Master of Science in Information Systems – Bridge
Master of Science in Information Systems – Bridge
Overview
Pivot Your Career, Transform Your Future
The Master of Science in Information Systems-Bridge (MSIS-Bridge) addresses the needs of the digital revolution by preparing students with non-STEM, non-technical bachelor’s degrees to become information systems professionals.
Students join the program from over 25+ non-STEM fields, including the arts, architecture, nursing, legal, and more. After completing three core courses, students gain the engineering foundation needed to excel in the classroom and in the IT sector. Upon completion students earn an MS in Information Systems degree.
MSIS-Bridge students are the link between business users and technologists. As industries launch into a digitized future, professionals with a clear understanding of how technology can be used to address significant societal challenges are in demand. The MSIS-Bridge program closes the gaps between business management, software engineering, and information technology to help students solve complex real-world issues in business and society. It also upskills and reskills to help individuals or businesses identify organizational skills gaps and create a tactical training plan to fill them with new skills and knowledge.
Innovative Curriculum
The innovative curriculum is broad and deep, helping students become problem-solvers who design groundbreaking software solutions that fit within the complexities of the business world and solve the humanistic needs of the people who use them.
Unique Features
- Designed for students with non-technical bachelor’s degrees to transform their careers in high tech.
- No higher-level math or programming experience required.
- Enables students with non-technical undergraduate degrees to evolve their careers alongside ever-changing technology and business fields.
- Offers a wide range of elective courses, allowing students to tailor their graduate degrees to individual and career goals.
- Provides an ecosystem of support made up of inclusive and diverse peers, the MSIS-Bridge Buddy program, and workshops.
- Available full- or part-time.
Courses have been selected specifically for students with non-STEM field backgrounds pursuing an MSIS degree with the MSIS-Bridge program. They are designed to bridge the current professional pursuits of students with the foundational background and industry knowledge needed to advance in the IT sector.
Student’s admitted for Fall 2022, you will be required to complete the following degree requirements:
Core Requirements
| INFO 5001 | Application Modeling and Design | 4 SH |
| INFO 5002 | Introduction to Python for Information Systems | 4 SH |
| INFO 5100 and INFO 5101 | Application Engineering and Development and Lab for INFO 5100 | 4 SH |
Restricted Electives
Complete 12 semester hours from the following
| INFO 6150 | Web Design and User Experience Engineering | 4 SH |
| INFO 6205 | Program Structure and Algorithms | 4 SH |
| INFO 6215 | Business Analysis and Information Engineering | 4 SH |
| INFO 6245 | Planning and Managing Information Systems Development | 4 SH |
| INFO 7245 | Agile Software Development | 4 SH |
| INFO 7385 | Managerial Communication for Engineers | 4 SH |
Electives
| Complete 16 semester hours from the following subject codes | 16 SH | |
| CSYE (except CSYE 6220) DAMG INFO | ||
Student’s admitted BEFORE Fall 2022, you will be required to complete the following degree requirements:
Required Conditional Courses
| INFO 5001 | Application Modeling and Design | 4 SH |
| DAMG 6105 | Data Science Engineering with Python | 4 SH |
Required Core Courses
| INFO 5100 | Application Engineering and Development | 4 SH |
Electives
Complete 24 semester hours from the following list
| INFO 6150 | Web Design and User Experience Engineering | 4 SH |
| INFO 6215 | Business Analysis and Information Engineering | 4 SH |
| INFO 6245 | Planning and Managing Information Systems Development | 4 SH |
| INFO 6255 | Software Quality Control and Management | 4 SH |
| INFO 7245 | Agile Software Development | 4 SH |
| INFO 7285 | Organizational Change and IT | 4 SH |
| INFO 7385 | Managerial Communication for Engineers | 4 SH |
| DAMG 7250 | Big Data Architecture and Governance | 4 SH |
| CSYE 7280 | User Experience Design and Testing | 4 SH |
Note: Additional INFO, CSYE, and DAMG courses may be taken as electives towards degree requirements per department approval. The elective courses listed above are recommended for students with non-STEM backgrounds.
What kind of backgrounds is the MSIS-Bridge program for?
The MSIS-Bridge program is predominately geared towards individuals who possess a bachelor’s degree in the humanities or soft sciences. It seeks to prepare professionals, working across a variety of sectors, for the digitization of current roles and responsibilities. Through an MS in Information Systems (MSIS) degree, they will be able to take a seat at the table, working alongside software engineers and programmers as their industry advances into a new age of digitization.
