ONLINE APPLICATION FORMS:

For U.S. citizens the application form for graduate school can be completed online or on paper after downloading the application. For either application, go to UNO Graduate Studies and click on admissions.

The graduate application for international applicants is also available online.

All application and support material must be sent to the following address:

Office of Graduate Studies, EAB 203
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE U.S.A. 68182-0209

1. Complete and submit the graduate application form for admission.
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 writing sample, please submit a two page double-spaced word processed essay that addresses the following two topics:
   1. Discussion of two accomplishments that demonstrate your potential for success in the graduate program
   2. Discussion of your unique personal qualities and life experiences that distinguish you from other applicants to our graduate program.
4. Ask three references who can evaluate your work and/or academic achievements to write a letter of recommendation on official letterhead and send it directly to the Office of Graduate Studies.
5. Send official transcripts of all college coursework. The minimum undergraduate grade point average requirement for the MS in MIS program is 2.80 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 in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, English-speaking Africa, Australia, Ireland or New Zealand are required to submit TOEFL and GMAT (or GRE) scores.
   1. The minimum TOEFL requirement for the MS in MIS program is 550 (or 213 if computer-based TOEFL).
   2. There is no minimum GMAT (or GRE) requirement, but the applicant's score will be one factor used in evaluating the student's portfolio.
7. Interview (optional): Although not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to arrange for an interview with one or more members of the Graduate Program Committee by directly contacting the Committee Chairperson (pwolcott@mail.unomaha.edu). Telephone interviews are highly recommended for applicants outside the local area.

ADMISSION CRITERIA:

Each applicant will be considered on an individual basis. All applicants for the MS in MIS 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 2.80 (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 GMAT (or GRE) and TOEFL scores will be used along with other factors outlined above to make an admission decision. It should be noted that particular attention will be paid to the scores on the verbal and written section of the GMAT (or GRE).

FOUNDATION REQUIREMENTS:

Foundation courses ensure that all students in the MS MIS program have a strong foundation on which to build the rest of the program. These courses not only provide essential prerequisite knowledge and skills for other courses in the program, but they also contain a distinct body of knowledge that is an important part of the MIS professional's education. All foundation courses are required for all students. However, students who have obtained an undergraduate MIS degree will typically already have this foundation. In such a case, most, if not all, foundation courses are usually waived. Students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, including computer science or engineering, will usually have to take one or more foundation courses. Occasionally, a student's work experience may be sufficient to waive one or more foundation courses.

Waivers for foundation courses are granted by the chair of the graduate program committee upon the recommendation of the faculty member who is responsible for an individual foundation course. Students requesting a waiver for a particular course should be prepared to meet with a faculty member and answer questions in the area of the course. They should bring to the meeting any relevant transcripts, course syllabi, course material, or evidence of practical experience. Some foundation courses may have an option for testing out.

Foundation courses cannot be used to satisfy the 36 semester hours required for the MS in MIS degree. Students who have not completed all the foundation course requirements may be admitted on a provisional status until those requirements have been completed. All must be completed prior to or concurrent with the first six hours of MS in MIS graduate course work.

• Six hours of programming coursework or equivalent experience

• CIST 2500 - Introduction to Applied Statistics for IS&T
  OR one semester of undergraduate statistics

• CIST 3100 - Organizations, Applications, and Technology
  OR equivalent

• ISQA 8040 - An Overview of Systems Development
  OR ISQA 4110 - Information Systems Analysis and ISQA 4120 - Systems Design and Implementation
  OR equivalent

• ISQA 8050 - Data Organization and Storage
  OR ISQA 3300 - File Structures and ISQA 3310 - Managing the Database Environment
  OR equivalent

The Graduate College’s Quality of Work standards shall be applied to foundation courses as well as courses taken as part of the degree program. In particular, the GPC will recommend to the Graduate College that any

1. student receiving a grade of “C-“ or below on any foundation courses will be automatically dismissed from the program or, in the case of unclassified or non-degree students, be automatically denied admission.
2. student receiving a grade of “C+” or “C” in any foundation course will be placed on probation or dismissed from the program.
3. student not maintaining a “B” (3.0 on 4.0 scale) average in foundation courses will be placed on probation or dismissed from the program.

Students interested in taking courses without admission to the MS in MIS degree program may do so with permission of the Graduate Program Committee. Contact pwolcott@mail.unomaha.edu.

ONLINE ENROLLMENT:

Students can now enroll in UNO courses online. It is highly recommended that out-of-town and international students enroll in courses before coming to Omaha, and after consulting with an Advisor. You can find this online enrollment on the web page of Student Enrollment Services. You must be accepted as a student at UNO in order to use this service.