Ph.D. in Information Systems (DISS)
Introduction
Admission
Requirements
The
Curriculum
Concentration in Information Science
Concentration in Information Security
Orientation
and Academic Advising
Program
Formats and Term Dates
Time
Limitations
Attendance
Policy
The
Dissertation/Evaluation of Dissertation Progress
Course Descriptions
Graduate
Catalog 
Dissertation
Guide
Graduate School of Computer and Information Sciences home page
Introduction
This program offers a course of study leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Information Systems or the Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Science or the Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Security. It is offered in both cluster and institute formats, which combine traditional and online instruction to provide information technology professionals the opportunity to pursue graduate study while continuing to work in their current positions. The program is especially well suited to professionals working in areas such as information system planning, information security, systems analysis and design, project management, information system administration, information science, or software engineering. It provides information technology professionals with the knowledge and ability to develop creative solutions to substantive real-world problems in information systems. Each student must complete eight core courses, two research project courses, and a dissertation.
The concentration in information security is recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) based on its certification of the school’s curriculum for compliance with the requirements of NSA national training standards NSTISSI No. 4011 (Information Systems Security Professionals) and CNSSI No. 4013 (System Administrators). Students who complete the concentration may also request a graduate certificate.
A graduate with a Ph.D. in Information Systems will have the ability to: (1) Acquire advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of the field of information systems; (2) Communicate professionally and ethically about information systems research issues; (3) Identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly literature related to information systems; and (4) Generate new knowledge through research/scholarship and disseminate that knowledge to others by demonstrating the necessary technical and intellectual skills to produce a written document that makes an original contribution to the field of information systems.
This program is designed for the student with a master’s degree in information systems, information science, computer science, information technology, or a related area. The applicant should satisfy graduate prerequisites or have equivalent experience in information systems, programming languages, database systems, systems analysis and design, and telecommunications and computer networks. Alternatively, GSCIS master’s students in information systems or information technology may apply for early admission into the Ph.D. program.
The Curriculum
The program requires 64 credit hours, of which 40 are for courses and 24 are for the dissertation. Courses and dissertation registrations are as follows:
Core Courses (four credits each) (Select eight of these.)
DISS 700 Research Methodology
DISS 710 Decision Support Systems
DISS 720 Human-Computer Interaction
DISS 725 The System Development Process
DISS 735 Knowledge Management
DISS 740 Telecommunications and Computer Networks
DISS 745 Electronic Commerce
DISS 750 Database Systems
DISS 755 Information Security Management
DISS 765 Managing Risk in Secure Systems
DISS 770 Information Policy
DISS 775 Privacy
DISS 791 Client-Server Computing
DISS 792 Enterprise Architecture Infrastructures Planning and Management
DISS 799 Special Topics in Information Systems (offered on various subjects)
Research Project Courses (four credits each) (Select two of these. Must be taken concurrent with, or following completion of, the corresponding core course.)
DISS 800 Project in Research Methodology
DISS 810 Research Project in Decision Support Systems
DISS 820 Research Project in Human-Computer Interaction
DISS 825 Research Project in the System Development Process
DISS 835 Research Project in Knowledge Management
DISS 840 Research Project in Telecommunications and Computer Networks
DISS 845 Research Project in Electronic Commerce
DISS 850 Research Project in Database Systems
DISS 855 Research Project in Information Security Management
DISS 865 Research Project in Managing Risk in Secure Systems
DISS 870 Research Project in Information Policy
DISS 875 Research Project in Privacy
DISS 891 Research Project in Client-Server Computing
DISS 892 Research Project in Enterprise Architecture Infrastructures Planning and Management
DISS 899 Research Project in Special Topics in Information Systems
Dissertation Registrations
DISS 910 Dissertation I (12 credits)
DISS 915 Dissertation II (12 credits)
DISS 920 Continuing Dissertation (6 credits)
Curriculum for the Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Science
The Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Science focuses on information aspects of information systems including access to and management of information. It requires 64 credit hours of which 40 are for courses and 24 are for the dissertation. The dissertation must be in an area closely related to information science. Courses and dissertation registrations are listed below:
Required Core Courses (four credits each)
DISS 735 Knowledge Management
DISS 750 Database Systems
DISS 755 Information Security Management
DISS 770 Information Policy
Elective Core Courses (four credits each)
Any four additional DISS 700-level courses.
