Valparaiso University’s Master’s in IT is a professional master’s degree, with curriculum that reflects professional practice and career needs. The program runs on a number of tracks that are targeted at well-understood career paths in Information Technology. The tracks share a common core set of courses that have been selected to cover the fundamental skills of this community of practice. With an emphasis on hands-on learning, this degree focuses on meeting the challenges of a rapidly evolving field, fostering technical excellence, communication, and a readiness to lead. All students also complete a capstone experience that includes a preparatory course and a professional development course, or a research project, or a 300-hour internship. The available tracks are detailed below.
Computing Track
This track is intended to prepare students interested in successful careers as programmers, testers, and similar positions in both the U.S. and abroad. It provides basic coverage of the fundamental areas of information technology. The flexible list of courses is intended to allow specialization and in-depth study of several areas with 15 credits from the electives list.
Completion of a thesis requires an additional three credits beyond the required 37 credits, for a total of 40 credits. Thesis completion requires adherence to the guidelines outlined in the Thesis Manual, available on the Graduate Office academic forms website.
Completion of an internship requires 300 hours of supervised experience in accordance with the graduate academic policies. Forms are available on the Graduate Office website.
Management Track
This track is intended to prepare students interested in successful careers as CIOs, project leads, policy specialists, system analysts, and similar positions in both the U.S. and abroad. It provides basic coverage of the fundamental areas of information technology. To prepare students for the multifaceted roles that accompany leadership, the program includes an additional core set of analytic and policy courses, as well as an interdisciplinary component and communications-related course.
Completion of a thesis requires an additional three credits beyond the required 37 credits, for a total of 40 credits. Thesis completion requires adherence to the guidelines outlined in the Thesis Manual, available on the Graduate Office academic forms website.
Completion of an internship requires 300 hours of supervised experience in accordance with the graduate academic policies. Forms are available on the Graduate Office website.
Admission
To be admitted, applicants must meet all graduate admission requirements (see here ). Students may be eligible for admission to this program as an Early Entry student. See here for more information.
Curriculum
Students take the required classes in their track, elective classes, and the capstone experience.
Sequencing of Coursework
Students should take IT 502 , and IT 510 during their first semester of enrollment, as well as GRD 500 if they are new international students. The Capstone Experience should be taken after at least the first semester of study.
Substitutions of Required Classes
Up to 6 credits can be substituted based on prior coursework or work experiences. Additionally, IT 502 can be substituted based on demonstrated competence. The decision to substitute is made by the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences on the recommendation of the program director.
Coordination with IT Certificates
Credits applied to the Master of Science in IT degree can also apply to IT Certificates. The certificates must be applied for separately. Graduate academic policies apply to each program.
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