Information Technology (MS)

CIP Code

11.0103.00

The Master of Science (MS) in Information Technology prepares students for positions in industry and education, enhances skills for the practicing professionals, and supplies a foundation for study at the doctoral level. Students with a bachelor’s degree in any field may enter the program. The program provides a broad foundation of study in information technology, as well as offering in-depth study in the areas of algorithms, databases, data mining and warehousing, information retrieval, networks, multimedia, interactive systems, cyber security, data science, and software engineering. A core of information technology courses is required, together with additional prescribed elective courses.

Background Requirements

Students pursuing the MS in Information Technology who enter the program with bachelor’s degrees in fields other than computer science typically need to complete graduate level foundation courses (e.g., CYBI 6302, CYBI 6303, CYBI 6305, and CYBI 6307) and possibly undergraduate courses in preparation for advanced coursework in information technology. Any student accepted to the MS in Information Technology Program must fulfill the background requirement A or B:

A. The student must have earned an undergraduate degree in Computer Science or a related area; or have completed sufficient Computer Science courses prior to admission.

B. If Requirement A is not met, then the student must meet the following course requirements after admission.

CYBI 6302      

CYBI 6305

Background requirements can be partially fulfilled with working experience related to CS/IT.

Admission Requirements


To be admitted to the graduate program in information technology, prospective candidates must first meet all requirements for graduate admission to UT Rio Grande Valley, as well as the other requirements listed below:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a bachelor’s degree in another field and courses and/or experience that prepare the applicant for graduate work in Computer Science or Information Technology.
  • Undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 semester credit hours.
  • Letter of Intent detailing professional goals and reasons for pursuing the graduate degree.
  • Resume.

Application for admission must be submitted prior to the published deadline. The application is available at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply.

Program Leveling

Students may be required to complete the following courses. 

Leveling Courses

CYBI 6302Foundations of Software and Programming Systems

3

CYBI 6305Foundations of Algorithms and Programming Languages

3

Program Requirements

Students complete 30 semester hours, including 12 semester hours of required computer science lecture  courses with a grade B or higher, and 18 semester hours of prescribed elective courses.  A final written examination is required.

Required Courses - 12 Hours

CYBI 6303Principles of Information Technology Systems

3

CYBI 6314E-Commerce Systems and Implementation

3

CYBI 6315Applied Database Systems

3

Or

CSCI 6333Advanced Database Design and Implementation

3

CSCI 6345Advanced Computer Networks

3

Designated Electives - 18 Hours

CYBI 6307Foundations of Systems in Computer Science

3

CYBI 6312Advanced Internet Applications Programming

3

CYBI 6318Cybersecurity and Forensics

3

CSCI 6340Advanced Software Engineering

3

CSCI 6350Advanced Artificial Intelligence

3

CSCI 6352Advanced Machine Learning

3

CSCI 6355Bioinformatics

3

CSCI 6363Human Computer Interaction

3

CSCI 6366Data Mining and Warehousing

3

CSCI 6370Topics in Computer Science

3

CSCI 6373Information Retrieval and Web Search

3

CSCI 6375Data Science for Business Intelligence with Python

3

CSCI 6378Statistics and Data Analysis with Python

3

CSCI 6381Independent Research and Study

3

CYBI 6364Advanced Digital Forensics

3

CYBI 6365Network Management and Security

3

 For CSCI 6370, a maximum of six credit hours on different topics can be counted as electives.

Capstone Requirement

Written Comprehensive Exam

 

Total Credit Hours: 30