Information Systems Program
Joe Mertz, Faculty Director
Gary DiLisio, Director of Undergraduate Education
Correy Dandoy, Senior Academic Advisor and Communications Manager
Jessica Lutz, Academic Advisor
Sarah Avery, Academic Advisor
Susan Miller, Senior Business Administrator
Shawna Pace, Academic Program Manager
Cassie Conrad, Administrative Coordinator
Email: isinfo@andrew.cmu.edu
Location: Hamburg Hall 3031
www.cmu.edu/information-systems
Did you enjoy computer science or more technical courses in high school, but are mostly interested in the practical and social applications of technology? Do you have a passion for business and want to use advanced technology to change how companies work? Do you want to learn how data and technology can be harnessed for social good?
Carnegie Mellon University's Information Systems (IS) program, a joint degree program between the Heinz College and Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences is strongly technical, drawing from Carnegie Mellon’s leadership in computer science, human-centered design, business management and software engineering. It is deeply rooted in the humanities and social sciences, allowing students the lifelong benefits of a rich liberal arts education. And it provides pathways for students to find their own Information Systems niche through advanced study and research with leading researchers. As a result, our graduates are uniquely positioned to envision and drive the positive organizational change that technology makes possible.
Artificial intelligence. Machine learning. Deep learning. Big data. Social networks. Neural networks. Robotics. Automated voice assistants. Blockchain. Driverless vehicles.
Do you want to use technologies like these to benefit companies, governments, and society? CMU offers the world's best undergraduate IS program and will help you do just that. In fact, many of the world-changing technologies listed above were invented here on campus—there is no better place to become a tech leader than CMU.
The field of Information Systems involves the effective design, delivery, and use of information and communications technologies to solve problems for companies, governments, and society. Equally, it is about understanding and measuring the impacts of these technologies on people and communities so they can be deployed ethically.
As an IS student, you will build a solid foundation in computing, communications, and software development. You will also study social sciences and organizational theory to develop "big picture" critical thinking and understand the human impacts of technological change. This blend prepares you to take a leading role in our digital future. The flexible nature of the program encourages students to explore their own interests through program electives, study in a contemporary concentration or through optional second majors and minors.
IS students are well prepared to pursue graduate work in a wide range of fields. For students interested in master's degree-level graduate work at Carnegie Mellon, there are many possibilities, including accelerated Masters degree programs in Information Systems Management, Human Computer Interaction, Information Security Policy and Management, Engineering Technology and Innovation Management, and Business Administration.
IS graduates continue to be in high demand in the information-age workplace. There has been a strong job market for IS students in recent years, and national trends indicate that this is likely to continue. IS majors often take jobs in consulting companies, major software firms, large corporations, and start-up companies. Internship opportunities closely parallel the job market.
In addition to General Education Requirements and basic prerequisites in Mathematics and Computer Science, The IS program curriculum includes:
- A broad grounding in humanities and social sciences to promote self-directed learning, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary problem-solving.
- An Information Systems Core to provide the technology, project management, and business-facing skills needed to design and build effective real-world systems solutions.
- An Information Systems Breadth focused on professional communications, quantitative analysis, and how technology functions in society.
- A Concentration that gives you the flexibility and agency to gain expertise in a supporting area and define your own niche in IS.
The IS major is the perfect place for you if you are passionate about using technology for positive gains across society, both economic and humanistic.
Study Abroad Options in Information Systems:
Given the importance of globalization, we encourage students to consider expanding their international experience by spending a semester studying abroad. The IS program is very flexible in allowing students to pursue these opportunities. With careful planning, study abroad is possible during most semesters. Students interested in study abroad should talk with the IS Academic Advisor to help plan an appropriate course of study. With prior approval, study abroad courses may be applied to major requirements.
Information Systems as Additional Major:
Information Systems is not available as an additional major.
Major Curriculum
The Information Systems major is offered only as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. In addition to major requirements outlined below, all Information Systems students must fulfill the General Education requirements for the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. A total of 360 units is required for the degree.
Requirements are subject to revision. Advisor approval is required for each student's major curriculum plan. Any proposed course substitutions to courses required for the IS major must be approved in advance by the IS Academic Advisor.
Technical Core (Prerequisites)
Information Systems requires completion of prerequisite courses in Mathematics and Computer Science. All prerequisites must be successfully completed prior to the start of Fall semester, junior year.
Mathematics
Complete one of the following math courses:
| Units | ||
| 21-112 | Integral Calculus (pre-requisite of 21-111) | 10 |
| 21-120 | Differential and Integral Calculus Pre-requisite of 21-090 | 10 |
| 21-127 | Concepts of Mathematics | 12 |
| 21-240 | Matrix Algebra with Applications | 10 |
| 80-210 | Logic and Proofs | 9 |
Computer Science
Three Computer Science courses are required. To maintain normal progress toward the Information Systems degree, students must complete 15-121 Introduction to Data Structures prior to the start of Spring Semester, sophomore year.
Students entering the program as freshmen will have the option to complete a Computer Science Placement Test. Depending on appropriate Advanced Placement credit and/or results of the Computer Science Placement Test, entering students may place directly into 15-112 or 15-121. 15-110 is taken as the first Computer Science prerequisite unless a student places directly into 15-112 or 15-121. Students that do not gain a placement into 15-112 or 15-121 must begin the sequence with 15-110 and must complete it with a grade of D or above prior to entering 15-112.
| Units | ||
| 15-110 | Principles of Computing | 10 |
| 15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science | 12 |
| or 02-120 | Undergraduate Programming for Scientists | |
| 15-121 | Introduction to Data Structures | 10 |
Note: Students cannot receive credit for both 15-104 Introduction to Computing for Creative Practice and 15-110 Principles of Computing. Students may also take 15-122 Principles of Imperative Computation in place of 15-121 Introduction to Data Structures but should first consult with their academic advisor prior to doing so.
Information Systems Core
In the Information Systems Core, students will learn the basic skills necessary to analyze, design, implement, and test high-quality, cost effective information systems. The Information Systems Core consists of seven courses (not including 67-100 and 67-200).
Complete all of these courses:
| Units | ||
| 67-100 | Information Systems First Year Colloquium | 1 |
| 67-200 | Information Systems Research Colloquium | 1 |
| 67-250 | The Information Systems Milieux (Spring Semester Only) | 9 |
| 67-262 | Database Design and Development (Fall Semester Only) | 9 |
| 67-272 | Application Design and Development (Spring Semester Only) | 12 |
| 67-373 | Information Systems Consulting Project (Spring Semester Only) | 12 |
| 17-313 | Foundations of Software Engineering | 12 |
| 95-422 | Managing Digital Transformation | 9 |
Complete one of these three courses:
| Units | ||
| 05-391 | Designing Human Centered Software | 12 |
| 05-410 | User-Centered Research and Evaluation Not open to first-year students. | 12 |
| 05-452 | Service Design | 12 |
Information Systems Breadth
In the Information Systems Breadth, students will study key areas fundamental to understanding and solving problems in information systems. At least one course is required from each of the following categories:
Professional Communications
Information systems professionals communicate with a wide range of people in most organizations and often facilitate communications between diverse groups of stakeholders. Consequently, the most successful professionals typically are those with strong communication skills. These courses help students see that the structure and presentation of information affects how well (and how easily) it can be understood and used.
