Rabb School of Continuing Studies, Division of Graduate Professional Studies

Overview

In 1992, the School of Summer and Continuing Studies was named the Rabb School of Continuing Studies in honor of Norman S. and Eleanor E. Rabb in recognition of more than four decades of support for Brandeis.

With three divisions — Graduate Professional Studies, the Summer School, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Brandeis — the Rabb School seeks to serve lifelong learners by supporting the university in its mission of providing open inquiry and outstanding teaching in a world of challenging social and technological transformation.

In 1997, the Division of Continuing Studies, now the Division of Graduate Professional Studies, was established in the Rabb School specifically to extend the opportunity for excellent, applied professional education at the graduate level to a more diverse, part-time, working-adult population. All degree programs in the division are professionally oriented, applied in nature (combining requisite theory with the practical application of learned material), and taught by expert adjunct faculty who are practitioners of their subject matter in their professional lives.

Degree programs at the master’s and graduate certificate level are offered in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies of the Rabb School and are overseen by the Rabb School Council, made up of faculty representing the other schools in the university and chaired by a full-time faculty member.

New degrees, as well as substantive changes to the curriculum, are reviewed for approval by the Rabb School Council and as necessary by both the Council of the Graduate Professional Schools and the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.

The Division of Graduate Professional Studies in the Rabb School currently offers six master's degree programs, requiring 10 to 12 three- or four-credit courses, in applied fields:

The division also offers credit-bearing graduate certificate programs of five, six, or seven courses, embedded in each of the master’s degree areas. Further, the division offers an opportunity for students to take two degrees, sequentially, transferring up to three courses, if appropriate, from the first program.

Programs in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies have traditionally been offered on campus part-time in the evening, in three 10-week terms, year-round. Given the Rabb School’s commitment to making graduate-credit-bearing and professionally oriented academic resources at Brandeis available to as many qualified part-time students as possible, the division gradually expanded into distance learning (Web-supported learning), receiving the New England Association for Schools and Colleges’ approval for its first online credential (graduate certificate in software engineering) in 2004.

Five complete degrees, the Master of Software Engineering, Master of Science in Information Technology Management, Master of Science in Information Assurance, Master of Science in Virtual Team Management and Communication and Master of Science in Management of Projects and Programs are available entirely online and in the classroom.

In addition, the division collaborates with corporate partners in offering credit-bearing courses to special student groups at corporate sites or welcoming corporate-sponsored students in on campus or online courses. There are no degree programs offered at or (electronically) through sites other than the Brandeis campus.

Admission

How to Apply

Admission policies and procedures for graduate degree and certificate programming in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies are described in detail on both the division Web site and the Student Handbook located on the Web site. Standards of admission to all programs are clear, consistent and simple. Applicants to graduate programs in the Rabb School generally hold bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited U.S. institutions or their equivalent.

All formal applications for admission are evaluated by a faculty/staff committee. Applications and admission decisions are made on a rolling basis, with entry points at the beginning of each of the three standard 10-week terms (September, January and May).

Brandeis undergraduate degree candidates are not eligible for application to programs in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies or registration in GPS courses for credit. Although Brandeis graduate students from other units are eligible to register for GPS courses, they must pay full tuition for any course taken.

Academic Regulations

Academic Standing

Prior to filing a formal application, students may take up to four graduate courses, thereby determining whether commitment to both the chosen field and a master’s degree program or graduate certificate is appropriate for them. It is standing policy that a course graded below B – may not be applied toward a graduate certificate or degree, regardless of when it is taken. Students are allowed a maximum of 12 courses to complete a 10-course master's degree, and a maximum of seven courses to complete a five-course graduate certificate program.

Given the part-time nature of all Rabb School programs, and recognizing that working people frequently encounter unanticipated life experiences, students may take up to five years to complete a 10- to 12-course program. (Most students complete their degrees in less than three.)

Requirements for the Degrees

Detailed information about the requirements for the degree programs offered by the Rabb School, Division of Graduate Professional Studies, can be found in a later section of this Bulletin. Please refer to these pages for the requirements and expected learning outcomes for specific degrees. Specific course lists and requirements may be found at www.brandeis.edu/gps/programscourses.

Auditing Courses

Auditing Rabb School courses is not permitted.

Change of Program

Courses may be dropped with modest financial penalty until the second meeting, after which students may drop courses until the ninth (of 10) meetings/online modules with no refund of tuition. Final course grades below B – may not be applied toward a graduate certificate or master's degree.

Incompletes

Incompletes are granted in exceptional cases, arranged between the student and the instructor and documented, including specific closure date, in the division’s office. Unaddressed incompletes become failures after the established deadline.

Transfer of Credit

Rabb School degree candidates are not permitted to cross-register either in other graduate programs on campus or in programs elsewhere, although they may with advance approval take a course elsewhere and transfer it to the Rabb School. Up to two courses not previously counted for any degree program may be considered for transfer into a Rabb School degree, although not as either of the final two courses in the program. Very occasionally, a student may test out of a particular course, waiving that requirement but replacing it with an additional course from the program.

International Students

International student applicants to the Rabb School’s entirely part-time programs are required to submit their overseas academic credentials to an evaluator designated by the division, to declare and sign that they are in the United States legally and to demonstrate via TOEFL or well-documented, successful professional employment in an English-speaking environment that they are proficient in the English language.

Fees and Expenses

The following tuition and fees are in effect for the 2009–10 academic year. These figures are subject to annual revision by the Brandeis University Board of Trustees.

Payment of tuition occurs per course registration and must be completed in full in order for the registration to be official and for students to attend the first meeting of the class. Except under rare, prearranged circumstances, students not paid in full are not permitted to attend classes. Late registration is permitted on a space-available basis, between the first and second class meetings, and carries a late fee.

  • Registration fee: $65 (per term, regardless of number of courses)
  • Tuition per three-credit course: $2,205
  • Tuition per four-credit course: $2,940
  • Late registration fee: $60 (in addition to the fees above)
Other Fees
  • Lab fee (dependent on course needs): $150
  • Course materials fee (dependent on course needs): $100
  • Application fee for admission to a degree or certificate program: $50
  • Application to graduate fee: $100

Refunds

All fees other than tuition (registration, lab, late registration, course material and application fees) are nonrefundable after the first day of a term. Students who wish to cancel their registration and receive a tuition refund must state their intention to withdraw by completing a course add/drop form and submitting it to the Division of Graduate Professional Studies.

