Center of Information Systems & Technology
Student Handbook
Revised 8/13
Student Handbook Page | 2
Table of Contents
I.
Welcome Message From Dr. Thomas Horan (p. 5)
II.
CGU Map & Student Services Information (p. 6-7)
III.
CISAT Faculty (p. 8-11)
IV.
Research Labs (p. 12-13)
V.
Academic Calendar (p. 14-15)
VI.
Course Schedule (p. 16)
VII.
Master’s Degree
Program Outline (Required Coursework) (p. 18)
Graduation Procedures (p. 19)
VIII.
Doctorate Degree
Program Outline (Required Coursework) (p. 20-21)
Graduation Procedures (p. 22)
Other Requirements for the PhD (p.23)
IX.
Academic Specializations (p. 24)
X.
Policies & Procedures (p. 25-27)
XI.
CISAT Contact List (p. 27)
XII.
Appendix A: Financial Aid Forms (p. 28-30)
XIII.
Appendix B: Course Waiver Form (p. 31)
Student Handbook Page | 3
Student Handbook Page | 4
Dr. Thomas A. Horan welcomes you to the Center of Information
Systems & Technology (CISAT)!
Welcome to the tree-lined campus of CGU!
We strongly believe you have made a great decision to come to our
center to pursue your graduate degree. We are one of the longest
running information systems and technology programs in the US and
our teaching and research continues to place us at the cutting-edge of
the field.
I know I speak for all our faculty in expressing our excitmeent to be a
part of your professional growth. This handbook should help guide you through the “nuts and
bolts” of achieving this growth.
Our Program Coordinator Anondah Saide is your immediate point of contact should you have
any questions about the program. Our faculty are also an important resource for you ,
beginning with your academic advisor.
Good luck on your journey and see you around!
Alumna: Aisha Noamani
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33
35
32
34
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Student Services Information:
Map #
Service
3
Office of Career Management: (909) 621-8177 ▪ www.cgu.edu/ocm
Go here for one-on-one assistance with job/internship search, cover letter & resume writing,
networking tips, & more.
9
Writing Center: (909) 607-0012 ▪ www.cgu.edu/writingcenter
Go here for one-on-one assistance with writing a course paper, article for publication, and/ or your
dissertation. Sign-up for writing and/or dissertation workshops, & more.
20
Registrar’s Office: (909) 621-8285 ▪ www.cgu.edu/registrar
Go here to request transcripts, extend time to degree, file your intent to graduate, & more.
Admissions Office: (909) 621-8069 ▪ www.cgu.edu/admissions
Go here to turn in any final documents (e.g., transcripts) for your application.
Financial Aid Office: (909) 621-8337 ▪ www.cgu.edu/financialaid
Go here for information on loans, federal aid, work-study, & more.
International Student Services: (909)607-0434 ▪ www.cgu.edu/international
Go here for help with visa/immigration paperwork & student health insurance. Int’l students must
check their email for important updates sent from the Int’l Student Services Office!
Student Accounts: (909) 607-2613 ▪ www.cgu.edu/studentaccounts
Go here to pay tuition, learn about employer reimbursement, & set-up a payment plan.
32
Honnold/Mudd Library: (909) 621-8150 ▪ http://libraries.claremont.edu
Go to the library to check out books, meet with a librarian for help, grab some food at the café, use
the post office, pick-up your student ID, have a poster made for a conference, buy tickets & more.
33
Huntley Bookstore: (909) 607-1502
Go to the bookstore for CGU memorabilia, school supplies, textbooks, software/hardware products,
your regalia for graduation, & more.
34
Student Health Center: (909) 621-8222 ▪ www.cuc.claremont.edu/shs
Go here for a flu shot, STD testing, medical checkup, prescriptions, x-ray/lab services, & more.
Counseling/Psychological Services: (909) 621-8202 ▪ http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/monsour/
Go here for individual counseling, consultation and referrals, crisis intervention, & more.
35
Campus Safety: (909) 621-8170 ▪ http://www.cuc.claremont.edu/campussafety/
Go here to report a crime or suspicious activity, ask for a safety escort, or obtain a parking permit.