Research Project Courses (four credits each) (Select two of these. Must be taken concurrent with, or following completion of, the corresponding core course.)
DISS 835 Research Project in Knowledge Management
DISS 850 Research Project in Database Systems
DISS 855 Research Project in Information Security Management
DISS 870 Research Project in Information Policy
Dissertation Registrations
DISS 910 Dissertation I (12 credits)
DISS 915 Dissertation II (12 credits)
DISS 920 Continuing Dissertation (6 credits)
Curriculum for the Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Security
The Ph.D. in Information Systems with Concentration in Information Security was developed to address the rapidly growing global problems of maintaining and securing computer information. The program requires 64 credit hours, of which 40 are for courses and 24 are for the dissertation. The dissertation must be in an area closely related to information security. Courses and dissertation registrations are as follows:
Required Core Courses (four credits each)
DISS 725 The System Development Process
DISS 750 Database Systems
DISS 755 Information Security Management
DISS 765 Managing Risk in Secure Systems
DISS 775 Privacy
DISS 791 Client-Server Computing
Elective Core Courses (four credits each) (select two of these)
DISS 700 Research Methodology
DISS 710 Decision Support Systems
DISS 720 Human-Computer Interaction
DISS 740 Telecommunications and Computer Networks
DISS 745 Electronic Commerce
DISS 770 Information Policy
DISS 792 Enterprise Architecture Infrastructures Planning and Management
DISS 799 Special Topics in Information Systems (offered on various subjects)
Research Project Courses (four credits each) (Select two of these. Must be taken concurrent with, or following completion of, the corresponding core course.)
DISS 855 Research Project in Information Security Management
DISS 865 Research Project in Managing Risk in Secure Systems
DISS 875 Research Project in Privacy
Dissertation Registrations
DISS 910 Dissertation I (12 credits)
DISS 915 Dissertation II (12 credits)
DISS 920 Continuing Dissertation (6 credits)
Orientation and Academic Advising
New Ph.D. students must attend an orientation day on the main campus in Fort Lauderdale at their first cluster or institute meeting. The orientation includes introductions to the program office staff, computer requirements, online access, software tools that enhance the educational process, library services, financial aid, and academic integrity. The school’s website provides an extensive online “help” system including downloadable software and documents. Students are offered dissertation counseling throughout the program. Advisement is provided by the program office and the faculty.
Program Formats and Term Dates
Terms for the Ph.D. program are five months long. The student enters candidacy upon completion of course requirements with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. Immediately following candidacy, the student registers for the dissertation at 12 credits per term for two terms. Students who have not completed the dissertation after registrations for Dissertation I and Dissertation II must register for Continuing Dissertation until they have satisfied the dissertation requirement. Students are strongly encouraged to register for each term following the one in which they enter candidacy until the dissertation has been completed. Doctoral residence is defined as continuous enrollment for two consecutive terms at a minimum 12 credit hours per term.
Students may select one of two formats: cluster or institute, with the exception of computer information systems and computer science which are offered in cluster format only. Cluster students, while taking courses, attend four cluster meetings per year, held quarterly over an extended weekend (Friday, Saturday, and half-day Sunday) at the university. Cluster terms start in March and September. Cluster weekends are held in March, June, September, and December. Institute students, while taking courses, attend a weeklong institute twice a year at the university. Institutes are held in January and July at the start of each five-month term. Clusters and institutes bring together students, faculty, and staff members for participation in courses, dissertation counseling (individual and group), special lectures, and ample opportunity for student-faculty and student-student interaction. Students are required to attend all of their scheduled cluster or institute class sessions.
Between on-campus meetings, students work on core course assignments and research project courses and participate in online activities that facilitate frequent interaction with the faculty and with other students. The online component involves use of the web to access course materials, announcements, email, distance library services, subscription library databases, and for interaction with faculty and fellow students. Online, interactive learning methods are based on the use of WebCT as a course management system which includes threaded discussion boards, white boards, chat rooms, email, and multimedia presentations. In addition, WebCT enables students to submit assignments online in multimedia formats and to receive their professors’ reviews of assignments online in the same formats. Students are provided NSU computer accounts but must obtain their own Internet service providers and use their own computer systems.
