Admission Requirements

Admission to the M.S. in Information Systems (MSIS) program is based upon the completion of the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. For MSIS program admission an acceptable score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and a satisfactory record of undergraduate academic performance are required. Applicants are encouraged to submit with their application a resume that highlights professional and personal accomplishments, linguistic abilities, computer expertise and leadership experience. Applicants with two to five years of experience are preferred. A single standardized test score will not be used as the sole criterion for denying an applicant's admission to the MSIS program. Similarly, scores in English and quantitative skills that fall below acceptable levels on a single standardized test will be viewed in conjunction with other demonstrated skills in these areas.

Students for whom English is not their native language must achieve a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based). International applicants that score below minimum acceptable levels on the verbal portion of entrance examinations may be admitted on probation with acceptable demonstration of English proficiency.

Multiple criteria (both quantitative and qualitative) are used to make admission decisions. Quantitative measures include an applicant's GMAT score, GMAT Verbal percentile, GMAT Quantitative percentile, and grade point average as calculated by the Graduate School. These measures are integrated into a formula, or index, that multiplies the grade point average by 200 and adds the total GMAT score. Index factors are weighed equally at the outset of applicant evaluation. When applicable, a graduate grade point average is considered when it is based on at least 24 semester hours of graduate work.
Along with the grade point average and GMAT total score, admission criteria include the following:

1. GMAT sub-scores (verbal and quantitative)
2. GMAT writing sample
3. Grades in specified undergraduate business and business-related courses (math, accounting, economics, statistics, for example)
4. Graduate academic performance, if applicable
5. Educational objectives and quality of written expression of the application essay
6. Letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with the applicant's academic background and/or work experience
7. Undergraduate major and relevance to graduate study in IS
8. General and specific program accreditation status of degree granting institution
9. Professional work experience
10. Professional certification or licensure

Unconditional Admission

For unconditional admission, the applicant's composite total from the index must be 1080 or higher, and items 1 through 6 above should strongly indicate potential for successful academic performance as a graduate information systems student. If an applicant falls below the GMAT Verbal percentile of 30 and/or the GMAT Quantitative percentile of 30, corroborating evidence of proficiency in that skill will be reviewed.
Students who are unconditionally admitted must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 as calculated by the Graduate School (or 3.00 at the graduate level), and enroll for a minimum of six semester credit hours to be eligible for available fellowship and/or scholarship support. A standardized test score will not be used as the sole criterion for determining fellowship and/or scholarship eligibility.

Probationary Admission

For an applicant with an index score below 1080, probationary admission may be available when at least three items of 1 through 6 above strongly indicate potential for successful academic performance as a graduate information systems student. Items 7 through 10 will also be used to identify positive indicators for admission. When verbal or quantitative percentiles are below the 30th percentile, probationary admission may be available. Students admitted on probationary status for low verbal or quantitative percentiles, must satisfactorily complete one or more English and/or math courses in the first two semesters as specified by the Graduate Advisor. Students who are admitted on probation must meet the conditions specified, such as no grade less than 'B' for the first 12 hours of graduate study and any required undergraduate course.

Provisional, Deferred and Denied Admission

A provisional decision to admit may be granted when the applicant meets criteria for unconditional or probationary status but one or more applicant credentials are incomplete. A deferred decision may be made when an applicant's file is not sufficiently complete to make an admit or deny decision.

For an applicant who does not meet minimum acceptable scores on the GMAT, and other evidence indicates lack of potential for academic success as a graduate information systems student, admission will be denied. However, all applicant data will be carefully reviewed before an admission denial is made.