Information Technology, M.S.

We accept applications for fall and spring semesters (no summer admission).

Deadlines for Domestic Students:

• Fall Semester – priority deadline is March 1, final deadline is August 1 as seats allow
• Spring Semester – priority deadline is October 1, final deadline is December 1 as seats allow

Deadlines for International Students:

• Fall Semester – priority deadline is March 1, final deadline is April 1
• Spring Semester – priority deadline is October 1, final deadline is November 1

• Unofficial transcript(s) demonstrating a cumulative undergraduate degree GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Statement of purpose
• Three recommendations from academic and/or professional references

International applicants:

• English language proficiency requirement
• Formal transcript evaluation (optional, though recommended)

For admission, applicants must meet both University Graduate School requirements as well as program specific requirements. Full details on University Graduate School requirements can be found in the most recent version of the University Graduate Catalog. Additional helpful information on University requirements is available in the Graduate School Frequently Asked Admissions Questions.

NOTE: The GRE/GMAT standardized exam requirement is waived for all Fall 2025 applicants and will not be a requirement for consideration in joining this program. Please contact our sis-grad-admissions@charlotte.edu if you have any further questions about this update.

• Resume/CV
• Completed undergraduate or equivalent course work in the below topics with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale*

M.S. in Information Technology

• Data structures
• Object-oriented programming in C++, C#, or java

*Applicants who pass and complete the Fundamentals of Programming courses ITIS 5101 Foundations of Programming and ITIS 5135 Web-based Application Design and Development are considered having met the equivalent coursework requirement.

*Applicants who demonstrate relevant work experience in applying or developing computing and information technology may be able to substitute their relevant work experience for the specific requirements, subject to review by the Graduate Program Director.

The Master of Science in Information Technology degree requires a total of 30 graduate credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.0, together with a capstone or culminating experience.  Additionally, the following requirements must be met:

• No more than 12 credit hours of coursework may be taken from outside of the courses offered by the Department of Software and Information Systems
• At least 15 credit hours must be taken from 6000 level or above courses
• No more than 3 credit hours may be taken for Individual Study
• A maximum of 6 graduate credit hours may be transferred from other institutions

The 30 credit hours of coursework comprise the following three parts:

Core Courses (15 credit hours)

Advanced Programming Courses

Select one of the following:

• ITIS 5166 – Backend Application Development (3)
• ITIS 5180 – Mobile Application Development (3)

Software Systems Courses

Select one of the following:

• ITIS 6112 – Software System Design and Implementation (3)
• ITIS 6177 – System Integration (3)
• ITIS 6342 – Information Technology Project Management (3)

Databases and Data Science Courses

Select one of the following:

• ITIS 6120 – Applied Databases (3)
• ITIS 6162 – Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)

Principles Courses

• ITIS 6200 – Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6300 – Human-Centered Design (3)

Concentration Courses (9 credit hours)

The MSIT program offers the following concentrations:

1. Advanced Data and Knowledge Discovery
2. Emerging Technologies
3. Human-Centered Design
4. Information Security and Privacy
5. Information Technology Management
6. Software Systems Design and Engineering
7. Web Development

Each student is required to select one concentration and complete 3 courses selected from the list of approved courses for the specific concentration.  Among the 9 credit hours for a concentration, 6 may be substituted with a master’s research thesis.  The topic for the research thesis must fall within the area of concentration.  A core course cannot be double-counted toward a concentration.  Subject to the approval of the MSIT Program Director, a course from outside of the approved list for a concentration may be taken as a substitute for a course for the concentration.

Advanced Data and Knowledge Discovery Concentration

Select three of the following:

• ITCS 5122 – Visual Analytics (3)
• ITCS 6100 – Big Data Analytics for Competitive Advantage (3)
• or  DSBA 6100 – Big Data Analytics for Competitive Advantage (3)
• ITCS 6155 – Knowledge-Based Systems (3)
• ITCS 6156 – Machine Learning (3)
• ITCS 6157 – Visual Databases (3)
• ITCS 6161 – Advanced Topics in Database Systems (3)
• ITCS 6190 – Cloud Computing for Data Analysis (3)
• ITCS 6265 – Advanced Topics in Data Mining (3)
• ITIS 5310 – Web Mining (3)
• ITIS 6010 – Topics in Software and Information Systems (3) (only if topic is applicable and approved by program director)
• or  ITCS 6010 – Topics in Computer Science (3) (only if topic is applicable and approved by program director)
• ITIS 6150 – Software Assurance (3)
• ITIS 6162 – Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)
• ITIS 6163 – Data Warehousing (3)
• or  ITCS 6163 – Data Warehousing (3)
• ITIS 6220 – Data Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6318 – Personalization and Recommender Systems (3)
• ITIS 6320 – Cloud Data Storage (3)
• ITIS 6326 – Network Science (3)
• ITIS 6362 – Information Technology Ethics, Policy, and Security (3)
• MBAD 6201 – Business Intelligence and Analytics (0 to 3)
• or  DSBA 6201 – Business Intelligence and Analytics (3)
• MBAD 6211 – Advanced Business Analytics (0 to 3)

Emerging Technologies Concentration

Select three courses from the aggregated list of courses for all the other concentrations. Students are recommended to select each course from a different concentration to maximize their exposure to the broadest range of latest knowledge in computing and information technology.