Do I need to have taken Pre-Calculus and other Calculus and math courses to be successful?
No.
Are there other prerequisite courses that an applicant should have previously taken to be successful in the program?
No. Please refer to the MSIS-Bridge web page and catalog for the complete list of courses needed to successfully completed your degree.
Are GREs required?
No.
What grade is considered “passing” for the MSIS- Bridge core courses?
A grade of a B- or higher in INFO 5001- Application Modeling and Design and INFO 5002 – Introduction to Python for Information Systems.
How long does it take to complete the two MSIS- Bridge core courses? Can both be taken in one semester?
Both INFO 5001- Application Modeling and Design and INFO 5002 – Introduction to Python for Information Systems will be offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. Both courses can be taken at the same time, which allows you to complete these core courses in just one semester. Both INFO 5001 and INFO 5002 can be taken in different semesters, but both courses are prerequisites to other courses of the MSIS-Bridge curriculum.
How long does it take to complete the MSIS-Bridge program?
Earning your MSIS-Bridge program degree is flexible and has both full-time and part-time options. A student working full-time towards their degree typically completes their degree in 2-2.5 years.
As an MSIS-Bridge student, do I receive a different degree upon graduating than the regular Master of Science in Information Systems degree?
Upon completion of your classes via the MSIS-Bridge program, you will receive a Master of Science in Information Systems.
When are classes offered: nights, days, weekends, part-time, full time, online on-demand or live stream?
All of the above. The MSIS-Bridge program offers a variety of classes, across a variety of times and formats. Classes are offered nights, days, weekends, part-time, full time, online, and through live instruction based on availability.
Where is the program offered?
Boston, Silicon Valley; Seattle, WA, and Oakland, Calif.
Is co-op offered to MSIS-Bridge students?
Yes, students who are part of the MSIS-Bridge program are eligible to participate in the co-op program.
An MSIS-IS Bridge student is eligible for co-op when*:
- They have completed 25SH of qualifying coursework (this included ENCP 6000 (1SH).
- First Semester: Students must complete INFO 5001 (4SH) and INFO 5002 (4SH) in their first semester.
- Second Semester: Students must complete INFO 5100 (4SH) and an elective of their choosing (4SH)
- Third Semester: Students must enroll in 2 electives of their choosing (8SH) depending on their Visa requirements is applicable
*The above outlines what a student’s course work may look like for the MSIS-Bridge program. It is recommended for students to enroll in ENCP 6000, a required course to be permitted to go on co-op, in either their second or third semester. Students are permitted to search for co-op after completing ENCP 6000 and 9SH of qualifying coursework in their third semester.
Students must complete INFO 5100, ENCP 6000, and 3 electives of their choosing to be eligible to go on co-op. If students have any questions, please direct them to MGENCoop@northeastern.edu.
How much money do students make while on co-op?
This depends on a variety of factors including the position, experience level/skills, company, region, etc.
What type of positions would the MSIS-Bridge prepare students for upon completing the program?
The MSIS-Bridge program is intended for individuals in finance, marketing, non-profit, economics, public sector, and more. We intend for you to take the things you learn during your academic pursuits and apply them in the sector of which you currently reside; this will launch you into a leadership role, residing at the intersection of industry and technology. With that said, MSIS graduates also find themselves in positions such as full stack engineers, software developers, user experience developers, and more. Applicants who possess an undergraduate in an engineering discipline, who feel they would benefit from additional background or from an additional foundational course, are also encouraged to consider the MSIS-Bridge program.
What is the median salary range of students graduating with an MSIS degree?
This depends on a variety of factors including the position, sector, experience level/skills, company, region, etc.
Is the MSIS-Bridge program considered STEM-designated?
Yes, MSIS is STEM-designated.
Are there particular majors which make students more competitive for the program?
This MSIS-Bridge program has been developed for students with a variety of backgrounds, more specifically those with limited coding backgrounds and non-engineering bachelor’s degrees. We encourage all applicants to think about how an MS in IS degree can launch their career and their current position into a new age of digitization. Students coming from a variety of professional pursuits will be able to apply their MSIS degree to their current jobs, but should not limit others from learning, exploring, and applying their knowledge to a variety of sectors.
Where can I find the curriculum for the MSIS-Bridge program?
Please refer to the MSIS-Bridge web page and catalog for the complete list of courses needed to successfully complete your degree and their course descriptions.
Is the MSIS-Bridge program less technical than the MS in IS program?