Tuition will be refunded according to the following schedule:

  • Withdrawal before the first class meeting: 100 percent
  • Withdrawal before the second class meeting: 75 percent
  • No refund thereafter

Financial Aid

While the Rabb School of Continuing Studies offers no financial aid, students are able to participate in both publicly and privately funded student loan programs, based upon eligibility. Arrangements are made on an individual basis through the Associate Director, Admissions and Student Services, Division of Graduate Professional Studies.

Requirements for the Degrees

Degree of Master of Software Engineering

The Master of Software Engineering prepares students to participate fully in integrated teams of software developers, software acquirers and software end users.

Students have the necessary software engineering skills and knowledge to ensure the delivery of reliable software to increasingly large, complex and international end-user markets (available online and on campus.)

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Software Engineering requires one core course plus at least one choice from each of three core areas: programming, design and testing/quality control. It further requires six electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Apply a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the cost-effective development, operation and maintenance of software systems to the satisfaction of their beneficiaries, within some or all of the following areas of specialization: application development; database programming and management; network and Web security; Web development.
  • Build solutions using different technologies, architectures and life-cycle approaches, in the context of different organizational structures, with demonstrated programming expertise in at least one language among C, C++, Java and VB.NET.
  • Foster the development, adoption and sustained use of standards of excellence for software engineering practices.
  • Speak and write effectively and think critically about a wide range of issues arising in the context of working constructively on software projects.

Degree of Master of Science in Information Technology Management

The Master of Science in Information Technology Management prepares students for knowledgeable leadership in the broadest scope of application of information technology.

By understanding information technology’s importance to an organization and its use in a global economy, students will acquire the skills and knowledge to direct the development and deployment of information systems of high quality (available online and on campus).

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Information Technology Management requires six core courses and four electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Develop and lead teams of technical people toward the achievement of established goals, and manage the development of their product.
  • Identify the ways in which technology can be applied to solve both existing and anticipated problems.
  • Leverage that technology to realize strategic management goals and opportunities.
  • Assure the quality and value of information to those who ultimately use it for decision making.
  • Think, write and speak cogently and persuasively about ongoing and anticipated work with colleagues, end users and corporate leadership, and listen carefully to feedback.

Degree of Master of Science in Project and Program Management

The Master of Science in Management of Projects and Programs provides current project managers and potential project managers with an integrated understanding of a broad scope of business functions at the upper-middle, team-leading level of corporate operations, combined with the technical skills and knowledge to analyze, organize and manage the expression of projects, on time and on budget.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Project and Program Management requires six core courses and four electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Exercise management and leadership skills in the conduct of programs and projects that may be international in scope and present the challenges posed by acquisitions, mergers and/or downsizing.
  • Initiate, plan, execute, control, evaluate and close out projects in a way that assures the delivery of the negotiated scope and quality level while meeting time and budget constraints.
  • Understand and critically assess projects and programs in their larger corporate context and be able to communicate effectively the project/program status, issues, expectations and risks, both orally and in writing, to senior management.

Degree of Master of Science in Bioinformatics

The Master of Science in Bioinformatics brings together disciplines including biology, computer science, statistical data modeling and information technology.

Students must develop an understanding of and be able to contribute directly to the analysis of biological data, the design of databases for storage, retrieval and representation of biomolecular data and the development of novel computational tools.

Students’ work will support better understandings of biological systems, human disease and drug development, ultimately affecting the practice of modern medicine.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Bioinformatics requires two foundation courses, three core courses; one advanced programming language, one scripting language, one database course, and four electives, totaling 12 courses (36 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Gain and express a comprehensive understanding of biological systems: quantitative principles, information flow in biosystems, genome organization, protein function, metabolic pathways and signaling cascades.
  • Apply an array of skills in the analysis of gene and protein sequence data in the context of protein three-dimensional structure, high throughput genomic and proteomic data for pattern matching and model building.
  • Leverage the computational and molecular biological expertise gained to foster productive communication among biologists, chemists and computer scientists.
  • Think critically and write and speak cogently and persuasively about ongoing and anticipated work with colleagues, end users and corporate leadership, and listen carefully to feedback.

Degree of Master of Science in Information Assurance

The Master of Science in Information Assurance addresses the growing need for information security professionals who possess a balance of analytical skills and business sense. The program is unique in its emphasis on the policy, management and technology aspects of information security and risk management.

Students gain a combination of technology and management expertise that will enable them to make educated technical decisions in order to support enterprise-wide security objectives.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Information Assurance requires four core courses and six electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Assess risks to the security of proprietary information in an organization and understand the technical, organizational and human factors associated with these risks.
  • Evaluate information technology tools designed to protect against threats facing organizations.
  • Assess the impact of security policies on existing complex systems and organizational objectives while simultaneously considering regulatory requirements and compliance.
  • Oversee the information assurance lifecycle of an organization, including planning, acquisition, development and evolution of secure infrastructures.

Degree of Master of Science in Virtual Team Management and Communication

The Master of Science in Virtual Team Management and Communication examines granular business operations from the perspective of communication, giving students a framework for understanding and managing socio-cultural, regulatory and geographic issues in worldwide business environments.

The program prepares students to manage the development and direction of teams at distance, the dynamic of communication within an organization, the impacts of distance and diversity on business practices and activity, the expectations of diverse legal and ethical environments and culturally diverse business habits.

Program of Study
The degree of Master of Science in Virtual Team Management and Communication requires that students complete six core courses and 4 electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to:

  • Apply knowledge of virtual team leadership techniques and worldwide environments to foster better virtual team building and direction
  • Apply communication theory and methods to create effective communication, team building, mutual confidence for virtual teams
  • Apply knowledge of the virtual communication tools and technology to establish successful ongoing team interaction, communication and exchange of information
  • Formulate and implement strategies for managing distributed employees and teams, maximize their productivity
  • Negotiate and manage contracts in various environments and identify and resolve conflicts in a virtual environment

Sequential Master's Degrees

Program of Study
Students must complete the first degree in its entirety. Transfer of up to three courses from the first to the second program is permitted (if appropriate). The student must fulfill any outstanding core requirements in the second degree, along with the requisite number of electives to total 17 to 22 courses (51 to 66 credits, depending on programs).

