MSIM adds big data to curriculum

A new cohort of the Online MSIM starts next week with on-campus orientation, and students in the Evening MSIM will begin August 20. When the students graduate, they will find plentiful career opportunities.

The future looks great for the 150-plus students enrolled in the Evening and Online Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) program this fall. A new cohort of the Online MSIM starts next week with on-campus orientation, and students in the Evening MSIM will begin August 20.

When the students graduate, they will find plentiful career opportunities. The strong job market that information managers have enjoyed since before the recession is showing no signs of letting up anytime soon, according to forecasts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics at the U.S. Department of Labor. The 2014–2015 Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that the number of computer and information systems managers working in U.S. companies is projected to grow 15 percent from now through 2022.

Demand is especially strong for managers who know how to use big data strategically, and the MSIM curriculum has responded to the trend.

Distinct from the W. P. Carey School’s Master of Science in Business Analytics, which prepares students for careers as data analysts, the MSIM addresses a different career path. The technology-savvy MSIM graduate is prepared to bridge departments and functional areas of the firm to deploy IT solutions for decision-making, business transformation and competitive advantage.

“Big Data is an incredibly important part of today's technology landscape, and we've made certain that the MSIM curriculum reflects the prominence of these new technologies,” said Alan Simon, faculty director of the program. “The curriculum for many of our courses has been adapted to address how big data impacts that particular subject. For example, my enterprise systems course discusses the role of big data in the enterprise landscape alongside other components.”

In addition to curriculum enhancements in existing courses, a new class was added this summer. Juliana Tsai, who earned her Ph.D. at the Department of  Information Systems in 2012, has returned to W. P. Carey to teach CIS 591, Information-enabled Business Modeling.

“Big Data is changing how we do business across different industries and organizational functions,” said Tsai. “My goal with the new course is to guide individuals who work with data on how to ask the right questions and assemble the team and technologies required to successfully execute on their company’s big data goals.”

The curriculum covers the challenges companies face and some of the pitfalls.

"Learning to work with and derive value from big data are essential skills for future leaders,” Tsai added. “Organizations focused on evidence-based decision making have been able to achieve better performance than others within their respective industry."

The 12-month Evening MSIM was launched in May 2005, with the first class graduating in May 2006. A new class starts every summer semester. In 2012, W. P. Carey added the 16-month Online MSIM, with classes starting in January and August.

— Information about both options for getting an MSIM degree