University Bulletin (2025-2026)

In 2023, Brandeis launched Brandeis Online in order to expand the University's online educational offerings. Brandeis Online delivers a world-class education fully online to learners around the globe. At this time, Brandeis Online consists of programs from across the University, including from the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the International Business School.

Brandeis Online is essential to the mission of Brandeis University and its commitment to exceptional education. With Brandeis Online you have the singular opportunity to learn at a top 50, R1 institution with a commitment to groundbreaking research and scholarship from wherever you reside in the world. As leaders in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in higher education since our founding in 1948, we continue to grow the dynamic Brandeis community through our extensive online learning offerings that meet learners where they are.

For decades, Brandeis has been delivering top-tier, asynchronous online degrees and certificates that provide students everywhere the flexibility and accessibility to earn their degrees remotely. We currently offer master's degrees, master’s certificates, and many undergraduate courses online. 

Our faculty are experts in their fields and are committed to developing and mentoring students on their educational journeys. Instructors create inclusive and engaging learning environments for Brandeis students. Our online courses help foster connections between students, faculty, mentors, and the greater Brandeis community.

New programs, as well as substantive changes to the curriculum, are reviewed by each school’s governing faculty body and as necessary, by both the Council of the Graduate Professional Schools and the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Degrees offered through Brandeis University are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). The Commission is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable authority on the quality of education for the institutions it accredits. Degrees and certificates for Brandeis Online students are issued from their academic school, not Brandeis Online. 

Currently, Brandeis Online offers master’s degrees, requiring 10 three-credit courses, and master’s certificates, requiring four three-credit courses, in applied fields:

• Master of Software Engineering (est. 1997)
• Master of Science in Bioinformatics (est. 2002)
• Master of Science in Project and Program Management (est. 2003)
• Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Design (est. 2015)
• Master of Science in User-Centered Design (est. 2015)
• Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology and Enterprise (est. 2025)
• Master of Science in Applied Leadership (est. 2025)
• Master's Certificate in Healthcare Analytics (est 2022)
• Master’s Certificate in Jewish Professional Leadership (est. 2024)
• Master's Certificate in Genomics (est. 2023)

• Master's Certificate in Cheminformatics (est. 2023)

• Master's Certificate in Drug Discovery (est. 2023)

• Master’s Certificate in Digital Accessibility (est. 2024)
• Master's Certificate in Agile Project Management (est. 2024)
• Master's Certificate in Content Marketing (est. 2024)
• Master's Certificate in Digital Marketing (est. 2024)
• Master's Certificate in Marketing Analytics (est. 2024)
• Master's Certificate in Project Management (est. 2024)
• Master's Certificate in UX Research (est. 2024)
• Master’s Certificate in Change Management (est. 2025)
• Master’s Certificate in Biotechnology Leadership and Entrepreneurship (est. 2025)
• Master’s Certificate in Sustainable Biotechnology Manufacturing and Compliance (est. 2025)
• Master’s Certificate in Advanced Therapeutics and Immunology (est. 2025)
• Master’s Certificate in AI-Driven Leadership

Given Brandeis Online’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 offers all programs completely online.

In addition, Brandeis Online collaborates with corporate partners in offering credit-bearing courses to special student groups at corporate sites and in welcoming corporate-sponsored students in our courses. There are no programs offered through sites other than the Brandeis campus.

How to Apply

Admission policies and procedures for graduate programs in the Division of Graduate Professional Studies are described in detail in both the Brandeis Online website and the Student Handbook located in the Academic Resources section of the website. Standards of admission to all programs are clear, consistent, and simple. Applicants to master’s degree programs within Brandeis Online generally hold bachelor’s degrees from regionally accredited U.S. institutions or 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 five standard 8-week sessions (August, October, January, March, and June).

The following tuition and fees are in effect for the 2025-2026 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 online course module. Except under rare, prearranged circumstances, students not paid in full are not permitted to enter courses.

• Tuition per credit: $1,220

• Course materials fee (dependent on course needs): $25-250

• Other educational costs for a two-module session include off-campus housing and food ($11,430) and books and supplies ($1,016). 

Refunds

Financial Aid

Brandeis Online does not offer financial assistance in the form of Federal Work-Study, teaching assistantships or other grants. Some programs may offer scholarships.

Federal Loans

Brandeis Online students may be eligible for federal loans, including the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan, if they are enrolled in a master's degree, registered for at least two courses per term, and actively working toward completing their degree requirements. The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is not need-based or credit-based, but the Graduate PLUS Loan is credit-based.

Applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to qualify for this loan. Graduate students may borrow up to a maximum of $20,500 a year, not to exceed the cost of attendance, with an aggregate maximum of $138,500, with no more than $65,500 in subsidized loan funds. For the academic year 25-26, the interest rate on the Stafford Loan will be a fixed rate of 7.94 percent and the origination fee will be 1.057 percent.