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Faculty Information:
Samir Chatterjee - Professor
PhD, University of Central Florida
As an engineer by training, I like to design and build things. While completing
my graduate education in computer science, I became interested in designing
software artifacts that could solve real human problems. Since joining CGU
CISAT in 2001, my main research focus has been in the design, implementation
and testing of networking protocols and telecommunication software. CGU has provided me the benefit
of drawing upon the expertise of several colleagues and their disciplines and hence today, the research
projects my students and I are involved in are highly inter-disciplinary.
In 2002, I founded the Network Convergence Laboratory (NCL). Our work integrates various aspects of
social science, evaluation methods and technology building. For example, one of the projects we are
launching is focused on designing interactive mobile software applications to persuade positive human
behavior change. We are particularly targeting chronic illnesses such as obesity and diabetes as these
ailments are largely made worse due to poor eating and exercise habits. This requires expertise in
behavior change theories, context-aware server design and wireless networking.
The students in our program bring valuable industry experience, maturity and diligence to the research
projects they are involved in. Though many of our students are full-time professionals attending parttime, the experience and insights they bring to the classroom and research are quite valuable. CGU's
small scale, family-like environment and collegial surrounding makes it an excellent place to work and
do research. In addition, I think the fact that we are all striving hard to make this world a better place
through research truly sets our school apart from other technology based programs.
Thomas A. Horan - Director, Professor
PhD, Claremont Graduate University
I have been associated with the Claremont Graduate University for over two
decades - now that's commitment! I came here in the early 1980's as a
graduate student, went back to the East Coast for a while, and then happily
came back as a faculty member some 12 years ago.
What first attracted me to come to CGU is what still motivates me today. Namely, I have found no other
place where graduate-level research and teaching can occur in such an intimate and transdisciplinary
manner. The supportive environment of CISAT has allowed me to excel in research, and now direct two
research institutes. It has also allowed me to work closely with students in discovering key aspects of
e-health and e-governmental systems.
My classes are always quite dynamic, featuring field research, student-led case studies as well as
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presentations and critiques of leading theories and practices in information systems. I find both the
research and learning here to be fast-paced, innovative, and stimulating. Most of all, I appreciate the
collaborative culture of the center as such an environment fosters bold thinking about contributions
that information systems can make to organizations and society.
Gondy Leroy- Associate Professor (on Sabbatical 2013-2014 year)
PhD, University of Arizona
I began my education with experimental, cognitive psychology (a Bachelor's
and Master's degree) but then switched to information technology (Master's
and PhD degree) because of the many exciting academic and professional
opportunities this field offers. I especially enjoy the opportunity to study as
well as affect people's interaction with information technology.
When I joined CGU in 2003, I founded the Intelligent Systems Lab (http://isl.cgu.edu) where we design,
develop and evaluate algorithms and systems. All our projects have a positive, societal focus and our
goal is to improve people's lives either directly or indirectly. For example, we work on algorithms for
web sites that can help people better understand online health information, which is often too difficult
for people without medical knowledge to understand. We also develop software to help autistic children
communicate better and we are working on a website that will help detectives interview witnesses of
crimes.
The Center for Information Systems and Technology is a research intensive school and I encourage
students I work with to get involved in research as soon as possible. My students work on projects in
teams. I have them publish as first author in journals and at conferences, e.g., AMIA, HICSS, DGO, and
several IEEE conferences among others. Being a research assistant in the Intelligent Systems Lab means
that you are involved in research from the start, not grading exams or homework. This early research
involvement translates into more publications and prepares you for an outstanding career after you
graduate.
CGU CISAT will provide you with excellent opportunities to do serious research with a positive impact on
society.
Lorne Olfman - Professor
PhD, Indiana University
I have been on faculty at CGU/CISAT for 21 years, and for me the best single
aspect of this university and program is the students because they have
carefully chosen this program, and they are motivated to learn.
It is likely that you will choose us because you like our small class sizes and our caring attitude. I utilize
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these strengths in designing classes that are student-centered. This is reflected in a statement I write in
each syllabus: "The approach we will use for this course takes the view that the instructor and students
work in a collaborative effort that recognizes the uniqueness of each person. As such, we are all coproducers in learning." I am certain you will find my discovery learning approach to be challenging and
rewarding.
