female working on computer for information systems

Master of Science in Information Systems

The MSIS Degree Focuses on the Intersection of Business, IT Management, and Engineering

In Northeastern’s Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) degree program, you will embark on an IT leadership pathway as a more evolved, dynamic software engineer. Through an innovative curriculum and a rigorous academic program that is both broad and deep, master’s information systems students will 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.

This flexible degree program puts software at the forefront of the engineering paradigm to address the socio-technical needs of contemporary society. You’ll be prepared to go beyond simple programming to become a leader in information technology, delivering systems that are safe, secure, and help solve the world’s grand challenges.

Your degree will involve a deep level of applied learning with project-based case studies in every course and you will have the opportunity to apply for a co-op experience in an industry of your choosing.

You’ll also have the flexibility to tailor your degree to your professional goals through a number of available focus areas and electives.

Students with non-STEM bachelor’s degrees have the opportunity to earn an MS in Information Systems with Northeastern’s MS in Information Systems – Bridge program (MSIS-Bridge).

Innovative Curriculum - MS in Information Systems (MSIS)

You’ll create a strong technical foundation through diverse, high-level courses taught by renowned faculty in industry-wide, first-class engineering techniques. Meanwhile, you’ll also build the crucial interpersonal skills you need to succeed in any industry, taking courses on business analysis, project planning, agile development, and quality assurance.

The program offers a wide range of courses that reflect current and future industry trends:

  • Cryptocurrency and Smart Contract Engineering
  • Engineering of Big-Data Systems
  • Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
  • Cyber-Security Engineering and Development
  • Digital Business
  • Full-Stack Software Engineering
  • User Experience Design
  • Data Science and Machine Learning Systems Engineering

Whether you have recently graduated with your bachelor’s degree and want to move into the forefront of new technologies in the information systems field, or you have been in the industry for years and are ready to transform your career to become an IT leader, the MSIS is designed for students with all different technical backgrounds.

Students with non-STEM bachelor’s degrees have the opportunity to earn an MSIS  with Northeastern’s MS in Information Systems-Bridge  (MSIS-Bridge).

Note: If you already have strong programming experience, either personally or professionally, and are looking for a more technically advanced degree, then Northeastern’s MS in Software Engineering Systems could be the right choice for you.

Every class in the MSIS program requires an intensive real-world experience, such as case studies or in-the-field learning. Some recent student projects have included:

  • Programming a mobile tablet application called iTransport to facilitate the coordination of care delivery for crucially ill or injured children being rushed to a local hospital’s intensive care unit
  • Developing blood supply chain workflow software to enable the movement of blood products from the donor to the lab, distribution centers, and finally to the hospital and the patient
  • Creating a smart, integrated energy system that generates electricity more consistently and cost-effectively by harnessing multiple alternate energy sources, such as solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal

The MSIS program is a multi-hub, bringing together our foremost scholars, researchers, and experts from both coasts digitally and in person. Note: All courses are offered in Boston and a subset of program courses are offered at other campuses. 

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Canada campus notifications:

Toronto, Canada Campus: This institution has been granted consent by the Minister of Colleges and Universities to offer this degree program for a five-year term starting January 18, 2021. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (e.g., acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies or other educational institutions.)

Vancouver, Canada Campus: This program is offered under the written consent of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills effective March 3, 2023, having undergone a quality assessment process and been found to meet the criteria established by the minister. Nevertheless, prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the program and the degree will be appropriate to their needs (for example, acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies, or other educational institutions).

  • 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

Students enrolled in the MSIS program in the College of Engineering have the opportunity to pursue the graduate certificate in Engineering Leadership or the Graduate Certificate in Computer Systems Engineering in addition to or in combination with the MS degree.

Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership

Students may complete a master’s degree in Information Systems in addition to earning a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership. Students must apply and be admitted to the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program in order to pursue this option. The program requires fulfillment of the 16 semester-hour-curriculum required to earn the Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership, which includes an industry based challenge project with multiple mentors. The integrated 32 semester hour degree and certificate will require 16 hours of advisor-approved Information Systems technical courses.

Focus Areas

Specially selected required courses develop the skill sets needed for students to succeed in the program while a variety of electives allow them to tailor the degree to their career goals. Recommended focus areas are as follows. View courses that can help you improve your non-technical abilities.


AI Systems Engineering

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Business Intelligence and Data Analytics

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Full-Stack Software Engineering

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Machine Learning and Data Sciences Engineering

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Project Manager /Product Manager

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User Experience Design

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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 up to eight months of professional experience employed in their field of  interest as part of the academic curriculum, giving them a competitive advantage after graduation. Northeastern has over 3,000 co-op employer partners, from large companies to entrepreneurial start-ups, and dedicated co-op coordinators to guide students through the process. Recent MSIS co-op partners include Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, Tesla, and Apple.

 

Program Goals

Educational Objectives

Northeastern’s MS in Information Systems program is dedicated to preparing you with the complex skills you need—programming, design, and architecture alongside strong communication and interpersonal abilities—to succeed in today’s rapidly changing technological and interconnected business world, both today and into the future.

Career Outlook

The MS in Information Systems program at Northeastern has had 100% success in job placement: Our graduates are hired by industry leaders such as IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, and more, as well as by companies large and small in industries all over the globe. Recent graduates are working in the following roles:

  • Functional engineers and architects
  • Project managers
  • Business design and process architects
  • Data architects
  • IT managers

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, which is much faster than the average for all occupations because of society’s increasing reliance on technology in all fields.

* Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Software Developers

Full-Time Faculty


Khaled Bugrara
Teaching Professor and Executive Director,  Multidisciplinary Graduate Engineering Programs


Yusuf Ozbek
Teaching Professor,  Multidisciplinary Graduate Engineering Programs


Robin Hillyard
Associate Teaching Professor,  Multidisciplinary Graduate Engineering Programs

Sorting algorithms, Genetic Algorithms, Anonymization--cryptography--blockchain.


Dino Konstantopoulos
Teaching Professor,  Multidisciplinary Graduate Engineering Programs


Nicholas Brown
Associate Teaching Professor,  Multidisciplinary Graduate Engineering Programs


Andrei Guschin
Associate Teaching Professor - Seattle,  Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Academic Advisors

The Academic Advisors in the Graduate Student Services office can help answer many of your questions and assist with various concerns regarding your program and student record. Use the link below to also determine which questions can be answered by your Faculty Program Advisors and OGS Advisors.

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.

Student News

Experiential Learning Leads to Business Intelligence Analyst Position at Adobe

The combination of academic and work experience, including two internships, has helped Vishnu Rao-Sharma, MS’24, information systems, land a job as a business intelligence analyst at Adobe.

Co-op at John Hancock/Manulife Grows Into Full-Time Position

Thriving as a business analyst and software engineer at John Hancock/Manulife, Nishtha Pandya, MS’24, information systems, is stepping into a full-time position, where she will put her information systems skills to work and support new co-ops at this financial services company. 

Developing Network Management and Optimization Expertise

On a co-op at Charles River Development, Kunal Bhoyar, MS’24, information systems, built a foundation in network management that he expects will apply to a range of career options as he moves forward.

Developing AI Skills To Improve Business Operations

Anjali Kabra, MS’24, information systems, honed her AI skills on a co-op at Emergys and in the classroom to prepare for a career that focuses on using AI to optimize business operations.