Complete one of the following courses:
| Units | ||
| 05-317 | Design of Artificial Intelligence Products | 12 |
| 05-360 | Interaction Design Fundamentals | 12 |
| 36-315 | Statistical Graphics and Visualization | 9 |
| 51-261 | Communication & Digital Design Fundamentals | 9 |
| or 51-262 | Communication and Digital Design Fundamentals | |
| 67-265 | Design Fundamentals: Shaping Interactions and Experiences | 9 |
| 67-336 | Building Data Visualizations in to Information Systems | 9 |
| 67-338 | Information & Grid Design | 9 |
| 70-321 | Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | 9 |
| 70-340 | Business Communications | 9 |
| 70-342 | Managing Across Cultures | 9 |
| 70-350 | Acting for Business | 9 |
| 76-270 | Writing for the Professions | 9 |
| 84-250 | Writing for Political Science and Policy | 9 |
| 88-230 | Human Intelligence and Human Stupidity | 9 |
| 88-231 | Thinking in Person vs. Thinking Online | 9 |
| 88-341 | Team Dynamics and Leadership | 9 |
| or 70-341 | Team Dynamics and Leadership | |
Quantitative Analysis and Research Methods
This area focuses on decision making and data analysis — essential to development of useful information systems. This area exposes students to analytic methods in the social sciences and quantitative methods for approaching complex methods.
Complete one of the following courses:
| Units | ||
| 21-325 | Probability | 9 |
| 36-202 | Methods for Statistics & Data Science | 9 |
| 36-219 | Probability Theory and Random Processes | 9 |
| 36-225 | Introduction to Probability Theory | 9 |
| 36-235 | Probability and Statistical Inference I | 9 |
| 36-303 | Sampling, Survey and Society | 9 |
| 36-309 | Experimental Design for Behavioral & Social Sciences | 9 |
| 36-315 | Statistical Graphics and Visualization | 9 |
| 36-350 | Statistical Computing | 9 |
| 36-401 | Modern Regression | 9 |
| 36-402 | Advanced Methods for Data Analysis | 9 |
| 67-285 | Across the Universe from Intelligent Agents to Users | 9 |
| 67-364 | Practical Data Science | 9 |
| 73-265 | Economics and Data Science | 9 |
| 80-305 | Game Theory | 9 |
| 80-306 | Decision Theory | 9 |
| 88-223 | Decision Analysis | 12 |
| 88-251 | Empirical Research Methods | 9 |
| 88-252 | Causal Inference: from Data to Decisions | 9 |
| 88-275 | Bubbles: Data Science for Human Minds | 9 |
| 88-300 | Programming and Data Analysis for Social Scientists | 9 |
| 94-216 | Introduction to Decision Analytics and Systems | 6 |
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The focus of this area is to apply disciplined techniques to generate ideas that have value in a market, and bring them through design, feasibility testing, and frequent revision, towards a potential launch. Students must complete 67-272 Application Design & Development in order to fulfill one of the courses below towards their Innovation and Entrepreneurship requirement.
Complete one of the following courses:
| Units | ||
| 05-470 | Digital Service Innovation | 12 |
| 17-356 | Software Engineering for Startups | 12 |
| 67-443 | Mobile Application Design and Development | 12 |
| 94-491 | Lean Innovation Lab | 12 |
Information systems concentration
The study of Information Systems can take many paths; Concentrations allow students to find the path that best suits their plans and aspirations. They also allow students to establish relationships with leading researchers in their area of interest. It is strongly recommended to determine your concentration requirement by the end of the sophomore year to ensure timely completion by the conclusion of the fourth year.
IS Concentrations include:
- AI Management
- Data Analytics
- Health Information Systems
- Information Security
- Product Management
- Technology & Arts Enterprises
- Technology & International Development
- User Experience (UX) Design
Alternatively, students may choose from an approved list of minors or additional majors, including those offered through the Integrative Design, Arts, and Technology (IDeATe) initiative that blend information systems and the arts as only Carnegie Mellon University can.
Additional Majors:
-
Artificial Intelligence
-
Behavioral Economics
-
Business Administration
-
Cognitive Science
-
Computational Biology
-
Computational Finance
-
Computer Science
-
Decision Science
-
Economics
-
Economics & Statistics
-
Engineering & Public Policy
-
Human-Computer Interaction
- Linguistics
-
Policy & Management
-
Robotics
-
Statistics
-
Statistics and Machine Learning
Approved minors:
-
Artificial Intelligence -
Behavioral Economics -
Business Analytics & Optimization -
Computational Biology -
Computational Finance -
Computer Science -
Cybersecurity & International Conflict -
Decision Analytics & Systems -
Decision Science -
Economics -
Engineering Studies -
Financial Management -
Human-Computer Interaction -
Humanities Analytics -
IDeATe: Animation & Special Effects
-
IDeATe: Design for Learning
-
IDeATe: Game Design -
IDeATe: Immersive Technologies in Arts & Culture -
IDeATe: Innovation & Entrepreneurship
-
IDeATe: Intelligent Environments
-
IDeATe: Physical Computing
-
IDeATe: Media Design
-
IDeATe: Sonic Arts
-
IDeATe: Soft Technologies
-
Information Security, Privacy, and Policy -
Language Technologies -
Linguistics -
Machine Learning -
Neural Computation -
Operations & Supply Chain Management -
Political Science, Security, and Technology -
Product Management -
Science, Technology & Society -
Software Engineering -
Statistics -
Tech Entrepreneurship (requires semester abroad at CMU Qatar, minor only) -
Technology & Policy
Sample Curriculum
| First-Year | Second-Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| 67-100 Information Systems First Year Colloquium | 67-250 The Information Systems Milieux | 67-200 Information Systems Research Colloquium | 67-272 Application Design and Development |
| 15-110 Principles of Computing | 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science | 67-262 Database Design and Development | Quantitative Analysis Requirement |
| 36-200 Reasoning with Data | Grand Challenge Seminar | 15-121 Introduction to Data Structures | General Education Course |
| 76-101 Interpretation and Argument or other approved first-year writing options | General Education Course | Professional Communications Requirement | Elective Course |
| Math Requirement | General Education Course | General Education Course | Elective Course |
| Elective Course | Elective Course | ||
| 99-101 Core@CMU | |||
| Third-Year | Fourth-Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Fall | Spring |
| 17-313 Foundations of Software Engineering | 67-373 Information Systems Consulting Project | 95-422 Managing Digital Transformation | Concentration Course |
| Concentration Course | Concentration Course | Concentration Course | General Education Course |
| HCI Requirement | General Education Course | Innovation & Entrepreneurship Requirement | Elective Course |
| General Education Course | Elective Course | General Education Course | Elective Course |
| Elective Course | Elective Course | Elective Course | Elective Course |
Minor Curriculum
The Information Systems minor will provide an opportunity for undergraduate students in any major at Carnegie Mellon to develop a unique set of skills to enhance their education. Students will learn the role of IS in the enterprise and the means by which information systems are created, utilized, and maintained. They will learn to manage, analyze and draw insights from data, work effectively in teams, and practice human-centered design and team management. By equipping students with these skills, we prepare them to thrive in a technology-driven world and enhance their readiness for future career opportunities.