I use innovative approaches to teaching and apply technology to facilitate and manage my classes. This
fits closely with my research agenda, which features the use of design and action research to enhance
social technologies such as e-portfolios, collaboration tools, and knowledge management systems.
Along with Professor Ryan, I welcome you to join the Social Learning Software Lab (SL2), if it is your
interest. The lab features many faculty- as well as student-driven research projects. You will be part of
regular meetings in which we discuss our research projects and ideas, share literature reviews, and
make practice presentations for conference papers and dissertation orals. We also have ongoing
meetings among research sub-groups such as the one that is currently designing more effective eportfolio systems.
Terry Ryan - Professor
PhD, Indiana University
When I left the corporate world long ago to become an IS&T researcher, I hoped
to become part of a community of scholars and do worthwhile research. Since
I've been at CISAT, I've been able to realize both those hopes. I have found
exceptional colleagues and students here, a small community of researchers who
are well-connected to various world-wide communities of information systems and technology scholars.
Whether I've been studying software development or social learning support, I've found others here at
CISAT to work with.
My research and teaching has long been concerned with how people communicate about and with
information technology. Lorne Olfman and I have been running the Social Learning Software Lab (SL2)
for several years now, working with students and visiting researchers on the design and implementation
of tools to promote social learning in all its forms. In addition, I've been privileged to work with current
and former students, colleagues, and visitors on other projects that have kept me excited about arriving
every day for work.
CISAT is a great place to be an IS&T researcher and student. It's part of an excellent small university, in a
beautiful and comfortable town, next to one of the coolest cities in the world. Students here study some
of the hottest topics in IS&T, including Health Informatics and GIS. Researchers here pursue some of the
most important IS&T research questions being tackled anywhere. In all, I have a hard time imagining any
place I'd rather be. If you are interested in a really high-quality education that's informed by great
research, you're looking at the right place.
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Tamir Bechor – Clinical Assistant Professor
PhD, Tel Aviv University, Israel
During my 30 years of managerial and professional experience in the
Information Technology (IT) field, I have become more and more aware of the
importance that leaders and managers across different professions will gain
knowledge of the blueprint for IT success and prepare themselves for delivering
value through effective IT investments.
My teaching interests, based on a combination of professional and academic perspectives, focus on the
competencies and practices needed to unlock and strengthen managers' abilities to deliver desired
business results through the use of Information Technology.
Creating a learning environment which will enable students to explore for themselves new ideas and
extra knowledge in the field of IT, is what I strive for. My overall objective is to provide the student with
the unique capabilities and essentials needed to take on the challenges of current and future positions. I
endeavor to keep the students' knowledge fresh and their attitudes positive, by creating a supportive,
proactive and innovative learning climate.
I’m very excited for the opportunity to share my knowledge at CISAT and across several CGU schools, by
promoting integrative and interdisciplinary dialogue among students and faculty, on the most relevant
behavioral and managerial issues that the IT field raises.
Hilton, Brian – Clinical Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University
I’ve always been interested in building – whether as a young boy building model
airplanes or as an adult during my original career in the construction industry. I enjoy
the process of creating practical artifacts. However, I began to realize that what
seemed rather easy and intuitive to me – building systems, whether actual physical
systems or information technology systems – was not necessarily easy or intuitive for
most people. This realization has informed my research and development and teaching goals.
On the research and development side, I’ve been involved in many projects over the past decade. Many,
but not all, of these projects have involved the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies
– my main research focus area. Specifically, I’m interested in spatial information system development
and the use of emerging technologies in information system development.
On the teaching side, I developed and implemented the GIS Solution Development specialization within
the MSIST degree at CISAT. This specialization is designed to meet the educational needs of people who
want careers developing transformative GIS solutions for organizations. The specialization is technical in
its focus and is designed to develop the knowledge and skills needed to create these applications.
Recently, we initiated the Advanced GIS Lab at CISAT. The Lab draws on the strengths of our existing
efforts in GIS. It is my expectation and hope that the Lab will spark the same interest in building artifacts
that I have in others and will help to support their educational journey.
