Faculty

Leadership

Zhiyuan Chen - Chair

George Karabatis - Liaison for Programmatic Innovation

Jianwu Wang - Liaison for Research Innovation

Michael Brown - Liaison for External Partnerships - Online M.S. in IS

James Foulds - Graduate Program Director - Online M.S. in IS

Andrea Kleinsmith - Graduate Program Director - HCC

Mohammad Samarah - Graduate Program Director - M.P.S. in Software Engineering

Sreedevi Sampath - Graduate Program Director - IS

Erin Van Dyke - Graduate Program Director - M.P.S. in Health IT

Todd Karner - Assistant Graduate Program Director - M.P.S. in Health IT

Richard Sponaugle - Undergraduate Program Director - IS

Karuna Joshi - Undergraduate Program Director - BTA

Jennifer Carter - Associate Undergraduate Program Director

Dina Gorin Glazer - Associate Undergraduate Program Director for Advising

Professor

Zhiyuan Chen
B.S., Fudan University (China), 1995; M.S., 1997; Ph.D., Cornell University, 2002

Aryya Gangopadhyay
B. Tech., Indian Institute of Technology, 1984; M.B.A., Rutgers University, 1991; Ph.D., 1993; M.S., New Jersey Institute of Technology, 1992

Vandana Janeja
B.S., Devi Ahilya Vishwa Vidhyalaya University (India), 1997; M.S., 1999; M.S., New Jersey Institute of Technology, 2001; M.B.A., Rutgers University, 2007; Ph.D., 2007

George Karabatis
B.S., Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), 1983; M.S., University of Houston, 1988; Ph.D., 1995

Helena Mentis
B.S., Virginia Polytechnical and State University, 2000; M.S., Cornell University, 2004; Ph.D., The Pennsylvania University, 2010

Nirmalya Roy
B.S., Jadavpur University, 2001; M.S., University of Texas at Arlington, 2004; Ph.D., 2008

Carolyn Seaman
B.A., College of Wooster, 1986; M.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1987; Ph.D., University of Maryland, College Park, 1996

Associate Professor

James Foulds
B.S., University of Waikato (New Zealand), 2007; M.S., 2008, Ph.D., University of California, Irvine, 2014

Karuna P. Joshi
B.S., University of Mumbai (India), 1993; M.S., 1999; Ph.D., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2012

Andrea Kleinsmith
B.A., University of Oregon, 1995; M.Sc., University of Aizu (Japan), 2004; Ph.D., University College London (UK), 2010

Anita Komlodi
M.A., Kossuth Lajos University (Hungary), 1994; M.L.S., University of Maryland, College Park, 2000; Ph.D., 2002

Ravi Kuber
B.Sc., University College London, 1999; M.Sc., 2004; Ph.D., Queen’s University Belfast, 2007

Patricia Ordóñez 
B.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1989; M.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2010; Ph.D., 2012

A. Ant Ozok
B.S., Technical University of Istanbul (Turkey), 1996; M.S., Purdue University, 1997; Ph.D., 2001

Shimei Pan
B.S., Tsinghua University, 1991; Ph.D., Columbia University, 2002

Sreedevi Sampath
B.E., Osmania University (India), 2000; M.S., University of Delaware, 2002; Ph.D., 2006

Houbing Herbert Song
B.S., Xi’an Polytechnic University, 2001; M.S., Xi’an Jiaotong University, 2004; M.S., University of Texas, El Paso, 2006; Ph.D., University of Virginia, 2012

Ian Stockwell
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2003; M.A., 2006; Ph.D., 2014

Jianwu Wang
B.S., Tianjin University (China), 2001; Ph.D., Chinese Academy of Sciences (China), 2007

Assistant Professor

Lujie Karen Chen
B.Eng., Shanghai Jiaotong University, 1998; M.I.S.M., Carnegie Mellon University, 2004; M.S., 2012; Ph.D., 2020

Md Osman Gani
B.Sc., Military Institute of Science and Technology (Bangladesh), 2009; M.S., Marquette University, 2013; Ph.D. 2017

