• Admission Requirement
  • Program Structure
  • Courses Description
  • MSc handBook
  • Degree and Study Plans
  • How to Apply?
  • Contact Details

The applicant for the Master of Science in Information Systems program should hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution of higher education. The applicant must meet the general requirements of Sultan Qaboos University as provided in the Postgraduate Academic Regulations, as follows:

  • Specific requirements for admission are indicated below:
  • Undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 2.75 (on a 4- point scale) or higher.
  • Minimum score of 550 on the test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or IELTS score of 6.0.
  • Candidates with relevant work experience will be given preference.
  • Interview Assessment by the Information Systems Department.
  • Candidates whose GPA’s are between 2.50 and 2.75 may be considered for conditional admission subject to set criteria.
  • Students with Bachelor’s in Business, Information Systems, Computer Science or Computer Engineering may be exempted from relevant bridging courses.
  • Each applicant will be evaluated based on his/her qualifications and experience. Applicants will be granted exemptions from bridging courses based on their educational qualifications and background. Information Systems Department will decide on admission and exemptions on a case-by case basis.
  • Once the students’ satisfy the general requirements for admission to a Graduate program, they will be eligible to start the M.Sc. in Information Systems program that will consists of a total of 24 credit hour of coursework and a Thesis.
  • The program will be offered both as a Fulltime as well as Part-time.

Program Structure

Curriculum
Information Systems Career Paths
Study plan


The M.Sc. in Information Systems Program is expected to be completed within two years of full time and three years of part-time study. All degree requirements must be completed within the specified period. Further details are provided in the Postgraduate Academic Regulations. Figure 1 provides an overview of the structure of the program.

 

programStructure

Business Foundation Bridging courses
Information System Foundation Bridging courses
M.Sc. in Information Systems Degree courses


Business Foundation Bridging courses

Course Code:

ACCT 5111

Course Title:

Principles of Accounting

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

The course covers the fundamental concepts associated with financial and management accounting. The financial accounting component places emphasis on the use of financial accounting information rather than its preparation. No prior accounting knowledge is assumed.

 

Course Code:

MRKT 5611

Course Title:

Principles of Marketing

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

An introductory course in marketing for post-graduate students. Topics include analysis of customer needs and wants; segmenting and targeting markets; developing product, promotion, pricing and distribution strategies.

 

Course Code:

MNGT 5511

Course Title:

Fundamentals of Management

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course introduces and surveys the main concepts of Management. It analyses the various roles and functions of management including planning, organizing, leading and controlling. The course thus aims to develop an understanding of the manager and his/her impact On the success or failure of an organization.

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Information System Foundation Bridging courses

Course Code:

INFS 4421

Course Title:

Business Data Communication and Networking

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

An introduction to data communications and networks. Topics include telecommunications technology, networks, and applications; Local and Wide Area Networks (LAN and WAN), issues of deploying and administrating of computer networks, the impact of the Internet on the Information Systems development.

 

Course Code:

INFS 3410

Course Title:

Fundamentals of Business Programming

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

The course consists of those skills and concepts that are essential to programming practice independent of the underlying paradigm. It includes fundamental programming concepts, basic data structures, and algorithmic processes and problem-solving techniques.

 

Course Code:

INFS 5110

Course Title:

Database Management Systems

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

The course provides an overview of theories, techniques and emphasizes applicability to the production of database systems within business environments; giving a clear perspective of the current nature and practice of database systems development. The course addresses the issues related to database modeling, architectures, management and administration in contemporary business setups using modern Oracle development tools.

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M.Sc. in Information Systems Degree courses:

 

Course Code:

INFS 6410

Course Title:

Information Systems Policy and Strategy

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

Familiarizes students with aspects of developing, implementing and evaluating strategic plans for corporate information systems as a competitive tool; using methods and frameworks for strategic analysis; assisting in establishing an Information Systems Strategy and Information Systems Security Policy, developing an understanding of change management issues in Information Systems planning for organizations.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6451

Course Title:

Information Technology Project Management

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

Information Technology Project Management is the application and integration of the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK) areas to managing information technology (IT) projects. This course focuses on project management tools and techniques for defining and managing the project's goal, scope, schedule, and budget. Other topics include quality management, risk management, and knowledge management as they relate to IT projects.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6710

Course Title:

Information Systems Analysis, Modeling and Design

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

Systems development life cycle; analysis and design techniques; information systems planning and project identification and selection, requirements collection and structuring, process modeling, conceptual and logical data modeling, database implementation, design of the human-computer interface and data management, design of the human computer interface (HCI) System implementation and operation, system maintenance, and change management implications of systems. Students will use current methods and tools such as rapid application development (RAD), object-oriented (OO) analysis and design, prototyping, and visual development.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6712

Course Title:

Research Methods in Information Systems  

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course will introduce the students to basic analytical tools and build their foundation for more advanced courses in quantitative analysis. The students will learn basic mathematical and statistical decision making tools for business. The course covers an overview of the research process in the field of business systems. Topics include literature review, qualitative and quantitative research methods, and data analysis tools and techniques. Students will be educated on how to set their research questions, choose suitable research methods and sampling techniques, conduct data collection and analyze findings.