The minor is ideal for students interested in exploring how technology intersects with organizations and society. It complements majors such as business, psychology, HCI, statistics, computer science, and engineering, and is especially beneficial for students who want to apply technical thinking without necessarily becoming software developers.
Students in the Information Systems Minor will be required to complete the computational prerequisite, three Information Systems core classes, and a minimum of 27 Units from the Information Systems electives.
Prerequisite (12 Units):
| Units | ||
| 15-112 | Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science * | 12 |
| or 02-120 | Undergraduate Programming for Scientists | |
* 15-110 is strongly recommended to build foundational skills for 15-112 for individuals with little to no programming experience
Information Systems Core (27 Units):
Complete all of the following courses:
| Units | ||
| 67-240 | Mobile Web Design & Development | 9 |
| 67-250 | The Information Systems Milieux | 9 |
| 67-262 | Database Design and Development | 9 |
Additional Information Systems Electives (27 Units):
Complete at least 27 units from the following courses:
| Units | ||
| 67-220 | Digital Accessibility - Ensuring Universal Access to the Information Society | 9 |
| 67-265 | Design Fundamentals: Shaping Interactions and Experiences | 9 |
| 67-279 | Introduction to Geographical Information Systems | 6 |
| 67-306 | Management of Computer and Information Systems | 6 |
| 67-336 | Building Data Visualizations in to Information Systems | 9 |
| 67-348 | Black Mirror - Cultural Representations of Technology | 9 |
| 67-364 | Practical Data Science | 9 |
| 67-368 | User Experience (UX) Research for Product Managers | 9 |
| 67-206 | Technology Outreach and Engagement in the Pittsburgh Community | 6 |
The Information Systems Minor is open to undergraduate students in any major at the university. Current Carnegie Mellon University students who wish to declare the Information Systems minor may find information about how to apply via the Information Systems Program website.
Academic Policies
Transfer into Information Systems
Applications will be considered based on the following criteria:
- Completion of 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science or 02-120 Programming for Scientists with final grade of 'B' is required; a final grade of 'A' is preferred
- Completion of 15-121 or 15-122 is preferred, with a grade of 'B' or higher
- Strong record of academic performance at Carnegie Mellon (minimum QPA of 3.5 required)
- Personal statement (1-2 pages single spaced) on the following topic: In your personal statement, please describe how your academic and career goals relate to the Information Systems Program. Please discuss your previous experiences that have led you to pursue the IS major, and how IS aligns with your future goals and aspirations. You may also discuss any other IS related experiences (e.g. internships, course projects, research, co-curricular experiences, etc.) or relevant coursework.
- Interview with an IS Academic Advisor: IS advisor appointments should be made with the appropriate advisor (based on student last name) via the links on the advising page and should be completed by the deadline set forth for the current semester.
- Sample course plan through graduation (4th semester applicants only) When making your plan, we strongly recommend utilizing Stellic. The only Dietrich General Education course that will be waived is the Grand Challenge Seminar.
Application materials must be submitted no later than the last day of classes of the fall or spring semester. Students admitted into the IS Program will be officially declared in the semester following their application to the IS Program. If admitted, students will be declared as an IS major prior to the start of the following semester. All internal transfer students will be required to take 67-200: IS Research Colloquium during the first fall semester of their IS enrollment.
Students interested in applying for transfer to the Information Systems major should contact an IS Academic Advisor for information regarding availability, application procedures, and deadlines.
Double Counting of Courses
"Double Counting" refers to instances when a course taken to fulfill one requirement counts simultaneously toward a requirement in another major or minor program. Double Counting is permitted in the Dietrich College on a very limited basis. Information Systems students may double count no more than two courses towards an additional major/minor. There is no restriction on double counting for courses satisfying the Dietrich College General Education requirements and IS Prerequisite courses. Students must also adhere to any policy restrictions on double counting enforced by the academic department of the student's additional major or minor.
Course Repeats
Per university policy, when a course is repeated, all grades will be recorded on the official academic transcript and will be calculated in the student's QPA. This is the case regardless if the first grade for the course is a passing or failing grade.
Undergraduate students who wish to repeat a course already passed must obtain approval from the student's Dean or Department Head. When a student takes a course they already passed, only one set of units will count towards graduation requirements.
Course Descriptions
About Course Numbers:
Each Carnegie Mellon course number begins with a two-digit prefix that designates the department offering the course (i.e., 76-xxx courses are offered by the Department of English). Although each department maintains its own course numbering practices, typically, the first digit after the prefix indicates the class level: xx-1xx courses are freshmen-level, xx-2xx courses are sophomore level, etc. Depending on the department, xx-6xx courses may be either undergraduate senior-level or graduate-level, and xx-7xx courses and higher are graduate-level. Consult the Schedule of Classes each semester for course offerings and for any necessary pre-requisites or co-requisites.
- 67-100 Information Systems First Year Colloquium
- Fall: 1 unit
This IS Colloquium will provide a broad introduction to the Information Systems Program, an exciting program newly joint between Carnegie Mellon's Dietrich College and Heinz College. The IS Colloquium is open only to first-year IS students and is led by an IS academic advisor who facilitates discussions on the field of IS, the program curriculum, and careers, in addition to co-curricular experiences such as internships and study abroad. Because the flexible nature of the IS program encourages students to explore their own interests, we place an emphasis on highlighting a variety of areas within the field of IS. Guest lecturers will include leaders in IS research including Dietrich and Heinz faculty and IS alumni. Additional speakers include the IS career consultant and various campus representatives. Discussions will include students' progress in their first semester, as well as guidance in course planning, creating student Spring semester class schedules, and their overall four-year plan.
- 67-135 Discover, organize, and synthesize: Building your research toolkit beyond Google
- Intermittent: 3 units
The world of academic research literature is growing exponentially across all disciplines, leaving researchers and decision-makers with a conundrum: how do we effectively identify research gaps and how do we make sense of what we already know, given the millions of research articles published every year? This micro course will equip students with techniques and tools for a systematic approach to finding, assessing and making sense of research knowledge, applying principles from well-established synthesis methods. Students will explore the scholarly research in interdisciplinary topics and topics in their own subject areas. Students will gain skills they can apply to any research course, and will be able to use these techniques in their future careers as practitioners for making sound, evidence- and research-based decisions.
