Management Information Systems Certificate – Online

This program is currently only available by Directed Study

Management Information Systems are crucial to modern businesses and organizations. They enable connections with remote suppliers, vendors, distributors, employees, customers, and corporate partners that enhance the efficiency of any operation, leading to increased profitability. They also represent a growing sector, as software and hardware automation takes over jobs once performed manually. Cedar Crest’s graduate certificate in MIS allows learners from multiple disciplines — from health care to human resources to distribution — to understand the strategic importance of information, which can lead to new potential opportunities, products and partnerships.

The 12-credit online Management Information Systems graduate certificate will enable students to assess, leverage and manage technology innovations to increase organizational efficiency and to understand how to compete effectively in a global information economy. The program is designed for the busy working professional who is looking to change careers or move up in their current field and can be completed in one to two years.

This Business certificate can be completed as a stand-alone credential or in combination with select other Cedar Crest Business certificates to complete our innovative online Modular Master of Science degree.

Learn more about the Modular Master’s degree here.

The goal of the certificate program is to provide students with the ability to:

• Create strategies for leveraging management information systems to create competitive advantage, operational efficiency and enhanced responsiveness to market change.
• Assess core information technologies and alternatives to accomplish the tasks of collecting, processing and outputting data.
• Leverage and assess project management techniques that are applicable to all business situations, as well as those particular to management information systems.
• Develop strategies for determining appropriate data architecture and management techniques for enterprise data.
• Develop strategies for negotiating disruptive innovation to organizations and markets, and for leveraging business automation such as intelligent agents.

Required Courses

Management Information Systems – 3 credits

Technology infrastructure allows businesses to create new kinds of organizational structures, international and domestic partnerships, efficient supply chains and even new innovations in products and customer relationships. This course provides an overview of management information systems, including the core components and implications of networks, software, databases, hardware and cloud-based infrastructure. Case study methodology is used to explore the impact of technologies on efficiency and productivity in business and organizations. Students gain an understanding of the interconnected nature of businesses and technology. Students develop a real-world case study analysis of technology adoption for an organization.

Project Management for Technology – 3 credits

This course starts by examining general project management techniques and then focuses on those unique to information technology fields, such as Agile, Scrum and XP. Work breakdown structures such as Gantt charts are discussed, as are the organizational design strategies that support project models (lean, matrix). The role of the project manager is explored, including the necessary skills for successfully negotiating cost, budget, scope, quality, feasibility and risk issues in business projects. The course culminates in a project proposal plan for a new technology development.

Data Engineering and Management – 3 credits

This course examines how organizations use and manage data. Concepts include relational and non-relational databases, structured query language, scalability and security, data standardization and warehousing, and data capture methodology. Central to the course is the question of how organizations seek to use data to achieve their goals as they collect, organize, store and analyze data to create usable business information. The course culminates in the creation of a data management plan for a company or an organization.

Workplace Automation and Disruptive Innovation – 3 credits

Innovations in technology have the ability to streamline organizations, expand production through scalability and flexible customization, and reduce expenses and manufacturing errors — and they have the ability to transform markets as well through disruptive innovation. Increasingly, modern business productivity enhancement takes the form of business automation, including expert systems, decision systems, robotics in manufacturing and even artificial intelligent agents. Students in this class explore developments in automation and disruptive technological change to organizations and markets, including ongoing emergent developments and disruptions.