Foad Hamidi
B.A., York University (Canada), 2004; M.Sc., 2007; Ph.D., 2016

Ida Ngambeki
B.S., Smith College, 2007; Ph.D., Purdue University, 2012

Sanjay Purushotham
B.T.E.C.E., National Institute of Technology (India) 2007; M.S., University of Southern California, 2014; Ph.D., University of California, 2015

Tera Reynolds
B.A., Lawrence University, 2007; M.P.H., Boston University, 2011; M.A., University of Michigan, 2016; Ph.D., University of California, 2021

Lei Zhang
B.S., Zhejiang University (China), 2004; M.S., The University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong SAR), 2008; Ph.D., McMaster University (Canada), 2015

Professor of the Practice

Michael Brown
B.A., Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, 1992; M.S., 1997; Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University, 2010

Jennifer Carter
B.S., University of Maryland, College Park, 1984; M.S., The Catholic University of America, 1992; D.M., University of Maryland, University College, 2009

Mohammad Samarah
B.S., Northern Arizona University, 1990; M.S., Florida Institute of Technology, 1999; Ph.D., 2003

Erin Van Dyke
B.S., Art Institute of Portland, 2008; M.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2015; Ph.D., 2019

Senior Lecturer

C. Augusto Casas
B.S.E.E., Universidad Javeriana, 1983, M.B.A., University of Connecticut, 1992; Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University, 2002

Dina Gorin Glazer
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1993; M.S., 1995

Dana Smith
B.S., Salisbury State University, 1990; M.Ed., 1994; M.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2001

Richard Sponaugle
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1995; M.S., 1997

Lecturer

Margaret Kahl
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1984; M.S., 1990

William Ryan
B.S. University of Maryland, University College,1986; M.S.A., Central Michigan University, 2007

Sidas Saulynas
B.A., Dickinson College, 1984; B.S., Stevenson University, 2001; M.S., University of Baltimore, 1992; M.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2013; Ph.D., 2020

Mohan Sundaram
B.S., Indian Institute of Technology (India), 1974; M.S., 1976; M.S., Case Western Reserve University, 1983

Zehra Zaidi
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2002; M.S., University of Maryland, University College, 2006

Special Status Faculty

Philip Feldman: Adjunct Research Assistant Professor
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1983; M.S., 2014; Ph.D., 2020; M.S., The Johns Hopkins University, 1995

Anuradha Ravi: Research Assistant Professor
B.S., PSG College, India, 2005; M.S., Coimbatore Institute of Technology (India), 2008; Ph.D., Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (India), 2015

Faculty Emeritus

Henry Emurian
B.A., American University, 1968; M.A., 1971; Ph.D., 1975; M.S., The Johns Hopkins University, 1983

A. Gunes Koru
B.Sc., Ege University (Turkey), 1996; M.Sc., Dokuz Eylül University (Turkey), M.S., Southern Methodist University, 2002

Jeff Martens
B.A., Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, 1982; M.S., College of William & Mary, 1986

Anthony F. Norcio
B.A., University of Maryland, College Park, 1965; B.S., 1968; M.L.S., 1973; Ph.D., The Catholic University of America, 1978

Roy Rada
B.A., Yale University, 1973; M.S., University of Houston, 1976; M.D., Baylor College of Medicine, 1977; Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1981

Tate Redding
B.A., Dakota Wesleyan University, 1978; M.A.S., The Johns Hopkins University, 1991

Valeri P. Scott
B.A., Lake Forest College, 1971; M.A., University of Wisconsin, 1973; M.A., University of Oklahoma, 1975

People in the United States and other developed countries depend on computers for almost every transaction that occurs in their everyday lives. Many people refer to the present as the “information age” and it is computer systems that have made this possible. The Department of Information Systems (IS) offers programs to prepare students to be the technical people who design, build, and manage these computer systems or to be knowledgeable users of them.

The Information Systems program is interdisciplinary, including courses in mathematics and statistics, computer programming, management science, economics, and technical writing, as well as specific courses in computer information system analysis, design, construction, and management. Career learning through cooperative education assignments is strongly encouraged.

