Curriculum

Highlights

Flexible curriculum can be customized to each student.
Choose from wide range of electives.
Transfer credit and course exemptions possible for qualified students.

The Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) degree requires successful completion of 144 units of coursework - the equivalent of 12 semester-long courses. Prospective students apply to one of three tracks - information technology management, information security and assurance, or software design and management. Each track requires a specific set of specifically configured core courses (60 units). Students then select 84 units of top caliber electives from across the Carnegie Mellon campus. Click on the tabs below to view the curriculum for each track.

IT Management

The IT Management Track emphasizes the integration of strong information technology skills with training in management and strategy perspectives. This blended approach helps students see the interplay between available technologies and their successful deployment to achieve business goals.
Note: This track can also be done completely through distance learning - click here to learn more about MSIT distance program.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT TRACK		Units
Core Courses (60 units required)
95-703	Database Management	12
95-705	Telecommunications Management	12
95-730	E-Business Technology and Management	12
95-712	Object-Oriented Programming in Java	12
95-706	Object-oriented Analysis and Design	6
95-808	IT Project Management	6
Sample Electives (choose 84 units)
95-729	E-commerce Technologies	6
95-782	Global eBusiness Strategies	12
95-788	Planning for an IT Startup	6
91-810	Leadership: Innovation and Org Change	6
95-752	Intro to Information Security Management	12
91-853	Healthcare Information Systems	12
95-715	Financial Accounting	6
95-704	Advanced Database Management	12
95-709	Information Technology for Decision Support	6
95-708	Geographic Information Systems	12
95-810	Managing in a Virtual Environment	6
91-843	Power and Influence	6
17-653	Managing Software Development	12
TOTAL UNITS		144

Information Security & Assurance

The Information Security and Assurance Track focuses on the need to adapt to the changing intruder landscape and to gain deeper understanding of what is needed to secure information and insure the proper use of computers. It draws upon the expertise in research, operations and analysis from the world-famous CERT Coordination Center (CERT®/CC) located at Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute. Designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency, Carnegie Mellon is uniquely qualified to provide such training.

INFORMATION SECURITY AND ASSURANCE TRACK		Units
Core Courses (60 units required)
95-705	Telecommunications Management	12
95-753	Internet Security	6
95-710	Economic Analysis	6
95-756	Information Security Risk Analysis	6
95-757	Information Security Policy & Management	6
95-752	Intro to Information Security Management	12
95-750	Security Architecture and Analysis	12
Sample Electives (choose 84 units)
95-755	Advanced Topics in Information Security	6
95-712	Object-Oriented Programming (Java)	12
95-803	Information Warfare	6
95-804	Applied Cryptography	12
95-700	Organizational Management	6
95-808	IT Project Management	6
95-841	Information Assurance Policy	12
95-771	Algorithms and Data Structures for Information Processing	12
95-856	Hacking Exposed	6
95-857	Incident Response	6
95-758	Cyber Security Policy	12
95-820	Strategic Management & Implementation	6
95-703	Database Management	12
TOTAL UNITS		144

Software Design & Management

The Software Design and Management Track provides students with technical depth in software design, project management skill, and an understanding of the organizational issues important to software development and management. Many of this track's courses are drawn from Carnegie Mellon's highly regarded Master of Software Engineering program from the School of Computer Science.
Note: This track requires two years prior programming experience or equivalent coursework in data structures and modern programming language, such as C++ or Java, as a prerequisite for admission.

SOFTWARE DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT TRACK		Units
Core Courses (60 units required)
95-771	Data Structures and Algorithms	12
95-703	Database Management	12
17-653	Managing Software Development	12
17-655	Architectures for Software Systems	12
95-706	Object-Oriented Analysis and Design	6
95-808	IT Project Management	6
Sample Electives (choose 84 units)
17-637	Dependable Software and Systems	12
95-729	E-commerce Technologies	6
95-704	Advanced Database Management	12
95-797	Data Warehousing	6
95-708	Geographic Information Systems	12
95-733	Internet Technologies	6
17-651	Models of Software Systems	12
95-806	Managing Service Organizations	6
95-843	Service Oriented Architecture	6
95-752	Intro to Information Security Management	12
95-804	Applied Cryptography	12
TOTAL UNITS		144