Abstract: In response to the changing industry demands and increasing diversity of student needs when embarking on IS graduate studies, we determined that a fundamental redesign of the MSIS curriculum was necessary. We saw that the expanding IT universe now has more specialties than ever before while competitive forces simultaneously demand that firms keep costs under strict controls. Facing such pressures, firms demand more from IT professionals in the breadth and depth of their IT knowledge and skills coming from numerous knowledge domains. From these trends and issues we formulated the competency concept that forms the foundation for the new curriculum. A student earns a competency by completing four courses in a module. Now students can choose to pursue multiple competencies and can return to upgrade skills after graduation. We describe the process and issues we faced as well as the competency-based modular curriculum. We end with discussing the remaining issues that we are handling.

Keywords: Information systems curriculum, IT competency, Competency-based curriculum, IT workforce

Download this article: JISE - Volume 16 Number 3, Page 301.pdf

Recommended Citation: Sutcliffe, N., Chan, S. S., & Nakayama, M. (2005). A Competency Based MSIS Curriculum. Journal of Information Systems Education, 16(3), 301-310.