INSY - Information Systems

This course provides an introduction to problem solving and algorithm design using C++ or Java. The following topics will be presented: program structure, data types, input/output, flow of control, sub-algorithms, and an introduction to classes.

This course is a survey of quantitative methods as they apply to the problems of business management, marketing, finance and economics. This course involves study and analysis of numerous methods such as linear programming, forecasting, queuing models, inventory analysis and project planning and control methods. Students are also introduced to probability and statistical concepts, measurements of central tendency and regression, and correlation analysis. Equivalent: Three semester hours of Business Statistics and three semester hours of Quantitative Methods for Business or Management Decision Science.

This course provides a broad overview of the threats to the security of information systems, the responsibilities and basic tools for information security, and the levels of training and expertise needed in organizations to reach and maintain a state of acceptable security. Topics include an introduction to confidentiality, integrity, and availability; authentication models and protection models; security kernels; secure programming; intrusion detection and response; operational security issues; physical security issues; and personnel security. Additional topics include policy formation and enforcement; access controls and information flow; legal and social issues; identification and authentication in local and distributed systems; classification and trust modeling; and risk assessment.

Current information technology topics are surveyed and analyzed. Hardware, software, and communication systems used to process, store, and transmit information is studied and analyzed. Students learn how to manage information technology in today’s network enterprises and global networks. Students read current print and electronic media articles in addition to text. Due to the dynamic nature of the computer field, there is no equivalent. Exceptions will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

This course will cover fundamental concepts, principles, and practical issues relevant to the design, analysis, and implementation of enterprise-level trusted networked information systems. Topics include networking and security architectures and techniques and the protocols defined at the various layers of the Internet model.

This course presents hands-on methods to conduct a Windows-based computer forensics investigation.  Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the tools and techniques used by computer forensics experts such as analysis of file structures, evidence imaging, data recovery, e-mail investigations, graphics investigations, registry analysis, password recovery, and decryption of encrypted data.

This course presents hands-on techniques for conducting analysis of Network Intrusions and Cybercrime in an organization. This course discusses log file analysis, gathering evidence from all networked devices, and router forensics. It also covers principles and practice related to examination of internal and external cyber attacks, cybercrimes, e-mail crimes and violations, corporate espionage, copyright and trademark violations.  

This course presents hands-on techniques for recovering evidence, data and corporate assets from mobile devices such as Iphones, windows mobile phones, Android phones, Ipads, Tablet PCs, and Ipods. The course discusses forensics acquisition, analysis and reporting of evidence retrieved from mobile devices.  Students will learn how to recover passwords, deleted voicemails, photos, and text messages, geotagged metadata from camera phones, and data from various apps that run on mobile devices. 

Legal and ethical issues are important concepts in this field. This course covers the following topics: policy implications of the use of computers and in particular of the security of computers in modern society; fundamentals of American law with particular regard to the legal aspects of the use of computers and of computer security; the organization and use of the American legal system; ethical challenges in a technological environment; identification of organizations and materials that can be of assistance in resolving or responding to policy, legal, and ethical issues; and social and public policy issues pertaining to the commercial development, availability, and marketing of both software and hardware for encryption.

This course introduces the foundations of data warehousing concepts. Business data warehouse development methodology and data warehouse planning stages are discussed. Identification of business requirements, feasibility analysis, and development of logical data warehouse models will be discussed. The students will learn the development of the data architecture as well as the implementation and administration of the data warehouse.

The students will have an in-depth understanding of the visualization techniques for business data. Several data visualization techniques for improved decision-making and problem-solving will be discussed. The students will learn how to transform complex categorical data to equivalent easy-to-use visual representation. Current tools and development environments will be discussed.

This course is a hands-on study of the current data mining techniques for business decisions. The discussed methodology includes decision trees, rule-based reasoning, neural networks, and cluster analysis. The techniques are demonstrated with data from finance, marketing, operations, economics, and other disciplines.

This course discusses cyber-attacks and security practices that are used to protect individuals, organizations and the national infrastructure. The course will focus on 10 strategies organizations supporting national infrastructure should implement to improve security posture. The concepts discussed in this course are relevant to operations security of all organizations.

This course covers the strategies, procedures, and policies to manage and mitigate risk in information systems. It also covers risk analysis techniques that can be used to identify and quantify both accidental and malicious threats to computer systems within an organization. In addition to technical solutions, the course considers strategies and policies that will provide cost effective and highly secure systems.