- 67-200 Information Systems Research Colloquium
- Fall: 1 unit
The Information Systems Research Colloquium will educate students on research opportunities both in IS and beyond. By the end of the course, students should be able to: · Articulate what undergraduate research looks like at Carnegie Mellon University, and particularly identify the breadth of research opportunities in the field of Information Systems · Demonstrate how to communicate with faculty whose work aligns with individual interests · Describe several career and continuing education opportunities for Information Systems students The Information Systems Research Colloquium is open only to sophomore IS student as well as recent transfer students and is led by an IS academic advisor who facilitates discussions on the various research topics both through IS and other campus constituents.
- 67-204 Blockchains in Industry
- All Semesters: 3 units
Industry experts characterize blockchains as breakthrough technology that has the same transformative power as that of the Internet. Blockchains have the potential to solve a variety of problems that benefit from a decentralized model of trust. This course will help students understand fundamental blockchain concepts and develop industry case studies of blockchain applications to finance, insurance, energy, healthcare, real estate, etc.
- 67-206 Technology Outreach and Engagement in the Pittsburgh Community
- Fall and Spring: 6 units
This course is designed to provide an experiential learning opportunity to CMU students. In this course students will develop material to conduct outreach with children in grades K-12. CMU students will engage with the community, have conversations with community partners and educators, and demonstrate knowledge of civic engagement, cultural identity and diversity / inclusion. Experiential learning through engagement in the Pittsburgh Public Schools community will help CMU students make an impact on younger students, inspiring them to become familiar with and potentially pursue interdisciplinary technology careers.
- 67-220 Digital Accessibility - Ensuring Universal Access to the Information Society
- Fall: 9 units
Digital accessibility addresses a user's ability to easily access an electronic document, a website, or a computer application unhindered by visual, auditory, motor or cognitive impairments or temporal disabilities arising from age, illness etc. Students who takes this course will gain a deep understanding of the diverse problems faced by people with disabilities in their interactions in a digital space and how the use of assistive technologies help them surmount the related accessibility barriers (CT1 and CT3). They will learn about inclusive design principles and how to author content with consideration of design decisions that impact digital accessibility. Besides gaining an understanding of user-centered design principles, the students will learn how to apply Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to design and develop a website (CT2). To cap it, students will learn how to test, evaluate and report conformance of a website with usability principles and accessibility standards. (CT3)
- 67-223 Digital Trace and Identity
- All Semesters: 9 units
This course introduces students to the principles and applications of digital forensics. Students become aware of the digital traces they leave behind and how these traces can be used in forensics. Students are introduced to the typical life-cycle of a digital trace. They develop their practical digital investigation skills in computer laboratory classes by studying this life-cycle with the help of computer tools.
- 67-235 Puzzles, Games, and Problem Solving
- Intermittent: 3 units
Puzzle-based learning (PBL) is a relatively new and model of teaching critical thinking and problem solving. Todays market place needs skilled graduates capable of solving real problems of innovation in a changing environment. A learning goal of PBL is to distill domain independent transferable heuristics for tackling problems. While solving puzzles is innately fun, companies such as Google and Yahoo also use puzzles to assess the creative problem solving skills of potential employees. In this micro-course we will examine a range of puzzles and games. What general problem solving strategies can we learn from the way we solve these examples? Students will emerge from this course with enhanced critial and creative thinking skills
- 67-240 Mobile Web Design & Development
- Fall and Spring: 9 units
The Mobile Web Design and Development course provides a solid web design and development foundation focusing on responsive, user-centered design, and client-side components. Throughout the course, students work with HTML5, CSS3, Twitter Bootstrap, and JavaScript, and learn how the various web components function together. The course utilizes a hands-on approach to guide students through learning and understanding the design and development process. In this course, students work on in-class activities, individual assignments and a group project with a client using the current standards and best practices of web design and development. This course is primarily designed for students with minimal technical experience. By the end of the course, students will be able to plan, design, and implement a basic functioning mobile website/ app.
Prerequisites: 02-120 Min. grade C or 15-112 Min. grade C or 15-110 Min. grade C or 15-104 Min. grade C
- 67-250 The Information Systems Milieux
- Spring: 9 units
Information systems (IS) are changing work practices, reshaping organizations, transforming cultures, and giving new meaning to the ways we see the world. This course is designed to help students understand the role of IS in the enterprise and the means by which these systems are created, utilized and maintained. The course will focus on enterprise information architecture including the components of enterprise strategy, business, application, information, and infrastructure layers. This course provides not only a framework for understanding information systems, but also a language to identify their dynamic complexities and interdependencies.
- 67-262 Database Design and Development
- Fall: 9 units
Data driven decision making is a core process of organizations. In this class students will study the principles of database management systems, their design, and development. Recent alternatives to the classical relational model will also be examined.
Prerequisites: 15-112 or 15-121 or 15-122 or 02-120
- 67-265 Design Fundamentals: Shaping Interactions and Experiences
- Fall: 9 units
This course offers hands-on experience based on theoretical grounding linked to fundamental design practices. The first fundamental idea is stakeholders need an interesting and organized pre-task environment as a precursor to engaging with a task. A pre-task environment is one that invites stakeholders to engage with and stay in a designed space because they can see that they will enjoy performing tasks that meet their goals. This useful, usable, and desirable task environment is developed by exploring compositional guidelines, color theory, and basic typography. With pre-task knowledge in hand, students explore meaning-making that emerges through the synthesis of image, word, and typeface as they design and prototype interactive solutions to problems that real users face, employing user studies and usability evaluations to create effective solutions.
- 67-272 Application Design and Development
- Spring: 12 units
This course provides students with the concepts and techniques to design and develop software applications, and to understand the design process. Students will learn the importance of user-centered design and will develop a prototype of a web application as a course project. In the process of developing the application, students will learn how to design and create relational databases, how to acquire competency in new programming languages quickly, how to use the Model-View-Controller pattern to develop software applications, how to ensure technical quality in software development, and how to apply principles of user-centered design. This course is a required professional core course and is open only to sophomores and juniors in the IS major.
Prerequisites: (15-121 or 15-122) and 67-262
- 67-279 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
- Intermittent: 6 units
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) allow us to visualize information that uses location. Through displaying layers of information in computer generated maps, we can see, analyze, understand and explore spatial patterns and relationships in new and novel ways. People in many different fields use Geographical Information Systems in their work: for visualizing the environment, human development, demographics, traffic and transportation, public health and many more. In this course, students will learn the basics of GIS through hands-on experience with popular mapping tools. Sources of data, principles of coordinate and projection systems and elementary geo-analysis techniques will be included. Upon completion of the course, students will have the background to begin using GIS techniques in their own areas of interest and will be prepared for further study in advanced GIs courses.
