Information Systems Program at NEU

I want to share with you exciting news of happenings since your graduation:

• Information Systems Professional Master’s Degree Program Completes First Quarter Century

In the Fall, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Information Systems Program. We began the program with just nine students enrolled in our newly approved master’s degree program in the Fall of 1981. Mirroring the explosive growth of the dot-com era, the student body ultimately grew to over 250 students in the year 2000. Now, there are about 100 full and part-time students in the program.

• Curriculum Changes to Meet Changing Market Demand

The Information Systems program began with the sole mission of career transition. It facilitated entry into information technology from a diversity of non-technical disciplines. Our graduates entered IT as well-qualified generalists to fill the ever-increasing demand of the dot-com era. Today, the market demand is for specialists with expertise in well-defined areas. Although the program maintains its original mission, today’s entering students come with more technical bachelor’s degrees that the program can enhance to produce specialists.

• Online Offering of the Information Systems Degree

The Information Systems degree greatly appeals to working professionals for part-time pursuit. To facilitate this, the entire degree is now available using web-based streaming video and accompanying graphics. This multi-threaded presentation of course material replicates the classroom experience very closely. So, busy professionals can keep current with their studies even with a heavy travel schedule.

• Changes in Northeastern University

Over the last ten years, Northeastern University has become a more prestigious school. It has risen to the top tier in the U.S. News and World Report rankings (ranked 115), research funding has tripled and the endowment has more than doubled. Northeastern has also become more of university community as it evolved from a largely commuter school to one which houses over 7,000 of its students in dormitories.

• Reconnect with the Information Systems Program

We hope this newsletter will pique your curiosity about the current Information Systems program and entice you to reconnect with it. You can learn more about the program by viewing our web pages at: http://www.coe.neu.edu/Depts/MSIS. You can send us updated contact information and news items to include on our web site by e-mail: msis@coe.neu.edu, or by telephone: 617-373-4312. If you know of any alums who may not have received this newsletter, please share your copy and encourage them to update their contact information.