FAQs for MIS exam in
CIS Ph.D. program
Contact
faculty:
Elizabeth.Davidson@hawaii.edu
Download
petition for MIS exams here
Download
schedule of ITM704 topics and eligible ITM660
courses here (estimated as of 11/07)
Secondary
MIS exam
Purpose: to demonstrate knowledge of business and
management issues relate to communication and information sciences.
Structure: 3-hour, in class, closed book
exam. Generally consists of
ü
business case involving IT, business strategy, and IT
implementation;
ü
2 or 3 questions on
current topics and applications of information technology (IT) in
organizations, with a business management focus, based on courses students have
taken.
Requirements: Student must be currently enrolled in
or have completed with a B or better the following courses:
ü
BUS 630/BUS631 (MBA core courses for IT)
ü
CIS 703 (CIS methods class, required CIS course)
ü
One (1) ITM704/ITM706 PhD seminar OR one (1) pre-approved ITM660
MBA elective. Extra readings and
assignments may be required of PhD students taking ITM660, in support of the
exam. Check with the faculty
member.
Because
course content and faculty instructors for ITM classes change frequently,
students should take the MIS secondary exam the semester they take the ITM704
and/or ITM660 or in the following semester. See suggested schedules below.
Preparation: In addition to taking required courses,
students could benefit from reviewing IS management textbooks and reading
business press articles about IT in business.
Sample
questions:
(1) Example of a required case study question with case write-up (In MS Word format)
(2) Example of a secondary question
(in MS word format)
Primary MIS
exam
Purpose: to demonstrate knowledge of information
systems research theory, methods, and findings, generally to conduct academic
research in an IS-related field.
Structure: 4-hour in-class, closed book exam. Generally consists of choice of 3 (or
4) questions out of 4 or 5 questions, in which students discuss theoretical
issues in IS research and/or outline a research question and study design.
Requirements: Student must be currently enrolled in
or have completed with a ³B² or better the following courses:
ü
BUS 630/BUS631 (MBA core course for IT)
ü
CIS 703 (CIS methods class, required)
ü
Two (2) ITM704 PhD seminars OR two ITM660 courses approved for the
MIS exam OR one ITM704 and one ITM660/elective. ITM660 or other ITM master-level elective classes will
require additional readings and projects as part of Ph.D. work.
ü
Students must have taken and passed the Secondary MIS exam or must
sign up to take the secondary on the same day as the MIS primary exam.
ü
If a student takes the secondary MIS using an ITM 660/elective
course to fulfill requirements, he or she still will be responsible for the
primary-level readings for that course as well as secondary readings..
ü
Because course content and faculty instructors for ITM classes
change each semester, students should plan to take the MIS primary exam the
semester they are enrolled in their second ITM704 or ITM660/elective course,
and to take both courses within 2 calendar years. See suggested schedules.
Preparation: In addition to taking required courses,
students should read as much IS research literature as possible and do a
directed readings with an ITM faculty member to begin focusing research
interests.
Sample
questions:
(1) Example of a primary question (In MS Word format)