Moving Toward the Next Generation of Graduate Degree Programs in Information Systems

• Published in: Communications of the Association for Information Systems Vol. 34; p. 35
• Main Authors: Topi, Heikki, Conboy, Kieran, Donnellan, Brian, Ramesh, V., Van Toorn, Christine, Wright, Ryan T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta Association for Information Systems 2014
• Subjects: Curricula; Graduate studies; Information systems; Revisions
• ISSN: 1529-3181; 1529-3181
• DOI: 10.17705/1CAIS.03435

The curriculum recommendations for master’s level degree programs in Information Systems (most recently, MSIS 2006) have served the IS community well and formed a strong foundation on which many departments have built their graduate programs. Changes in technology, the way in which IS/IT solutions are procured and provided, and the need to raise the profile of master’s programs in IS, however, have created a need to review the master’s level model curriculum. This article builds on recent discussion on this topic within the IS community and is intended to move the conversation regarding the curriculum revision forward. Through three program exemplars and integrative discussion, the article identifies and addresses key questions related to the curriculum revision and provides guidance for any department that is currently in the process of modifying its degree program.