MS in Enterprise
Data Systems

Enterprise Data Systems at the iSchool

The M.S. in Enterprise Data Systems (EDS) from the iSchool is designed for students who want to prepare professionally to manage, design, support and optimize the infrastructure that supports the digital enterprise. EDS teaches both conventional and future network infrastructures, along with the devices, services, protocols, standards, and applications that are transforming the enterprise.

Growth and use of mobile, social media, sensors and big data has resulted in an Internet of Things (IoT) that connects billions of devices through networks throughout the world. This level of connectivity has created a demand for skilled professionals who understand cloud computing and have the ability to design, configure, and manage modern digital enterprise cloud environments.

Enterprise Data Systems at the iSchool is a unique program that provides a wide variety of opportunities in IT and data-centric organizations in sectors such as finance, consulting, health, and more.

Enterprise Data Systems Explained

Wondering whether graduate studies in Enterprise Data Systems will help you achieve your career goals? iSchool Professor Carlos Caicedo explains how the M.S. in EDS this program is like no other, and will prepare you to graduate into the networking world as a full-fledged professional.

What you will learn

The EDS curriculum is built around the core concepts and procedures required to understand the technical, security, policy, and management principles of current and future information network infrastructures and systems. Students can choose from focus areas that include cloud and virtualized information systems, and infrastructure and applications related to data science, enterprise IT infrastructure management, information security, and mobile services and applications.

Curriculum

The EDS degree program is 36 credits, and is typically completed within 2 years. The curriculum combines core classes with electives to give you a strong foundation in data systems, along with the freedom to pursue the courses that interest you. You can also view the recommended EDS course sequence for fall and spring start students.

The 36 credits are distributed as follows:

Primary Core - 21 credits
Secondary Focus Area - 12 credits
- Focus area credits can also be used toward a Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S./) in Data Science or Information Security Management.
Graduate Immersion Milestone Event – non-credit, required
- This 2-to-3 day residency workshop presents emerging topics in the information studies field. Students must complete one residency workshop during the duration of their program of study. You can find more information by visiting the iSchool Seminar page.
Exit Requirement - Capstone
- Capstone Project in Enterprise Data Systems

View Curriculum in Course Catalog

Goals and Outcomes

After completing this program, graduates of the M.S. in Enterprise Data Systems will be able to:

Apply management techniques, policies, technologies, and methods to integrate data intensive processes with the data processing and communication infrastructure that can support them.
Plan, configure and manage information services which support the operation and scalability of secure enterprise information environments.
Design, configure and manage cloud, hybrid, and on-premises based information services in digital enterprise environments.
Plan, configure and manage interconnected, virtual, and software defined networked environments.
Evaluate solutions and systems for the analysis and management of data within an enterprise environment.
Create integrated solutions for the support of data collection, analysis, modeling and reporting tasks in digital enterprise data environments.
Demonstrate in-depth competence in at least one chosen focus area where knowledge and skills are applied to a particular domain of enterprise data systems.

Focus Areas

EDS students must take 12 credits in a secondary focus area. They can also create a customized focus area with advisor guidance and approval of the program director.