The department offers several degree options to students, including a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science and accelerated Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in IS both online and face-to-face curriculum, Bachelor of Arts/Master of Science, and Bachelor of Science/Master of Science in Human-Centered Computing, all of which allow students to begin master’s-level work in the senior year.

The Business Technology Administration, B.A.  trains students for management positions in the growing job field of information systems. It is an interdisciplinary program developing practical knowledge for integration of computers, organizational processes, and people into effective and efficient systems. Through a variety of courses such as human resources management, project management, business law, ethics, and operations management, they learn the skills to be successful managers, analysts, and administrators in an IS organization. Additionally, BTA students may experience working with companies on projects that analyze systems and research solutions for implementation in small and large enterprises.

The Information Systems, B.S.  degree allows students the opportunity to study and gain technical and conceptual knowledge in the design, development, and management of computer information systems. Students study networking, decision support, database management, systems analysis and design, and programming as core concepts. They have the option to specialize further through certificates in data analytics, user experience, web and mobile development, decision support, management science, cybersecurity and health informatics as their interests dictate. Students in the IS major are trained to take on roles, such as systems analysts, project managers, data analysts, information security specialists, or network administrators for any business or organization, understanding the information infrastructure and services that make an organization operate more effectively and efficiently.

The IS department offers several upper-division certificates. The Business Analytics Certificate , Decision Making Support Certificate , Health Information Technology Certificate , Network Administration Certificate , and User Experience, Web and Development Certificate  are designed to complement the IS BS. In addition, the IS department sponsors certificates in Auditing for Information Systems Certificate  and Management Accounting Certificate , which prepares any student to enter managerial fields that have a statistical and accounting concentration. In addition to these certificates, the IS department offers a program, the M.B.A. Preparatory Studies Certificate , for students who may be considering graduate studies in business management. Each certificate allows the student a concentrated topic of study. The certificates are not interchangeable with the major, but they enhance it.

Career and Academic Paths

Most graduates from the B.S. program may enter directly into systems analysis, database or network administration, user interface design positions in business, government, or the nonprofit sector. A significant number of graduates may not end their education at the baccalaureate level, but may enter the information systems M.S. or Ph.D. programs. The master’s program is designed to enhance the qualifications of working professionals and can be earned while working full time. Graduates from the BTA program will find their end-user computer skills and management skills applicable to many positions in business, industry, and government. Graduates with a BTA often pursue careers in management and entrepreneurial careers in business.

Academic Advising

Undergraduates are advised by trained, informed information systems faculty. For students considering transferring to UMBC, Maryland community colleges have articulated programs that define the courses that may transfer as equivalent to UMBC courses.

Accelerated Bachelor of Science/Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts/ Master of Science Program

The B.S./M.S. and the B.A./M.S. degree program allows the student to complete both degrees with one to one-and-half more years of study than is typically required for the B.S. or B.A. degree alone, because three of the courses in the master’s core are taken in the senior year and applied to both degrees.

Admission to the Accelerated Program

Students who are interested in the accelerated B.S./M.S. in IS programs (either online or on-campus) or the B.S/M.S or B.A./M.S. Human Centered Computing programs should discuss their interest with a department advisor as early as the sophomore year. A student should request acceptance into the program in the first semester of the junior year, i.e., the semester following the one in which 60 credits have been earned toward the B.S. or B.A. degree. To be eligible for this program, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher at UMBC and all other institutions attended. This is a minimum requirement, and attainment of a 3.2 GPA does not guarantee admission to the combined degree program. The admission decision is determined on an individual basis taking into account the student’s past record, expected future performance and how well the accelerated program would meet the student’s educational objectives. 

