A word about MS CIS
Joe Aschenbrenner
Senior Manager
Verison Business
"I was somewhat skeptical coming to my first on-campus session, but after my first day, I knew this is going to be a very challenging yet rewarding program. The program is designed extremely well and you really get to know your cohort on both a personal and professional level. There are literally hundreds of years of IT experience in every cohort and learning from this experience base is something that you will not get from a textbook."
The opportunity to network with other IS professionals sets the MS CIS program apart from other distance learning programs. The on-campus residency sessions the first week of each semester, have proven to be one of the program's greatest strengths according to alumni. Classroom discussions, team assignments, catered meals and breaks, and both official and nonofficial social gatherings create a bond between students.
The quality of any academic program is reflected in the quality of the students it attracts. The MS CIS program has attracted students from some of the largest and most successful organizations in the world including: AT&T, Compaq, CSC, DuPont, EDS, Federal Express, Hallmark, Hewlett-Packard, Kraft, Microsoft, Oracle, Phillips Petroleum, Pratt & Whitney, Union Pacific Technology, United Parcel Service and Wal-Mart. Strictly enforced admission requirements insure interaction with proven IT professionals.
Expertise and Opportunity
Although MS CIS students come from a variety of academic backgrounds (e.g., computer science, computer information systems, engineering, business) and industries they share a common background of professional IT work experience. Participants in the program have observed that students can learn as much from each other as they can from course materials. Recognizing this level of expertise and opportunity for exchanging valuable "lessons learned," the MS CIS program places an emphasis on both in class and online discussions.
On-Campus Residency
In addition, the on-campus residency has been structured to maximize networking opportunities both within and across cohorts*. Breakfasts and lunches are provided each day to allow students to interact informally. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon refreshment breaks provide additional opportunities for networking. After hour social outings are also provided to facilitate students getting to know one another. Over the course of the two-year program, students have an opportunity to interact with not only their own cohort, but also the cohort's preceding and succeeding them.
*Students complete the MS CIS Program in a cohort consisting of approximately 25 students.