For more information, please click on a subject below:
Submitting Your Application
Program Requirements
Program Costs/Financial Aid
Curriculum/Program Structure
Transfer Credit/Non-Degree Students
What is the early admissions deadline?
The early admissions and international applicant deadline is January 15, 2008. If you have a competitive application and would like a decision before the deadline in March, you may submit all application materials for early admissions. Students accepted during the early admissions period will be notified in February.
When will I know the decision on my application?
Decisions will be made shortly after the March 3, 2008 deadline. We will be accepting early applications and you will receive a notice if any part of the application is incomplete. You will be notified of the admission decision directly by the Graduate College.
How many students are typically admitted?
The MSIM evening program started in the summer of 2005 with 36 students. In the summer of 2006, we admitted 60 students into the program. The 60 students were broken up into two cohorts of 30 each. In the summer of 2007, we admitted 70 students. We know that there is a very high level of interest in the program from throughout the region and we again expect the admissions process to be competitive for the summer 2008 admissions. We intend to attract a large enough class of quality students to ensure a productive cohort environment, but not so large as to dilute the value of what is being taught in small classes by our world-class faculty.
If I am not admitted, can I be reviewed for the next application year?
If your application does not result in admission and you wish to be considered for a subsequent year, you must submit an entirely new admissions application.
Must all materials be received for my application to be considered or may I turn in supporting documents at a later date?
ALL application materials must be submitted before we will consider your application, so early completion of these requirements is strongly encouraged.
Do I have to turn in all application materials together at one time?
Yes, after filing your online application with the Graduate College, it is suggested that all remaining materials are submitted together in one application package. We recommend not waiting until the deadline and suggest mailing all materials no later than February 15th to allow the Graduate College time to process and forward your materials.
Can I fax application materials?
No, only original application materials are acceptable.
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Can I apply online?
Actually, you must submit your application for admission via the web at http://www.asu.edu/graduate/admissions, no paper applications are available. Please be sure to also submit the candidate-managed portion of your application directly to the Graduate College
How much does it cost to apply?
The application fee is currently $65 for domestic students and $80 for international applicants.
Can I get a waiver of the application fee?
ASU cannot waive, defer, or refund the fee.
Can I apply to more than one program at the same time?
Yes, you must submit a separate complete application packet for each program. The application fee applies for each separate application.
Whom should I ask to write the letters of recommendation?
Current or former employers or instructors may send letters of recommendation.
Is there a separate form for the letter of recommendation?
No, there is no specific form for the letter of recommendation. The format is open.
Do letters of recommendation have to be in sealed envelopes?
Yes, letters of recommendation need to be in a sealed envelope and included in your candidate managed application packet.
Is an interview required as part of the application?
No, an interview is not required. However, should you wish to meet with a member of the faculty or staff to discuss the program, then we will try to accommodate this request. Meetings will be more for your benefit in learning about the program than to assist us in the decision making process.
Is there a different application deadline for international applicants?
Yes, the deadline for international applicants is January 15.
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What are the most important factors in admission?
The MSIM Admissions Committee evaluates undergraduate education, transcripts, letters of recommendation, work experience and answers to three essay questions. The committee will review each individual application and examine all parts equally. There is no emphasis placed on any one part of the application.
Will my application be considered if I do not have an undergraduate information systems or business degree?
You may still be admitted to the program even if your undergraduate degree is not in information systems or business. However, we do expect to see appropriate professional expertise if you hold a non-business bachelor's degree.
Is work experience a requirement of the program?
Yes, we require a minimum of 2 (two) years full-time work experience.
Is the GMAT/GRE required to apply to the MSIM program?
GMAT/GRE scores are NOT REQUIRED for the class entering in Summer 2008. You may submit scores if you wish, as doing so will only help your application.
What is considered a competitive grade point average?
Generally, an applicant must have a GPA of 3.0 (scale is 4.00=A) or the equivalent in the last two years of coursework leading to the bachelor's degree.
What are the prerequisites for the MSIM program?
Completed prerequisite college-level courses or equivalent experience must be met in the following areas:
- 1 course in statistical analysis
- At ASU – QBA 221 and 222 will be accepted. Applicants wishing to complete the requirements at Maricopa Community Colleges concurrent with applying to the MSIM program should contact the department to confirm their direct course equivalent. (i.e. GBS 221 at Rio Salado).
- 1 course in brief calculus
- At ASU – MAT 210 will be accepted. All Maricopa Community Colleges have a directly equivalent brief calculus course.
- 1 course or equivalent experience in any programming language
- i.e. JAVA, Visual Basic, C++, C#.
Do I have to complete the prerequisite courses before starting the MSIM program?
Yes, all courses must be completed prior to beginning the MSIM program. You will be required to submit grades for all prerequisite courses before classes begin.
What are the requirements for prerequisites?
Prerequisites may be completed at any accredited institution (community college or university). Courses must be taken for a grade (no audit or pass/fail) and completed with a grade of ‘C’ or higher.
In addition to the prerequisites, is there other course work I should take to prepare for the program?
No other courses are required. However, if you are concerned about your technical skills, additional programming courses, especially JAVA, could prove helpful.
How do I find out if my previous course work fulfills the prerequisites?
You may contact the MSIM Graduate Program Manager.
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How much is tuition?
The total cost of the one-year program is:
Arizona Residents - $23,288*
Non-residents - $36,378*
*Subject to change. Based on tuition and fees for the 2007-2008 academic year.
The total cost of the program includes all applicable fees, including textbooks, parking, class registration, graduation fees and more.
Why do W. P. Carey School of Business master's students pay a higher rate of tuition?
On April 24, 1997, the Arizona Board of Regents approved a differential fee for professional master's degrees in the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University Tempe campus. The fee is used to offset the higher cost of maintaining state-of-the-art, high-quality graduate programs in a top-ranked school of business, and contributes to:
- improving classroom technology;
- increasing scholarship support;
- expanding faculty development;
- expanding facilities for team-based learning;
- updating course content and pedagogical technology;
- increasing student and faculty access to current business information;
- increasing the amount of financial aid available;
- augmenting the faculty in key disciplines; and
- increasing support for marketing initiatives.
Do you have assistantships/scholarships/fellowships?
No, due to the nature of the program we currently do not offer any. For assistance with funding questions, please visit www.asu.edu/fa. Many employers will provide financial support to staff who pursue a graduate degree. We encourage you to discuss what financial assistance might be available from your current employer.
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How long is the program?
Students complete the program in one calendar year beginning in Summer and ending in May. The program includes ten 3-credit hour courses for a total of 30 credit hours.
Can I complete the degree over more than one year?
No, the lock-step program must be completed in the intended 12 month period.
Can I enter the program in the spring or fall semester?
No, the MSIM is a lock-step program with entry in Summer only.
When are courses offered?
MSIM courses will be offered two evenings per week during each trimester. There will be a capstone project that will run from sometime during first trimester until the end of the program in May. There will also be a non-trimester intensive course that will take place during the winter intersession.
Are graduate courses offered in the summer?
We will require all admitted students to complete two 3-credit hour courses over the summer session. Classes meet two nights per week from 6-10PM.
What is the schedule for the year?
Classes start June 2, 2008. Each trimester is 10 weeks long with at least a one week break in between trimesters. There are four trimesters. Please see the sample schedule page for more details.
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Can I transfer credit hours from another institution to the MSIM degree?
Due to the lockstep nature of the MSIM program, we do not allow any transfer credits.
Can I take MSIM graduate courses before being admitted to the degree program?
No, we do not allow non-degree enrollment in MSIM courses. You must be formally accepted to the degree program to be able to enroll in any courses.
