The M. Sc. Information Systems has a standard study period of four semesters (two academic years). The master's degree is structured as follows:

The Master Program consists of a total of 120 credits:

• an onboarding module "Information Systems Thinking" (6 credits)
• a total of 6 lecture modules (6 credits each) in the chosen major
• at least 4 electives (6 credits each) from the elective area
• 2 conventual seminar modules (6 credits each)
• one project seminar (12 credits)
• the Master's thesis (30 credits)

The course of study can be planned individually. A sample course of study is shown in the right-hand section of the graphic.

Through your choice of major, you can focus on one of the three perspectives of Information Systems: Data Science, Business Process Management, or Managing Digital Business.  The following diagram illustrates the target groups and graduate profiles of the various majors.

In the following, you can find information on the specific major perspectives and course modules.

Majors of Information Systems

• Managing Digital Business

  You see how companies and organizations are changing through digital innovations and technologies? You want to support them in successfully navigating the opportunities and challenges of the digital age? Then we recommend the major in Managing Digital Business.

  It’s a match – this major is right for you if:

  ...you are passionate about digital innovations and technologies such as artificial intelligence, Big Data, IoT, and Blockchain and want to understand how they are reshaping the business landscape.
   
  ...you have studied Management or Business, are interested in the application of technology and digital innovations in a management context, and aim to lead companies successfully in an increasingly digitized world.
   
  ...you have studied Innovation or Technology Management and want to specialize in concepts, processes, and strategies of innovation in the digital age, aiming for the exploration of new markets and sustainable competitive advantages.
   
  ...you are interested in sustainability and want to learn more about the integration of digital innovations into sustainable development and Corporate Social Responsibility, as well as the role of technology in addressing global challenges such as climate change and social injustice.

  Overview of Content – Here's what the modules in this major offer you:

  1. Digital Innovation: Concepts of technology and innovation management in the digital age, combined with practical insights into innovation processes and strategies in various organizations.
  2. Leveraging Digital Technology: Impacts of IT/DT deployment on economies, industries, and companies; Preparation for trends, opportunities, and challenges of utilizing digital technologies.
  3. Organizing Digital Value Creation: New forms of value creation through digital technologies within companies and across organizational boundaries, such as digital platforms and networks.
  4. Responsible Management: Management responsibility in the digital age; Questioning traditional models of thinking under the influence of digital innovations.
  5. Digital Innovation and Sustainable Development: Role of digital innovation in the context of sustainable development; Insights into concepts such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Leadership, and Digital Ethics.
  6. Current Topics in Digital Business: Engagement with current issues, topics, and developments in the research and practice of the Digital Business field.

  Possible Job Profiles – With this major, you can pursue careers such as:

  • Digital Innovation Manager
  • Digital Transformation Consultant
  • Technology Analyst, Product Manager
  • Sustainability Manager for Digital Innovations
  • Research Scientist

  This is just a glimpse of the many career opportunities available to you with a degree in this major. Whatever path you choose, your knowledge and skills in the field of digital innovations and technology management are highly sought after in today's digital economy!

• Business Process Management

  If you’re interested in strategically designing business processes and integrating information technologies into organizational workflows to enhance efficiency and competitiveness, then the Business Process Management major is perfect for you.

  It’s a match – this major suits you if you:

  • … have e.g. studied Management or Information Systems and want to learn more about how processes in organizations can be designed, implemented, and improved to increase efficiency and gain competitive advantages.
  • … you have studied Computer Science or Engineering, have basic knowledge of Business Administration, and want to learn how information systems can be deployed or engineering principles applied to operational processes to automate and optimize business processes.

  Overview of Content – Here’s what the modules in this major offer you:

  1. Process Thinking: Development of a process-oriented mindset to identify challenges and innovative business opportunities; Introduction to the theoretical foundations of Business Process Management (BPM) and state-of-the-art frameworks and methods.
  2. Process Engineering: Technical concepts of BPM; Optimization of business processes using tools such as Process Mining, process definition, implementation, and improvement, as well as Robotic Process Automation.
  3. Enterprise Architecture Management: Integration of business and IT aspects to understand and describe organizations as a whole; Holistic approach aiming to align business and IT.
  4. Public Services: Development, implementation, and management of public services from an IT perspective, with focuses on Human-Centric Design, User Experience, and Usability.
  5. Supply Chain Management: Application of data, process, and reference modeling in the context of Supply Chain Management; Integration of Data Analytics and digital transformation technologies into supply chain integration.
  6. Production and Retail: Application of information systems in the trade and production context, including process modeling, Enterprise Resource Planning, and intelligent trade/manufacturing.

  Possible Job Profiles – With this major, you can pursue careers such as:

  • Business Process Analyst
  • Business Process Manager
  • Enterprise Architect
  • IT Project Manager
  • Supply Chain Manager
  • Consultant for Business Process Optimization
  • Research Scientist

  This is just a glimpse of the many career opportunities available to you with a degree in this major. Whatever you choose, your knowledge and skills in the field of Business Process Management and Information Technology are highly sought after in today’s competitive business world!

• Data Science

  You are already familiar with Data Science and are interested in advanced concepts and applications? Complex mathematical models and techniques do not intimidate you, but rather motivate you? Then you are in the right place with Data Science as your major.