Cloud and Virtualized Information Environments
The courses in this focus area concentrate on planning, designing and managing modern and future networked and information environments that rely on virtualized and software defined concepts.
Examples of courses you can take:
- IST 639 Enterprise Technologies
- IST 643 Enterprise Services and Virtualized Systems
- IST 647 Network Virtualization
- IST 714 Cloud Architecture
- IST 726 Enterprise Architecture
Data Science Infrastructure & Applications
The courses in this focus area concentrate on topics related to the processing, management, and analysis of data and the information infrastructure and services that support modern enterprise data environments.
Examples of courses you can take:
- IST 659 Data Administration Concepts and Database Management
- IST 718 Advanced Information Analytics
- IST 719 Information Visualization
- IST 722 Data Warehouse
- IST 769 Advanced Database Administration Concepts and Database Management
- IST 777 Statistical Methods
Enterprise IT Infrastructure Management
The courses in this focus area provide students with the capabilities to plan, analyze and manage current and future enterprise IT information environments along with an understanding of the economic, policy, risk and technical implications of their deployment and management.
Examples of courses you can take:
- IST 619 Applied Economics for Information Managers
- IST 625 Enterprise Risk Management
- IST 643 Enterprise Services and Virtualized Systems
- IST 645 Managing Information Systems Projects
- IST 648 Enterprise Wireless Networks
- IST 654 Information Systems Analysis
- IST 683 IT Enabled Change Management
Information Security Management
The courses in this focus area concentrate on topics related to the planning,analysis,and management the information security policies, applications and infrastructure for modern and future enterprise information environments.
Examples of courses you can take:
- IST 602 Digital Forensics
- IST 634 Security in Networked environments
- IST 724 Database Security
- IST 728 Information Security Policy
Mobile Services and Applications
The courses in this focus area concentrate on topics related to the planning, analysis, and management of enterprise mobile services and applications.
Examples of courses you can take:
- IST 556 Mobile Network Services
- IST 643 Enterprise Services and Virtualized Systems
- IST 648 Enterprise Wireless Networks
- CIS 651 Mobile application programming
- CSE 691 Android Programming

Why Study EDS at the iSchool?

Challenges faced by industry in managing enterprise data have become complex and dynamic due to the growing volume of data produced and consumed, and the advent of new disruptive technologies. Solutions to these challenges require multi-disciplinary skills and an approach encompassing business, management, and technology.
Greg Raimann, Principal, EY

Cloud computing, and the revolution it is causing in the way information is shared, could be one of the most disruptive technology trends to impact business. This master's degree positions iSchool students on the leading-edge of this trend, with a next-generation, differentiated skillset that will be applicable for years to come.
Darren Orzechowski, Senior Director, Cloud Management, VMWare

The blend of technical skills and information management knowledge that our students will receive makes them ideal candidates for positions opening up in the growing number of companies seeking to manage or implement infrastructure to gather and obtain value from data.
Carlos Caicedo, Associate Professor and EDS Program Faculty Lead

Career Outlook

Employers are seeking people who not only have technical expertise but can communicate with the boardroom in everyday language. As an EDS graduate, you will be able to create systems that deliver data to key parts of any organization driven or reliant on data and IT infrastructure. You'll also understand what drives business, and be able to articulate your recommendations, solutions, and strategies to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

This skillset is missing from the modern workforce and is in high demand. According to Indeed.com, starting salaries for those who can fill this need range from $75k to $125k.* In addition, many employers use the products that IBM and VMWare provide for our labs, so you will have hands-on experience with the exact technology you'll use as a full-fledged professional.

*According to Indeed.com listings for "Enterprise Cloud Computing"

Industry Collaborations

The iSchool has strong relationships with leading companies in the cloud computing, data analytics, and related technology industries. Representatives from our industry collaborators provide their time, talent, and business expertise along with access to modern software packages and hardware systems. This enables students in the EDS program to obtain hands-on experience and apply classroom learning to real-world scenarios in an environment found only at the iSchool.

Who's Hiring?

According to Forbes, Amazon, EMC, and VMWare have had the largest number of positions advertised for cloud computing professionals. Other employers who are hiring in this field include:

Accenture
Amazon
Google
IBM

EDS Jobs

Cloud Infrastructure Architect
Cloud Support Engineer
IT Project Manager
Network Manager
System/Cloud Computing Architect
Systems Analyst

Certificates of Advanced Study

Certificates of Advanced Study (C.A.S.) give you the opportunity to specialize further in your graduate studies. You can incorporate C.A.S. classes into your Enterprise Data Systems curriculum, which means you can graduate with a certified and highly marketable skill set without taking extra classes.

C.A.S. in Data Science

Learn the data lifecycle from beginning to end. With this C.A.S., you will learn to create, analyze, visualize, and archive data. Discover how data science is integral to every industry.

C.A.S. in Information Security Management

Information security is critical and complex. With this C.A.S., you can get a strong foundation in information security: from using technology to government policy.