Graduate Certificates

The credit-bearing graduate certificates embedded in each of the master's degree programs above (involving five, six, or seven courses, depending upon the field) share the same outcomes, but not the depth and breadth of subjects and general understanding offered in the degree programs.

Courses of Instruction

Listed below are courses of instruction for the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, Division of Graduate Professional Studies. Courses meet for three hours a week unless otherwise specified. Courses offered online are presented in 10 discrete weekly modules contemporaneous with the 10-week, on-campus term.

Most courses are available to all students qualified to take them. Access to some courses is governed by the signature of the instructor. Other courses impose a numerical limit to preserve environmental conditions suitable to the pedagogy the instructor employs.

Generally, a course is offered with the frequency indicated at the end of its description. The frequency may be designated as every semester, every year, every second year, every third year or every fourth year. The university reserves the right to make any changes in the offerings without prior notice.

RBIF 100 Introduction to Bioinformatics Scripting and Programming
Note: This is a four credit course which runs for 13 weeks.
This course is a high-content introduction to scripting and programming with applications in bioinformatics. It is appropriate for students with little or no previous programming experience. The course focuses on the fundamentals of programming, including basic training in Python, object-oriented programming and graphical applications, and Perl programming including the BioPerl packages for parsing of biological data. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 101 Structural Bioinformatics
This course builds a foundation in the interrelationship between protein structure, sequence, and function. This is used as basis for evaluating database search results and protein sequence alignments and phylogenies. The course also addresses mass spectrometry as it relates to proteomics and structure based drug discovery. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Cheng and Mr. Caffrey

RBIF 102 Genomics and Genetics
This course covers concepts of classic genetics, from Mendelian inheritance to quantitative and complex traits, associations and population genetics. It addresses the anatomy and function of genomes from humans and model organisms. Using the Human Genome Projects as an example, sequencing and mapping technologies are covered. Basic sequence analysis methods are introduced, along with techniques to navigate genome browsers and other relevant databases. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Taylor

RBIF 103 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
This course introduces probability and statistics in the bioinformatics context, building a foundation for the “probabilistic thinking” method with applications to real life problems within biophysics, bioinformatics and data analysis. The course addresses probability theory with one and many random variables, classical and Bayesian methods, Poisson processes and Markov chains and applications to sequence analysis, gene finding and phylogenetics, and the fundamentals of the Mathematica programming language and its uses in computational probabilistic experiments. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Partensky

RBIF 105 Proteomics: Analytical and Computational Principles
Proteomics constitute the parallel characterization of the set of proteins from an organism’s genome. High-throughput, parallel study of proteins is invaluable to the discovery of modern medicines and diagnostics. This course covers emerging analytical techniques for the study of proteomes, as well as the computational needs that support them. Concepts addressed include the physicochemical and biological properties of proteins and their relationship to the genome; protein separation technologies; technologies for high throughput expression, isolation, and characterization of proteins; protein networks and protein-protein interactions; data management tools, data integration, and knowledge management. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Moutsatsos

RBIF 106 Drug Discovery and Development
There are high expectations for bioinformatics to contribute to drug discovery. This course explores issues faced during drug discovery and development. Topics include the drug discovery process, its major players and its origins; scientific foundations of drug discovery; target product profile; disease and drug target selection, sources of drug-like molecules; assays and screening; medicinal chemistry; pharmacology; toxicology; and clinical trials. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 107 Python Programming for Bioinformatics
This course covers the Python computer scripting language with an emphasis on bioinformatics applications. Python is often adopted by bioinformaticians as a scripting language because of its simplicity as well as its object-oriented nature. Python’s important, practical features and methodologies are covered in this course, including syntax, semantics, libraries, and software environment. The BioPython package is also introduced. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

RBIF 108 Computational Systems Biology
Computational systems biology is a field that aims at an integrative, system-level understanding of biological systems by analyzing quantities of experimental biological data using computational techniques such as model building. The course covers interacting systems by defining basic structures of the biological network in a living cell; how biological systems respond to changing conditions and maintain robustness and stability; and how we can make predictions based on our modeling results. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 109 Biological Sequence Analysis
Sequence alignment is an important tool in many bioinformatics projects because of its importance in predicting biological function and roles in biological systems. This course provides a foundation in sequence analysis and associated algorithms, addressing concepts such as homology searching, multiple sequence alignment, Transcription factor binding site discovery, phylogenetics, gene prediction, RNAi sequence analysis, Gibbs sampling, Markov chains, Hidden markov models, Genetic algorithms, Information theory, Expectation maximization, Maximum likelihood, Bayesian methods, Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 110 Macromolecular Biophyics
This course covers the basis of molecular interactions and biological experimental technologies. The course addresses topics in basic macromolecular structure and system thermodynamics of DNA, RNA, lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins with a focus on structure and energetics. The course also introduces the energetics of macromolecular interactions, such as Nucleic acid hybridization, covalent and hydrogen bonding, protein-DNA interactions, energetics of hydrophobic interactions; and the physics behind laboratory techniques such as crystallography, NMR, and column separation. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 111 Introduction to R for Bioinformatics
This course is an advanced mathematics and applied statistics course that will introduce students to data analysis methods and statistical testing. It provides a foundation for Biological Data Mining and Modeling (RBIF 112) and Design and Analysis of Microarray Experiments (RBIF114). The course covers R (a statistical programming language) to introduce students to descriptive and inferential statistics, basics of programming, common data structures and analysis techniques. The course covers methods important to data analysis such as t-tests, chi-squared analysis, Mann-Whitney tests, correlation and regression, ANOVA, LDA, PCA, tests of significance, and Fisher’s exact test. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 112 Biological Data Mining and Modeling
The development of new bioinformatics tools typically involves some form of data modeling, prediction or optimization. This course introduces various modeling and prediction techniques including linear and nonlinear regression, principal component analysis, support vector machines, self-organizing maps, neural networks, set enrichment, Bayesian networks, and model-based analysis. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 113 Biological Database Systems
In order to be properly utilized, biological data storage systems must be designed to cross-reference against a host of different sources. In addition, biological data tends to have certain formatting issues with storage and transmission. This course addresses these topics by introducing relational databases and their design as related to biological data management. The formats of common public repositories are covered, such as NCBI and ENSEMBL, as well as federation techniques between different types of data. This course includes methods of data transfer (BioPax, MLs, and others). Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 114 Design and Analysis of Microarray Experiments
Microarray analysis is a common method of mRNA and genomic analysis. These types of experiments have fundamental statistical and data processing knowledge requirements that require specialized knowledge in the field. This course introduces concepts in statistics as they relate to experimental design and statistical significance, such as when and when not to use ANOVA, correlation analysis, generalized linear models, and other topics as related to data modeling. The course also introduces iterative methods of experimental design and measuring significance in microarray experiments, as well as methods to introduce biological context in the post-processing stage. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIF 120 Advanced Topics in Computational Biology
This course introduces the basic techniques of bioinformatics research and its grounding principles in the scientific method. A committee of instructors assists each student in the design and execution of an advanced research project in computational biology. General focus for independent student projects will be chosen by the faculty committee, usually focused on a systems biology question. Student projects must incorporate programming and database-focused integration and management of empirical data, and involve two or more of approaches in systems modeling, sequence analysis (genomics/proteomics), artificial intelligence/pattern detection, discrete mathematics and statistics, or phylogenetics. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RBIO 101 Molecular Biology Lab: From DNA to Protein
This hands-on course covers basic molecular biology techniques, including how to manipulate DNA and RNA; how to clone a gene using polymerase chain reaction; how to insert the cloned gene into plasmids; and how to express the gene and translate it into a protein. Basic detection and imaging techniques are applied to visualize DNA, RNA and proteins. This course provides the necessary ‘wet lab’ experience required to successfully communicate and collaborate with biologists. Usually offered every second year.
Staff