  It’s a match – this major is right for you if:

  • … you are a Data Enthusiast with a passion for data analysis and interpretation and are interested in gaining deeper insights into the advanced aspects of Data Science.
  • … you are mathematically and technically adept, coming from mathematics, statistics, computer science, or a related field, and can understand and apply mathematical and algorithmic fundamentals.
  • … you aspire to a career in data analysis, data science, or related fields and want to specialize in advanced methods and techniques to solve complex data problems.

  Overview of Content – Here’s what the modules in this major offer you:

  1. Unsupervised Learning: Introduction to the fundamentals of unsupervised machine learning, including data preparation, quality assessment, and methods such as clustering and dimensionality reduction.
  2. Supervised Learning: Basics of supervised learning methods, with a focus on mathematical fundamentals and practical application to real-world data.
  3. Optimization and Decision Making: Advanced optimization methods for complex problems as well as decision-making strategies, such as evolutionary optimization, multi-criteria optimization, and decision theory, accompanied by algorithmic prototyping.
  4. Mining Massive Datasets: Classical methods and techniques for analyzing large structured datasets, including data integration, data quality, and distributed analysis environments.
  5. Trust and Security in Data Science: Ensuring data trust and security, including bias mitigation, transparency, access control, and societal issues such as IT security, data privacy, and human rights.
  6. Deep Learning: Methodological foundations and applications of Deep Learning, from image analysis to content generation to automatic decision-making, using frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.

  Possible Job Profiles – With this major, you can pursue careers such as:

  • Data Scientist
  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • Data Engineer
  • Business Intelligence Analyst
  • Data Consultant
  • Research Scientist

  This is just a glimpse of the many career opportunities available to you with a degree in this major. Whatever you choose, with your advanced knowledge in Data Science and Analytics, you are highly sought after in today’s data-driven world!

Special Courses of Information Systems

• "Information Systems Thinking" - a joint orientation module for a good start

  In order to get off to a good start on the Master's degree course together and to feel welcome at the University of Münster despite the wide range of options, there is the orientation module "Information Systems Thinking" right at the beginning, which is compulsory for everyone and is offered every semester. In this module, students get to know each other, learn more about the content and further organization of the degree course and thus gain the confidence and motivation to have chosen the right degree course for them with the Master's in Information Systems.

• Electives

  In addition to their major, students may select up to five elective modules. Four of these modules, totaling 24 credit points, are mandatory.

  Within the elective area, students can choose courses from all majors (Managing Digital Business, Business Process Management, Data Science). Apart from that students can also choose additional modules in the areas of Business Administration and Computer Science. For Business Administration modules from Accounting, Finance, Management, Entrepreneurship or Marketing can be selected. For Computer Science modules can be selected from the range offered by Computer Science (Faculty 10).

• Seminars & Project Seminars - to get started in science and practice

  In addition to the majors and electives, seminars and project seminars are offered in the Master's in Information Systems, which give students an understanding of the interplay between science and practice. These courses take place in small groups in order to provide them with the best possible individual support and personal encouragement. In the seminars, students learn about scientific work at the institute. The topics are newly generated each semester and are therefore always at the cutting edge of research. Through cooperation and networking with companies, the project seminars offer concrete insights into practice and the opportunity to make important initial contacts for starting a career.

  Project Seminar:

  The content and methods learned in the previous courses are applied in a practice-oriented project with topics that change from semester to semester. In particular, teamwork, project planning and management, development of a business concept, design of a corresponding software architecture, implementation and testing are practiced. In addition, the intermediate and final results of the project are presented using state-of-the-art tools. Students will also be required to read relevant literature and describe the required concepts in presentations. Students are supported by tutors in all these activities.

  Seminars:

  The elective seminars deal with topics arising from current research. They are usually organized in small groups of students. Each student gives a seminar presentation and writes a seminar paper. In order to take account of the latest developments, the the topics and, accordingly, the learning objectives change from semester to semester.

• Master Thesis

  The preparation of the Master's thesis includes the research and elaboration of the current state of research, the formulation of research questions based on this and the development of scientifically sound statements. The processing of the problem using professional methods and techniques is concluded by the development of a scientifically justified judgment. In the defense, a scientific presentation should demonstrate that the acquired knowledge and findings on the topic and related areas are available and have been understood and is defended in the subsequent discussion.

Semester Abroad

Especially the third semester is available to you as a mobility window to study one semester at one of the numerous foreign partner universities of the Faculty of Business & Economics. A semester abroad brings numerous advantages. In addition to the language qualification and the expansion of your personal and professional horizon, you will strengthen your independence, expand your network internationally and acquire important soft skills.

The Faculty of Business and Economics offers numerous exchange programs with partner universities around the world. Currently, students of the department can apply for exchange places at about 40 partner universities. Possible partner universities include (as of academic year 2023/24):

• University of Sydney (Australia)
• University of Sao Paulo(Brazil)
• Copenhagen Business School (Denmark)
• Reykjavik University (Iceland)
• Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (India)
• University of Trento (Italy) University of Minho (Portugal)
• University of Adger (Norway)
• And many more

For more details on the course of study, refer to the Examination Regulations.