Technology is transforming today’s organizations and information has become the lifeblood of modern enterprises. Information systems are vastly increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations and allowing industry and commerce to provide innovative new services and products. As the need for information and its supply expands, the demand for knowledgeable analysts, integrators, designers, developers and administrators of such systems will continue to grow.

The Graduate Certificate in Information Systems requires completion of the following five courses:

• SIE 505 Formal Foundations of Information Systems (3 credits)

• SIE 507 Information Systems Programming (3 credits)

• SIE 515 Human Computer Interaction (3 credits)

• SIE 525  Information Systems Law (3 credits)

• SIE 550 Design of Information Systems (3 credits)

All of these required courses should be available to the student through distance technologies at least once within any two year period. Typically, distance students view class sessions over the internet that have been recorded with the on-campus students. They accomplish the same assignments and exams. In some instances, may participate live over the internet.

If one of the courses has been waived due to previous course work or acquired skills, such as the software engineering course, students will be required to take an appropriate replacement course as specified by the graduate coordinator in consultation with the MSIS graduate faculty.

Course Descriptions

Courses in the two affiliated programs may be found in the On-line Graduate Catalog. 

Student Eligibility and Admission Criteria

Students desiring to acquire the Graduate Certificate in Information Systems should apply for formal admission to the Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program. If a student is unable to complete the full MS within a reasonable period of time, the student may request of the graduate coordinator that they be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Information Systems in lieu of completing the MSIS.

In addition to an application and official transcripts showing completion of an undergraduate degree, applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and three letters of reference. Those with less than a GRE score of 143 verbal, 146 quantitative (900 under the old scoring system), and 3.5 analytical and /or lower than an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 are discouraged from submitting an application.  The time limit for completion of the Graduate Certificate is the same as that set by the Graduate School for completion of a master’s degree.  For the on-line application for admission, consult www.umaine.edu/graduate/admissions/admissions