Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT)

Dean of the School of Computing: Dr. Alex Koohang

Associate Dean of the School of Computer: Dr. Kevin S. Floyd

Chair of the Department of Information Technology: Dr. Neil Rigole

Graduate Program Coordinator, Information Technology: Dr. Vicky Sandoval

(478) 471-2801, office

(478) 757-2622, FAX

(800) 272-7619, toll-free

vicky.sandoval@mga.edu

Department of Information Technology

Middle Georgia State University

100 University Parkway

Macon, Georgia 31206

Department of Information Technology Mission

The mission of the Department of Information Technology (IT) is to educate students in information technology in ways that lead to fulfilling careers and enhance the economic vitality of Central Georgia. The Department prepares its graduates to solve problems and apply new technologies within an increasingly interconnected and changing global environment. The Department pursues this mission as an educational leader in teaching excellence, scholarship, professional service, and community outreach.

Master of Science in Information Technology Program Mission

The Master of Science in Information Technology is a unique collegiate program in the Middle Georgia region that fulfills MGA's mission to provide "high quality programs connected to community needs." It will also help establish MGA as a leader for the "economic" life of central Georgia.

The program aligns with and is complementary to Middle Georgia State University's ABET accredited Bachelor of Science in information Technology housed in the Department of Information Technology. This program is uniquely positioned in Central Georgia to address the mission and to meet the needs of both the 21st century student and employer. IT will fuel the regional economy by producing top-quality graduates who will be successful in 21st century careers. Many baccalaureate programs at Middle Georgia State University focus on careers in the greatest demand regionally and nationally: business, information technology, nursing, health care and teacher education. The Masters of Science in Information Technology will enable IT professionals with baccalaureate degrees to pursue advanced specialized training in the areas of cybersecurity and forensics, software development, critical infrastructure management, and health informatics.

Master of Science in Information Technology Degree Requirements

The MSIT program requires students to complete 30 hours of graduate coursework. The first 15 hours provide students with knowledge in core information technologies in leadership, strategic planning, and research. Students can then focus on one area of study to enhance their set of skills and knowledge. These areas of study are Cybersecurity and Forensics, Software Development, Critical Infrastructure Management, Health Informatics, Social Media, and Data Science. The courses in the program emphasize leadership abilities, critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making, and interpersonal and communication skills. Career success through lifelong learning, professional development, and research is stressed at all levels of the curriculum. The program is designed to produce graduates prepared to take on leadership duties in the field of Information Technology in general as well as in specific work settings such as healthcare and information security.

Program Format (MSIT)

All courses in the program are offered in an eight-week session format. Students can complete the Master of Science in Information Technology either in an accelerated (1 year) format or a regular (2 year) format. In the accelerated format, a student can take a total of 4 courses per semester divided up over two 8-week sessions. In the regular format, a student can take a total of 2 courses per semester divided up over two 8-week sessions.