- 67-285 Across the Universe from Intelligent Agents to Users
- Spring: 9 units
The goal of this course is to introduce students to how intelligent agents and similar systems impact and are perceived by users. In this course, we explore different dimensions relating to intelligent agents' design, usability, and user perceptions such as humanness, trust, privacy, bias, human values, emotions, and so on. To do so, we review research articles at the intersection of Information Systems, Psychology and Artificial Intelligence. The course aims to introduce students to the research process and equip them with the necessary tools to design and explore research questions that address pressing issues in the realm of user-agent interaction.
- 67-306 Management of Computer and Information Systems
- Spring: 6 units
The course provides the overall knowledge of how Information Technology departments are managed in organizations of all sizes. It is about the technology people, the necessary best practice processes, and how innovation occurs transforming organizations in the way they operate and compete.
- 67-309 Special Topics: Information Assurance and Security
- Fall: 6 units
Special Topics: Information Assurance is an introduction course for Information Systems students that focuses on information security concepts. This course will be a broad introduction to many aspects of information security that affect computer systems, your everyday life on the internet, your activities - and those of others, and the practices of all organizations using and building information systems. You will learn an introduction to the practice of securing information systems, how organizations manage risk to their information assets, what threats there are to the security of an information systems, strategies for organizational resilience, applicable US cyber laws, and how organizations respond to real incidents. You will hear about some of the major cyber incidents that have shaped the way security is performed by organizations on the internet today, and you will participate through class discussions and homework analyzing important recent cyber issues, real incidents, and internet-scale events. By the end of the class you will be able to analyze systems for security using the language of security professionals and analyze the implications of real world attacks on security systems by applying core information security concepts.
Prerequisites: 15-110 or 15-112 or 02-120
- 67-313 Digital Risk Management and Auditing
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course introduces the fundamental concepts of the information technology audit and control function. The main focus of this course is on understanding information controls, the types of controls and their impact on the organization, and how to manage and audit them. The concepts and techniques used in information technology audits will be presented. Students will learn the process of creating a control structure with goals and objectives, audit an information technology infrastructure against it, and establish a systematic remediation procedure for any inadequacies. The challenge of dealing with best practices, standards, and regulatory requirements governing information and controls is addressed.
Prerequisites: 70-110 or 67-250
- 67-315 A Web For Everyone
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course provides a strong foundation in user-centered design and the engineering of web accessibility. The student will gain expertise in methodologies and toolkits for designing, prototyping, and evaluating a web site ensuring that the content is equally accessible to people with disabilities. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to discuss standards and metrics for use in web development projects and be proficient in different stages of the project life cycle including data gathering methods, analysis techniques, requirements specifications, application of universal design principles, prototyping, and testing for usability and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) compliance. A term-long individual project will involve analysis of an organization's website for compliance with WCAG 2.1 guidelines, design and development of an improved prototype, and usability studies of the prototype
Prerequisites: 67-240 or 67-272
- 67-316 Human Computer Interface Design and Testing
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course emphasizes team-based activities to promote engaged learning and application of user-centered design and usability testing concepts. Students who complete this course will have a good understanding of designing for user experience. The course emphasizes three themes and contexts for digital design and human-computer interaction (HCI): designing for the web, designing for mobile use, and multimodal interactive design. Students will also be exposed to a variety of usability testing methods with state-of-the-art tools such as Morae and Tobii eyetracker.
- 67-318 Business Process Modeling and Implementation
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course focuses on concepts, techniques, and tools for modeling, executing, and managing business processes. Structured along the phases of the business process management lifecycle the course starts by introducing different languages and tools for business process modeling. Then, it presents techniques and tools for implementing, automating, and executing businesses processes such as the use of BPM systems or workflow systems. The course also covers further aspects of business processes such as monitoring and simulation. Moreover, it will present several real-life business processes such as order-to-cash or make-to-order.
Prerequisites: 67-272 or 15-210
- 67-319 Global Technology Consulting Groundwork
- Spring: 3 units
This course is by invitation only for participants in the Technology Consulting in the Global Community program. For information on the program and how to apply, see URL below.
Course Website: http://cmu.edu/tcingc.
- 67-331 Technology Consulting in the Global Community
- Fall
This course is only for participants in the Technology Consulting in the Global Community program. Admitted ONLY BY Permission of Instructor
- 67-336 Building Data Visualizations in to Information Systems
- Fall: 9 units
In an increasingly data-driven world, the ability to effectively understand complex information is crucial for problem-solving and decision-making. This course explores the art and science of designing interactive visualizations within information systems to allow data to be effectively communicated and understood. In other words, to allow the user to more easily and fully grasp the underlying story. Students in this course will gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and theories underlying information design and visualization, including topics related to information architecture, human computer interaction, user-centered design, human perceptual and cognitive factors and how to leverage them to effectively communicate information. Students will also learn how these visualizations can be integrated into the software design process and how visualizations improve the value of information systems. Through a well-balanced breadth and depth of lectures, exercises and projects, students will learn to use popular design tools and technologies to design information systems and create visualizations that facilitate understanding, analysis, assessment and evaluation of various data sets and selected information systems. One of the important aspects of this course is to foster students' cultural and socioeconomic awareness, promote responsible technology use, and empower them to apply technical skills to address social inequalities for positive societal impact.
Prerequisite: 15-112
- 67-338 Information & Grid Design
- Fall: 9 units
Whether you create, oversee, or want practice solving problems through grid systems for websites, responsive applications, slide presentations, or data visualizations, this course provides the skills and perspective needed to communicate in grid environments: a synthesis of content, structure, and interaction. Grids emerged to address content/structure needs linked to print production, leaving opportunities to fully explore how they can better help stakeholders in interactive environments. As we explore this space, specific skillsets will include: developing a better understanding of visual composition through the grid, using the vocabulary of communication and information design in critique, manipulating typographic variables to create readable documents, learning approaches to invention using image, text, and amp; typography, creating simple to complex grid structures, developing skills in Illustrator, Photoshop, and Adobe XD, adapting simple prototypes to HTML/CSS through basic Bootstrap.
- 67-341 Generative AI & Governance: Building Responsible Systems
- Fall: 9 units
Generative AI (GenAI) introduces exceptional potential for addressing persistent challenges in a range of fields. Yet, this emerging technology introduces many risks and uncertainties that could derail progress. How can we reach the right balance between technological evolution and social responsibility? In this hands-on course, we will go beyond theory. You will build and fine-tune AI models using powerful tools like OpenAI’s GPT to tackle real-world challenges with hands-on labs and projects, while navigating AI ethics, governance and legal frameworks. Consequently, you will adapt to leveraging GenAI in moral and responsible ways towards social progress. If you’re curious about AI’s impact and eager to contribute to a positive transformation, this course is for you!