Human-Centered Design Concentration

• ITIS 5350 – Design Prototyping (3)
• ITIS 5390 – Interaction Design Projects (3)

Elective Courses

Select one course from the following list:

• ARCH 7211 – Research Lab (4 to 6)
• ARCH 7212 – Studio Lab II (4 to 6)
• ITIS 6010 – Topics in Software and Information Systems (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)
• or  ITCS 6010 – Topics in Computer Science (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)
• ITIS 5353 – Social Technology Design (3)
• ITIS 5355 – Accessible Design and Implementation (3)
• ITIS 5358 – Physical Computing (3)
• ITIS 5360 – Human-Centered AI (3)
• ITIS 6214 – Usable Security and Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6318 – Personalization and Recommender Systems (3)
• PSYC 6216 – Introduction to Cognitive Science (3)

Information Security and Privacy Concentration

Select three of the following:

• ITIS 5221 – Secure Programming and Penetration Testing (3)
• ITIS 5246 – Competitive Cyber Defense (3)
• ITIS 5250 – Computer Forensics (3)
• ITIS 5260 – Introduction to Security Analytics (3)
• ITIS 5331 – Web-Based Mobile and IoT Firmware Security (3)
• ITIS 6150 – Software Assurance (3)
• ITIS 6167 – Network Security (3)
• ITIS 6210 – Access Control and Security Architecture (3)
• ITIS 6214 – Usable Security and Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6220 – Data Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6230 – Enterprise and Infrastructure Protection (3)
• ITIS 6240 – Applied Cryptography (3)
• ITIS 6260 – Quantum Computing (3)
• ITIS 6268 – Wireless Network Security (3)
• ITIS 6320 – Cloud Data Storage (3)
• ITIS 6330 – Malware Analysis (3)
• ITIS 6362 – Information Technology Ethics, Policy, and Security (3)
• ITIS 6010 – Topics in Software and Information Systems (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)
• or  ITCS 6010 – Topics in Computer Science (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)

Information Technology Management Concentration

• ITIS 6342 – Information Technology Project Management (3) (if not already taken as a Core Course)
• ITIS 6362 – Information Technology Ethics, Policy, and Security (3)

Elective Courses

Select 1-2 of the following, to result in 3 courses for this concentration:

• ITIS 6010 – Topics in Software and Information Systems (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)
• or  ITCS 6010 – Topics in Computer Science (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)
• ITIS 6177 – System Integration (3)
• ITIS 6230 – Enterprise and Infrastructure Protection (3)
• ITIS 6320 – Cloud Data Storage (3)
• ITCS 5161 – Intellectual Property Aspects of Computing (3)
• MBAD 6122 – Decision Modeling and Analysis (0 to 3)
• MBAD 6141 – Operations Management (0 to 3)
• MBAD 6161 – Human Behavior in Organizations (0 to 3)
• MBAD 6164 – Executive Communication (0 to 3)
• MBAD 6165 – Negotiation and Conflict Management (0 to 3)
• MBAD 6201 – Business Intelligence and Analytics (0 to 3)
• or  DSBA 6201 – Business Intelligence and Analytics (3)
• MBAD 6202 – Digitization of Business Processes (0 to 3)
• MBAD 6207 – Business Project Management (0 to 3)

Software Systems Design and Engineering Concentration

• ITIS 6112 – Software System Design and Implementation (3) (if not already taken as a Core Course)

Elective Courses

Select 2-3 of the following, to result in 3 courses for this concentration:

• ITIS 5180 – Mobile Application Development (3)
• ITIS 5166 – Backend Application Development (3)
• ITIS 5221 – Secure Programming and Penetration Testing (3)
• ITIS 5280 – Advanced Mobile Application Development (3)
• ITIS 5390 – Interaction Design Projects (3)
• ITIS 6150 – Software Assurance (3)
• ITIS 6177 – System Integration (3)
• ITIS 6210 – Access Control and Security Architecture (3)
• ITIS 6260 – Quantum Computing (3)
• ITIS 6362 – Information Technology Ethics, Policy, and Security (3)
• ITIS 6010 – Topics in Software and Information Systems (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)
• or  ITCS 6010 – Topics in Computer Science (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)

Web Development Concentration

Select three of the following:

• ITIS 5166 – Backend Application Development (3)
• ITIS 5180 – Mobile Application Development (3)
• ITIS 5221 – Secure Programming and Penetration Testing (3)
• ITIS 5310 – Web Mining (3)
• ITIS 5350 – Design Prototyping (3)
• ITIS 5390 – Interaction Design Projects (3)
• ITIS 6177 – System Integration (3)
• ITIS 6318 – Personalization and Recommender Systems (3)
• ITIS 6326 – Network Science (3)
• ITIS 6362 – Information Technology Ethics, Policy, and Security (3)
• ITIS 6010 – Topics in Software and Information Systems (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)
• or  ITCS 6010 – Topics in Computer Science (3) (only if topic applicable and approved by program director)

Elective Courses (6 credit hours)

Students fulfill the remaining requirements for coursework by completing two approved elective courses from the College of Computing and Informatics.

Part of the elective requirements may also be met by taking the following internship:

• ITIS 6498 – IT Internship Project (3)

Culminating Experience (0-6 credit hours)

All students must successfully complete a culminating experience.  This requirement is satisfied by completing any one of the following three:

IT Master’s Thesis:   ITIS 6991 – Information Technology Thesis (1 to 6) (6 credit hours; taken for 2 semesters)

IT Project:  a 15-page written report on knowledge related to one or more courses or a programming experience (0 credit hours)

IT Internship:  ITIS 6498 – IT Internship Project (3) 

What is the cost of attendance for this program (tuition and fee structure)?

You may view up-to-date information about tuition and fees for our program on the Niner Central webpage.

Where can I find information on financial support and financial aid?

Several sources of funding and financial aid are available to our graduate students through various means, including scholarships, fellowships, and teaching assistantships.

To apply for a graduate assistantship in our Department of Software & Information Systems, please visit Hire-A-Niner for opportunities.

For scholarship information: NinerScholars

For recommendations regarding graduate funding: Funding for Graduate Education

For general financial aid information: Niner Central