Repayment of a Stafford Loan begins six months after the borrower ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. The standard repayment period is 10 years, during which time interest is charged. (Please go to https://studentaid.gov/ for information about alternate repayment plans.) Students are required to pay the interest during the in-school period, or have it capitalized and added to the loan balance, for the unsubsidized loan.

 The Graduate PLUS Loan is a federal loan that allows graduate students to borrow up to their total cost of education less any financial aid received. The student must pass an independent credit review. For the 25-26 academic year, the PLUS Loan will be a fixed interest rate of 8.94 percent and an origination fee of 4.228 percent. Go to https://studentaid.gov/ to apply for this loan.

Borrowers of the Federal Direct Stafford Loan, and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan must complete the required promissory notes and entrance counseling online at the beginning of their entering semester upon receipt of correspondence from the Office of Student Financial Services. Anticipated credits on a student's account will be cancelled if all required steps are not completed.

The terms for the above loan programs are subject to federal legislation, regulations and other guidance, and may change. Students wishing to apply for loans should contact the Office of Student Financial Services for application materials.

Additional Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirement for Students Receiving Financial Aid

Federal regulations require that a student receiving federal assistance make satisfactory academic progress in accordance with standards set by the university. Brandeis Online is responsible for monitoring academic progress within its graduate programs. To receive federal funding, a student must successfully complete two courses (B- or higher) in each semester in which he or she receives federal loans. If he or she fails to successfully complete two courses in a semester in which he or she receives federal loans, he or she will be allowed to receive federal loans for the next semester but will be placed on probation. If he or she fails to successfully complete two courses during the probationary semester, he or she will lose eligibility for federal loans from this point forward. A student may submit an appeal if there are extenuating circumstances that prevented him or her from successfully completing coursework for two subsequent semesters.

Students enrolled in a graduate certificate are not eligible to receive federal loans.

Financial Regulations

Failure to discharge financial obligations includes, but is not limited to, an overdue balance with the university or the delinquency of a borrower in repaying a loan administered by the Office of Student Financial Services and the inability of that office to collect such a loan because the borrower has discharged the indebtedness through bankruptcy proceedings.

A student who defaults in the payment of indebtedness to the university shall be subject to suspension, dismissal and refusal of a transfer of credits or issuance of an official transcript. Brandeis University may refer delinquent accounts to a collection agency. Students are responsible for paying the collection agency fee, which may be based on a percentage at a maximum of 40 percent of any delinquent account, together with all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, necessary for the collection of any delinquent account. Delinquent accounts may be reported to one or more of the national credit bureaus.

Every student is required to complete a Financial Responsibility Agreement at least once each academic year. Any student who fails to complete this agreement prior to the start of classes will be denied the privileges of attending classes and using university facilities.

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.

Program of Study

The Master of Software Engineering consists of 10 courses, 30 credits. There are 5 required courses, and 5 elective courses.

Required Courses

• RSEG 105 – Expert Software Development in Java
• RSEG 120 – Software Development Methodologies
• RSEG 126 – Release Control and Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (DevOps)
• RSEG 131 – Software Testing Techniques
• RSEG 161 – Web Development Technologies

Electives (choose five)

• RSEG 102 – Software Development in Java
• RSEG 103 – Software Development in C++
• RSEG 109 – Object-Oriented Design with UML
• RSEG 127 – Software Engineering Studio
• RSEG 128 – User Interface Design
• RSEG 155 – Functional Programming with Java and Scala
• RSEG 165 – Design Patterns
• RSEG 167 – Cloud Architecture and Development with Microservices
• RSEG 170 – Database Management
• RSEG 181 – Agile Transformation for Software Development
• RSEG 290 – Special Topics in Software Engineering

Cybersecurity Concentration (choose four)

• RIAS 102 – Foundations of Cybersecurity for Software Engineering Professionals
• RIAS 110 – Identity Management and Applied Cryptography
• RIAS 120 – Secure Development Technologies
• RIAS 140 – Cloud Security
• RIAS 172 – Network and Application Security

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the cost-effective and secure development, operation, and maintenance of software systems to the satisfaction of their beneficiaries, while adopting software engineering best practices.
• Build solutions using different technologies, architectures and life-cycle approaches in the context of different organizational structures, with demonstrated programming expertise.
• Demonstrate a cross-section of skills necessary to collaborate throughout the phases of software development including requirements, design, implementation, testing, and release management.
• Apply foundational software engineering skills to support specialization in focused disciplines such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, web and cloud development, design, and databases.
• Communicate 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 Project and Program Management

The Master of Science in Project and Program Management provides current 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 seven required courses and three electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