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Research Labs:
Intelligent Systems Lab (ISL), Dr. Gondy Leroy – Director
(http://isl.cgu.edu)
The goal of ISL is to develop and evaluate information systems that are user-friendly, dynamic, and learn
from and for the user. Our intellectual goal is to find out what these systems require and why. We
envision a world where computer and information systems partner with their human users. The two
parties will communicate, anticipate each other's needs and wishes, and act accordingly. To this end, we
work on different algorithms that deal with language, knowledge, computation, and visualization. Our
research efforts, funded by NSF, NIH and Microsoft, are interdisciplinary as we frequently collaborate
with different sciences and interest groups in order to maximize positive outcomes.
Kay Center for E-Health Research Dr. Thomas Horan – Director
(http://kaycenter.cgu.edu)
The Kay Center for E-Health Research was established in 2006 with a $1 million grant from the Kay
Foundation. The Kay Center has quickly become one of our most active and publicized research labs. Kay
Center research projects are designed to advance scientific understanding and public policy
improvements relative to how new electronic health systems can be used to promote industry efficiency
and societal welfare. The Kay Center will provide you with an excellent opportunity to conduct research
in several areas related to e-health as well as establish valuable industry contacts through collaboration
with outside organizations.
Network Convergence Lab (NCL) Dr. Samir Chatterjee - Director
(networkconvergencelab.com)
The Network Convergence Lab (NCL) is a close-knit family of learners (graduate students, researchers,
faculty and staff) who continue to advance the fields of converged networks, Internet technologies and
information security. The lab was established in 2002 by a research grant from the National Science
Foundation and the central theme of our work deals with the design, development and deployment of
advanced software systems. The lab plays a leading role in Internet2, videoconferencing over IP (VOIP)
activities, and members regularly participate in various industry events.
Social Learning Software Lab ([SL]2) Dr. Terry Ryan & Dr. Lorne Olfman - Co-Directors
(wfs.cgu.edu/zhangx/SL2)
The mission of [SL]2 is to learn more about how social software can promote learning and collaborative
research in a virtual environment. Our researchers design, build, and test tools that let groups of
learners express their individual views and questions, respond to the ideas of others, collaborate on
shared learning goals, and otherwise interact in ways that promote learning. In [SL]2 we learn about
social software by creating it and studying how learners use it.
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Advanced Geographic Information Systems Lab (A-GIS) Dr. Brian Hilton-Director
(http://gis.cgu.edu)
The Advanced GIS (A-GIS) Lab focuses on advanced spatial analysis and the research and development of
advanced GIS solutions. The A-GIS lab stresses transdisciplinary scholarship as an approach to
knowledge, research, and problem-solving that takes the core ideas, methods, concepts, and history of
several disciplines and uses them to study a broad range of problems. The A-GIS Lab conducts a broad
range of GIS-related research that has increased our understanding of transportation, public health,
humanitarian, ecosystem, and education issues. These advances have identified gaps in knowledge and
highlighted the need for new analysis and solutions. These solutions are being developed in partnership
with ESRI, as part of a multi-year collaborative agreement with includes being an officially designated
development center (EDC).
Research Assistantships:
* If you are interested in a Research Assistantship for any of the labs above, please contact the
director of the lab directly for more information on current openings.
Alumna: Natalie Guzman
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Academic Calendar/Important Dates:
rd
Tuition Due: September 3
Double check late payment
fees with the Office of
Student Accounts.
st
Tuition Due: January 21
Double check late payment
fees with the Office of
Student Accounts.
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Course Schedule:
(Fall 2013)
Student Handbook Page | 16
Notes:
Important: Most forms in this handbook have also
been made into Interactive PDFs & most are
available online. If you cannot find them online
(is.cgu.edu), email sisat.help@cgu.edu for an e-copy,
or come by the main office to pick up a hardcopy.
