Applying for MS in IT Innovation

Application Deadlines

Admission Requirements

The following requirements need to be met for admission into the MS in ITIN program:

1. Complete and submit the Graduate Application for Admission form.
   • Graduate Admissions for Domestic Students
   • Graduate Admissions for International Students
2. Submit a detailed resume indicating your work experience and background.
3. Submit a writing sample from work or previous academic experiences. Alternatively, if you do not have a writing sample, please submit a two-page double-spaced word-processed essay that addresses the following two topics:
   • Discussion of two accomplishments that demonstrate your potential for success in the graduate program.
   • Discussion of your unique personal qualities and life experiences that distinguish you from other applicants to our graduate program.
4. One letter of recommendation from a reference who can evaluate the applicant’s work and/or academic achievements.
5. Official transcripts of all college coursework. The minimum undergraduate grade point average requirement for the MS in ITIN program is 3.00 or equivalent score on a 4.00 scale. All applicants must have the equivalent of a 4-year undergraduate degree.
6. International applicants who do not have a baccalaureate or equivalent degree from an English-speaking institution of higher education are required to submit a current TOEFL/IELTS score.
   • The minimum TOEFL requirement for the MS in ITIN program is 550 (paper-based) / 213 (computer-based) / 80 (Internet-based).
   • The minimum IELTS requirement for the MS in ITIN program is 6.5 overall.

Admission Criteria & Rationale

All applicants are considered on an individual basis. All applicants for the proposed MS in ITIN program must have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited four-year institution of higher learning or the equivalent foreign institution and earned a GPA of 3.00 or higher (on a 4.00 scale). Since many factors influence the success of a graduate student, factors such as an applicant's maturity, motivation, employment history, writing samples, work experience, and other accomplishments will also be considered in making admission decisions. In addition, for international applicants, the TOEFL score will be used along with other factors outlined above.

Prerequisite knowledge and courses ensure all students in the MS ITIN program have a solid groundwork upon which to build the rest of the program. These courses not only provide essential skills for other courses in the program, but they also contain a distinct body of knowledge that is an important part of the ITIN professional's education. All prerequisite courses are required for all students. Students who have obtained an undergraduate ITIN degree will typically already have this knowledge. In such cases, most, if not all, prerequisite courses are usually waived. Students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, including Computer Science or Management Information Systems, will usually require one or more prerequisite courses.

Occasionally, a student's work experience may be sufficient to waive one or more prerequisite courses. Waivers for prerequisite courses are granted by the chair of the graduate program committee upon the recommendation of the faculty member who is responsible for the respective course. Students requesting a waiver for a course should be prepared to meet with a faculty member and answer questions in the knowledge area of the prerequisite. They should bring any relevant transcripts, course syllabi, course material, or evidence of practical experience to the meeting. Some prerequisite courses may have an option for testing out.

Prerequisite courses cannot be used to satisfy the 36 credit hours required for the proposed MS in ITIN. Students who have not completed all the prerequisite course requirements may be admitted on a provisional status until those requirements have been completed. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to, or concurrent with, the first six hours of MS in ITIN graduate course work. Barring prerequisite knowledge on the part of the student, courses necessary for entry into the MS in ITIN include:

• 6 credit hours of Programming & Development courses, for example Java, C, C++, C#, Unity, or PHP.
• 3 credit hours of System Analysis & Design courses, for example Agile Development, Overview Systems Analysis & Design, or Advanced Systems Analysis & Design.

Online Enrollment

PLAN OF STUDY: All students should contact a Graduate Advisor in their first month of admission to complete a Plan of Study (a listing of all courses planned for the degree and the semester in which each course will be taken). If you are going to deviate from the approved plan of study (i.e. change courses or semesters), request approval from your Graduate Advisor prior to registration. Changes to the official plan of study must go through the approval process or graduation may be delayed. Students can enroll in UNO courses online at mavlink.unomaha.edu. It is highly recommended that out-of-town and international students enroll in courses before coming to Omaha, after consulting with an advisor.

Current students can schedule appointments at MavCONNECT.unomaha.edu. New and prospective students can call the College of IS&T at 402.554.3819 to schedule appointments.