RBIO 102 Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
Note: This is a four credit course which runs for 13 weeks.
The course covers the basic concepts of molecular, cell and developmental biology. Concepts addressed include the anatomy of cells, its building blocks and their function; genetic information, how it is stored, replicated and translated into proteins; inheritance and genetic variation; DNA technology and relevant experimental methods; communication between cells and their environment; regulation and pathways; development and cancer. The course also covers how this knowledge is applied in biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and the related bioinformatics challenges. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RCHE 101 General, Organic, and Biochemistry
Note: This is a four credit course which runs for 13 weeks.
This course is designed for students coming from diverse backgrounds; it surveys some fundamental concepts and definitions in General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. The course braids together different sub-disciplines within the larger domain of Chemistry with an emphasis on biological systems. As often as possible the course explores relevant issues in human diseases and drug discovery. Concepts covered include scientific methodology; error and measurement; atoms and spectroscopy; chemical bonding; chemical reactions, kinetics and thermodynamics; acids and bases; basic organic chemistry concepts; biomolecules; enzymes; carbohydrate metabolism; fatty acid metabolism; genomics. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Wynn and Mr. Pollastri

RCOM 102 Professional Communication
This course prepares professionals with communication skills necessary for success in their fields. The course addresses interpersonal, small group and public communication, and involves extensive practice writing and speaking on a variety of informative and persuasive topics. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Lesser

RHIN 110 Perspectives on Health/Medical Information Systems
This course focuses on the Health Information Sciences including major health care policies and standards that affect the health information industry, patient care systems (computerized patient records, delivery and monitoring systems, etc.) and modeling concepts and applications. The course also explores the differences between health information systems and other information management systems. Actual applications of IT in the Health and Medical Informatics domain, from clinical information systems to e-Health, will be analyzed. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RIAS 101 Foundations of Information Assurance
This course addresses the fundamental elements of computer security and information assurance. Concepts covered include communications and IT infrastructures and their vulnerabilities; the size and complexity of security threats faced by organizations; the development of security practices, policies, awareness and compliance programs; and legal and regulatory issues. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Murphy

RIAS 110 Applied Cryptography and Access Control
Prerequisites: This course assumes prior knowledge of programming in any popular language for applications development.
This course covers the concepts, applied mechanisms, and practices of using cryptography and access control techniques in software applications. These techniques address security requirements such as confidentiality, integrity, authentication, authorization, and accountability, and have become the vital part of all business applications and electronic transactions. Concepts explored include common IT security challenges; critical application security exploits; the role of cryptography and its applied mechanisms; access control principles and techniques related to personal identification and strategies for enabling stronger authentication using Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI), smartcards, and biometrics; enterprise identity management concepts; industry standards for enabling identity provisioning, single sign-on, and federation. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RIAS 115 Information Technology Forensics and Investigations
This course covers both the principles and practice of digital forensics. It investigates the societal and legal impact of computer activity including computer crime, intellectual property, privacy issues, legal codes; risks, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures; forensic tools and techniques to uncover illegal or illicit activities left on disk and recovering files from intentionally damaged media; specific manifestations of cyber crime, including hacking, viruses, and other forms of malicious software; methods and standards for extraction, preservation, and deposition of legal evidence in a court of law. The course maps to the objectives of the International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) certification to provide credible, standards-based information. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RIAS 120 Securing Applications, Web Services, and SOA
This course covers applied security concepts, technologies, techniques, patterns, best practices and checklists intended for securing Web based applications, XML Web services and SOA. The course illustrates the real-world security challenges in IT applications and drills down on strategies for identifying security threats and risks; adopting a security design methodology; implementing security architecture using patterns and best practices; and performing security testing and production deployment. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Nagappan

RIAS 125 Principles of Incident Response and Disaster Recovery
This course presents methods to identify vulnerabilities and take appropriate countermeasures to prevent, mitigate, and manage information failure risks for an organization. The course provides a foundation in disaster recovery principles, addressing concepts such as incident response; disaster recovery planning; risk assessment; policies and procedures; roles and relationships of various members of an organization; implementation of the plan; testing and rehearsal of the plan; and actually recovering from a disaster to insure business continuity.
Usually offered every year.
Staff

RIAS 130 Security Testing and Auditing
This course examines testing for security vulnerabilities, both as part of the security development lifecycle and as part of an auditing program that ensures that security policy objectives are met. The course addresses the importance of a security development process, and demonstrates how security testing is a critical component in that process. Concepts covered include threat modeling techniques and patterns; creation of tests to determine that these threats have been mitigated; evaluation of the effectiveness of these tests; assessment of issues related to secure deployment and communications following software delivery; auditing frameworks, including COBIT, ITIL, and NSA INFOSEC; and the role of software in demonstrating compliance with external regulations and internal security policy. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RMGT 101 Perspectives on Information Technology
This course serves as an introductory course in the IT management curriculum. This course also serves as a strong foundation for the two-course sequence in strategic IT management: RMGT 102 and RMGT 103.
This course serves as an introductory course in the IT Management curriculum, spanning the wide range of technologies in use in modern organizations. The course covers the major issues involved in selecting and deploying particular technologies based on the requirements of a particular project. The course provides a foundation for future study in strategic deployment of information technology in support of the business. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Bird