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CENTER FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY
MSIS ACADEMIC PLANNING SHEET
Student Name:__________________________________
COURSE
IST 300
IST 301
IST 302
IST 303
IST 304
IST 305
IST 306
TITLE
Advisor:____________________________________________
ID Number: 254_________________________
COMPETENCY COURSES (8 units)
WAIVED OR
SEMESTER
UNITS
TRANSFERRED
NOTES
TAKEN
Programming
Organizations and IS&T
4
4
300-LEVEL CORE COURSES (16 units)
Database Concepts
4
PR: IST 300, IST 302
Software Development
4
PR: IST 300, IST 302
Communications and Networking
4
PR: IST 301
Management of IS&T
4
CAPSTONE COURSE (4 units)
PR: IST 302, IST 303, IST 304, IST 305
Delivering Business Value through IS&T Leadership
4
SPECIALIZATION/CONCENTRATION COURSES (12 units)
Students may specialize in GIS Solution Development, Cyber Security & Crisis Management, Social Technologies, Health Informatics, or a create a Self-Designed Concentration
IST
IST
IST
PRACTICUM COURSE (4 units)
COURSE
TITLE
TERM TAKEN
NOTES
FORM CHECKLIST
Submission Date
Final Approval Form. Certification of Review Committee and Departmental Approval
Intent to Receive a Degree
Transfer Credit:
CGU Units:
Outside Units:
Total Units Accepted:
Plan Revised _____________
Form Revised 8/2013
Student Handbook Page | 18
Master’s Graduation Procedures:
When you are ready to graduate, there are several things you must do during your last semester. Below
is a sample graduation checklist:
DEADLINES FOR DEGREE COMPLETION
FALL 2013
SPRING 2014
SUMMER 2014
Registration deadline for semester
Aug 2
Dec 13
May 20
File your Intent form
Oct 2
Feb 21
Jun 20
Dec 16
Apr 21
Aug 5
Complete your degree requirements
Step 1: Meet with the CISAT Program Coordinator at least one semester before you intend to graduate
to discuss your degree progress. If you are on track to finish all the requirements for your degree, move
to step 2. In addition, make sure you have registered for courses during your last semester.
Step 2: Turn in an “Intent to Graduate” form to the registrar’s office by the designated deadline. You can
find the most up-to-date deadlines and a copy of the Intent Form on the Registrar’s Office Website at:
http://www.cgu.edu/registrar
Step 3: Meet with the Program Coordinator to sign your “Final Master’s Approval” form.
Step 4: Make sure to order your regalia from the bookstore and RSVP for the CISAT Graduation
Reception.
Notes:
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
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CENTER FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY
PhD ACADEMIC PLANNING SHEET
Student Name:__________________________________
COURSE
Screening Exam
IST 300
IST 301
IST 302
IST 303
IST 304
IST 305
IST 306
TITLE
Programming
Organizations and IS&T
Quantitative Methods
Advisor:____________________________________________
UNITS
WAIVED/ TRANSFERRED
ID Number: 254_________________________
SEMESTER TAKEN
COMPETENCY COURSES (n/a units)
4
4
4
300-LEVEL CORE COURSES (20 units)
Database Concepts
4
Software Development
4
Communications and Networking
4
Management of IS&T
4
Delivering Business Value through IS&T Leadership
4
NOTES
Do not count towards 76 units for degree
PR: IST 300
PR: IST 302
500-LEVEL RESEARCH CORE COURSES (20 UNITS)
IST 500
IST 501
IST 502
IST 503
IST 504
IST 505
IST 506
Introduction to IS&T Research
Research Methods for IS&T
IS&T Doctoral Research
Qualitative Research
Advanced Quantitative Research
Design Research
Action Research
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Required
Required
Required
Choose two of these
four
PR: PhD Students Only
PR: IST 500
PR: IST 500
PR: Statistics
SPECIALIZATION/CONCENTRATION COURSES (16 units)
Students may specialize in GIS Solution Development, Cyber Security & Crisis Management, Social Technologies, Health Informatics, OR draft a Self-Designed Concentration
IST
IST
IST
IST
NON-IST and TRANSDISCIPLINARY COURSES (20 units)
Each Ph.D. student at CGU is required to complete one T-Course. IS&T students are required to take four (4) additional non-IS&T or T-courses from any discipline
TNDY
4
n/a
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SCREENING EXAM
Students must pass this exam in order to advance to candidacy and before enrollment in doctoral study (IST 499). The exam covers the 300-Level core courses. Students must have a 3.5
GPA to sit for the exam and can only take the exam two times.