Prerequisite: 15-112
- 67-346 Blockchain Fundamentals
- Intermittent: 6 units
In this course, we will dig into the blockchain technology. We will learn from the basic, single-purpose blockchain (such as for Bitcoin) to general purpose blockchain (which includes a range of use-cases). The course will cover a broad spectrum of blockchain technology, different consensus algorithms, its various real-world use-cases with an eye on developing our own blockchain. We will also understand various challenges with this technology, and a case-study that covers implementation in Python. This would be an interactive course and the students are expected to share ideas and their thoughts.
- 67-348 Black Mirror - Cultural Representations of Technology
- Fall: 9 units
Advances in technology raise a variety of fascinating ethical, cultural, and societal questions often resulting in uncertainties and unanticipated dilemmas. This course provides an opportunity to explore how cultural representations of technology are reflected in society and inform continued technical advancements. Using episodes from Black Mirror - a British anthology television series created by Charlie Brooker - we will explore the depictions of technology and society and its representation. This course will challenge you to think critically about technological change and controversial topics surrounding digital culture and social impact. You will also develop a more sophisticated understanding of the political, economic, and cultural considerations that underlie technological development. Discussions of episodes will be supplemented by popular, critical texts and academic articles. This class is more seminar-based, rather than lecture-based. We will engage critically and constructively in key debates that shape the future of the technology, through in-class discussions, activities, and presentations.
- 67-352 Electronic Business and Design Thinking
- Intermittent: 9 units
The objective of this course is to give students a good understanding on how e-business is conducted and managed including opportunities, limitations, issues, and risks. E-business applications require certain technological infrastructures and other support mechanism in areas of business-to-consumer, business-to-business, and consumer-to-consumer. Topics will cover the technologies, skills and business concepts that surround the emergence of electronic business and the impacts of applying these information technologies to different commercial processes from both an operational and strategic perspective. The course will also explore the problems surrounding electronic business such as security, privacy, intellectual property rights, legal liabilities and global issues. The course provides a contemporary exposure to concepts and practices associated with a new and dynamic digital environment in the real business world. The information technologies associated with the delivery of Internet sites as well as internal operations will be discussed. After completion of this course, students are expected to have appropriate level of knowledge, skills, and concept of the digital operations in a modern business world.
- 67-354 Sustainability in the Digital Age
- Intermittent: 9 units
Environmental, economic, and societal challenges are affecting the sustainability of many communities around the globe. Given its multidisciplinary foundation, IS presents an important potential for enabling adaptation and mitigation to these challenges. IS innovation could also play a prominent role in transforming unsustainable problem spaces into sustainable and resilient systems. What is needed is sustainability minded IS professionals to lead such transformation. This course introduces students (future IS leaders) to the fundamentals of sustainability in the 21st century. It includes topics on Green IS, Smart Cities, and the Information Economy. The course invites students to proactively reflect on sustainability issues and their effects on policy and leadership. In such reflection, students are encouraged to consider various case-based scenarios where they evaluate challenges to sustainability and developed innovative, strategic, practical, and rigorously supported IS based solutions.
Prerequisite: 67-250
- 67-357 Healthcare Analytics and Big Data
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course will help students gain a deep understanding of how healthcare analytics supports the re-engineering of complex processes that drive return on investment and reduced medical costs and how the big data revolution is accelerating value and innovation in healthcare. Topics to be covered include (i) how analytics improves healthcare decision making; (ii) how to leverage analytics in healthcare quality improvement activities; (iii) how to develop an analytics strategy; (iii) how improved data quality and better data governance enhances the quality of healthcare; (v) creating a data-driven healthcare organization; and (vi) applying big data to transform the healthcare industry. Besides gaining hands-on lab experience with analytics tools and technologies used in real-world healthcare organizations, students will also work on a group project to understand better the challenges and opportunities that big data analytics presents to healthcare and the life sciences.
Prerequisite: 36-200
- 67-364 Practical Data Science
- Spring: 9 units
From empirical, to theoretical, to computational science, we are at the dawn of a new revolution and #8212;-a fourth paradigm of science driven by data. Like archaeological remnants, data, by its very nature, is a marker of what happened in the past. How can data be used to better understand this past and what is happening in the present? How can data be leveraged to forecast what will happen in the future? Better still, how can data be used to mold what should happen in the future? In this course we will study descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive methods by which data can be used to gain insight and inform actions of people and organizations. The real excitement of data science is in the doing. This is an application oriented course requiring skill in algorithmic problem solving. We will use Python based data science tools. While prior programming experience with Python will be helpful the course will strive to be self-contained. If you have not programmed in Python before, you need to be comfortable programming in some language (e.g., Ruby, R, Java, C++) and will need to come up to speed with the Pythonic way of problem solving.
Prerequisites: (36-201 Min. grade C or 36-200 Min. grade C) and (15-112 Min. grade C or 02-120 Min. grade C)
- 67-365 Human-Centered Security and Privacy: A Psychological and Usable Approach
- Fall: 9 units
This course explores the intersection of cybersecurity, privacy, and human factors, emphasizing the psychological underpinnings that influence security behaviors and decisions. Throughout the semester, students will delve into the principles of human-centered design in security systems, examining how usability and human error play critical roles in the effectiveness of these systems. Key topics include psychological foundations of security decisions, usability in security systems, identification and authentication through behavioral biometrics, and strategies against social engineering. The course also covers the design of privacy-sensitive systems, security for mobile and IoT devices, and accessibility considerations in security practices. Through lectures, case studies, and hands-on projects, students will learn to design security solutions that are not only technically robust but also psychologically sound and user-friendly. The culmination of the course will be student presentations on innovative projects that integrate course concepts with current research trends in human-centered security and privacy. This course is ideal for students interested in cybersecurity, privacy policy, human factors, and system design.
- 67-367 Information Warfare
- Intermittent: 9 units
In this course, we will examine information warfare through technical as well as strategic, operational, and tactical employment perspectives. This course will address historical aspects of military deception, electronic warfare, computer network operations, operational security, and psychological operations
- 67-368 User Experience (UX) Research for Product Managers
- Fall: 9 units
User Experience (UX) saturates the digital landscape, often acting as the pivotal determinant of user engagement with a product or service. Mastery of UX research is crucial for product managers, serving as the cornerstone for steering development efforts towards the attainment of cutting-edge user experiences. This course is geared towards providing understanding of the pivotal role of UX within the realm of product management, equipping students with the requisite arsenal of tools to research, obtain, and leverage UX insights for the development of products. The curriculum introduces UX principles, and delves in UX research methodologies, and their practical application through advanced digital experimentation. Through participation in hands-on exercises within a state-of-the-art digital laboratory environment, participants will go on the iterative journey from problem identification to the delivery of definitive solutions, thereby fine-tuning their acumen in elevating UX across the product lifecycle. By integrating theoretical paradigms with experiential learning, this course empowers participants to deftly navigate the intricacies of UX research, catalyzing the creation of next-generation, user-centric digital innovations.
