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What is the Master of Information Strategy,
Systems and Technology degree?
MISST is a two-year graduate-level program leading to
a master’s degree. The project-based program blends any-time, any-place
on-line learning with on-campus sessions making the program convenient for
working professionals. MISST prepares participants by providing the knowledge
and skills to succeed in positions of leadership or influence within an organization
that work at the intersection of business strategy and technology.
Are there other degree programs like MISST?
MISST is a unique and innovative master’s program, designed to deliver
learning through a project-based curriculum. Students work within project teams and
interact on-line and during on-campus sessions, the mediums through which they
acquire the knowledge and skills to complete the program and earn their degree. Presented
with authentic business challenges participants work together to identify and analyze
problems, develop appropriate business, strategies, align technology to support their
strategies and evaluate the effectiveness of those strategies. The strength
of MISST is that participants experience learning and can immediately apply their newly
acquired skills and knowledge to their personal responsibilities. While other
programs focus on theory, knowledge and how to develop skills, MISST demonstrates
learning, preparing participants for immediate success.
What will I learn that will prepare me to work at the
intersection of business strategy and information technology in my organization?
MISST was designed and is grounded on the assumption that participants will
bring with them a rich variety of professional experiences and expertise, the overarching
framework of the program is to merge the experience of work and learning. This
philosophy and approach is made manifest in a number of ways:
Participants in the program maintain their employment, creating
the opportunity to immediately apply their acquired knowledge and skills to their
work, adding value and benefits to their organizations.
MISST employs project-based learning, an action-learning approach.
The curriculum is organized around eleven projects; three of which are designed to respond
to the strategic goals of the participants’ own organizations.
Projects are presented as authentic business challenges that
are completed by teams who work together to analyze the problem, identify and acquire
needed knowledge, and develop solutions.
Teams work together – on-line and in on-campus sessions – creating
an effective collaborative learning community.
Upon completion of the program, participant will master an inquiry
process that enables career-long learning in the context of working.
What is blended learning?
Blended learning is a distance-education format that is a hybrid of face-to-face
and electronic collaboration, used to create a shared-learning community.
Blended learning increasingly is recognized as an effective format
for professional education and training, for graduate programs as well as for workplace
collaboration. While the Internet is transforming the way that people work
and learn, collaboration is greatly enhanced when project teams who communicate electronically
also periodically meet face-to-face.
Because blended learning combines the advantages of face-to-face
interaction with the flexibility of e-communication, it can be used to create a learning
community with advantages that would not be found in either classroom or on-line
learning alone.
How does the e-learning component of the program work?
The e-learning component of MISST’s blended learning format has been
constructed to support four requirements of the MISST program design: course management,
collaboration, learning module development and delivery, and the application development
environment.
Different technologies – including Blackboard™ – are
used to achieve the level of communication and collaboration needed for the teams
to collaborate. Discussions, learning modules and examinations may also be
completed online.
Students will be required to have a laptop computer with wireless
capability and internet connection. Additional technology and access to databases
will be identified prior to the start of a cohort.
How long will it take me to complete the program?
MISST provides flexibility to every student. While the program is designed to be completed in as little as two years, it also offers the flexibility for you to take the program at your own pace, based upon your personal and professional schedule.
Does the MISST program offer courses?
The Master of Information Strategy, Systems and Technology is a two-year, project-based cohort program divided into nine sequential projects. The projects appear on the individual’s transcript as courses and provide six semester hours of credit. The projects/courses are listed below:
- INFR 607 Foundations for Information Strategy, Systems and Technology (6)
- INFR 502 Building the Business Case (6)
- INFR 503 Strategic Application of Technology (6)
- INFR 504 Strategic Vision (6)
- INFR 608 Applied Information Strategy, Systems and Technology (6)
- INFR 506 Enterprise Architecture (6)
- INFR 507 Enterprise Systems (6)
- INFR 508 Emerging Technologies (6)
What are the admission requirements?
Application for admission into the MISST program will be made to Graduate and Continuing Studies. Admissions decisions will be made by the Dean of Graduate and Continuing Studies upon recommendation of the MISST faculty. If you would like to discuss whether the program is right for you, please call 740.826.6128 to talk to an advisor.
To be admitted into the Master of Information Strategy, Systems
and Technology, prospective participants must:
- Fill out and submit a completed Admission Application.
- Have three years professional experience.
- Submit a resume
- Interview with MISST faculty.
- Provide a personal letter
- Stating your employment status, confirming a minimum of three years of professional experience, preferably in information technology, business management or a related field.
- Confirming that you hold a baccalaureate degree, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.7** or above from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Describing how the MISST program fits into your career path.
- Submit original transcripts from all previous higher education institutions at which credit was earned. Transcripts must be sent directly to the College from the previous higher education institution in an officially sealed envelope.
- Provide a letter of recommendation preferably from a business professional including the ways in which the MISST program fits into the position or career path of the prospective participant.
- For international participants from non-English-speaking nations:
submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Minimum acceptable
scores:
- Written test -- 550
- Computer-based-- 213
- Internet TOEFL-- 79
- Submit a resume or portfolio of professional experience.
Applicants who do not have undergraduate coursework in computer
science, information systems or business will be considered for admission, but may
be asked to complete additional coursework or provide additional information, such
as:
- Strong evidence to support an understanding of technology
and its use in their organization
- An indication for how the program
fits into their career paths.
** While previous academic achievement suggests likelihood of success in graduate studies, Muskingum College recognizes that individual circumstances and experience may mitigate usual standards of achievement. Individuals who feel that the admission criteria do not accurately measure their own capability, performance and commitment to professional success may submit additional or alternative evidence of their achievement and potential.
Do the projects require research, individual assignments and examination
The program requires participants to conduct research, complete assignments
and take examinations. These graded activities are used to measure the individual’s
performance. Participants receive a personal “library” of required books
and software. The print and electronic materials and access to databases are
provided as part of the cost of the program. Much of the research is conducted on
the Web; participants may also use the Muskingum College library on-line, including
access through the library to OhioLink and OPAL.
How large are the cohorts?
Each cohort is expected to have 20-25 participants.
What financial assistance is available?
Participants have access to the normal federal and other loans available
for graduate study. Employers may pay some or all of the costs of the program. For
more information on federal loan programs see the following site: www.fafsa.edu.gov
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