​Required Courses

• RPJM 101 - Foundations of Project Management
• RPJM 103 - Project Scheduling and Cost Management
• RPJM 110 - Risk Management in Projects and Programs
• RPJM 113 - Negotiating and Conflict Resolution
• RPJM 117 - Program Management: Theory and Practice
• RPJM 119 - The Human Side of Project Leadership
• RPJM 130 - Demystifying Agile Project Management

Electives (choose three)

• RCOM 202 - Communication for Effective Leadership
• RPJM 115 - Challenges in Project Management
• RPJM 118 - Procurement and Contract Management
• RPJM 135 - Agile Tools and Techniques 
• RPJM 290 - Special Topics in Project and Program Management
• RSAN 101 - Foundations of Data Science and Analytics
• RSAN 190 - Agile Project Management for Analytics

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Lead successful projects and manage the project lifecycle in all its phases in a way that assures the delivery of the negotiated scope and quality level, while meeting time and budget constraints.
• Effectively communicate the project/program status, issues, expectations and risks, both verbally and in writing, to project and program stakeholders and team members.
• Demonstrate and communicate how projects contribute to an organization’s ability to realize its strategic goals and business benefits.
• Exercise leadership, management, and facilitation skills in the conduct of programs and projects of various size, scope and complexity that may be global in nature.
• Effectively manage the roles, communications and expectations of project stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of the project.

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 six required courses and four electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Required Courses

• RBIF 100 - Bioinformatics Scripting and Databases with Python
• RBIF 102 - Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Disease
• RBIF 109 - Biological Sequence Analysis
• RBIF 111 - Biomedical Statistics with R
• RBIF 112 - Mathematical Modeling for Bioinformatics
• RBIF 114 - Molecular Profiling and Biomarker Discovery

Electives (choose four)

• RBIF 101 - Structural Bioinformatics
• RBIF 106 - Drug Discovery and Development
• RBIF 108 - Computational Systems Biology
• RBIF 110 - Cheminformatics
• RBIF 115 - Statistical Genetics
• RBIF 120 - Research Topics in Computational Biology
• RBIF 290 - Special Topics in Bioinformatics

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Process and clean, store, analyze and model large volumes of biological data from multiple sources.
• Independently and collaboratively provide insights into complex biological systems through data synthesis, experimental design, and application of a wide range of computational biology approaches.
• Effectively communicate and present bioinformatics concepts to multidisciplinary project teams.

Degree of Master of Science in Strategic Analytics

Strategic Analytics are critical to the strategic management of any business or organization. The management, analysis, and use of the large sets of data that form the foundation of any business operation are what drive the strategic decisions that increase revenue and reduce costs for the organization.

The Strategic Analytics program offers a comprehensive study of these two components: the data itself and its business application, analyzed through a specific set of tools and techniques. Through the study of predictive, descriptive and prescriptive analytics, students will learn to identify patterns and trends within data to interpret and communicate the results in valuable and practical terms.

Program of Study

The degree of Master of Science in Strategic Analytics requires that students complete seven required courses and three electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

​Required Courses

• RSAN 101 – Foundations of Data Science and Analytics
• RSAN 110 – Business Intelligence and Strategic IT Leadership
• RSAN 120 – Statistics and Data Analysis
• RSAN 130 – Data Visualization for Strategic Analytics
• RSAN 150 – Data Governance
• RSAN 160 – Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning
• RSAN 175 – Analytics Strategy and Management

Electives (choose three)

• RCOM 202 – Communication for Effective Leadership
• RSAN 140 – Marketing and Customer Analytics
• RSAN 177 – Data Security, Privacy and Ethics
• RSAN 190 – Agile Project Management for Analytics
• RSAN 290 – Special Topics in Strategic Analytics
• RSEG 170 – Database Management

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply analytics and data to drive strategic objectives, support competitiveness, and enable operational efficiencies.
• Identify and assess the opportunities, needs and constraints for data governance, data management, and reporting within a strategic organizational context.
• Effectively communicate the role and value of analytics in supporting organizations’ strategic goals and operational objectives.
• Develop persuasive narratives through data visualization and business intelligence best practices in order to build consensus and to effectively communicate analysis results.
• Apply current project and change management methodology in delivering successful analytics projects.
• Competently use analytic tools, environments, and modeling techniques to effectively work with diverse datasets.
• Detail legal considerations, ethical considerations, data ownership and privacy considerations inherent in the collection and use of data.

Degree of Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Design

The marketing industry has changed. Businesses once relied primarily on paid media attention, and to some extent on earned media attention. With the advent of digital marketing, businesses are coming to rely on a converged media marketing model, which includes owned media attention (leveraging a channel created and controlled by the business, e.g. blogs, twitter feed, etc). The success of an individual business depends on the ability of the digital marketing specialists to understand and exploit these new models.

The Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Design program blends principles of design, tactics, and analysis across digital marketing, with a practical and applied focus. This program will cover the design and development of interactive media for use in digital marketing, the tactics necessary to deploy digital marketing initiatives, and the analytical frameworks to assess what is working and what is not in order to grow and optimize digital marketing campaigns. Students will gain a solid foundation in current web, media, and interface design practices across multiple platforms. Armed with the skills that inform what is technically, possible, students will then explore techniques to envision, plan, manage, and analyze digital marketing campaigns. Candidates will exit the program with a rich toolkit suitable for bringing a sound digital marketing approach to a variety of industries and companies.

Program of Study

The degree of Master of Science in Digital Marketing and Design requires that students complete seven required courses and three electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Required Courses

• RDMD 102 – Digital Marketing Strategy
• RDMD 110 – Search Engine Marketing and Optimization
• RDMD 120 – Writing for Digital Environments
• RDMD 130 – Multichannel Marketing Campaigns
• RDMD 135 – Conversion Rate Optimization
• RSAN 140 – Marketing and Customer Analytics
• RUCD 101 – User Experience Design

Electives (choose three)

• RCOM 202 – Communication for Effective Leadership
• RDMD 150 – Multimedia Creation for Campaign Storytelling
• RDMD 160 – Ethics in Digital Design and Marketing
• RDMD 290 – Special Topics in Digital Marketing and Design
• RPJM 101 – Foundations of Project Management
• RSAN 110 – Business Intelligence and Strategic IT Leadership
• RSAN 130 – Data Visualization for Strategic Analytics
• RSEG 128 – User Interface Design
• RUCD 130 – Information Architecture
• RUCD 140 – Research Methods
• RUCD 150 – Design Ideation and Prototyping
• RUCD 175 – Inclusive Design & Digital Accessibility

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Develop and actively manage digital marketing campaigns across social media, website and mobile platforms
• Build, design, manage, drive and direct effective content for digital audiences.
• Apply analytic tools and data-driven methods to evaluate digital marketing initiatives and make tactical decisions.
• Optimize the customer journey and ensure alignment with organizational goals
• Create and communicate a digital marketing strategy that supports broader strategy and growth objectives.

Degree of Master of Science in User-Centered Design

The Master of Science in User-Centered Design program prepares students to guide a human-centered perspective in such areas as User Interface Design, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, User Experience (UX) and related specializations. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop a portfolio of artifacts that demonstrate their knowledge and ability to apply innovative thinking and a human centered approach to design as well as the leadership skills needed to implement and advocate for design thinking to foster innovation.

Program of Study

The degree of Master of Science in User-Centered Design requires that students complete seven required courses and three electives, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Required Courses

• RUCD 101 - User Experience Design
• RUCD 120 - Human Factors Psychology
• RUCD 130 - Information Architecture
• RUCD 140 - Research Methods
• RUCD 150 - Design Ideation and Prototyping
• RUCD 170 - Design Operation and Leadership
• RUCD 190 - Capstone in User-Centered Design

Electives (choose three)

• RCOM 202 - Communication for Effective Leadership
• RDMD 160 - Ethics in Digital Design and Marketing
• RPJM 101 - Foundations of Project Management
• RPJM 113 - Negotiating and Conflict Resolution
• RPJM 130 - Demystifying Agile Project Management
• RSAN 101 - Foundations of Data Science and Analytics
• RSAN 110 –Strategic IT Leadership: Business Intelligence and Analytics
• RSAN 120 - Business Intelligence and Strategic IT Leadership
• RSEG 161 - Web Development Technologies
• RUCD 145 - Contextual Research
• RUCD 160 - Information Visualization
• RUCD 165 - Survey Methods
• RUCD 175 - Inclusive Design & Digital Accessibility
• RUCD 290 - Special Topics in User-Centered Design
• RUCD 292 - Internship in User-Centered Design

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Master interaction design and information architecture tools and techniques, including prototyping at various levels of fidelity.
• Understand and apply the human factors (including physical and psychological principles) that impact user interactions with digital products and technologies.
• Conduct and leverage qualitative and quantitative research to inform design decisions and evaluate designs.
• Adapt user experience processes and methods to a range of organizational contexts and settings.
• Develop design thinking, collaboration, and leadership skills necessary to plan and drive UX strategy for products and organizations.

