MS in MIT Curriculum

The McIntire School at the University of Virginia has carefully developed a curriculum that addresses the needs of management and technical professionals who have IT budgetary, management, or decision-making responsibilities. The faculty reviews the curriculum continually based on input from corporate sponsors to ensure that the program is current and relevant.

The MS in MIT program is based on a 30-credit-hour curriculum that integrates technical and business-related knowledge and skills. The curriculum is organized into a series of four lock-step modules. Each module focuses on helping students learn to deliver greater business value through IT knowledge.

Module I: IT Architecture (two-week residency)

Module Leader: Stefano Grazioli

Key Faculty:  Stefano Grazioli, Mike Morris, Ryan Nelson, David Smith, Randy Smith

IT Architecture provides the technology foundation for the program. Key areas are covered at a level of detail appropriate for managers and include:

• Enterprise IT architectures

• Business process modeling

• Data modeling and database design

• Data communications and network design

• Object-oriented technologies

• IT security

FOR MORE DETAILS about Module I 

Module II: IT Project Management

Module Leader: Ryan Nelson

Key Faculty:  Tom Bateman, Rich DeMong,  Mike Morris, Ryan Nelson

IT Project Management is designed to develop more effective project managers through its coverage of concepts, techniques, and technologies relevant to the manager of an IT project. At the end of the module, students will be able to:

• Apply principles of effective project management

• Understand rapid application development techniques

• Manage project lifecycles to ensure effective estimation and scheduling, staffing, budgeting, and activity-based costing

• Use more effective negotiating skills and effectively manage change

FOR MORE DETAILS about Module II 

Module III: Enterprise IT Management 

Module Leader: Glenn Browne

Key Faculty: Glenn Browne, Barb Wixom, Stefano Grazioli, Lynn Hamilton

Enterprise IT Management will examine the body of knowledge associated with managing the IT enterprise, including operations, enterprise systems, integration, business intelligence, and emerging IT. Students in the course will learn to:

• Manage portfolios of IT projects

• Effectively integrate information and operations across the enterprise

• Harness organizational information for more effective decision making

• Deliver a competitive advantage for organizations through effective use of IT

FOR MORE DETAILS about Module III 

Module IV: Strategic Management

Module Leader:  Peter Gray

Key Faculty: Tom Bateman, Rob Cross, Peter Gray, Bob Kemp, Peter Maillet, Ryan Nelson, Rick Netemeyer, David C. Smith, Randy Smith, Barb Wixom

Rooted in the strategic issues surrounding information technologies, this Module explores the financial, leadership, marketing, and innovation issues that emerge when developing technologies that have the potential to change a firm’s competitive position.  Through readings, assignments, classes, and a major culminating project, students will develop skills in discovering, describing, and securing management support for transformational – and sometimes disruptive – IT-based initiatives.  Sample topics include:

• Strategic positioning and industry analysis

• Strategic management of technology and innovation

• CIOs, strategic leadership, and IT governance

•  Financial statement analysis for managers

• Financial forecasting and financial valuation

FOR MORE DETAILS about Module IV

Complete Course Descriptions

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Emerging topics are integrated throughout the curriculum, as part of the guest speakers series, and at optional seminars held throughout the year.

Recent guest speakers have included:

Advance Auto Parts

Rick Coro, CIO
Capital One
Greg Gannon, CIO

David Wright, CIO
Dominion Virginia Power
Lyn McDermid, CIO 
HMS Host
Martyn Holland, CIO
IBM Global Services
John Condon, Vice President
IRS
Paul Cosgrove, CIO
Owens & Minor, Don Stoller, Director, Information Management
People3
Linda Pittenger, President

Red Cross

Steve Cooper, former CIO

Blackboard 

McIntire’s graduate programs utilize Blackboard to provide students with an e-learning environment in which to work between class sessions.