Master of Science in Information Technology

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Classroom to Career

Upon successful completion of this degree program, graduates will be able to:

Build a foundation of critical thinking skills on which to make professional judgments relating to information technology.
Design and implement solutions aligned with information technology needs.
Solidify an understanding of theoretical methods, principles, and tools used in the information technology industry.
Examine the fundamental information technology issues and processes in today’s organizations relating to systems engineering, computer networking, database technologies, IT governance and strategy, Web development, and information assurance.

Course Information

Program Length

SYNC SESSIONS

MSIT Courses

OFFERED TIMES

1-2 hours every other week

View Residency Requirements

Program Core: 36 Credits

IT5230: Advanced Databased Systems

This course covers the advanced fundamentals of database application development using C++, C, or Java by accessing a transaction-oriented database server. A commercial database environment such as Oracle is used. Optional topics may include enabling access to database via the web and administering large databases. (3 credits)

IT5310: Networking - Advanced Management

This course surveys the various levels of a packet-switched computer network, using the TCP/IP protocol suite as the primary model. Other network protocol stacks (e.g., Novell) may also be considered as time permits. At the Physical and Data Link Layers, various protocols are compared, and their implications for network topology are considered. At the Network Layer, a wide variety of routing protocols and name resolution protocols are studied. At the Transport Layer, students are introduced to the various methods for building end-to-end reliability on top of lower layers. Finally, at the Application Layer a variety of standard protocols such as telnet, ftp, and electronic mail are examined, together with the related issues of security and authentication. Some programming in the C language is required. (3 credits)

IT5400: Marketing - Innovation and Technology Products

This course provides students with a strong understanding of the unique marketing challenges that surround innovation and high-tech products and services. Students will learn how traditional marketing strategies and programs must be modified and adapted for today’s global high-tech environment and how to bring together marketing with other business disciplines such as research and development, legal and management and strategy to achieve effective cross-functional interactions. (3 credits)

IT5500: Network Security

This course will involve a discussion of the methods and tactics used to keep attackers at bay as well as the mechanisms by which organizations can identify and potentially stop potential “bad guys.” The course will involve the following topics as they all relate to the overall security posture: Encryption, authentication, firewalls, NAT/PAT, restricted access policies, intrusion detection and other security frameworks. (3 credits)

IT5720: Web Application Development

Analysis of mobile history, architecture and applications. Students will examine design principles for creating usable and accessible mobile applications. Students will develop technical skills and apply industry standards. (3 credits)

IT5820: Systems Analyst

Examination of the systems approach to the design and development of information systems. Methods and tools for the analysis and modeling of system functionality (e.g., structured analysis) and data represented in the system (e.g., object-oriented analysis) are studied. (3 credits)

IT5900: Enterpise Architecture and IT Governance

Students will learn to develop a complete, comprehensive methodology and framework for adopting and managing a successful service-oriented architecture environment and how to set up an SOA Architecture practice defining the policies, procedures and standards that apply to IT developers and the enterprise for business applications. (3 credits)

IT6100: Globall IT Products and Services Outsourcing

In this course, students will examine both historical and current perspectives on IT products and services outsourcing, the continuously evolving outsourcing marketplace, and the incentives and opportunities that drive management decisions on IT products and services outsourcing. Contributing factors to IT products and services outsourcing and offshoring market evolution such as globalization, technological advancement, politics, changing global economies, and changing vendor characteristics will be examined. Within this context, students will review different IT products and services outsourcing framework, models, vendor selection strategies, and outsourcing lifecycle from both client and vendor viewpoints. (3 credits)

IT6200: Decision Models for Technology Management

This course is an introduction to the application of various statistical concepts and methods as decision support tools to support decision making in technology management. The emphasis is on business application rather than mathematical concepts or problem solving. Students will learn to use statistical tools and quantitative analysis for forecasting, process, and quality management. (3 credits)

IT6230: Pattern Discobery in Data Mining

The goal of the course is to examine the current theories, practices, tools and techniques in data mining. Many topics and concepts in data mining are learned most efficiently through hands-on work with data sets, students will spend time with software analyzing and mining data. (3 credits)

IT6300: Data Warehousing - Cloud Based

In the Data Warehousing course, students will examine how data warehouses are used to help managers successfully gather, analyze, understand and act on information stored in data warehouses. The components and design issues related to Cloud Based data warehouses and business intelligence techniques for extracting meaningful information from data warehouses are emphasized. Oracle tools will be used to demonstrate design, implementation, and utilization issues. (3 credits)

IT6720: Advanced Web Development

Study of design and implementation of dynamic Web pages and applications using both client and server-side configuration and programming. Example topics include PHP, Ruby on Rails, and Javascript. (3 credits)

Policy on Sync Sessions

Sync Sessions provide a forum for collaborative learning by enabling “real time” interaction between faculty and students.
SyncSessions are conducted through the use of a meeting web-based application called Zoom. Your instructor will provide details as to how you will access a Zoom meeting. In order to participate in the session, you must be at a computer. To participate in the audio portion of the SyncSession, your computer will need to be configured with a microphone and/or headset.
Sync Sessions are 1-2 hours long and will be held every other week.
Attendance is required for Sync Sessions.
The Sync Sessions are spent having students defending and explaining their research assignment for that week. Assignment instructions and grading rubrics are posted in the Canvas course shell.