Degree of Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology and Enterprise

The Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology and Enterprise at Brandeis University is a fully online program designed to address the growing demand for leaders who can integrate scientific expertise with business acumen. The biotechnology sector is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by evolving technologies such as CRISPR, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug development/disease detection, and advancements in sustainable technologies. This interdisciplinary program aims to prepare students for leadership roles in biotechnology by combining advanced training in molecular biology, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and emerging technologies with critical business skills such as entrepreneurship, strategic partnerships, and project management. Tailored for recent graduates and working professionals, the Applied Biotechnology and Enterprise program offers flexibility and accessibility, enabling students to advance their careers while addressing the biotechnology industry’s evolving challenges. Graduates will emerge as skilled professionals ready to lead innovation and drive impactful change in the biotechnology sector.

Program of Study

The degree of Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology and Enterprise requires that students complete nine required courses and one elective, totaling 10 courses (30 credits).

Required Courses

• RABE 105 Molecular and Cell Biology
• RABE 110 Synthetic Biology & Genome Engineering
• RABE 115 Bioprocessing & Biomanufacturing
• RABE 120 Regulatory Science and Quality Control
• RABE 125 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
• RABE 130 AI/ML In Drug Development
• RABE 140 Strategic Partnerships in Biotech
• RABE 145 Project & Portfolio Management
• RABE 190 Data Communication in Biotech

Electives (choose one)

• RABE 135 Biotech Entrepreneurship & Startup
• RABE 150 Sustainable Biotechnology
• RABE 155 Advanced Topics in Immunotherapy
• RABE 160 Commercial Operations

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply molecular and computational biology principles to solve biotech problems.
• Leverage AI and computational tools to drive drug development with a focus on predictive modeling, machine learning applications, and data-driven decision-making in industry.
• Develop business strategies for biotech startups.
• Lead cross-disciplinary teams in biotech projects.
• Promote sustainability in biotech practices. 

Degree of Master of Science in Applied Leadership

The Master of Science in Applied Leadership is designed to develop forward-thinking, adaptable leaders equipped with the skills necessary to navigate complex and evolving industry landscapes. The program focuses on providing professionals with the competencies needed to drive organizational success, foster innovation, and lead effectively in an era of rapid technological and workforce transformation. By integrating interdisciplinary knowledge with practical leadership training, this program prepares graduates to take on leadership roles in diverse fields such as technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.

Program of Study

The degree of Master of Science in Applied Biotechnology & Enterprise requires that students complete two Master’s certificates for a total of eight courses, followed by two Applied Leadership courses, totaling 10 courses (30 credits)

Required Courses

Students select and complete two Master’s certificates prior to enrolling the below courses

• RALD 180 Leadership in Industry
• RALD 190  Industry Leadership Capstone

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced leadership competencies, including strategic decision-making, ethical leadership, and change management, to effectively lead teams and organizations in diverse industries.
• Apply data-driven and innovative problem-solving approaches to address complex challenges within industry settings, leveraging interdisciplinary knowledge and technological advancements.
• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that foster organizational growth, operational efficiency, and sustainable business practices.
• Exhibit effective communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills to drive innovation, enhance team performance, and build inclusive work environments.

Master's Certificate in Healthcare Analytics

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in healthcare analytics.

Program of Study 

The Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Analytics is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RHAN 100 Healthcare Database Fundamentals
• RHAN 110 Foundations of Healthcare Analytics
• RHAN 120 Data Mining and Visualization in Healthcare
• RHAN 130 Predictive Modeling in Healthcare

Master's Certificate in Genomics

A four-course, 12-credit certificate covering bioinformatics sequence analysis, including bioinformatics scripting skills and basic next-gen sequencing analysis.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in Genomics is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RBIF 100 Bioinformatics Scripting and Databases with Python
• RBIF 102 Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Disease
• RBIF 109 Biological Sequence Analysis
• RBIF 111 Biomedical Statistics with R

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Perform biological sequence analysis leveraging Python, R, and common bioinformatics data sources
• Apply and validate bioinformatics data models using large genomic datasets
• Analyze and apply basic NGS analysis towards identifying biological insights and drug discovery

Master's Certificate in Cheminformatics

A four-course, 12-credit certificate on cheminformatics, enabling the successful student to script in Python, and perform basic structural bioinformatics and cheminformatics analyses.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in Cheminformatics is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RBIF 100 Bioinformatics Scripting and Databases with Python
• RBIF 102 Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Disease
• RBIF 101 Structural Bioinformatics
• RBIF 110 Cheminformatics

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Gain skills in python, Pymol, and Knime for performing cheminformatics and data analysis tasks
• Understand the biological and biophysical bases of disease intervention by molecular medicines
• Learn to train and validate machine learning models for cheminformatics-based drug discovery

Master's Certificate in Drug Discovery

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in drug discovery.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in Drug Discovery is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RBIF 100 Bioinformatics Scripting and Databases with Python
• RBIF 101 Structural Bioinformatics
• RBIF 106 Drug Discovery & Development
• RBIF 111 Biomedical Statistics with R

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Gain basic proficiency in python and R for bioinformatics and data analysis tasks
• Understand the biological and biophysical bases of disease intervention by molecular medicines
• Understand the role of informatics in the drug discovery and development process, including target ID, lead optimization, DMPK profiling, safety assessment, biomarker development, clinical trials, and commercial assessment.