Term Taken
Attempt #
Dates of the Exam
Passed/Failed
DOCTORAL QUALIFYING PORTFOLIO
Portfolio requirements must be completed in order for students to graduate
Requirement
Fulfillment Type
Date of Completion
1. Refereed paper published in the proceedings of a conference (e.g., AIS, ACM, IEEE,
IFIP, IRMA, and Spring LNCS). *
2. Refereed journal article that has been reviewed for publication with at least a “revise
and resubmit” decision. *
3. One grant proposal, consulting engagement, or related practice. Doctoral students are
eligible to apply for CGU grants as well as fellowships from federal sources (e.g., NIH,
NSF, etc.)
4. Post-secondary teaching or mentoring (e.g., Preparing Future Faculty Program,
Formal Mentoring, taught 10 or more post-secondary courses)
5. Serve as a peer reviewer. (A minimum of 3 times for a conference paper or journal
manuscript.)
* If the paper has multiple student authors, only one student per paper can use it for their portfolio requirement.
Approved By
DISSERTATION
Dissertation Title:
Committee Members:
1.
2.
3.
4. Optional:
Date of Defense:
FORM CHECKLIST
Submission Date
Screening Exam Petition
Advancement to Candidacy and Declaration of Review Committee
Final Approval Form. Certification of Review Committee and Departmental Approval
Intent to Receive a Degree
Transfer Credit:
CGU Units:
Outside Units:
Total Units Accepted:
Plan Revised _____________
Form Revised 8/2013
Student Handbook Page | 21
PhD Graduation Procedures:
When you are ready to graduate, there are several things you must address. Below is the graduation
checklist and a sample of graduation deadlines.
DEADLINES FOR DEGREE COMPLETION
FALL 2013
SPRING 2014
SUMMER 2014
Registration deadline for semester
Aug 2
Dec 13
May 20
File your Intent form
Oct 2
Feb 21
Jun 20
Complete your degree requirements
Completing certificate requirements:
Dec 16
Apr 21
Aug 5
Schedule dissertation defense
Defend your dissertation
Submit your dissertation
Nov 22
Dec 2
Dec 16
Mar 24
Apr 4
Apr 21
Jul 12
Jul 19
Aug 5
Review this Graduation Checklist at least 1-Year Before You Intend to Graduate!
 Meet with the Program Coordinator to discuss your degree progress. If you are on track to finish all
the requirements for your degree (i.e. you have met all the checklist items below) move to the next
bullet point.
Checklist:
□ Completed all required coursework
□ Turned in “Advancement to Candidacy & Declaration of Review Committee” Form
□ Completed all portfolio requirements (make sure to meet with your faculty advisor about
this)
□ Passed screening exam
 Turn in an “Intent to Graduate” form to the registrar’s office by the deadline AND schedule a
dissertation defense. You can find the most up-to-date deadlines and a copy of the Intent Form on
the Registrar’s Office Website at: http://www.cgu.edu/registrar
 Defend your dissertation and make any changes requested by the committee
 Submit your dissertation to the registrar’s office. Instructions found here:
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/8769.asp
 Make sure to order your regalia from the bookstore and RSVP for the CISAT Graduation Reception.
Student Handbook Page | 22
Other Requirements for PhD:
A. Screening Exam: Previous Screening Exam questions can be found on the CISAT website. All
doctoral students are required to take the screening exam. If a student does not pass the exam the first
time, they have one more attempt to do so. Material from the following courses will be on the exam:
(1) IST 302: Database Concepts, (2) IST 303: Software Development, (3) IST 304: Communications &
Networking, (4) IST 305: Management of IS&T, and (5) IST 306: Delivering Business Value Through IS&T
Leadership.
Petitions to take the exam will not be approved unless the student has completed (or waived) the five
courses mentioned above and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher.
SCREENING EXAM STEPS
1) After completing all of the necessary requirements, fill out the petition (can be found at
cgu.edu/pages/2213) and turn it in by email to sisat.help@cgu.edu or in-person (at CISAT Main
Office)
2) You will be notified by email approximately one month prior to the exam if your petition to take the
exam is approved.
3) A Reminder e-mail will be sent out with the schedule and rules a week before the exam.