Applicants for the combined B.S./M.S. in Information Systems

• must have completed the IS gateway, and
• must be enrolled in IS 410  prior to applying to the combined program

Applicants for the combined B.A./M.S. in Human Centered Computing

• must have completed a minimum of 60 credits, and
• must have passed at least one 300- or 400-level course within the BTA major

Applicants for the combined B.S./M.S. in Human Centered Computing

• must have completed a minimum of 60 credits, and
• must have passed at least one 300- or 400-level course within the IS major

Students seeking admission to the accelerated program should complete the accelerated B.S./M.S. or B.A./M.S. application form, including recommendations from two members of the faculty, an official UMBC transcript and official transcripts from any other college(s) attended. B.S./M.S. applications should be submitted to the Undergraduate Program Director for IS programs. B.A./M.S. applications should be submitted to the Undergraduate Program Director for the BTA program. The Undergraduate Program Director reviews the application and makes a recommendation to the department’s Graduate Admissions Committee or HCC Graduate Program Director, respectively. Students are notified of the decision, and the Graduate School is also informed when a student is accepted. This acceptance is by the IS department only; the student still must formally apply to and be accepted by the Graduate School to finish the master’s portion of the program. Deadlines for applications to the combined programs are December 15 and May 15.  Recommendation letters and the student’s application must be received before the deadline.

Acceptance into the accelerated program neither obligates the student to complete the program beyond the B.S. or B.A. degree, nor does it obligate the department to admit the student into the graduate program when he or she applies formally to the Graduate School. If the Graduate School finds reason to reject a student’s application, that decision is binding, even though the student may have been accepted into the accelerated degree program by the IS department.

B.S./M.S., B.A./M.S. Program Regulations and Procedures

Once admitted to the accelerated program, the student must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA. No more than two ‘C’ grades may be received in all courses taken after admission. If the GPA falls below 3.0, or if more than two ‘C’s are received, the student will be removed from the accelerated program. This does not affect the student’s eligibility for the B.S. or B.A. degree under normal university undergraduate requirements. Any one ‘D’ or ‘F’ also results in removal from the accelerated program.

Students in the combined program must formally apply for admission to the UMBC Graduate School before the Graduate School’s application deadline during the semester in which the course work for the B.S. or B.A. is completed. No more than nine credits of graduate courses may be taken while the student is paying undergraduate tuition. Students in the accelerated program must take three of the courses required for the undergraduate major as graduate courses under their graduate course numbers.

For the B.S./M.S. in information systems, these courses are typically IS 633 (in place of IS 420), IS 634 (in place of IS 436), and any MS online graduate elective (in place of an IS upper level elective).  For the B.S./M.S on campus, these are IS 625/603 (in place of IS 425), IS 636 (in place of IS 436), and IS 651 (in place of IS 451). For the B.A./M.S. HCC, these are IS 629 (in place of IS 303 in the BTA major), and two from HCC 613, HCC 729, HCC 710 or an approved HCC graduate elective (one course can count in place of an upper level elective, while the second can count in place of an upper level elective required by the University). For the B.S./M.S. HCC, these are HCC 629 (in place of an IS upper level elective), and two from HCC 613, HCC 729, HCC 710 or an approved HCC graduate elective (one course can count in place of an upper level elective, while the second can count in place of an upper level elective required by the University). These courses count for both degrees; therefore, a minimum of 21 credits is required for the master’s degree. For additional information about M.S. requirements, see the Graduate Catalog.

Special Opportunities

UMBC has a very large and active cooperative education and internship program. All information systems students are encouraged to participate in internships. The practical work experience gained is valued by employers in the field and is of considerable help in finding a job after graduation. One-third to one-half of IS majors take advantage of these opportunities. In addition to work experience, students often earn academic credit for their internship experiences. The IS department has exciting opportunities and exchange programs for IS students who wish to study abroad. Please see the Assistant Undergraduate Program Director for Advising in the IS department for details.

Student Organizations

Information Systems Council of Majors (ISCOM). The Information Systems Council of Majors offers programs and tours in areas of interest to students. Council members also have opportunities to attend meetings of computer-related professional societies.

The Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) is an international organization of information security professionals and practitioners. It provides educational forums, publications, and peer interaction opportunities that enhance the knowledge, skill, and professional growth of its members.

Programs

• Business Technology Administration, B.A.
• Information Systems, B.S.

