Management Concentration online, called the Online MMIS. This track allows you to complete the MMIS degree with nearly all online classes, to assist those where travel schedules, location or other factors make online delivery desirable. It also accommodates professionals who need the schedule flexibility provided by online education. In this track, all courses are specified (limited electives) to allow consistency in the application of the curriculum. Specific courses are required for this option, and one in-class section may be required. Contact the program for more information on this option.

Systems Management Concentration

The systems management concentration takes a more technical approach. Upon completion of this program, systems analysts, technical analysts and managers will be updated on the latest techniques and approaches to developing the information systems of their organizations, and will be competent to lead and manage systems development projects as well as managing less technical functions.

Program Outcomes

The MMIS program goal is to prepare you for management, high-level work and potential leadership in management information systems and related fields, and general management in organizations where information technology is important. The program targets working adults who desire high quality applied MIS education along with solid theory.

Program Objectives

  • prepare for management of IS, IT, and related functions;
  • prepare to be a leader in the integration of IT into the firm to help meet organizational goals;
  • prepare for management of IT planning processes; and
  • prepare general managers of firms for broader strategic uses of IT.

Curriculum

The Prerequisite Phase assesses and ensures your readiness to begin graduate work in management information systems. Prerequisite courses include College Algebra, Financial Accounting, Statistics and a programming language. You may not take MMIS Phase I, II or III program classes until these prerequisite courses have been completed and you are fully admitted to the program.

Note:  Because this program does not require a GMAT, GRE or equivalent test, a special assessment process has been developed for evaluating your application. This process may generate requirements for admission that include preparatory work in a required discipline that may not count toward graduation. For example, math and written analysis are primary areas of assessment. This preparatory work assures that high quality instruction is maintained throughout the program.

Phase I focuses on the functional disciplines of business and organizations as they apply to modern information systems. It provides a solid grounding in the core IT competencies, management, and marketing theories, processes and skills needed by managers in today's rapidly changing environment.

Phase II consists of relevant electives which you choose to best meet your own educational and career needs. Electives may focus on one of several disciplines or be a mix of courses from a number of topical concentrations. Some electives are prescribed as part of specific tracks - please see Track descriptions for details.

Phase III is the synthesis and capstone phase. The work in this phase calls for you to integrate what you have learned in previous courses and professional experiences to form a coherent picture of IT management within organizations. The program makes use of an innovative applied project to "bring it all together." Effective communication is fundamental to good management, and so you are expected to demonstrate writing skills by completing a written report about your work on this project, which is performed with a cohort.

Course Requirements (44 credits)

Information Management Concentration

Prerequisites

The following prerequisite courses must be completed before you can take any graduate-level courses or be admitted to the MMIS program:

Phase I (28 credits)

Phase II (4 credits)

You will choose 12 elective credits to meet your own IT career goals/needs/choices from the MMIS electives listed in the Schedule. A Two Year Schedule is provided on the MMIS Web site which details electives.

Phase III (4 credits)

MIS 699 Integrative Capstone Project (4 credits)

Cohorts are formed each spring semester to do applied IT projects. Twin Cities' organizations are solicited for IT-management-related, systems development or other related projects. Experienced senior faculty oversee teams which determine clients' perceptions and create both team and individual reports.

System Development Concentration

Prerequisites

The following prerequisite courses must be completed before you can complete any graduate classes or be admitted to the MMIS program:

Phase I (30 credits)
Phase II (10 credits)

You will choose 10 elective credits to meet your own IT career needs/choices from the MMIS electives listed in the Schedule. A Two Year Schedule is provided on the MMIS Web site which details electives.

Phase III (4 credits)

MIS 699 Integrative Capstone Project (4 credits)

Cohorts are formed each spring semester to do applied IT projects. Twin Cities' organizations are solicited for IT-related, systems development or other related projects. Experienced senior faculty oversee teams which determine clients' perceptions and create both team and individual reports.

Generally, nearly all MMIS courses are available as online courses

Admission Criteria/Process

Admission Decisions/Categories

The College of Management Graduate Admissions Committee evaluates your application for evidence of undergraduate scholarship, professional experience and demonstrated aptitude for successful graduate business study. If you meet all application requirements, you are given full admission to the program. If you have one or more prerequisite courses to complete and your application otherwise supports the conclusion that you can successfully undertake graduate study, you may be granted conditional admission to a program. As a conditionally-admitted student, you must complete these prerequisites prior to completing any graduate course work. Applicants denied admission may not take graduate level courses in the program.

Registration by Undergraduate Students

With permission of the MMIS Coordinator, you may register for "special" graduate level prerequisite courses during your last semester of undergraduate studies.

Reapplication for Denied Applicants

If your application for admission to the program is denied, you may reapply for admission only after a minimum of six months has passed after the denial. You will need to demonstrate a substantive difference in the reapplication to be considered for admission.

If your application to the program is denied, you may apply for another College of Management graduate program. A new application form must be accompanied by a $20 application fee, a new goals essay, updated resume, two new references and GMAT scores and/or assessment test scores appropriate to the degree for which you are applying

English and Quantitative Competence Assessment

All College of Management students, except those in special international cohort programs, are expected to demonstrate English and quantitative competence at a level to support success in graduate studies. If your abilities are assessed to be inadequate for graduate study, you may be required to enroll in appropriate undergraduate courses until your skills have been brought to a satisfactory level. These undergraduate courses must be successfully completed prior to taking any graduate level courses.