Master’s Certificate in Digital Accessibility

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in digital accessibility.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in digital accessibility is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RUCD 175 — Inclusive Design & Digital Accessibility
• RUCD 101 — User Experience Design
• RDMD 160 — Ethics in Digital Design and Marketing
• RUCD 140 — Research Methods

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply inclusive design standards and best practices, such as W3C and Human Interface Guidelines
• Promote accessibility through plain language principles and inclusive communication
• strategies
• Ensure assistive technology compatibility
• Conduct accessibility-focused research and user testing

Master's Certificate in Agile Project Management

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in agile project management.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in agile project management is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

Required Courses: 

• RPJM 101 — Foundations of Project Management
• RPJM 130 — Demystifying Agile Project Management
• RPJM 135 — Agile Tools and Techniques

Elective Courses (pick one):

• RCOM 202 — Communication for Effective Leadership
• RPJM 115 — Challenges in Project Management
• RPJM 118 — Procurement and Contract Management
• RPJM 290 — Special Topics in Project and Program Management
• RSAN 101 — Foundations of Data Science and Analytics
• RSAN 190 — Agile Project Management for Analytics

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Evaluate and apply project management methodologies
• Develop and manage Agile project deliverables, such as vision statements, product backlogs, iteration plans and burn-down charts
• Implement Agile frameworks and techniques, including Scrum and Extreme Programming
• Build high-performing teams and foster stakeholder engagement.

Master's Certificate in Content Marketing

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in content marketing.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in content marketing.is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RDMD 150 - Multimedia Creation for Campaign Storytelling
• RDMD 120 - Writing for Digital Environments
• RDMD 102 - Digital Marketing and Strategy
• RDMD 130 - Multichannel Marketing Campaigns

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Execute writing strategies for diverse digital environments, including websites, social media and email
• Plan and manage multichannel marketing campaigns using paid, owned and earned (POE) strategies
• Optimize content using data-driven approaches
• Integrate cross-functional marketing techniques like SEO, paid media and social amplification

Master's Certificate in Digital Marketing

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in digital marketing.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in digital marketing is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RDMD 102 - Digital Marketing Strategy
• RDMD 110 - Search Engine Marketing and Optimization
• RDMD 130 - Multichannel Marketing Campaigns
• RSAN 140 - Marketing and Customer Analytics

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Develop and implement digital marketing strategies, including search engine optimization (SEO)
• Analyze and optimize multichannel marketing campaigns across paid, owned and earned channels
• Leverage analytics for marketing insights and decision-making
• Evaluate digital marketing performance and trends

Master's Certificate in Marketing Analytics

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in marketing analytics.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in marketing analytics is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RDMD 110  — Search Engine Marketing and Optimization
• RDMD 135 — Conversion Rate Optimization
• RSAN 140  —  Marketing and Customer Analytics
• RSAN 130 — Data Visualization for Strategic Analytics

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Apply data science fundamentals in business contexts
• Optimize marketing performance with Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO)
• Design and critique effective data visualizations
• Communicate data-driven insights through storytelling

Master's Certificate in Project Management

A four-course, 12-credit certificate on project management.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in project management is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RPJM 101 — Foundations of Project Management
• RPJM 103 — Project Scheduling and Cost Management
• RPJM 110 — Risk Management in Projects and Programs
• RPJM 119 — The Human Side of Project Leadership

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Develop comprehensive project plans, creating detailed project charters, scope documents, schedules, and budgets
• Identify and mitigate project risks using qualitative and quantitative analyses
• Lead high-performing teams and engage stakeholders
• Track and control project performance using project management tools and metrics

Master's Certificate in UX Research

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in UX research.

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in UX research is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RUCD 101 — User Experience Design
• RUCD 140 — User Research Methods
• RUCD 145 — Contextual Research
• RUCD 165 — Survey Methods

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Conduct user-centered research for design decisions
• Implement ethics in digital design and data representation
• Develop and interpret user personas and journeys
• Evaluate and apply inclusive research and design principles

Master's Certificate in Change Management

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in Change Management

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in Change Management h is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RPJM 101 – Foundations of Project Management
• RPJM 113 – Negotiating and Conflict Resolution
• RPJM 119 – The Human Side of Project Leadership
• RCOM 202 – Communication for Effective Leadership

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to apply project management methodologies to plan, execute, and evaluate organizational change inititiaves.
• Develop Strategies to lead and manage diverse teams through transitions while fostering collaboration and resilience.
• Utilize communication techniques to effectively convey vision, motivate stakeholders, and manage resistance to change.
• Analyze organizational challenges and design actionable, ethical solutions to support sustainable growth and innovation.