• Information Systems Minor
• Management Minor

• Auditing for Information Systems Certificate
• Business Analytics Certificate
• Cybersecurity Informatics Certificate
• Decision Making Support Certificate
• Health Information Technology Certificate
• M.B.A. Preparatory Studies Certificate
• Management Science Certificate
• Network Administration Certificate
• User Experience, Web and Development Certificate

Courses

• IS 101 - Introduction to Computer Based Systems (3)
• IS 101H - Introduction to Computer Based System (3)
• IS 101Y - Introduction to Computer Based Systems (4)
• IS 125 - Information Systems Logic and Structured Design (3)
• IS 147 - Introduction to Computer Programming (3)
• IS 199 - Service-Learning and Information Systems (1)
• IS 202 - Systems Analysis Methods (3)
• IS 246 - Topics in Programming Languages and Tools (3)
• IS 247 - Computer Programming II (3)
• IS 295 - Intermediate Business Applications (3)
• IS 296 - Foundations of Data Science (3)
• IS 298 - Special Topics in Information Systems (1-3)
• IS 300 - Management Information Systems (3)
• IS 300H - Management Information Systems (3)
• IS 303 - Fundamentals of Human-Computer Interaction (3)
• IS 304 - Ethical Issues in Information Systems (3)
• IS 310 - Software and Hardware Concepts (3)
• IS 317 - Accounting Information Systems (3)
• IS 320 - Advanced Business Applications (3)
• IS 325 - Introduction to Management Science (3)
• IS 350 - Business Communications Systems (3)
• IS 352 - Women, Gender, and Information Technology (3)
• IS 361 - Technology for Management of Aging Services (3)
• IS 369 - Research Seminar: Writings in Information Systems (3)
• IS 387 - Information Architecture for the Web (3)
• IS 397 - Health IT Internship (3)
• IS 399 - Information Systems Internship (1-3)
• IS 400 - Individual Study in Information Systems (1-3)
• IS 403 - User Interface Design (3)
• IS 410 - Introduction to Database Design (3)
• IS 413 - GUI Systems Using JAVA (3)
• IS 417 - Information Systems for Auditors (3)
• IS 420 - Database Application Development (3)
• IS 425 - Decision Support Systems (3)
• IS 427 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Concepts and Applications (3)
• IS 428 - Data Mining Techniques and Applications (3)
• IS 430 - Information Systems and Security (3)
• IS 432 - Computer Viruses (3)
• IS 434 - The Evolution of Modern Information Systems (3)
• IS 436 - Structured Systems Analysis and Design (3)
• IS 437 - Applied Systems Design (3)
• IS 438 - Project Management (3)
• IS 440 - Integrating Technology into Business Processes (3)
• IS 448 - Markup and Scripting Languages (3)
• IS 450 - Data Communications and Networks (3)
• IS 451 - Network Design and Management (3)
• IS 451M - LAN Management Using Microsoft (3)
• IS 451U - LAN Management Using Unix (3)
• IS 452 - Internetworking (3)
• IS 454 - Survey of Telecommunications (3)
• IS 456 - Telecommunications Policy (3)
• IS 460 - Health Care Informatics I (3)
• IS 461 - Health Care Informatics II (3)
• IS 464 - Telemedicine (3)
• IS 467 - Health IT Project (3)
• IS 469 - Senior Project in Information Systems (1-3)
• IS 470 - Software Testing (3)
• IS 471 - Data Analytics for Cybersecurity (3)
• IS 472 - Software Security (3)
• IS 474 - Technology Law (3)
• IS 478 - Cybersecurity Internship (3)
• IS 479 - Cybersecurity Project (3)
• IS 480 - Information Visualization (3)
• IS 496 - Business Analytics (3)
• IS 497 - Business Analytics Internship (3)
• IS 498 - Special Topics in Information Systems (1-3)

• MGMT 210 - The Practice of Management (3)
• MGMT 310 - Human Resource Management (3)
• MGMT 360 - Business Law (3)
• MGMT 385 - Business Ethics and Society (3)
• MGMT 399 - Administrative Internship (1-3)
• MGMT 410 - Operations and Supply Chain Management (3)
• MGMT 425 - Marketing (3)
• MGMT 489 - Seminar on Management in Business (3)
• MGMT 490 - Independent Study in Business Analytics (3)
• MGMT 498 - Special Topics in Management (1-3)