COM Graduate Student Orientation

Once you are fully admitted to a College of Management graduate program you will be required to attend a graduate student orientation session before or during your first semester of course work. If you do not attend an orientation session, a hold will be placed on your records preventing you from registering for further graduate classes until you attend orientation.

Application Requirements

Applicants should allow 7-10 business days for review once all required application materials are received and sent to the College of Management Graduate Admissions Committee.

To be considered for admission you must submit:

  • Graduate Application
  • Non-refundable application fee (waived for graduates of Metropolitan State University)
  • Official transcripts
  • Test scores
  • Current resume
  • Goals essay
  • References

See Applying to the Program for application packets, details on the requirements, deadlines and International Student application requirements

Transfer Credits

Once fully admitted, you may transfer up to 8 credits into your graduate program. A course is accepted in transfer only if it has been completed within the last five years from an accredited institution, no degree was granted, and a letter grade of B or better was earned in the course. Courses are accepted in transfer upon the approval of the Graduate Programs Director in consultation with discipline coordinators.

Academic Standing

You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain in a College of Management graduate or certificate program.

  • Only courses for which you receive a letter grade of C (2.0) or better count toward degree requirements; and a cumulative grade point average of B (3.0) is required for graduation.
  • If you receive a letter grade of C or below in any graduate course, you will be placed on academic probation. If you receive a letter grade of C or below in two courses, you will be dismissed from the graduate program.
  • If you have been dismissed from a College of Management graduate or certificate program for unsatisfactory academic progress, you may apply for readmission after one calendar year has passed. To reapply, submit an updated resume and a letter to the College of Management Graduate Admissions Committee indicating what circumstances have changed and how you plan to successfully complete the program. The Admissions Committee reviews your request and responds in writing.
  • Only courses in which you receive a letter grade are applied toward your degree. The option of a competence/no competence with a narrative transcript is not available to College of Management graduate students. Only internships are graded using pass/fail criteria.

Appeal of Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Removals from the Program

If you are removed from a graduate or certificate program for unsatisfactory academic progress, you may appeal the removal to the College of Management dean. The appeal must be in writing, and it must provide specific grounds for the appeal. The appeal is due to the dean within 30 days of the date of the letter notifying you of the decision to remove you from the program. The dean has 30 days to respond, in writing, to the appeal. Appeals received after 30 days will not be considered.

Reactivating into the Program

If you are a student in good academic standing who has not registered for courses for three or more consecutive semesters, you must apply to reactivate into the degree program. To reactivate, submit an updated resume and a letter to the College of Management Graduate Admissions Committee expressing a desire to reactivate into the program.  The admissions committee reviews your request and responds in writing, specifying degree completion requirements and deadline for completion. You may be required to satisfy degree requirements in force at the time of reactivation, even if those requirements differ from those in force at the time of original admission to the degree program.

Time to Completion

You have five years from your first semester of graduate study to complete your degree program requirements and two years to complete your certificate requirements. You may request an extension of the time limit by writing to the College of Management Graduate Programs Office. Such requests must be received prior to the expiration of the time limit. Requests for extensions should include your reason(s) for requesting the extension, a summary of your plan to finish graduation requirements, and a specific date for the extension to expire. Extension decisions are made by the College of Management and are not automatic.

College of Management Outstanding Student Award

During your final semester of course work, you may be nominated by the faculty for the College of Management Outstanding Student Award. Nominees are evaluated on the basis of their academic performance in their graduate degree program, as well as achievements in their community and professional contributions. All finalists are recognized in the commencement program.  The outstanding student receives special recognition during commencement, and is named as part of a permanent plaque in COM.

Accreditation

Metropolitan State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Higher Learning Commission
30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602-2504
312-263-0456

The MMIS is compatible with the MSIS (Master of Science in Information Systems) 2006 Graduate Curriculum Standards established by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and Association for Information Systems (AIS), which are two key standards-setting bodies in the MIS field.

Faculty

Resident faculty members are primarily:

  • Holders of doctoral degrees in their fields
  • Authors of applied and refereed publications
  • Experienced in their academic fields.

David Bahn, PhD, Allen Bellas, PhD, Barbara Beltrand, MBA-CPA, David Bouchard, PhD, Grover Cleveland, DBA, Steven Creason, JD, Timothy Delmont, PhD, Jennifer Dosch, MBA-CMA, James Fatzinger, MBA, Ken Hess, PhD, Paul Huo, PhD (Dean), Roger Israel, DPA, Katryna Johnson, PhD, Nancy Nentl, PhD, Hameed Nezhad, PhD, David O'Hara, PhD, Narasimha Paravastu, PhD, Roger Prestwich, PhD, Jayant Saraph, PhD, Gary Seiler, PhD, Jennifer Schultz, PhD, Francis Schweigert, PhD, Michael Sher, PhD, Adrianne Slaymaker, DBA, Joel Wilson, MBA-CPA, Michael Wilson, PhD, Minh Vo, PhD, Carol Bormann Young, PhD.

Additionally, the College of Management has a strong community faculty who are fully committed to educational excellence. All community faculty have graduate degrees, either a master's or a doctorate, as well as business expertise in their fields.The College of Management assures the quality of its community faculty through a careful selection process, extensive training through our own Teaching Academy, and regular student evaluations.

Contact Information

Office Location
1300 Harmon Place
Minneapolis, MN 55403 		Mailing Address
College of Management
Graduate Programs Office
Metropolitan State University
1501 Hennepin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone: 612-659-7290
Email: com.graduateprograms@metrostate.edu
Website: choose.metrostate.edu/comgradprograms
Brooklyn Park - Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Education Center Minneapolis Campus Midway Center Saint Paul Campus Saint Paul Campus