Time Limitations
Students must complete requirements for the Ph.D. degree within 10 years from the date of their first registration. No extensions will be granted. Students dismissed for exceeding the time limit will have no right to apply for readmission.
Attendance Policy
Ph.D. students are required to attend all of their scheduled clusters or institutes and must attend all of their class sessions. Failure to attend may result in withdrawal from courses and suspension or dismissal from the Ph.D. program. Exceptions to this rule may be made in the case of illness and possibly in other hardship situations. Such exceptions must be approved first by the course professor and then by the program director. Absence from individual class sessions must be approved by the course professor. Students are required to advise the program office and their course professor in advance of any anticipated absences. Participation/attendance policies regarding the online components of doctoral courses will be covered in the syllabus of each course.
The Dissertation/Evaluation of Dissertation Progress
Students will be permitted to register for the dissertation after they have completed their required course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25. Both Dissertation I and Dissertation II are required. They are usually taken over two consecutive terms. The dissertation is the most important requirement for the Ph.D. Each student is expected, with the approval of a faculty advisor, to select an appropriate topic of sufficient scope to satisfy the requirements for the dissertation. Although registration for dissertation credits typically occurs at or near the end of completion of the course requirements, students are encouraged to learn about the dissertation process as early as possible and to begin talking with faculty members about potential research topics early in the program. The dissertation must be an original work and must represent a significant extrapolation from a base of solid experience or knowledge in the student’s area of concentration. Dissertation results must, in a significant way, advance knowledge, improve professional practice, or contribute to understanding in the field of study. Results must be of sufficient strength to distill from the work a paper worthy of publication in a journal or conference proceedings, or to use the work as the basis of a textbook or monograph. Although publication is not a requirement for completing the Ph.D., students are encouraged to submit their dissertation research for publication. Ph.D. students must follow the policies, procedures, and formatting requirements contained in the Dissertation Guide (www.scis.nova.edu/pdf_documents/Diss_Guide.pdf). It is recommended that students attend cluster and institute presentations on the dissertation process, research methodology, and writing for publication.
Evaluation of Dissertation Progress
Students are evaluated on a number of occasions regarding their dissertation progress. The purpose of such evaluations is to provide students with relevant and timely feedback concerning their overall performance in the dissertation process and to serve as a screening procedure. Failure to demonstrate the ability to complete a dissertation or to maintain satisfactory progress on the dissertation may result in review by the Academic Review Committee and possible probation, suspension, or dismissal from the Ph.D. program. Students are encouraged to register for each term following the one in which they enter candidacy (i.e., complete course requirements with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25). Unregistered dissertation students risk losing their advisors/committees if the stop-out has not been coordinated with their advisors. Registered but inactive dissertation students risk losing their advisors/committees. Students must demonstrate proficiency in the use of the English language in all work submitted during the dissertation process. Grammatical errors, spelling errors, and writing that does not express ideas clearly will not be tolerated and may result in the rejection of dissertation work and review by the Academic Review Committee. The faculty will not provide remedial help concerning grammatical errors or other writing problems that students might have. Students who are unable to write clearly and correctly are urged to obtain remedial help. (See the section Writing Skills and Form and Style Requirements.)
Course Descriptions
DISS 700 Research Methodology (4 credits)
This course presents an in-depth treatment of the research process from an experimental, developmental, and evaluative perspective. Techniques for planning and designing these types of research projects, as well as the methodologies for data collection, evaluation, and analysis are examined. Special emphasis is placed on the appropriate choice of methodologies for a variety of problem situations.
DISS 710 Decision Support Systems (4 credits)
Principles and techniques relating to automated support for decision making and organizational problem solving. The focus is on current research in decision support systems. Topics include decision theory, modeling and simulation, decision support system architecture, group decision support systems, knowledge-based expert systems, and intelligent systems.