 

 

Course Code:

INFS 6111

Course Title:

Advanced Database Management System

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course introduces the concepts and discusses the issues in modern database systems; corporate systems, data management and data administration in a modern business setups. The course emphasizes applicability to the production of complex database systems, within the organizational context and within business environments, giving a clear perspective of the current nature and practice of database systems development; the course addresses: the exploitation of new technologies; advanced theories and techniques along with their application, implementation in the management of data and information resources which affect the operation and effectiveness of information systems. Developing a real world database application using Oracle database tools is an integral part of the course.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6112

Course Title:

Data Warehousing and Data Mining

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course covers the foundations of data warehousing and data mining. It explores how these technologies convert information into knowledge for business decision-making. It includes topics related data mining techniques, operational data stores, data warehouse design and the common implementation issues.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6211

Course Title:

Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course of Knowledge Management and Business Intelligence (BI) provides a holistic understanding of Business Intelligence, it gives a comprehensive overview of all the major areas of study namely Competitive Intelligence, Knowledge Management, Data Warehousing and Data Mining, which are related to or constitute the area of Business Intelligence. In this course, the students are exposed to the need of BI and how to tackle the quest for gaining intelligence successfully. The major aspect of the course will be on showing various applications of Business Intelligence in various facets of today’s management. The course also emphasizes on the knowledge discovered from the data as a strategic asset for the organization and looks into how it can be used for Competitive Intelligence (CI) in today’s world of cut-throat competition.

 

 

Course Code:

INFS 6312

Course Title:

Web Development and Services

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

Students are introduced to technologies for developing Web-based e-business and e-commerce applications. They are also introduced to e-business models, with an emphasis on strategic application development. Students will learn about the e-commerce development process by building web sites and using turnkey solutions. The course will take a look at several popular e-commerce companies in terms of strengths and weaknesses of these sites. Web usability will be an integral part of the development process inclusive of a discussion of marketing strategies, development goals, and software metrics. Students will gain hands-on experience with tools and techniques associated with E-commerce development. Emphasis is placed on ASP.NET, Access/SQL Server, and C# in order to develop a web application though other tools and technology, e.g., VBScript, PHP, XML, Cold Fusion, and Crystal Reports, will be explored. Students will be required to develop specifications, designs, and applications using Rapid Application Development techniques. The end result will be a deployed e-commerce site or web-based system with an underlying database.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6510

Course Title:

IT Infrastructure

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

Telecommunications fundamentals including data, voice, image, and video. The concepts, models, architectures, protocols, standards, and security for the design, implementation, and management of digital networks. Server architectures, server farms, cluster computing, and grid computing. Storage area networks and network attached storage, Data centre design and implementation. Development of an integrated technical architecture (hardware, software, networks, and data) to serve organizational needs in a rapidly changing competitive and technological environment. Network, data and application architectures. Enterprise application integration, XML, Web Services.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6511

Course Title:

Information Systems Security

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course introduces the concepts and issues related to securing information systems and the development of policies to implement information security controls. Topics include the historical view of networking and security, security issues, trends, security resources, and the role of policy, people and processes in information security. 

 

Course Code:

INFS 6513

Course Title:

Information Security and Risk Management

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

The course has been designed to provide overview of the current issues, possible solutions and preventions in implementing Information Systems Security in an organization. To identify the security requirements associated with identifying and protecting organizational information assets, perform the analysis techniques used in risk management, and recognize the responsibilities associated with different roles in an organization.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6611

Course Title:

Information Systems Audit and Control

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course will provide students to acquire the basic core knowledge of the field of Information Systems Audit and Control, the audit process and the protection of information, consistent with ISACA Model curriculum. The course will develop the necessary background and skills needed to enter the Information Systems Audit and Control profession.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6311

Course Title:

E-Business Development and Management

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course examines the linkage of organization strategy and electronic methods of delivering products, services and exchanges in inter-organizational national and global environments. It addresses concepts in enterprise resource planning (ERP), business processes and functions, business models, E-business transformation, E-business technologies, limitations and issues.

 

Course Code:

INFS 6512

Course Title:

Mobile Business and Ubiquitous Computing

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

The course offers an introduction to mobile business and Ubiquitous Computing. Also explores the business issues surrounding wireless and mobile businesses, beginning with the decision to utilize specific technologies and the application of business principles to wireless devices. Mobile and embedded devices, wired and wireless networks, distributed processing all contribute to Ubiquitous computing. The course will also examine the promises and issues of pervasive computing.

Course Code:

INFS 6813

Course Title:

Selected Topics in Information Systems

Credits:

3

Contact Hours:

4

Description:

This course focuses on in-depth study of current or future issues and challenges in a selected area of interest to student and faculty.

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Please follow the link below to apply in MSc Information Systems

 https://www.squ.edu.om/ps/en-us/ProspectiveStudents

 

The admission starts in January every year and intake is only once a year.

Please feel free to contact me, if you have any additional queries about the MSc (Information Systems) Program

Director of Postgraduate Studies

Name: Dr. Aqdas Malik

Email: postgrad.infs@squ.edu.om  

Tel:      +968 2414 2928

Tel no. (+968) 24142927