DAVID W. RUSSELL, Senior Academic Division Head
School of Graduate Professional Studies
30 East Swedesford Road
Malvern, PA 19355
610-648-3243

Degree Conferred: M.S. in Information Science

The Graduate Faculty

Norita Ahmad, Ph.D. (RPI) Lecturer in Information Science
Carlos Ferran, D.B.A. (Boston) Assistant Professor of Management Science and Information Systems
Kathryn Jablokow, Ph.D. (Ohio State) Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Phillip A. Laplante, Ph.D. (Stevens Institute of Technology) P.E. Associate Professor of Software Engineering
John I. McCool, Ph.D. (Temple) Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Colin J. Neill, Ph.D. (Wales) Assistant Professor of Software Engineering
Effy Oz, D.B.A. (Boston) Professor of Management Science Information Systems
Michael J. Piovoso, Ph.D. (Delaware) Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering
Robin G. Qui, Ph.D. (Penn State) Assistant Professor of Information Science
David W. Russell, Ph.D. (CNAA, London) Professor of Electrical Engineering
Eric Stein, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania) Associate Professor of Management Science and Information Systems

The professional, nonthesis graduate program is designed to offer students a balance of information systems and management theories and emphasizes technical competence, leadership skills, and business expertise. Students gain insight in the role and management of emerging information technologies to gain competitive advantage.

Admission Requirements

Students who have a baccalaureate degree in data processing, information systems and/or other quantitative, scientific, or business discipline will be considered for admission to the program. Students should have earned at least a 3.00 junior/senior average in their baccalaureate program at an accredited institution. It is recommended that scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) be submitted. Under special circumstances, exceptions to these requirements may be considered; students with a particularly strong undergraduate background may petition to substitute advanced courses for required ones. If the admissions committee determines an area of weakness or insufficient baccalaureate preparation, the student may be required to take preparatory courses prior to being admitted to the program. Scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required of international applicants at the time of application. The minimum TOEFL score is 550 (paper) or 213 (computer).

Program Requirements

The requirement for the degree is 39 credits of graduate course work and completion of a master's paper. The Master of Science in Information Science program is based on a sequence of 18 credits of required core courses. This is followed by 18 credits of approved electives, selected with the assistance of a graduate adviser, followed by an integrative capstone course (IN SC 539). Required and elective credits must be distributed so that a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 credits derive from the Management Division and the remainder from the Engineering Division. A grade-point average of at least 3.0 must be achieved, with at least 18 credits at the 500 level.

Student Aid

Graduate assistantships available to students in this program and other forms of student aid are described in the STUDENT AID section of the Graduate Bulletin.

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

INFORMATION SCIENCE (IN SC) course list

The Pennsylvania State University © 2004

The University reserves the right to change the requirements and regulations listed here and to determine whether a student has satisfactorily met its requirements for admission or graduation, and to reject any applicant for any reason the University determines to be material to the applicant's qualifications to pursue higher education. Nothing in this material should be considered a guarantee that completion of a program and graduation from the University will result in employment.

This electronic Graduate Bulletin is a version of the official bulletin of The Pennsylvania State University. It is suggested that users refer to this electronic bulletin when seeking the latest information about the University's academic programs and courses. Printed versions of the Bulletin are also official copies of the programs, courses, and policies in effect at the time of printing.

DATE LAST REVIEWED BY GRADUATE SCHOOL: 6/1/04

DATE LAST UPDATED BY PUBLICATIONS: 10/06/06