No. Students will learn and participate in the same curriculum. There are a variety of paths students can take that are determined by the technical level and social drive of the courses they enroll in. The MSIS-Bridge program has selected a specific list of courses that will allow you to explore the topics of information systems as they apply to your interests. Also, INFO 5001 and INFO 5002 are the only courses exclusive for MSIS-Bridge students as it prepares students with the base knowledge needed to advance in the program.
What am I learning in the first to MSIS-Bridge courses?
INFO 5001 – Application Modeling and Design: This class explores innovative design and programming techniques to build significant business applications with speed and complexity. Students will learn the process of systematically combining UX techniques, business processes, and complex data models to create applications that are user-friendly and meet business needs. Explore the object-oriented paradigm, visual user interface design principles, programming languages, and productivity tools. Practice social-technical software engineering methods and tools to solve real-world problems!
INFO 5002 – Introduction to Python for Information Systems: This class explores the Python programming language for application engineering. This hands-on course offers students an opportunity to obtain proficiency in the core concepts of Python and the skills and knowledge for building applications using any of the hundreds of thousands of task-specific Python libraries. You will learn important concepts such as reading and writing to standard IO, using operators, controlling the flow of execution, using functions, reading and writing files, and basic object-oriented programming concepts. In this course, you will learn to apply tools and techniques to classical software engineering and Python-specific facilities such as code introspection, reuse, built-in sequence types, and iteration.
If I take both INFO 5001 and INFO 5002, do I still need to complete the core course of INFO 5100 and the lab INFO 5101?
Yes, both are required.
What is the total amount of credits needed to complete the MSIS-Bridge program?
40SH, please refer to the MSIS-Bridge web page and catalog for the complete list of courses needed to successfully complete your degree.
Do the credits from the 2 of the core courses (INFO 5001 and INFO 5002) count towards my degree?
Both INFO 5001 and INFO 5002 will count towards the 40SH required to complete the program.
Can I join in the Fall or Spring?
Both. You can apply to join the MSIS-Bridge program in either a Fall or Spring semester.
Do I need to be able to program to succeed in the MSIS-Bridge program?
No programming knowledge or background is needed to be admitted into the MSIS-Bridge program. Through specially selected required courses, students will be able to learn and develop the skill sets that are required to succeed in the program and in their professional pursuits. A key component for MSIS-Bridge students is that we teach advanced design and modeling techniques that will reduce the need to code. Students will learn that they are still able to build and create good projects without having to be a fast coder, and that your ability to design and implement will advance your academics and professional endeavors.
- Full-time or Part-Time
- MSIS-Bridge is offered in Boston; Oakland, CA; Seattle, WA; and in Silicon Valley, CA
The MSIS program is a multi-hub, bringing together our foremost scholars, researchers, and experts from both coasts digitally and in person.
- Ability to design, implement, and evaluate software products
- Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of industry professionals
- Ability to identify a problem and formulate solutions through advanced software engineering techniques
- A strong technical foundation
- An understanding of professional, ethical, and social issues as they relate to the behavior and impact of the generated software systems
Experiential Learning
Northeastern combines rigorous academics with experiential learning and research to prepare students for real world engineering challenges. The Cooperative Education Program, also known as a “co-op,” is one of the largest and most innovative in the world, and Northeastern is one of only a few that offers a Co-op Program for Graduate Students. Through this program students gain industry experience in a wide variety of organizations, from large companies to entrepreneurial start-ups, while helping to finance their education. Recent MSIS co-op partners include Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Tesla, and Apple.
Program Goals
Education Objectives
- Offers students with non-technical bachelor’s degrees an MSIS degree program specifically designed to enable them to become information systems professionals.
- Educates a generation of problem-solvers who design innovative software solutions to fit the complexities of the business world while solving the humanistic needs of the people who use them.
Career Outlook
- In the Master of Science in Information Systems program at Northeastern, we have successfully placed many of our graduates at industry leaders such as Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, Oracle, and IBM.
- MSIS-Bridge students are hired for competitive co-ops and receive full-time offers across a range of industries and companies across the globe.
- According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for software developers is around $120,000, with employment projected to grow 25 percent from 2021 to 2031.
Program Director
Area of Focus: Information Systems and co-op program director for Cyber-Physical Systems, Data Architecture and Management, Information Systems, Software Engineering Systems, and Telecommunication Networks
Academic Advising
For support with academic questions, contact the student services representative assigned to this program.
Admissions & Aid
Ready to take the next step? Review degree requirements to see courses needed to complete this degree. Then, explore ways to fund your education. Finally, review admissions information to see our deadlines and gather the materials you need to Apply.