4) The day of the exam you will meet in the lobby of the CISAT main office and an escort will take you
to and from the exam room.
B. Qualifying Portfolio: Every doctoral student must meet the qualifying portfolio requirements
prior to graduation. The requirements are covered in the “PhD Academic Planning Sheet” above.
Students are expected to work closely with their Faculty Advisor to make sure they are on track to
fulfilling the requirements in time.
C. Dissertation: It is important that students pick the committee chair for their dissertation from one
of the five core CISAT faculty members: (1) Tom Horan, (2) Lorne Olfman, (3) Gondy Leroy, (4) Samir
Chatterjee, and (5) Terry Ryan. Students work closely with their committee chair/dissertation advisor to
develop a dissertation topic and proposal.
Student Handbook Page | 23
CISAT Academic Specializations:
We offer four specialization options and an option to design your own concentration with the approval of a
faculty advisor. Each student is required to take the cornerstone course (marked by an asterisk) for their
specialization and three related courses such as those suggested below.
Concentration
Required Courses Specializations
IS 370: GIS Essential Concepts *
1
2
3
4
5
GIS Solution
Development
Cyber Security & Crisis
Management
Social Technologies
Health Informatics
Management
Self-Designed
Concentration
IS 371: Intro. To GIS Solution Development
IS 372: Adv. GIS Solution Development
IS 373: GIS Practicum
IST 335: Cryptography & Computer Security *
IST 338: Adv. Software Development Tools
IST 339: Adv. Comm. & Networking Tools
Any Approved Practicum or Elective
IST 336: Social Technologies *
IST 337: Web Design
IST 320: Knowledge Management & Social Media
Any Approved Practicum or Elective
HIM 350: Introduction to Health Informatics *
HIM 351: Project Management for Health
Informatics
HIM 352: Statistics for Health Informatics
Any Approved Practicum or Elective
Course 1: Any Approved Elective
Course 2: Any Approved Elective
Course 3: Any Approved Elective
Any Approved Elective or Practicum
Other courses offered include, but are not limited to: Health GeoInformatics, Telemedicine & Telehealth,
Global IT Security Strategy, Mobile Applications, Natural Language Processing, and Knowledge Discovery &
Data Mining.
Student Handbook Page | 24
Academic Policies & Procedures:
Check out CGU’s Bulletin for
information on CGU policies.
The Bulletin is updated every
year. http://bulletin.cgu.edu
A. Academic Advising:
The CISAT Program Coordinator is each student’s academic advisor; however, students also pick a
faculty advisor out of the five core and two clinical faculty members: (1) Dr. Tom Horan, (2) Dr.
Lorne Olfman, (3) Dr. Gondy Leroy, (4) Dr. Terry Ryan, (5) Samir Chatterjee, (6) Brian Hilton, and (7)
Tamir Bechor.
The faculty member must agree to take you on as an advisee. Students can change their faculty
advisor at any time but must notify the Program Coordinator to have it changed in their file. During
course registration, if a student hasn’t chosen an advisor OR their faculty advisor is unable to meet
with them, students may seek academic advising from the CISAT Program Coordinator regarding
course selection.
B. Registering for Courses:
Follow the steps below to register for courses through the online system. Contact the Help Desk
(helpdesk@cgu.edu or 909-621-8174) if you run into any technical issues.
Step 1: Go to my.cgu.edu
Step 2: Type in the Username & Password you received in your IT letter during orientation.
Step 3: Once you have logged in, click on “Online Registration” on the left-hand sidebar.
Step 4: And then click on “Class Registration”.
Once you reach the next page, you should be able to search for the courses during the semester
you want.
C. Fellowship Aid
Most of the students granted financial assistance and/or fellowships (FAID) from CISAT are notified
of the FAID amount in their Admission Letter. In most cases, in order to be considered for
fellowship aid, students must request it during the application process.
1. What if I didn’t receive aid but would like to now?
There is no guarantee that you will be awarded aid but you can fill out a “Fellowship
Application/Renewal” form and turn it into the CISAT Main Office for review.