RMGT 102 Strategic Information Technology: Operational Strategy
It is highly recommended that students successfully complete RMGT 101 prior to taking this course.
This course examines strategic operational issues from the perspective of the CIO or IT Director, exploring how IT organizations can best be managed. The course explores best practices for deploying limited financial and human resources for optimal results. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RMGT 103 Strategic Information Technology: Organizational Strategy
Prerequisite: RMGT 101.
This course covers strategic issues for the IT organization within the context of the larger organization and the relationship between the two. The course helps today's and tomorrow's IT Directors and CIOs effectively exploit information systems technologies within the context of a company's overall business needs. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RMGT 110 Leadership, Team-Building, and Decision Making
The course addresses the applicable organizational skills to function as a leader in an organizational setting, and places special emphasis on personal strategies for developing leadership skills. This course explores leadership as a process by which one person influences the attitudes and behaviors of others. It looks at leadership of large organizations and groups, including teams. Concepts covered include various leadership theories and models; leadership across cultures; leadership ethics and attributes; emotional intelligence; mentoring; team and relationship building; organizational change/development; and the role of the leader in establishing organizational culture and facilitating change. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Phillips, Mr. Holberton, or Mr. Balzer

RMGT 115 Knowledge Management
This course examines the relationship between knowledge management and information technology and its extensions for the innovative and strategic management paradigms of the future. The central message of the course is that knowledge, not money or technology, will be the primary economic unit of business in the twenty-first century. Concepts covered include the analysis of knowledge management as an organizational strategy; the characteristics of knowledge management systems; the building of knowledge management systems; and the implementation of knowledge management systems. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Phillips or Mr. Goncalves

RMGT 120 Legal and Ethical Practices in IT
This course focuses on the important legal, ethical, and societal issues associated with managing information technology resources, from multiple perspectives: technical, social, and philosophical. It examines the different ethical situations that arise in IT and provides practical techniques for addressing these issues. Concepts addressed include file sharing, infringement of intellectual property, security risks, Internet crime, identity theft, employee surveillance, privacy, and compliance. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reinhart

RMGT 175 IT Security and Compliance
This course covers key bodies of knowledge and specializations in security, privacy, and compliance associated with enterprise information systems. The course explores the management of various technologies in emerging areas of information assurance including computer and network security, digital forensics, cryptography, and biometrics. Course concepts include cost/risk tradeoffs; technical, physical, and administrative methods of providing security and compliance; current privacy legislation; and technical means of providing privacy and IT compliance. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reinhart

RPGM 2 Introduction to Programming in Java
This course covers the fundamental syntax and semantics of Java, with special focus on data types, objects, loops, expressions, class methods, class hierarchies, and graphics. It addresses object-oriented concepts of classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, abstract classes and abstract methods; how to instantiate and use Java built-in classes; how to create classes and class hierarchies; the basics of GUI programming; and how to write and run Java Applets. Offered as needed.
Staff

RPJM 10 Microsoft Project for Project Management Professionals
The course covers both fundamental and practical approaches to use Microsoft Project to manage both individual and multiple projects. The components of Microsoft Project that effectively meet the needs of each of the five fundamental phases of the project management are demonstrated, with examples of both effective and ineffective techniques. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Parker

RPJM 101 Foundations of Project Management
This course covers the history, current practice, and future directions of project management. Principles and concepts of project management are presented and discussed within the context of the knowledge areas and process groups defined in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK ®). Concepts covered include process groups from initiation through closure; techniques for estimating and reporting; management of risk, quality, resources, and communications; earned value analysis; adaptive and eXtreme methods; project office implementations. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Milne or Mr. Hassey

RPJM 102 Business Perspectives for Project Managers
This course covers the underlying concepts regarding the preparation and consequences of the accounting and financial information being used in program and project management. The course focuses on the role, use, and application of financial techniques in managerial decision-making. Concepts covered include balance sheet accounts, income statements, cash flows, and financial ratios used in financial analysis; the principles and concepts used in working capital management and long-term financial planning; capital budgeting techniques including cash flow estimation and risk analysis; risk and return concepts; project values as they relate to the company’s overall strategic objectives; project costs, including how they are accumulated and used. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Sherman

RPJM 103 Advanced Scheduling and Control
Projects attempt to achieve maximum value for minimum cost, and they often compete with other projects and operations within the organization for resources and financing. This course covers recently developed methods and value based metrics that, properly applied, can significantly impact project and portfolio value and revenue. By quantifying each side of the classic Triple Constraint Triangle, the value returned by the project and its contribution to the organizational portfolio can be accurately assessed and optimized. The course focuses on the project as an investment, and addresses both the theoretical and practical skills necessary to successfully manage that investment. Techniques covered include Estimated Monetary Value of the project scope; critical path and precedence diagramming methods of scheduling; resource optimization; Total Project Control methods; and the replacement of sometimes arbitrary optimization decisions made by project managers with more focused and precise decision-making processes that optimize both project performance and return on investment. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Parker or Mr. Devaux

RPJM 110 Risk Management for Projects and Programs
This course covers risk management processes and techniques in depth, exploring the systematic and iterative approaches that encompass risk planning, identification, qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, response planning, and monitoring & control. The course addresses risk management principles consistent with the PMBOK®. Techniques for building and applying a risk management toolkit are explored, as are methods to implement risk management programs within an organization. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Marando, Ms. Guerin, or Mr. Stewart

RPJM 113 Negotiating and Conflict Resolution
Conflicts of interest are common in project and program management, business environments, and daily life. This course provides a framework to understand the basis of conflict, to select an appropriate conflict resolution strategy, and to employ tactics that optimize results for both individuals and organizations. Characteristics of negotiation explored include the two fundamental strategies of negotiation; frames of reference; value creation; value claiming; and the impact of both tangible and intangible factors on the negotiation process.
With globalization of project management and the implementation of virtual teams, the challenges to successfully resolve conflicts become increasingly complex. Approaches to conflict resolution differ among collocated and virtual teams, and cultural differences, interests, and values influence negotiation strategy and tactics. As each element of the conflict resolution process is explored, the course highlights special considerations for virtual team members. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Raben