Prerequisites: 70-207 or 36-200 or 36-220
- 67-373 Information Systems Consulting Project
- Spring: 12 units
Information Systems (IS) Consulting Project is a junior level team-based course that focuses on working as a team to build a solution to meet the needs of a client. With your teammates, you will work with an actual client to design, build, and deliver an information system solution while following a disciplined software project life cycle approach. By term's end, your team must provide a sustainable solution that fits the client's objectives, organization constraints and capabilities
Prerequisite: 67-272
- 67-379 Principles of Geographic Information Systems
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course is only offered at Carnegie Mellon in Qatar. It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. This is particularly relevant to the current information age. We have an ever-growing wealth of data that could uncover great benefits if properly visualized. Much of the data which we generate and utilize hold geographical aspects. Demographic, health, education, environment, resource, crime, transport, economic, and development data could be effectively represented through Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS provide the necessary tools to analyze and visualize data in order to uncover relationships that are not readily apparent. This holds a great potential for improved planning, communication, and decision making, leading to positive social and organizational implications. To harness such potential, this course introduces students to the basics of GIS through theoretical and practical sessions aimed at establishing fundamental GIS understanding and skills.
Prerequisite: 67-262
- 67-380 Information Systems Security
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course is an introduction to information systems security for the IS student. The course will introduce the student to fundamental concepts in information system security, including operational issues, planning, and design. Topics will include confidentiality, integrity, and availability; risk; access controls and access control frameworks; security policies; authentication strategies and issues; auditing; using cryptography; security design issues; controlling information flows; malicious logic; and applying security principles
- 67-382 Digital Transformation, Strategy and Management
- Spring: 9 units
Our world is being transformed with a digital revolution spanning across all aspects of society, culture, and organizations. This transformation has provided many with the opportunity to innovate and prosper, while others have struggled to keep up and have eventually perished. What does it take to be successful in the digital revolution? How can we harness the potential of Information Systems to compete and prosper as organizations and communities? The aim of this course is to prepare students to be effective digital transformation strategists. Given the global aspects of the digital revolution, the course adopts a global perspective, where students explore multi-dimensional aspects of IS management, incorporating strategic leadership, cross cultural management and technology adoption and diffusion in different contexts. This course provides an understanding of IS enabled change in the business environment; the alignment between IS strategies and business objectives; and ways in which business could leverage IS to transform and create digital strategies for a sustained competitive advantage. Students will also be exposed to digital eco-systems in various industries and across cultural platforms.
- 67-384 Digital and Cybercrime
- Fall: 9 units
This course will discuss various types of cybercrime and ways to deal with them. Students will learn who are doing this cybercrime, and how the technology and people's psychology can be manipulated by them to do a cybercrime. Taking multimedia-based cybercrime as an example, the course, will then discuss how to deal with such cybercrime. To that end, students will be introduced various multimedia-based cybercrime tools, and they will develop their practical digital investigation skills through the use of computer laboratory classes. Cybercrime involving the advanced technologies, such as deepfake, LLM, etc. will also be introduced.
Prerequisite: 15-112
- 67-390 Independent Study in Information Systems
- Fall and Spring
Independent studies are opportunities to engage in research with an IS faculty member to advance your learning in certain areas of interest. Information Systems students may enroll in independent study for 3, 6, 9, or 12 units of academic credit by obtaining an IS faculty sponsor who will oversee the academic component of the coursework, monitor progress, and assign a final grade. This is available by Special Permission.
- 67-391 Independent Study in Information Systems
- Fall and Spring
Independent studies are opportunities to engage in research with an IS faculty member to advance your learning in certain areas of interest. Information Systems students may enroll in independent study for 3, 6, 9, 12 units of academic credit by obtaining an IS faculty sponsor who will oversee the academic component of the coursework, monitor progress, and assign a final grade.
- 67-393 Guided Research in Information Systems
- All Semesters
This course is for team-based research with an IS faculty member. Upon prior approval by the faculty member, students may enroll for 3, 6, 9, or 12 units.
- 67-404 Blockchain Applications
- Intermittent: 9 units
In this course, we will dig into the blockchain technology. We will learn from the basic, single-purpose blockchain (such as for Bitcoin) to general purpose blockchain (which includes a range of use-cases). The course will cover a broad spectrum of blockchain technology, different consensus algorithms, its various real-world use-cases - with an eye on developing our own blockchain. We will also understand various challenges with this technology, and a case-study that covers implementation in Python. This would be an interactive course and the students are expected to share ideas and their thoughts.
- 67-410 Clinical Data Science
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course is designed as an introductory course in Critical Care Data Science, providing an introduction to the tools and techniques of data science, specifically focused on clinically relevant critical care. Electronic Medical Records; Common Data Models for Clinical Data; SQL Querying; Computational Phenotyping; Common Machine Learning Techniques (Supervised; Unsupervised; Reinforcement Learning); and Reporting Clinical Data Science Research.
- 67-415 Cyber Ethics and Regulation
- Intermittent: 9 units
This course investigates the ethical and regulatory implications of technology by adopting a four-dimensional framework focused on Privacy, Accuracy, Property, and Accessibility (PAPA Framework. It examines legal rights and corresponding duties and responsibilities of stakeholders. The course delves into established and emergent themes including cyber law, surveillance, dis/misinformation, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and organizational policy. Its primary focus is on social, behavioral, and legal implications of technology, assessed from multiple perspectives pertaining to individuals, organisations and societies.
- 67-417 Web Investigation and Surveillance
- Spring: 9 units
In this course, students will learn about web investigation and surveillance which are required to deal with network-based attacks and crime. On completion, students will have an understanding of how network-based attacks and crime happens and how to deal with them. To that end, students will be introduced to topics such as intrusion detection, incidence response, internet investigation, etc. Students will also be introduced to new types of network attacks and crime arisen due to the advancement of technology. Students will develop their practical skills to mitigate network attacks and crime through the use of computer laboratory classes.
Prerequisites: 67-301 and 67-380
- 67-421 Advanced Topics in Information Systems: Visualizations
- Fall: 9 units
Advanced topics in IS visualizations
- 67-425 Special Topics - Capstone course in Digitalization
- Intermittent: 9 units
Most organizations including your future employers use enterprise systems to run their business processes such as sales, procurement, and production. This course discusses key business processes in organizations and the role, functions and technical foundations of enterprise systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Through hands-on use of enterprise systems in multiple case studies, the students will become familiar with the key concepts in such systems and demonstrate practical knowledge on how such systems allow organizations to run end-to-end business processes such as order-to-cash or make-to-order. The course also addresses the lifecycle of enterprise systems' projects and their various phases such as selection, implementation, operation and maintenance.
