Master of Science in Information Technology Leadership
Curriculum
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CURRICULUM DESIGNED FOR TODAY’S INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LEADERS
The online MS in Information Technology Leadership degree program is designed for those who aspire to hold IT leadership positions in any organization. Graduates will develop a comprehensive understanding of IT fundamentals enabling them to effectively manage intricate systems and communicate the benefits of IT solutions to non-technical decision makers.
Graduates of the MS-ITL program will be equipped to evaluate the mission, resources and constraints of an organization to develop, communicate, deploy and maintain effective IT solutions — even if they are not subject matter experts in every technical specialization.
The MS-ITL degree is a 30-unit project-based program featuring two foundational courses, six core courses and a final semester course paired with a capstone project. The program is offered 100% online using the Canvas learning management system.
NOTE: Courses and units/course subject to change until classes start.
20
Number of months it takes to graduate from the program
15–18
Average number of hours of coursework to expect each week
PROGRAM COURSE CURRICULUM
MS-ITL is a 30-unit program consisting of ten courses. Courses are offered year-round with three semesters every year: spring, summer and fall. Each semester lasts 14 weeks with courses running for seven weeks each. Students take two courses per semester with a one or two week break between semesters.
This concentrated format allows students to focus on one course at a time and to still complete the degree program in 20 months. Students are advised to spend 15-20 hours per week in each course in order to be successful.
The curriculum consists of the following courses:
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
|
Introduction to the IT Leadership program. Spotlights on fundamental financial management concepts: expense, capital, depreciation, budgets,… |
3 |
|
Project Management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to project-oriented activities to meet project requirements… |
3 |
|
This course covers the role of wired and wireless networking in the architecture, deployment, and management of large-scale information tech… |
3 |
|
Server operations with emphasis on design and deployment of large-scale computing environments using cloud services (e.g., Amazon Web Servic… |
3 |
|
The role of IT in the continuous process of software development (engineering), staging (QA), and production deployment (IT operations). Inc… |
3 |
|
This course will feature a comprehensive overview of concepts and tools essential to cybersecurity for IT professionals. Students will learn… |
3 |
|
IT Service Management (ITSM) is the set of activities by which IT organizations manage the end-to-end delivery of IT services to customers. … |
3 |
|
This course covers topics including overviews of major enterprise applications such as Salesforce, Workday, Oracle Financials and SAP, with … |
3 |
|
This course focuses on a big-picture overview of the economic and social role of IT professionals. IT professionals are a strategic workforc… |
3 |
|
The program capstone focuses on developing a proposal for a significant IT infrastructure initiative, e.g., implementation of a new enterpri… |
3 |
TEACHING AND LEARNING Methods
Recorded Lectures
Recorded Computer Programming Videos
Live Weekly Office Hours*
Channel-based Messaging Platform
Supervision of Final Projects
Real-world Dataset Applications
*Not required or part of the final grade
Assessment Methods
Programming-based Assignments
Interactive Discussions
Project Based Assignments
Writing Professional Reports
A Comprehensive Capstone
DEGREE PLAN
Degree candidates are admitted throughout the year to begin their degree during one of three terms (spring, summer, fall). Students will take two courses during each 14-week term, focusing on one seven-week course at a time. This degree program can be completed, on average, in five terms (20 months).
Download a PDF of your degree plan that corresponds with your start term.
Important dates for your starting term can be found in the degree plan. Important dates for subsequent terms can be found in your student success center after acceptance.
STUDENT SUPPORT
USD provides support services from your initial inquiry through graduation and placement. As a nationally ranked institution, the University of San Diego (USD) is focused on an unwavering expectation: academic excellence. We want to help you become the changemaker you want to be!
Enrollment Advising
When you first inquire about one of our graduate degree programs, you will be assigned a personal Enrollment Advisor. Your Enrollment Advisor is available to answer your questions, help you assess your eligibility for admission and guide you through the application process. Your advisor will help you every step of the way from the moment you indicate your interest in a program through the entire application process. Our team of advisors can even help order your undergraduate transcripts, guide you through the process of writing your admission essay and ensure you are staying on top of deadlines.
Program Advising
A Program Advisor will be your primary point of contact for support once you are admitted and have formally registered for classes. When you first enroll, your Program Advisor will schedule a 15-minute introductory call to review technology/equipment requirements, connect you with resources for financial aid, GI Bill/VA funding, payment plans etc. and help you sign up for the online orientation. Over the course of your program, you’ll work with your Program Advisor to add/drop classes, coordinate credit transfers and address any technical challenges you might be experiencing. In fact, you can direct most university-related questions to your Program Advisor; if they do not have the answer, they will point you to the available resource that does.
Academic Advising
Each of our graduate degree programs has an Academic Advisor, who is responsible for evaluating applications and admitting new students, monitoring your academic progress and providing guidance as needed. Academic Advisors also serve as instructors for their respective programs.
Additional Support
Graduate Placement
Career Services at the University of San Diego acts as a centralized resource for USD students, alumni and employers. Career Services can provide you with online career tools and other resources to help you with your job search.
Learning Outcomes
The Master of Science in Information Technology Leadership program aims to provide IT professionals with the knowledge, skills and training to excel as IT leaders and managers. Throughout their studies, students will:
- Demonstrate mastery over the fundamental building blocks of information technology solutions: data and voice networking, security, data management and reporting, enterprise applications (e.g., Workday, Salesforce), and server operations (e.g., AWS, Azure).
- Evaluate proposed and implemented information technology solutions from diverse points of view within a variety of frameworks including cultural, social, political, linguistic and generational as well as technological contexts.
- Critically analyze existing information technology systems as well as IT solutions proposed by clients, internal customers, or vendors, assessing requirements and resources (human, financial, and technical).
- Design (or Develop) and implement information technology solutions responsive to organizational requirements, aligned with resource constraints and strategic goals.
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders in order to accurately characterize problems to be solved within the context of strategic goals and available resources.
- Evaluate the ethical implications of proposed and implemented information technology solutions.
These outcomes are in addition to the graduate learning outcomes shared across all of USD’s masters level programs.
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