RPJM 115 Challenges in Project Management
This course examines the various challenges that more often than not arise within the project lifecycle, threatening its success. It examines the reasons these issues occur, when in the lifecycle they tend to happen, and solutions for anticipating, preventing, minimizing and/or mitigating these challenges. Because many of the challenges faced by project managers are relationship-based, the course explores communication as a vital skill in project management. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Bateman

RPJM 117 Program Management: Theory and Practice
Frequently programs span many years, include multiple product releases, involve numerous and diverse stakeholder groups, and necessitate the establishment of a program office. This course covers the history, current practice, and future directions of program management. Concepts covered include program versus project, product, and portfolio management; the program manager role; the program life cycle, its phases and process groups, consistent with the PMI Standard for Program Management; themes of program management including benefits management, stakeholder management, and program governance; key program management deliverables; program office models; portfolio management concepts; and program management implementation within an organization. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Carter

RPJM 118 Procurement and Contract Management
This course covers the procurement process in depth, including concepts, principles and ethics, pricing methods, awards, and all phases of contract administration from both the seller and buyer perspectives. It explores the development of bids and requests for proposals; the evaluation of responses; and the capabilities and use of various types of contracts and pricing mechanisms. It addresses outsourcing (including market investigation, key risks, requirements definition and evaluations using performance based service agreements), negotiation, and development and use of contract information systems. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Gentile

RPJM 119 Managing New Product Development Projects
This course covers the elements of a world-class new product development process backed by industry examples and case analysis, addressing the key factors that lead to innovation and the successful entry of a new product into the global arena. The course explores the best practice tools and techniques required by the new product development team. Concepts covered include the product development process from concept development to strategy and testing; consumer-centric product development including identifying needs and selecting solutions; global product development including related strategies, markets, and cultures; product portfolio planning including the allocation of resources and project prioritizations; best practices including organizational discipline and the learning cycle; project post operations review; and stimulating innovation within organizations. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RPJM 120 Project Management Capstone
Prerequisite: Students must be formally accepted for admission to the Master of Science in Management of Projects and Programs. This course is intended to be completed as the final course within the student’s program.
This course involves the demonstration of an integrated understanding and application of overall project and program management practices and techniques, through the creation and execution of a capstone project. It includes the development of a statement of intent before the start of the course that proposes an abstract for the capstone project along with its objectives and preliminary milestones. Options for capstone project focus include: evaluate the project management practices in an organization; perform research in support of an organizational goal; explore current developments within the profession at the graduate level. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RPJM 125 Special Topics in Project Management
The field of project and program management continually evolves. Project management professional groups such as the Project Management Institute (PMI) introduce new and revised standards each year; organizations adopt novel approaches and refine existing methodologies; updated industry data and case studies on the effectiveness of project management practices become available. This course facilitates the introduction of cutting-edge project management practices as they are introduced in the industry.
Staff

RSEG 102 Advanced Programming in Java
This course explores advanced topics of Java programming language, including object- oriented programming concepts; exceptions; generic programming and annotations; collections; Java foundations classes (JFC); delegation event model; layout managers; swing components including panels, menus, toolbars, and text components; multi-threading; streams and input/output programming; networking; and Java database connectivity (JDBC). Usually offered every year.
Mr. Yurik

RSEG 103 Advanced Programming in C++
This course provides a solid foundation of C++ with focus on object-oriented concepts and programming techniques. Concepts covered include classes, objects, abstract data types, file processing, inheritance, encapsulation, polymorphism, overloading, reuse, and templates. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Yurik

RSEG 104 Advanced Programming in VB.Net
This course covers Microsoft .Net architecture, concentrating on more advanced features provided by the Visual Basic.NET programming environment. It addresses ways to use Visual Basic.NET features and the .NET framework to build real world distributed applications, demonstrating techniques and implementation steps to build each tier of a modern multi-tier application. Concepts covered include the Microsoft .NET architecture; object-oriented features of Visual Basic.NET; distributed application architecture; database connectivity features of .NET; implementing Windows based forms and web-based graphical user interfaces; web services; and performance and scalability issues. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Zilbermints

RSEG 105 Java Enterprise Programming
This course covers Java Enterprise Edition (JEE) with the following advanced topics: Java EE Applications Architecture; Servlets; Java Server Pages (JSP); JSP Custom tags; Unified Expression Language; Java Server Pages Standard Template Library (JSTL); Java Server Faces (JSF); Enterprise Java Beans (EJB); and Seam Framework.Usually offered every year.
Mr. Yurik

RSEG 107 Perl Programming
This course covers the fundamentals of the Perl programming language, addressing concepts including Perl's invocation; basic syntax; data types; simple I/O; regular expression parser; lists; hashes; filehandles; built-in functions; manipulating files and accessing the operating system; control-flow mechanisms; references and modules which support complex data structures; CGI programming; and database access. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Hemdal

RSEG 108 Advanced C Programming for UNIX/Linux
This course provides an accelerated survey of C programming, providing prerequisite skills required for the exploration and practice with the SUS/POSIX (Portable Operating System) system interfaces for programming on UNIX/Linux systems. Techniques for the application of the UNIX system interfaces are explored. Experience with C illustrates the design decisions associated with pointers and low-level bit manipulations avoided by other modern programming languages; aids in the use of many C functions employed by other programming languages; and demonstrates performance and control capabilities required by embedded, hard-real-time applications for data acquisition, motor control, and robotics. Experience with UNIX transfers directly to other "POSIX-compliant" operating systems such as Windows and OS/390.Usually offered every year.
Mr. Hemdal

RSEG 109 Object-Oriented Design
Object-oriented modeling and design form the foundation of many software projects today and are pre-requisites to developing in C++, Java, and other object-oriented programming languages. This course covers object modeling and design techniques as they are applied from the point the high-level project requirements are established, through high level and detailed design, to the point where implementation is ready to start. The course focuses on Unified Modeling Language (UML), an approach that combines previously competing object modeling theories, as well as concepts including distributed object frameworks; design patterns; existing object-oriented languages such as C++ and Java; and lifecycle and maintenance issues of object-oriented applications.Usually offered every year.
Ms. Yurik