2. I received AID, how do I renew and/or change it?
Some fellowships only last a certain amount of time (e.g., Fletcher Jones), while others can be
granted every year. Review the “Financing Your Degree” handout for more information on what
FAID CISAT offers. In order to be considered for AID every year, you must apply to have your
fellowship renewed by filling out the “Fellowship Application/Renewal” form. Turn it into the
CISAT Main Office by the deadline. There is no guarantee that you will receive the amount you
are requesting but the best way to boost your chances is to explain in detail why you are
requesting it. For more information, the “Financing Your Degree” handout and “Fellowship
Application” are in appendix A on pages 28-30.
Student Handbook Page | 25
D. Waiving/ Substituting a Course
The only courses that can be waived completely are the “competency courses” for doctoral
students. All other courses must have the units replaced by: (1) transferring credit from another
degree OR (2) by taking a substitute course at CGU. Master’s students must have completed 44
units and doctoral students must have 76 at the time of graduation. Please review the waiver form
in Appendix B (on page 31) for more information.
E. Transferring Credit From Previous Graduate-Level Coursework
Master’s students can transfer/apply up to 8 units of previous graduate level coursework deemed
relevant to the CISAT degree. Doctoral students can transfer up to 24 units of previous graduatelevel coursework. Transfer credit cannot be applied until the student has taken 12 units of CGU
coursework and completed them. For more information on policies regarding transfer credit and
for a copy of the required form, please go to the following link to the Registrar’s Website:
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/8202.asp
F. Auditing a Course
For information on auditing courses, please go to the following page from the Registrar’s Website:
http://www.cgu.edu/pages/6022.asp
Please note that an audited course is not calculated into your GPA and does not count towards
fulfilling any of your CISAT degree requirements. The course will, however, show up on your
transcript. In order to register for an audited course, you must fill out an “ADD/DROP” form, found
on the Registrar’s Website.
G. Independent Study
Independent Study courses are designed to meet a student’s specific needs. A student
interested in independent study must work out the details of the course (e.g., what will be
required of the student, when the meetings will take place, etc.) with the professor that
has agreed to teach it. In order to register for an independent study course, please fill out
the “Enrollment Contract & Registration Form for Independent Study” found on the
Registrar’s Website: http://www.cgu.edu/PDFFiles/Office%20of%20Records%20
forms/Forms/CF550%20Independent%20Study%20Contract%20Form.pdf
H. Going From MS to the PHD
When a current master’s degree student is nearing completion of their program, they may consider
moving forward into the CISAT PhD.
Current students who express interest in the PhD should be advised of the following: (1) students
are not automatically placed in the PhD and they must apply first, (2) to apply, the interested
student must submit an updated personal statement and resume to the Program Coordinator no
later than the beginning of their final semester in the MS program, (3) if the student would like to
be considered for Financial Aid from CISAT, they must also turn in a “Fellowship Application” form
Student Handbook Page | 26
with their resume and personal statement, (4) the student must file an “Intent to Receive Degree”
form with the Registrar’s Office for their Master’s degree, and (5) it is possible that the student’s
request to enter the PhD will be denied.
After a student submits their new personal statement and resume/CV to the Program Coordinator,
he or she will be notified within 3-4 weeks of the decision by email. If the student is accepted into
the doctoral program, a “Change of Degree” form must be filled out and sent to the registrar’s
office.
CISAT Contact List:
Last Name
First Name
Bechor
Tamir
Chatterjee
Samir
Hilton
Brian
Horan
Tom
Leroy
Gondy
Olfman
Lorne
Ryan
Terry
Program Coordinator
CISAT Main Office
Extension
74106
74651
76204
79302
73270
73035
79591
76006
18209
Email Address
tamir.bechor@gmail.com
samir.chatterjee@cgu.edu
brian.hilton@cgu.edu
tom.horan@cgu.edu
gondy.leroy@cgu.edu
lorne.olfman@cgu.edu
terry.ryan@cgu.edu
sisat.help@cgu.edu
Office #
ACB 319
ACB 224
ACB321
ACB 217A
ACB 255
ACB 223
ACB 227
ACB 221
ACB 217
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Appendix A: (financial aid forms)
Student Handbook Page | 28
Student Handbook Page | 29
Student Handbook Page | 30
Appendix B: (waiver form)
Student Handbook Page | 31