This course uses case studies to teach students how to implement an IT Governance process in a company using COBiT (Control Objectives for IT & related technology), align IT strategy with the business planning process, and monitor and measure the IT internal controls to meet internal and external compliance legislation like Sarbanes Oxley and FTC (Federal Trade Commission) requirements. The course will also introduce students to the planning and conducting of an IT Audit.

This course examines detailed aspects of incident response and contingency planning consisting of incident response planning, disaster recovery planning, and business continuity planning. Developing and executing plans to deal with incidents in the organization is a critical function of information security management. This course focuses on the planning processes for all three areas of contingency planning: incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity. The course also covers the execution of response to human and non-human incidents in compliance with organizational policies and contingency plans.

This course focuses on competitiveness, with emphasis placed on the close coordination of business unit operational decision making and strategic planning. Topics covered include product process design, inventory management, quality management, forecasting and statistical quality control. Operations management is an interesting mix of managing people and applying sophisticated technology. The goal is to efficiently create wealth by supplying quality goods and services.

This course focuses on operational coordination within a firm and gradually transitions to include inter-function, inter-firm, and international coordination. Specific modules focus on retail operations and the role of supply chain intermediaries, for example, distributors and sourcing agents. The impact of incentives and market imperfections, and the changing impact of the Internet and other information technology on supply chain operations are emphasized.

This course provides the student with theory and experience associated with ethical hacking - the practice of using the same skills employed by hackers with malicious intent to improve organizational information security. The successful protection of digital assets of an organization requires solid understanding of such techniques used by hackers to be better prepared against those kinds of attacks. Ethical hacking also requires performing a risk analysis for the particular organization as well as identifying the data, network, and policy vulnerabilities. Firewalls and intrusion detection systems are examined from an ethical hacking perspective with focus on protecting digital assets.

The students will learn the business analytic tools to help with supply chain optimization. The course introduces the techniques and the industry applications for strategic and operational issues of supply chain management. The course covers the data management practices for a globally connected business.

This capstone course in the MSIS curriculum enables a student to integrate the expertise gained in all other courses in the development of an information security strategy. Through a series of assignments that simulate real-world information security threats and incidents, students will apply the key concepts from each MSIS course to design, develop and implement solutions that mitigate these threats. This course must be taken as the last course or in the final semester of the MSIS program.

This course is an introduction to database management systems. Fundamentals of database models are discussed. Designs and issues concerning storage, access, and management of data and information are explored.

Information Security Certification.

Information Security Certification.

This is an advanced course that enables students to carry out independent study under the supervision of a faculty member.

This course in Quality Management provides a systematic approach to improving and managing quality in healthcare organizations. It is designed for healthcare managers and executives. Students will learn both the conceptual and practical aspects of health care quality. A number of quality management and performance tools and techniques will also be introduced. These include Failure Mode and Effect Analysis, Cause-Effect diagrams, Flow Charts, Pareto Diagrams, Function Deployment Matrices, Histograms, Data Sheets, and Control Spreadsheets.

This course introduces the use of current information technology for healthcare and health data systems. It is designed to give the student an understanding of the different types of data captured, analyzed, maintained and processed for medical studies.

This course examines the current legal environment for confidentiality of healthcare data. It introduces the laws, regulations, policy, and procedures for protecting sensitive patient data. The students learn risk assessment and how to address potential threats in a healthcare setting. Security policy and procedure development methods to secure the healthcare data as required by current laws are discussed in detail. 

Designed for the in-depth study of the healthcare systems, this course teaches systems analysis and design specifically for the healthcare data. The students learn how to identify business problem statements for healthcare organizations, how to identify data requirements, and how to gather data for detailed systems analysis. Systems development techniques to address business problems by improving existing information systems or developing new information systems are explained. Data manipulation concepts for health information systems are introduced. 

This course introduces students to the current data mining and business intelligence tools for informed decision making. The tools to process and analyze increasingly complicated data sets are explained. Real-life scenarios from finance, CRM, operations, social media marketing, information systems, and other disciplines are studied in detail. Specifically decision trees, classification, clustering, segmentation, decision support systems, search algorithms, data mining, factor and discriminant analysis and optimization concepts for both structured and unstructured data are discussed.

This course will allow students to demonstrate proficiency in business analytics with a semester project. The students are expected to employ the skills presented throughout the curriculum in an organized manner to solve realistic business data management problems. Mastery of skills for the student’s identified concentration is expected.