- 67-426 Special Topics - Capstone course in Data Science
- Intermittent: 9 units
TBA
Prerequisites: 67-364 and (70-208 or 36-201 or 36-200)
- 67-427 Privacy and Security Capstone
- Fall and Spring: 9 units
This course is the capstone course for the Privacy and Security concentration in Information Systems. It requires students to engage in a substantive project related to Privacy and/or Security that will be primarily independent but guided by faculty.
- 67-428 Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Focus on Startups and Emerging Technologies
- Spring: 9 units
This course is designed for Information Systems (IS) students to explore the fundamentals of innovation and entrepreneurship, with a specific focus on emerging technologies in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) space. The course combines theory and practice, engaging students through discussions, project work and case studies. By analyzing the lifecycle of startups, students will gain insights into the startup and entrepreneurship worlds, develop business models, conduct market analysis, and explore the venture capital (VC) and accelerator funding processes, including insights into Y Combinator. Alumni from the tech and venture capital industries will be involved throughout the course as guest speakers, mentors and / or case study leaders.
Prerequisites: 67-250 and 67-272
- 67-430 AI and Emerging Economies
- Intermittent: 9 units
In this course, we will explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) with emerging economies. Our focus will extend beyond traditional AI research and development to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by countries experiencing rapid economic growth. Through a combination of theoretical discussions, case studies, and practical projects, students will gain insights into how AI can drive positive change in diverse socio-economic contexts.
- 67-435 Advanced Topic in Information Systems:
- Fall: 9 units
Advanced topic in IS
- 67-443 Mobile Application Design and Development
- Fall: 12 units
This course provides students with the concepts and techniques to design and develop innovative mobile applications. Students will develop a series of smaller mobile applications in weekly lab sessions (using either iOS or Android frameworks). In addition, student teams will build a larger mobile application, as part of a semester-long project, that fills a demand not effectively met in the current market. In the process of developing these applications, students will gain a strong understanding of mobile application development, mobile-centered design, the process of creating and testing innovative application design, and larger principles of software engineering. In weekly labs, students can choose either the Swift/iOS or Kotlin/Android track to complete course work, but lectures will primarily use Swift to illustrate larger points of software architecture and engineering. This course is open only to seniors in the IS major.
Prerequisite: 67-272 Min. grade C
- 67-474 Tech Startup Launchpad
- Spring: 9 units
This course provides hands-on learning about what it is like to start and launch a technology startup company. You will work within a team of students to turn your idea into a real company. You will learn and apply modern concepts practiced today in top innovation hubs around the globe: lean startup, minimum viable product, customer development, product-market fit, agile product development, business model generation, competitive landscape, etc. The goal of this course is not to write a business plan, prepare a venture capital presentation, or write tedious progress reports. You will learn what it takes to quickly develop your idea into a prototype, turn it into a minimum viable product and launch it, while you concurrently 1) talk to and cultivate potential customers, and 2) develop and iterate on your business model. This course is designed for BA, CS, IS seniors; non-IS seniors should obtain instructor permission to enroll in this class.
Prerequisite: 67-272
- 67-490 Practicum in Information Systems
- Intermittent
This course is offered only at Carnegie Mellon's campus in Qatar. The practicum in information systems allows students interested in applying skills acquired in the field of information systems in the context of a working environment. Students will complete a project and be accountable to a stakeholder that is external to their program of study. They may shadow and observe practices in the field of information systems, and also perform tasks as assigned. A hands-on experience is expected. By completing this course, students practice desirable skills for employability, such as time management, project management, team work, and professional development.
- 67-505 Information Systems Internship
- Fall and Spring
Practical experience in Information Systems. This course may be taken at most 4 times for a total of 12 units maximum.
- 67-706 Technology Outreach and Engagement in the Pittsburgh Community
- Fall and Spring: 6 units
This course is designed to provide an experiential learning opportunity to CMU students. In this course students will develop material to conduct outreach with children in grades K-12. CMU students will engage with the community, have conversations with community partners and educators, and demonstrate knowledge of civic engagement, cultural identity and diversity / inclusion. Experiential learning through engagement in the Pittsburgh Public Schools community will help CMU students make an impact on younger students, inspiring them to become familiar with and potentially pursue interdisciplinary technology careers.
- 67-738 Information & Grid Design
- Fall: 9 units
Whether you create, oversee, or want practice in solving problems through grid systems for websites, responsive applications, slide presentations, or data visualizations, this course provides the skills needed to communicate using the interplay of image, text, and typography in grid environments.
Faculty
MOHAMMAD AAZAM, Assistant Teaching Professor – Ph.D., Kyung Hee University ; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–
RACHIT AGRAWAL, Assistant Teaching Professor – Ph.D., Queen Mary University of London; Carnegie Mellon, 2025–
CHADI AOUN, CMU-Qatar Information Systems Area Head & Teaching Professor – Ph.D., Univeristy of New South Wales; Carnegie Mellon, 2015–
HOUDA BOUAMOR , Associate Teaching Professor – Ph.D., Paris-Sud University ; Carnegie Mellon, 2012–
SUSAN HAGAN, Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2004–
C.F. LARRY HEIMANN, Teaching Professor – Ph.D., Washington University (St. Louis); Carnegie Mellon, 1998–
SHIHONG HUANG, Teaching Professor – Ph.D., University of California, Riverside; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–
NAAMA ILANY-TZUR, Assistant Teaching Professor – Ph.D , Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–
DIVAKARAN LIGINLAL, Teaching Professor – Ph.D., University of Arizona - Tucson; Carnegie Mellon, 2009–
SELMA LIMAM MANSAR, Teaching Professor Emeritus – Ph.D., National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble; Carnegie Mellon, 2007–
JOSEPH S. MERTZ, Program Director & Teaching Professor – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 1997–
MANORANJAN MOHANTY, Assistant Teaching Professor – Ph.D.,Carnegie Mellon, 2024–
SARA MOUSSAWI, Associate Teaching Professor – Ph.D. , City University of New York; Carnegie Mellon, 2016-–
DANIEL PHELPS, Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus – Ph.D., Florida State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2007–
JULIA POEPPING, Director of Partnership Development – Masters, University of Pittsburgh ; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–
JERIA QUESENBERRY, Teaching Professor & Dietrich College Associate Dean of Faculty – Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2007–
RAJA SOORIAMURTHI, Teaching Professor – Ph.D., Indiana University; Carnegie Mellon, 2007–
XIAOYING TU, Assistant Teaching Professor – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2020–
SAVANID (NUI) VATANASAKDAKUL, Teaching Professor – PhD., University of New South Wales; Carnegie Mellon, 2018–
RANDY S. WEINBERG, Teaching Professor Emeritus – Ph.D., University of Minnesota; Carnegie Mellon, 1998–