DISS 720 Human-Computer Interaction (4 credits)
Issues relating to effective HCI are presented. Design elements, procedures, tools, and environments contributing to the management of successful user interfaces are examined. Other topics include current and projected developments in HCI research related to information systems.
DISS 725 The System Development Process (4 credits)
Acquire advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of system development process including theories and studies related to system life-cycle models, system development strategies, and implementation success. Review of relevant research in the area of techniques, methods, and tools for the analysis and specification of information systems. Review of studies dealing with design principles, requirements gathering, reusability, and quality assurance. Moreover, review of studies and theories relevant to verification and validation process, integration and acceptance testing, reliability measurements, system testing techniques, end-user computing, implementation effectiveness, and system value. Additionally, review of classical theories in information systems and system analysis and design.
DISS 735 Knowledge Management (4 credits)
Acquire advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of knowledge management including theories and studies related to knowledge management and knowledge management systems. Review of relevant research in the area of locating, evaluating, disseminating, and using information as well as knowledge. Review of studies and theories relevant to knowledge acquisition, information sharing, information ownership, knowledge process, knowledge integration, knowledge gathering, knowledge repositories, and knowledge reuse. Additionally, review of current research in knowledge management and knowledge management systems.
DISS 740 Telecommunications and Computer Networks (4 credits)
This course focuses on an examination of technical advances in the dynamic field of broadband communications and computer networks and their impacts on the development and implementation of enterprise network solutions. IS methodologies in facilitating network design, deployment, and management are described. Topics include DWDM, advanced Gigabit Ethernet technologies such as 10GbE, network security, cellular and mobile wireless networks, architectural frameworks such as IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem), and wireline and/or wireless computational grids. Trends in standardization and internetworking are reviewed. Capabilities of next-generation networks and innovations in enterprise broadband communications solutions are examined.
DISS 745 Electronic Commerce (4 credits)
This course examines the theories, frameworks and methodologies used to study the strategic impact of electronic commerce on systems, organizations, and markets. The goal of the course is to provide doctoral students with the necessary background knowledge to appreciate eCommerce research in the IS field and to develop academic research proposals.
DISS 750 Database Systems (4 credits)
Theory and principles of databases and their management. Selected topics in design, implementation, and applications of traditional and nontraditional database systems for various types of data management. Current issues, trends, future directions, applications, and research topics in the areas will be explored.
DISS 755 Information Security Management (4 credits)
Study of the managerial and procedural aspects of effectively securing enterprise information systems. Topics in this course will include security policies and best practices, asset classification and control, personnel security, business continuity management, regulatory compliance, operational security, and information security program lifecycles. The course will include an analysis of current practices and procedures in securing critical information infrastructures, with an emphasis placed on emerging trends and opportunities for research in the management of information security.
DISS 765 Managing Risk in Secure Systems (4 credits)
Study of the theory and practice of risk management in secure systems and networks. The course will focus on the current tools and best practices available in mitigating system vulnerabilities and the accepted methodologies for managing residual risks. Topics include operational security, risk reduction techniques, auditing of information systems, and effective long-term risk monitoring approaches. An emphasis will be placed on current issues and future directions in managing risks, and research opportunities for students in this field.
DISS 770 Information Policy (4 credits)
Information technology’s dramatic global impact on society, government, and the economy has given rise to complex legal, regulatory, and policy issues. This course explores issues ranging from the consequences of information commodification to the impact of privacy concerns, eCommerce, information ownership (patents/copyrights/trademarks), social equity, crime, free speech, telecommunications, national security, international trade, etc. All have immediate relevance to the IT workplace. While U.S. policy issues serve as the framework for the course, the U.S. experience is compared and contrasted to policy developments worldwide.
DISS 775 Privacy (4 credits)
This course will study the principles of privacy and current privacy issues regarding information systems. Privacy will be looked at as an extension of basic computer security. Discussions will cover the legal, technological, ethical and policy aspects of privacy in our modern technologically-based society. Techniques and practices used in on-line systems such as e-commerce, transaction systems, and data management will be included. Methods to address privacy concerns in the development, selection, deployment, and management of systems will be the course focus. Privacy representation languages and trust models will be discussed.