Technology Specifications

Technology Requirements

Following are the recommended general technical hardware/software specifications for students enrolled in all academic programs at the University of Fairfax. Please note that

a) these specifications are sufficient for the entire duration of the program,

b) need for specific applications/software would be determined by the actual course(s) registered and the availability of the applications, and

c) although students with Mac computers can access any applications/software by leveraging remote access tools, Mac platform is not recommended and supported, and

d) doctoral students will be required to use several open-source applications, hosted services, and publicly available virtual machines. This may include but is not limited to SAS (Statistical Analysis System) OnDemand, Oracle Virtual Box, Kali OS, Apache Web Server, GNU/Linux, OpenSSL, ROS (Robot Operating System), Blender (3D computer graphics), and Orange (Data Mining).

Minimum Recommended Specifications

1. Ownership of either laptop or desktop is mandatory. Mobile devices such as Tablets/Smart Phones cannot be used for running any applications. Mobile devices may be used for simple tasks such as accessing Canvas courses for checking messages, grades, due dates, and read the slides. For other tasks such as taking test, uploading assignments, and participating in discussion forums, mobile devices are not recommended and must not be used.

2. These recommendations are universal across all academic programs and provide a basic format for all courses. As you move further into a degree program, these requirements may increase (only minimal) based on the expectations of the program and the availability of applications.

Platform: Intel-based systems	Minimum	Better	Best
CPU	4 core 3.0 GHz.	6 core 3.0 GHz.	8 core 3.0 GHz.
RAM	16GB	32GB	32GB
Storage	500GB SSD	1TB SSD	1TB SSD
Graphics	{Integrated} OR {2GB} OR {1GB DirectX 11}	{Integrated} OR {4GB} OR {2GB DirectX 11} OR {NVIDIA 4GB} OR {NVIDIA 4GB DirectX 11}	{4GB} OR {NVIDIA 4GB} OR {4GB DirectX 11} OR {NVIDIA 6GB DirectX 11}
Operating System	Windows 11 64-bit (Professional Edition only), No Home Edition	Windows 11 64-bit (Professional Edition only), No Home Edition	Windows 11 64-bit (Professional Edition only), No Home Edition
Extras	2-3 USB 2.0 or 2-3 USB 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera External USB Drive for backup (minimum 1 TB)	2-3 USB 2.0 or 2-3 USB 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera External USB Drive for backup (minimum 1 TB)	2-3 USB 2.0 or 2-3 USB 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera External USB Drive for backup (minimum 1 TB)
Recommended Standard Productivity Applications	Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Power BI, Project, Publisher, Visio, Sway, Word, Forms, Delve Internet browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc. (recommend the use of multiple browsers) Document Management Application – Adobe Acrobat Professional Zoom Desktop Client (https://zoom.us/download) Free Video / Photo Editing (select 1 or2) Application – PowerDirector (best) – Google, Promeo – Best App for Social Media, iMovie – Video Editor App for Beginners, Splice – Free Video Editor for Trimming and Cropping, Quik – Best Video Editor for Montages, KineMaster – Video Editing App For Experienced Editors, Filmmaker Pro – Best for Vertical Editing, InShot – Best Video Editor App for Aspiring Social Media Content Creators, Mojo – Best for Any Kind of Social Media Post, VivaVideo – Best for Beginners Keep the system up to date with Windows Updates, .NET Framework etc.	Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Power BI, Project, Publisher, Visio, Sway, Word, Forms, Delve Internet browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc. (recommend the use of multiple browsers) Document Management Application – Adobe Acrobat Professional Zoom Desktop Client (https://zoom.us/download) Free Video / Photo Editing (select 1 or 2) Application – PowerDirector (best) – Google, Promeo – Best App for Social Media, iMovie – Video Editor App for Beginners, Splice – Free Video Editor for Trimming and Cropping, Quik – Best Video Editor for Montages, KineMaster – Video Editing App For Experienced Editors, Filmmaker Pro – Best for Vertical Editing, InShot – Best Video Editor App for Aspiring Social Media Content Creators, Mojo – Best for Any Kind of Social Media Post, VivaVideo – Best for Beginners Keep the system up to date with Windows Updates, .NET Framework etc.	Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Power BI, Project, Publisher, Visio, Sway, Word, Forms, Delve Internet browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc. (recommend the use of multiple browsers) Document Management Application – Adobe Acrobat Professional Zoom Desktop Client (https://zoom.us/download) Free Video / Photo Editing (select 1 or 2) Application – PowerDirector (best) – Google, Promeo – Best App for Social Media, iMovie – Video Editor App for Beginners, Splice – Free Video Editor for Trimming and Cropping, Quik – Best Video Editor for Montages, KineMaster – Video Editing App For Experienced Editors, Filmmaker Pro – Best for Vertical Editing, InShot – Best Video Editor App for Aspiring Social Media Content Creators, Mojo – Best for Any Kind of Social Media Post, VivaVideo – Best for Beginners Keep the system up to date with Windows Updates, .NET Framework etc.

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Master of Science in Information Technology

Choose Your Path

I am looking to earn my