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MSCIT Program Requirements

Overview

To earn a Master of Science in Computer Information Technology, students are required to complete:

• A minimum of 30 graduate credits.
• 6 credits in Required Intermediate Core Classes. These classes will be waived if taken as an undergraduate.
• 12 credits in Required Advanced Core Classes.
• At least 18 credits in Elective Classes from which a minimum of 9 credits must be in Advanced Electives (600 level classes).
• At least 21 credits in CIT classes from which a minimum of 15 credits must be CIT 600-level classes (these credits include Intermediate Core, Advanced Core and Elective Classes).
• The students without the necessary IT background may be required to take one or two of the available Bridge Classes.

Bridge Courses

Some students entering the MSCIT program may not have the necessary undergraduate background for advanced coursework in Computer Information Technology. The bridge courses will offer an intensive review of IT fundamental domains such as: UNIX, system administration, elements of security, databases, and networks, scripting and web programming, etc. The required courses in this category will be determined, after review of transcripts and consultation with the student, by the MSCIT Admission Committee. The bridge courses do not count toward the 30 graduate credits required for this program.

• CIT 500 - Information Technology Fundamentals
• CIT 501 - Scripting

Intermediate Core Courses

The following two courses are required if they have not already been completed at the undergraduate level. These courses may be waived by the MSCIT Admission Committee, after review of all transcripts and consultation with the student.

• CIT 547 - Network Design/Troubleshooting
• CIT 572 - Database Administration

Advanced Core Courses

The following four courses are all required.

• CIT 668 - System Architecture
• CIT 672 - Advanced Database Administration
• CIT 696 - Best Practices in Information Technology Seminar
• MBI 650 - Information Technology Project Management

Note: MBI 650 prerequisite (MBI 625) is waived for all MSCIT students.

Elective Courses

Students must take at least 18 credit hours of the courses below, at least 9 hours of which must be from the Advanced Elective Classes (600 level). All of these courses must be taken in graduate status. No more than six combined hours of CIT 599 and CIT 699 may be counted toward the degree.

• CIT 530 - Computer Forensics
• CIT 536 - Web Server Administration
• CIT 565 - Storage Administration
• CIT 570 - Advanced Network and System Administration
• CIT 584 - Network Security
• CIT 586 - Three Tier Web Applications
• CIT 594 - Intermediate Graduate Topics: Computer Information Technology
• CIT 599 - Intermediate Independent Study
• CSC 507 - Concepts of Programming Languages
• CSC 533 - Computer Networks
• CSC 550 - Database Management Systems
• CSC 582 - Computer Security
• PHI 510 - Ethics in Information Technology

Advanced Elective Classes are listed below:

• CIT 630 - Advanced Computer Forensics
• CIT 637 - Wireless Networks
• CIT 644 - Web Security
• CIT 661 - Routing
• CIT 662 - Switching
• CIT 677 - Data Mining Tools and Techniques
• CIT 694 - Advanced Graduate Topics: Computer Information Technology
• CIT 699 - Advanced Independent Study
• CSC 645 - Software Interface Design and Human Factors
• CSC 670 - Social Implications of Computing
• CSC 682 - Advanced Computer Security
• COM 700 - Social Informatics
• MBI 615 - Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation
• MBI 625 - Information Systems in Organizations
• MBI 630 - Systems Analysis and Design
• MBI 640 - Data Communication, Networking and Security
• MBI 645 - Electronic Commerce
• MBI 647 - ERP Business Process Analysis Using SAP
• MBI 657 - ERP Business Process Integration Using SAP
• MBI 667 - ERP Business Intelligence Using SAP
• MBI 677 - ERP Programming for SAP
• MBI 682 - Information Security & Controls
• MBI 685 - Corporate IS Management

Transfer Credit

Students may transfer up to 9 semester hours of appropriate, acceptable graduate coursework from other institutions. A student must have earned a minimum grade of B in such courses. These courses must be deemed appropriate to the student's program of study at the time of admission into the program by the department chair on the advice of the director. You must request transfer credit for work taken prior to matriculation into NKU during the first semester of enrollment in the MSCIT program.

Academic Standing

A GPA of at least 3.00 must be maintained for all courses taken with graduate standing. At most two C grades can be counted toward the degree. A course may be repeated only once, and only two courses may be repeated. Only courses with a grade of C or below can be repeated; only the repeat grade is used in GPA determination. Students whose GPA falls below 3.00 will be placed on probation; those remaining on probation for more than 9 semester hours of coursework will be dropped from the program.