Curriculum Overview
The MSIT program prepares students to gain a competitive edge in the workplace by developing both business acumen and IT capabilities.
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Degree Requirements
The MSIT degree requires successful completion of 12 units of coursework. At least 8 units must be from MSIT courses; the remaining 4 must can be taken from other relevant Northwestern departments and programs if desired.
The following curricular distribution requirements must be met to complete the degree:
- IT Management (0.5 Unit)
- Probability and Statistics (1 Unit)
- Communication Infrastructure (1 Unit)
- Computing & Data (1 Unit)
- Business (2.5 Units)
- Capstone Course (1 Unit)
- Electives (5 Units)
Each MSIT course is assigned to at least one of these categories. Explore individual course descriptions to learn more. We will provide a more comprehensive list of options during new student orientation each fall.
Substitutions
Students may petition to use a different course to fulfill a requirement. A student may also petition to waive a requirement but must still fulfill the required 12 units to graduate. All petitions must be approved by the student’s advisor and the MSIT director.
Capstone Course
An important feature of the MSIT curriculum is the required Capstone course, intended to give students experience in managing a business entity as its CTO. Students apply what they have learned in the program to a case study presented by a practicing IT professional, culminating in a C-suite level presentation outlining their solution to the problem. This distinctive opportunity provides opportunities for students to manage the cutting-edge technology challenges currently facing varied industries.