Master's Certificate in Biotechnology Leadership and Entrepreneurship

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in Biotechnology Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in UX research is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RABE 135 Biotech Entrepreneurship and Startup Development
• RABE 140 Strategic Partnerships in Biotech
• RABE 145 Project and Portfolio Management
• RABE 160 Commercial Operations in Biotech

Master's Certificate in Sustainable Biotechnology Manufacturing and Compliance

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in Sustainable Biotechnology Manufacturing and Compliance

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Biotechnology Manufacturing and Compliance is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• Sustainable Biology
• Bioprocessing and Biomanufacturing
• Regulatory Science and Quality Control
• Project and Portfolio Management

Master's Certificate in Advanced Therapeutics and Immunology

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in Advanced Therapeutics and Immunology

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate in Advanced Therapeutics and Immunology is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

• RABE 155 Advanced Topics in Immunotherapy and Vaccines
• RABE 105 Molecular and Cell Biology
• RABE 110 Synthetic Biology and Genome Engineering
• RABE 130 AI and Machine Learning in Drug Development

Master's Certificate in AI-Driven Leadership

A four-course, 12-credit certificate in AI-Driven Leadership

Program of Study

The Graduate Certificate inAI-Driven Leadership is a 12-credit, four-course program.

Students must take the following:

Required Courses: 

• RALD 100 – AI Fundamentals for Leaders
• RALD 120 – Strategic Implementation of AI in Business
• RALD 140  — Ethical Leadership and AI Governance
• RALD 160  — AI-Driven Decision-Making and Innovation

Listed below are courses of instruction for the Rabb School of Continuing Studies, Division of Graduate Professional Studies. Online courses are presented in 10 discrete weekly modules.

Courses are available to all students qualified to take them. Course prerequisites are listed on the GPS website. When course prerequisites are not met, access to some courses may be provided following instructor or program chair approval.

Generally, a course is offered with the frequency of 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.

“An ancient hatred has been reborn,” wrote the late Lord Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, referring to the sharp increase in antisemitic incidents in Europe over the last decade. In the American context, we have also witnessed this disturbing trend. Synagogues and other Jewish institutions have experienced violent attacks. Jewish professionals working on many college campuses grapple with open anti-Jewish and anti-Israel activities. The alarming increase in anti-Jewish rhetoric, threats, and violence necessitates that Jewish professional leaders understand the complex factors that contribute to antisemitism; have tools to prevent, confront, and combat it; and are prepared to respond effectively should incidents occur in their communities. That is what this course equips you to do. Usually offered every year.

Yields half-course credit.

Human resources management (HRM) aligns people with an organization's mission. This course considers general principles of HRM and their application to Jewish and other non-profit organizations. It also focuses on concepts and strategies that increase organizational effectiveness and promote employee-centric practices.

Integrates contemporary management theory and research, case studies, and experiential assignments to provide understanding of individual and group behavior in Jewish nonprofit organizations. The purpose is to prepare Jewish professional leaders with frameworks, concepts, tools, and skills needed to manage and lead nonprofit organizations effectively and enhance the quality of employee work life. Topics include (but are not limited to) organizational culture, power and influence, organizational structure, human resources, group dynamics, lay-professional relations, and organizational innovation and change. Usually offered every year.

Briefly explores the evolution of the Jewish philanthropic system and then delves into the advanced skills and techniques needed to succeed in today’s Jewish nonprofit development world. In this online, cohort-based program, you'll discover universal practices for any organization, regardless of size, scope, or mission, through a Jewish lens. You'll learn fundraising best practices and proven strategies for creating meaningful engagement opportunities, developing and drafting targeted donor communications, and managing boards, events, and data, all of which lead to ongoing growth and sustainability for any organization. Usually offered every year.

An introduction to the field of Jewish professional leadership for emerging practitioners. The course covers the foundational components of this degree: a) an introduction to Jewish communal life and its organization, b) thinking about leadership and your professional path, and c) core leadership practices and tools related to strategy and communications. Throughout the course, students will deepen their understanding of themselves and those in the Jewish communal sector, while they explore the theory and practice of leadership through looking at how it applies across different Jewish communities and organizations. The focus on strategy will be on practical tools and applications related to building a strategic plan, and core skills related to communications and crisis management. Usually offered every year.

Provides an in-depth understanding of project and portfolio management principles tailored to the biotechnology industry. Topics include project planning, risk management, budgeting, and resource allocation. Students will explore best practices for balancing competing priorities across multiple projects in a biotech portfolio. Emphasis will be placed on tools and methodologies such as Agile, and Lean Six Sigma. Practical assignments will help students apply project management frameworks to real-world biotech scenarios.