RSEG 110 UNIX Tools
This course covers UNIX programming tools and techniques including: UNIX operations; common commands; shells and shell programming; regular expressions and special characters; shells and shell programming; sed, awk, cron, and make. Comparisons to Windows are addressed to illustrate similarities and differences and to illuminate the UNIX system. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Hemdal

RSEG 113 Advanced Programming in C++ (Level 2)
This course covers advanced features of C++ needed to produce efficient, high-performance, and high-quality C++ code on large development projects. Concepts covered include the use of design patterns and programming idioms; Standard C++ Library and Standard Template Library (STL) classes; and best practices of programming techniques and issues of reusability, robustness, efficiency, and memory usage. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Yurik

RSEG 120 Software Development Methodologies
This course covers non-programming related aspects and best practices of the software development process, from requirements engineering, architectural design, and quality management to software maintenance and process improvement. Concepts addressed include software engineering tools, models, and methodologies; requirements engineering and specifications; system modeling; business process analysis; VORD analysis; design foundations; high-level architectural design; control and distribution models; function-oriented design; object-oriented design; user interface design; estimating and scheduling; risk management; and software maintenance and improvement. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RSEG 125 Foundations of Software Quality Assurance
This course covers a broad range of topics related to software quality assurance (SQA). The course explores the combined application of a variety of SQA components, including: SQA activities typically performed by external participants; extension of SQA activities to project schedules and budget control; SQA implementation issues, SQA risk management considerations; and costs associated with SQA. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Raben

RSEG 131 Software Testing Techniques
This course covers topics related to software testing methodology, with a focus on realistic, pragmatic steps for testing consumer and business software. Concepts covered include test cycles; testing objectives; testing in the software development process; types of software errors; reporting and analyzing software errors; problem tracking systems; test case design; testing tools; test planning; test documentation; and managing a test group. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Raben

RSEG 135 Software Test Process Evaluation and Improvement
Testing plays a significant role in software development projects, in many cases accounting for between 25 and 50% of the overall project budget. This course offers practical tools and procedures for improving the software testing processes in organizations. Concepts covered include test strategy; test project estimation and planning; test specification techniques; test environment staging; test metrics; test process management; defect management; test process communication; test automation; testware management; testing involvement; and test personnel availability. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Raben

RSEG 145 Linux Administration
This course covers a hands-on introduction to Linux installation, configuration, and administration, aimed at scientists and engineers who want to use Linux in a laboratory or similar setting. The focus is on individual users and small networks. Concepts covered include Linux installation; the GNOME desktop and RPM; managing users; automation (at, batch, and cron); backup and disaster recovery; mail servers; FTP and web servers; installing new software; complete project talks; and volume management. Applications of Linux for SMP and enterprise-class networking are not in the scope of this course, although the related skills can be applied to SMP and cluster computing. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Hemdal

RSEG 151 XML and Related Languages
This course surveys the open standards that are making data representations and documents increasingly interchangeable, searchable, dynamic, and customizable. The course addresses how to: design application-specific markup grammars using XML rules; validate the XML files with Document Type Definition (DTD) and XML Schemas; transform them using XSLT/Xpath/FO; and parse XML documents with DOM (Document Object Model) and SAX (Simple API for XML) programming interfaces. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Malkenson

RSEG 160 Computer Networks and Data Communication
This course covers the transport of multi-media information among distributed computer systems. It addresses how modern communication protocols support the architecture and design requirements of modern computer networks, including the Internet, and satisfy the differing requirements of the services that generate and use multi-media information. The "convergence" of real-time and non-real-time information transmission and processing is emphasized. The course covers the services that require secure, errorless, and very high speed transmission of inter-related real-time and non-real-time information, and how computer network architects and designers achieve this. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Leiden

RSEG 161 Web Development Technologies
This course provides an extensive examination of client and server side technologies used in developing web applications. On the client side, concepts addressed include how to create attractive and well-functioning web pages using XHTML, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript. On the server side, concepts addressed include web development with servlets, JavaServerPages (JSP), JSP Custom Tags, Java Standard Template Library (JSTL), JavaServerFaces (JSF), Ant, and Ajax, and how web applications, built with these technologies, access and interact with databases using Java Data Base Connectivity (JDBC). Usually offered every year.
Mr. Yurik

RSEG 165 Design Patterns
Prerequisites: RSEG 102 or RSEG 103 or RSEG 109 or equivalent.
Design patterns, an advanced area in object-oriented design, focus on solutions to problems commonly found in the design of object-oriented programs. This course covers the fundamentals of the core patterns: creational, behavioral, structural, and system patterns. Concepts covered include how to select a design pattern appropriate for a particular design problem; how to apply/implement this pattern in a language, such as Java or C++; and how these patterns are used extensively in the Java programming language and Java APIs, including patterns for reflection, security, AWT/Swing, RMI, JDBC, and J2EE.

RSEG 167 Service Oriented Architecture: Distributed Enterprise Computing
Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) has transformed the focus of enterprise computing from fine-grained, technology-oriented entities to business-centric services with business-level transaction granularity. This course explores SOA as an architectural blueprint which incorporates and integrates many different technologies with a focus on defining cleanly cut service contracts with a clear business orientation. The course investigates the fundamental principles system and application architects need to establish SOA at the enterprise level. The course explores the core service oriented concepts and best practices required for designing and implementing a distributed enterprise computing architecture. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Reinhart

RSEG 168 Architecture for Business and E-Commerce
This course covers business, e-commerce, and enterprise applications from architecture, design and development methodologies perspective. Concepts covered include multi-tier and enterprise application architecture; service oriented architecture; architectural layers; usability issues; data architecture; object-oriented, client/server, and e-commerce models for business applications; and business e-commerce technologies including web portals, mobile commerce, web site usability and design considerations, marketing on the web, business-to-business e-commerce, e-security, and e-payments. Usually offered every year.
Ms. Yurik

RSEG 170 Database Management
This course covers data modeling, including relational, object-oriented, and object-relational database design concepts and issues. Concepts addressed include relational theory and database design; entity relationship modeling; normalization; issues of design and implementation; issues of database integrity, security, recovery and concurrence; and object-oriented databases. Usually offered every year.
Staff