DISS 791 Client-Server Computing (4 credits)
This course provides current techniques and research that apply to enterprise-wide software design, development and implementation strategies. Focus is on the planning and management of information systems development in distributed business environments. This course applies both a pragmatic and research focus directed towards the issues involved in application integration and process management. Covered are both the technical and organizational issues related to enterprise-wide software design, development, and management. Additionally, the distributed application and system relationship is explored from an internal and external perspective.
DISS 792 Enterprise Architecture Infrastructures Planning and Management (4 credits)
Students acquire advanced knowledge and deeper understanding of enterprise architecture infrastructures planning including theories and studies related to enterprise resource planning. Review of relevant research in the area of enterprise systems, enterprise infrastructures implementation, alignment of enterprise infrastructures with business strategy, and business management processes. Review of relevant research in the area of creation, maintenance, and refinement of enterprise architecture infrastructures planning. Review of studies and theories relevant to critical success factors of enterprise systems.
DISS 799 Special Topics in Information Systems (4 credits)
Covers advanced topics in areas of current research interest in information systems. May include topics such as client-server computing, distributed database systems, advanced computer graphics, object-oriented technology, the integration of networks and operating systems, ATM-based networks (asynchronous transfer mode), computer and network security, and parallel computation. Topics will vary depending on student and faculty interest.
DISS 800 Project in Research Methodology (4 credits)
This course focuses on the application of tools and techniques appropriate to the scenario and data type collected from experimental, developmental, and evaluative studies. The logical development of decisions based on the data analysis in terms of predefined hypotheses and/or project goals and objectives will be discussed.
DISS 810 Research Project in Decision Support Systems (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in the area of decision support systems.
DISS 820 Research Project in Human-Computer Interaction (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in HCI related to information systems.
DISS 825 Research Project in the System Development Process (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in the system development process.
DISS 835 Research Project in Knowledge Management (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in the area of knowledge management.
DISS 840 Research Project in Telecommunications and Computer Networks (4 credits)
Students pursue research in the field of broadband telecommunications and computer networks. Suggested areas for investigation include wireline and/or wireless computational grids, IMS, critical infrastructure security, e-government, and wireless sensor networks.
DISS 845 Research Project in Electronic Commerce (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in electronic commerce.
DISS 850 Research Project in Database Systems (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in database systems and its closely related research, management, and application areas.
DISS 855 Research Project in Information Security Management (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in information security management. Topics of current interest include information security policies and management issues, security audits, business continuity management/disaster recovery, information security lifecycle management, and secure eCommerce.
DISS 865 Research Project in Managing Risk in Secure Systems (4 credits)
Students advance their knowledge of risk management by participating in a series of practical exercises and directed group assignments designed to allow students to demonstrate their abilities to effectively evaluate, mitigate, and manage risk in critical information systems.
DISS 870 Research Project in Information Policy (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in information policy.
DISS 875 Research Project in Privacy (4 credits)
Students advance their knowledge of privacy in systems by participating in a series of practical exercises and directed group assignments designed to demonstrate their abilities to work in privacy research.
DISS 891 Research Project in Client-Server Computing (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in client-server/distributed systems.
DISS 892 Research Project in Enterprise Architecture Infrastructures Planning and Management (4 credits)
Students pursue research on a current topic in enterprise architecture infrastructures.
DISS 899 Research Project in Special Topics in Information Systems (4 credits)
Students pursue research on special topics in information systems.
DISS 910 Dissertation I (12 credits)
The student develops a framework within which doctoral research will be conducted and offers evidence of qualifications to pursue the research. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of all course work.
DISS 915 Dissertation II (12 credits)
Concepts and theories underlying the student’s doctoral research are articulated; the problem is clearly stated; specific, measurable goals are specified; a thorough literature review is presented; the methods of conducting the research are delineated; and a strategy to achieve the goal is given. Prerequisite: Dissertation I.
DISS 920 Continuing Dissertation (6 credits)
Students who have not completed the dissertation by the end of Dissertation II must register for Continuing Dissertation each term in order to receive faculty and administrative advice and support related to the dissertation. Prerequisite: Dissertation II.
