Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 University Catalog 
    
2022-2023 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Information Systems, Decision Sciences Concentration, M.S.


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(30 UNITS)

This program is currently suspended and is not accepting any students at this time. It is scheduled to accept students beginning in the Fall 2024 semester.

Master of Science in Information Systems


The Master of Science in Information Systems provides students with the technical skills and business acumen that are necessary for organizations to effectively manage and capitalize on their information assets. Broadly, the MSIS curriculum provides opportunities to develop knowledge and applied skills in the areas of information systems management, decision sciences and business analytics, all of which are highly valued by modern organizations. Students will be well prepared to meet the growing demand for analytics professionals who can work with and extract valuable insights from big data. Collectively, graduates from the program are able to perform a wide variety of job functions, including managing and capitalizing on new and existing technologies, aligning organizational strategies with technological strategies and using quantitative methods, data analysis and data visualization in order to inform and improve organizational decision-making.

Cal State Fullerton is the only university in Orange County accredited by the AACSB International at the undergraduate and graduate levels for both accounting and business administration.

Admission Requirements


Admission is competitive. Students must meet all CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program. Please consult the Graduate Admissions section in the university catalog for complete information.

Rapid Admission Pathway


Applicants with an undergraduate degree from an AACSB-accredited business school in the United States may be eligible for rapid admission to the MSIS or MSIT program for a period of up to three years from their date of degree conferral if they meet the following criteria:

  • Overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better
  • A “B” or better in an undergraduate calculus class
  • A “B” or better in an upper-division undergraduate statistics or data analysis class​​​​​​​

Standard Admission Pathway


Applicants who are not eligible for the rapid admission pathway will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

  • Satisfactory GPA and a satisfactory score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Preferential admission will be given to applicants who have an overall GMAT or GRE score in the 50th percentile or above, and who have a GPA of at least 3.0
  • A bachelor’s degree with a major in business administration, equivalent to the degree as offered at CSUF. The degree must include calculus equivalent to passing MATH 135  with a “C” (2.0) or better. Students with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than business administration are eligible to apply, however such students will be required to complete additional courses or demonstrate proficiency as described under the Curriculum requirements below. Major courses on the applicant’s transcript that are more than seven years old may be evaluated/validated for currency
  • Recommendation from the ISDS Admission Committee based upon a review of the above requirements, the student’s “Statement of Purpose” and prior work experience. Additional coursework may be required of conditionally admitted students who holistically satisfy the criteria but are weak in one of the above areas
  • For international students, a minimum score of 570 on the TOEFL exam or 88 on the internet-based test (IBT) is required, or a minimum score of 7 on IELTS is required

Business Foundation Courses (12 units)


Students admitted with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than business administration will be required to complete the following foundation courses. The foundation course requirements can be waived if students have previously completed equivalent courses.

Degree Requirements (18 units)


At least 21 of the 30 units required for the Master of Science in Information Systems degree must be at the 500 level.

Decision Sciences Concentration (12 units)


Decision science combines information technology, statistics, business knowledge and the rational analysis of alternatives to provide data-driven insights that can improve organizational decision-making for challenging business problems. The Decision Sciences concentration prepares students for careers requiring the ability to understand and use business intelligence systems, build and evaluate decision models, analyze and extract information from data using statistical techniques, efficiently work with large data sets, perform and evaluate simulations, and design, build and implement solutions to organizational data problems.

Total (30 units)


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