RSEG 171 Data Warehousing and Data Mining
This course covers the foundations of data warehousing and data mining, and then explores how these technologies convert information into knowledge. Data warehousing is compared and contrasted with operational databases, and the use of various data mining techniques are considered in terms of a variety of problems. From a technical perspective, a special emphasis is placed on data warehouse design and the most common implementation issues. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Gibson

RSEG 172 Network Security
Network security can refer to the security of devices that comprise the network infrastructure, the security of the traffic sent over that infrastructure, the hosts (clients and servers) attached to the infrastructure, applications that utilize the network, the user community, the policies that govern usage of that network, and so forth. This course covers principles and practices of network security by first using the first four layers of the OSI protocol stack (physical, link, network, and transport) as a way to introduce these concepts. The course examines how devices at each layer provide “defense in depth” by securing communications traffic and by preventing unauthorized access to the various networks segments interconnected by these devices. Elements of a network security architecture are explored, and design patters are used to understand how these elements can be combined into an integrated design that supports the security policies of the enterprise. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Brooks

RSEG 173 TCP/IP
This course covers the TCP/IP Internet Protocol Suite. It compares the suite to the OSI reference model, and describes the workings of a number of applications such as FTP, Telnet, TFTP, DNS, and DHCP, HTTP and IP Security (IPSec), and Voice over IP (VOIP). Concepts addressed include IP addressing and subnet masking; TCP operation; session-initiation, sequencing, acknowledgment, and windowing; routing including static and dynamic routing, distance-vector versus link-state, and interior versus exterior routing protocols. The course also covers the operation of the popular distance vector routing protocols, including RIP versions 1 and 2, Cisco’s IGRP and EIGRP, and BGP; the link state protocol standard, OSPF; the management operation SNMP; the next version of IP header called IP version 6; IP-VPN; and Voice over IP, also known as IP. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Marin

RSEG 180 Windows Programming in C#
This course covers the programming language C# (pronounced “C sharp”), used to develop Windows applications. The focus of the course is learning the .NET programming environment, Windows programming and the syntax and capabilities of the C# language. Concepts covered will include Microsoft Visual Studio .NET IDE, C# language syntax, control structures, arrays, exception handling, Windows graphical user interface, multithreading, strings, graphics and multimedia, files and streams, XML, database SQL and ADO .NET, ASP .Net, web forms and web controls, ASP .NET and web services, networking, data structures and collections. Usually offered every year.
Mr. Cramer

RSEG 290 Special Topics
Special topics courses are offered each semester. Please see the Schedule of Classes for specific topics offered.
Staff

RVTM 101 Foundations of Virtual Team Management across Cultures and Geographies
This course introduces an analytical framework for assessing the complex and varied geographic, cultural and regulatory environment(s) in which virtual and globally distributed team members work. The course covers strategies for recognizing, anticipating, and responding to cultural and individual diversity; relevant local, state and regional regulatory structures; and ethical dilemmas that may emerge in the management of virtual teams, particularly in the context of globalization.
Staff

RVTM 110 Management and Leadership of Global Virtual Teams
Prerequisites: RVTM 101 or RPJM 114.
This course explores techniques for building, leading, managing, and motivating teams that reside in multiple locations. The course addresses methods to overcome the challenges of leading a virtual team with members in various geographical locations, including satellite and global offices and telecommuters. Concepts covered include virtual team structure; effective multi-cultural communication; motivation and performance considerations; knowledge sharing and knowledge management in a virtual, distributed team.
Ms. Yurik

RVTM 115 Collaboration and Communication Technology in Virtual Environments
Prerequisites: RVTM 101 or RPJM 114.
Virtual and global teams need collaboration and communication tools and technology in order to participate together in projects and team meetings, to perform their daily work, and to share and store information. This course explores a number of collaboration and communication tools that virtual teams can use to communicate person-to-person and as a group. Concepts covered include the principles that make e-collaboration successful; collaboration suites and knowledge resource tools; information sharing, information broadcasting and information gathering techniques; and hands-on experience with forming virtual teams for projects in order to research and practice various collaboration and communication tools.
Ms. Yurik

RVTM 120 Organizational Systems and Communications
This course explores the roles of individuals and teams within organizations and the skills and techniques required to manage successfully in the diversified organizations of the 21st century. Social networks and virtual teams are replacing committee meetings. Values and self-leadership are replacing command and control management. Diversity and globalization have become challenges as well as competitive opportunities for organizations. Co-workers aren’t down the hall; they’re at the other end of an Internet connection located somewhere else whether it is another city, state or country. Concepts covered include employee motivation and behavior, team cohesion and leadership; social networks as a source of power and organizational effectiveness; relevance of organizational behavior concepts and practices to organizations located in diverse national cultures.
The course centers on three complementary perspectives, or "lenses", in an organization: the individual in the organization, and the foundations of individual behavior, including values, attitudes, job satisfaction, personality, emotions, and motivation; the groups and social processes, and the foundations of group behavior, including communication, group dynamics, team, management, decision making, power and conflicts; the organizational processes, and the concepts of organizational culture, principles of organizational structure, change management, learning and knowledge.
Ms. Phillips

RVTM 125 Virtual Teams in Worldwide Environments
Prerequisite: RVTM 110.
This course explores the impact of virtual teams on the worldwide environment, as well the impact of the worldwide environment on virtual teams. Virtual teams today often operate in increasingly distributed, international settings, crossing geographical, country and cultural boundaries. Virtual teams are used in many areas of today’s economy, such as manufacturing, information technology, retail, pharmaceuticals, and many others. Concepts addressed include impacts of strategic decision making; supply chain issues, production, and labor/outsourcing; perspectives of employees, managers, and human resource professionals as they address the issues of building and managing a global team in a worldwide environment.
Staff

RVTM 140 Web Publishing and Content Management
Virtual and distributed teams often rely on team web sites and web-based content in order to share information. This course focuses on the concepts of publishing content on the web, and managing content through content management tools. Proven strategies for content creation, publishing, delivery and management are discussed.
Staff

RVTM 145 Legal and Ethical Issues for Virtual Teams
This course focuses on issues facing virtual and global teams when doing business around the world, in the areas of intellectual property, legal and ethical considerations. Intellectual property and business laws and established business practices often vary from country to country. Global teams and their leaders need to take these issues into consideration in order to achieve success in their undertakings. The course addresses some of the established business practices, intellectual property rights and legal considerations in a number of world regions.
Staff