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Competitive Intelligence Systems

"Robert Morris University is a wonderful establishment with great individuals and a vast amount of resources. The faculty was able to provide me with the skills and establishing myself in a new, exciting and up-and-coming career." — Andrew P. Hornyak M'12

 The Master of Science (M.S.) in Competitive Intelligence Systems online degree program is designed to educate business and information systems professionals in the concepts, activities and issues related to business intelligence systems.

Modern business organizations must leverage the vast quantities of collected information to make effective decisions and achieve a strategic competitive advantage. Competitive intelligence embodies a systematic and ethical program for gathering, analyzing and managing internal and external information that can affect an organization's plans, decisions, and operations. Graduates of this online program can expect to support data warehousing, data mining, and geographic information systems to aid in marketing research and segmentation, corporate strategic planning, facility location, and product design and distribution.

The M.S. in Competitive Intelligence Systems program, along with RMU's Master of Science (M.S.) in Internet Information Systems degree program, were ranked #11 in the Student Services and Technology category and #17 for Student Engagement and Accreditation in U.S. News & World Report's Top Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs Ranking. 

SuperScholar.org recently named RMU's programs in its first Smart Choice ranking of the top schools for online Computer Science and Information Technology degree programs. 

More about the School of Communications and Information Systems

 
About 77 percent of CI professionals work in corporations, while 17 percent are consultants. The top five industries utilizing CI professionals are consulting, communications, chemical/pharmaceutical, information and defense/aerospace. The median salary for CI professionals is approximately $72,000 per year.

The M.S. in Competitive Intelligence Systems is a 30-credit degree program comprised of seven required courses (21 credits) and three elective courses (9 credits).

Required Courses - 21 credits
INFS6010    Decision Support Systems Analysis and Design 
INFS6240    Database Management System 
INFS6630    Geographic Information Systems 
INFS6490    Computer Network Security 
INFS6510    Competitive Intelligence Systems 
INFS6720    Data Mining 
INFS6730    Data Warehousing

Elective Courses - 9 credits
Choose three graduate-level courses from selected communications and information systems offerings.
The market for business intelligence is worth about $2 billion a year worldwide. Realizing the need to create competitive strategies, a growing number of large global companies have established world-class CI functions in their organizations. While many larger companies have departments dedicated to CI, mid-sized companies often hire CI consulting firms to gather and analyze intelligence

Faculty members in the School of Communications and Information Systems (SCIS) are recognized for their dedication to teaching, academic research, global understanding and professional experience. Our faculty regularly wins awards and accolades for excellence in teaching and research. As guides and mentors, they motivate students to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their field of study. Faculty members encourage students to engage in scholarly pursuits, including participation in academic conferences and professional organizations. Our faculty members’ countries of origin span seven countries and four continents.  This rich diversity broadens students’ global understanding. Many lead study abroad trips and international student exchanges in Europe, South America and Asia, to name a few. Finally, SCIS faculty members’ professional experience and community involvement help students connect what they’re learning in the classroom to the workplace.
RMU graduate tuition rates are competitively set within the western Pennsylvania region. Also, many of our students find that their employers are willing to help pay for all or a portion of the cost of attendance, so we have procedures for third-party and delayed billing to meet the requirements of your human resources department. In addition, graduate students are eligible for student loans, and a there are a few graduate assistant positions available each year.
 
Ultimately, your graduate degree is an investment in your lifetime earnings and career path. The national data is clear: Those who own master's and doctoral degrees, on average, earn significantly more than those with a baccalaureate or less. And, those with advanced degrees report higher job satisfaction and upward mobility within their chosen professions.

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