Education – Pace University

Master of Science Information Systems

Pace University, New York, NY

My Experience at Pace University

I attended Pace University while at AT&T. Taking classes while working full time was a valuable experience. I would take what I had learned in the classroom and then I would seek out opportunities on the job that would reinforce what I had just learned.

I chose to pursue an M.S. degree in Information Systems rather than Computer Science because I wanted to learn how technology was being used in organizations; my goal was to obtain a technology leadership position and a degree in Information Systems was more in line with my goal.

My professors at Pace had a good mix between pure academia and real world experience. I enjoyed the program and excelled. Overall is was great learning experience at a good time in my career.

Classes Taken

Organizational Behavior - BUS515

This course covers current concepts of human behavior as applied to organizations. Studies the role of the manager with respect to interpersonal relations. Covers anthropological, psychological, and sociological approaches in the identification and solution of the human aspects of business decisions. Evaluates behavioral science contributions to the study of effective leadership.

Database Management Systems - IS613

This course focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of file and database management systems. Topics include data models hierarchical, network, relational; data structures, storage structures, storage devices and their relation to data access; importance of data as an organizational resource; data management, sharing, availability, security, integrity and consistency; data independence and conceptual data models. Examples of database applications and software packages are selected.

Information Systems Principles - IS617

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of information systems and information technology for students with minimal background in the field. Topics include: organizational issues; overview of information systems components software, hardware, people, data; telecommunications applications; contemporary approaches to information systems development including CASE tool support for process modeling, datamodelling and prototyping; ethical and societal issues of information systems. The course will employ extensive use of case studies.

SQL - IS660G

This course introduces the syntax of structured query language. Students work with databases and practice with basic SQL commands to learn the fundamentals of the language. The course will provide students with multimedia presentations to reinforce the laboratory activities used to create the querying commands in addition to discussion boards.

Structured Systems Analysis - IS621

The underlying concept is the building of a logical model of a system using structured techniques that enable users, analysts and designers to get a clear and common picture of the system. Topics include: system life cycles, systems development process, data flow diagrams, building and using the data dictionary, analyzing response and immediate access requirements, process specification, structured English and decision trees, management advantages of structured development.

Client Server Systems - IS660I

Client Server Systems – IS660I

I.S. Project Management - IS637

This course combines project management methods and structured systems development techniques and applies them to the complex world of information systems development. The central project management functions planning, organizing and controlling are presented in the context of the systems development process. Topics include project planning, estimating, testing, implementation, documentation, management of change, utilization of services consultants, software houses, turn-key systems and proprietary software packages.

Research Project I - IS695

This course confronts the student with major contemporary debates and key issues of information systems and information technology, and provides a framework within which to develop a research project effort. This seminar discusses current methods used in information systems research, including quantitative, qualitative and conceptual approaches. The student will learn how to define a research issue, how to select an appropriate research method, and how to design a research plan. Each student will select a project area, and search the literature (formal and informal) for relevant material. These materials will be shared with the seminar class, and interactive peer discussion and critiques will assist each student in the development of the project report. Each student will prepare a research paper with a literature review, appropriate bibliography, definition of a research question, a research design and an analysis of expected results. Students will be evaluated and graded based upon class presentations, interim project work and delivery of a final written project report and oral presentation to the seminar. This course requires successful completion of an acceptable research paper on a topic approved by the instructor.

My topic was technology being used in sports, specifically data analytics in baseball and football.

Business Telecommunications - IS632

The study of all forms of electronic communication in organizations today. Course topics include data communications hardware and media, protocols and standards, local area and wide area networking, network management, telecommunications software and application design.

I.S. Policy & Practice - IS639

This course focuses on the relationship of the information systems plans and strategies to those of the organization. Topics include IS perspectives, planning and control, application development and maintenance, systems management and control, IS strategy, computer center administration, social and legal considerations, telecommunications directions, the information center.

Business Applications in C/C++ IS661

This course focuses on the C/C++ programming language and its applications in business. Programming topics include: fundamental data types, flow of control statements, functions, the preprocessor, arrays, pointers, strings, structures and unions, dynamic memory allocation and file manipulation. Typical applications discussed include an automated cash register simulation, payroll calculations, scheduling manufacturing production, table sorting, string manipulation, data compression, a menu processor, stacks and queues, sequential and random file processing.

Telecommunications Management - IS650

Principles of managerial accounting, financial analysis and project management are introduced and applied to the planning, implementation and operation of telecommunications systems.

Structured Systems Design - IS654

Structured design is concerned with the architecture of programs and systems, that is, the way in which a system should be broken into modules, which modules, relationships between modules, information passed between modules and the packaging of these modules into executable programs leading to minimum cost systems. Topics include module coupling and cohesion, transform centered systems, transaction centered systems, span of control/scope of effect, packaging and optimization considerations of design, structure and program quality, software reliability, management advantages of structured design methodology.

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.