Equips leaders with a foundational understanding of AI concepts, terminologies, and technologies to facilitate informed decision-making. Key topics include machine learning, data science, algorithms, and data structures. We will explore AI applications across various industries and evaluate the limitations and capabilities of AI by analyzing real-life case studies of AI solution implementations.

This course is a high-content introduction to scripting and programming with applications in bioinformatics. It is appropriate for students with little previous programming experience. The course covers the fundamentals of working with Linux systems, using bioinformatics tools, and manipulating biological data files. The focus will be on scripting with Bash and Python. The course will also touch on topics such as how to interact programmatically with SQL databases and RESTful web services, and how to work with distributed compute systems to perform large calculations.

In this intensive course students will investigate the interrelationships existing amongst protein sequence, structure, and function through the lens of a structural bioinformaticist. Topics covered range from analysis of protein structure to domain classification, phylogeny, structural modeling, interaction site prediction, kinetics and thermodynamics of biomolecular interactions, and structure-based drug design. Throughout the course students will be exposed to software tools utilized by structural bioinformaticists in their daily work.

This course is an exploration of current research in molecular biology and genetics with a focus on human disease. Students are expected to already have familiarity with university level biological concepts. Topics to be covered will include: genetic mapping and genome wide association studies, cell signaling, control of gene expression, epigenetics, RNAi, developmental biology, apoptosis, immunology, virology, and cancer.  Students will learn to read and critique primary research articles. In addition, students will be introduced to relevant experimental techniques and how these techniques are applied in biomedical research.

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 principles behind drug properties and actions; target product profiles; disease and drug target selection, sources of drug-like molecules; assays and screening; medicinal chemistry; pharmacology; toxicology; and clinical trials.

Computational systems biology is a field that aims to provide an integrative, system-level understanding of biology through the modeling of experimental data. The course covers interacting systems by defining the basic structures of the biological network that allow a living cell to maintain homeostasis under different conditions and perturbations.

This course provides a foundation in biological sequence analysis, including methods for handling next-generation sequencing data. Topics include genomic assembly and variant detection using short reads, methods for homology detection, functional annotation of sequences, and use of databases and visualization tools.

This course covers small molecule data science, and modeling at the molecular level. We will introduce digital representations of molecules early on, and the first half of the course will cover topics in basic macromolecular structure and thermodynamics relevant to prediction and analysis of macromolecular interactions, and includes crystallography, energetics of hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions, and structure-based docking. The second half of the course will dive deeper into the basics of cheminformatics, covering chemical structures, chemical descriptors, and methods for clustering and similarity-searching for compounds.

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.

The development of new bioinformatics tools typically involves some form of data modeling, prediction or optimization. This course introduces various modeling, prediction, and machine learning 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.

Transcriptomic studies are routinely used in genomic studies to detect changes in mRNA expression levels and have been key in developing biomarkers for several diseases. These experiments have fundamental statistical and data processing challenges associated with them. This course covers the statistical aspects of experimental design, biological and technical replicates, preprocessing, quality assessment, parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, multiple-hypothesis testing, P-value correction and false discovery rates, visualization techniques (e.g. heatmaps, volcano plots), and biological significance (e.g. functional annotation, pathways, hypergeometric tests, gene set enrichment).

This course covers methods in statistical genetics used to detect disease or quantitative trait loci in experimental and human populations. Basic concepts in Genetics, Genomics and Genetic Epidemiology are reviewed, with an emphasis on the statistical and practical issues involved in genetic analysis. Both linkage and association approaches will be covered, with a focus on applications in the human genome wide association (GWAS) setting for both SNPs and CNVs. Approaches to extracting and enriching GWAS through genotype imputation, GSEA, meta-analysis and genetics of gene expression analysis will also be covered, along with topics relevant to pharmacogenetics and techniques to analyze next generation sequencing data in a population setting.

This course introduces students to basic research in computational biology. The student and instructor will propose a novel research project with the goal of publishing their findings in a peer-reviewed journal. The scope of the project will be well defined and will be completed within one term. The instructor will oversee all aspects of the project and will provide appropriate scientific guidance and mentorship. The student will perform the research and will present their research to faculty at the end of each term. Research topics include but are not limited to scientific programming, software development, genome analysis, structural bioinformatics, evolution, drug discovery, and systems biology.

This course enables students to build on their critical thinking skills and apply oral and written communication strategies to solve organizational problems and drive organizational change. Students will develop, execute, and measure strategies applicable to a wide range of industries. Topics include negotiation and facilitation; crisis communications and public relations; virtual and global communications; and stakeholder management.

In this course you will learn the origins of the digital marketing channel, how it’s transformed the way customers interact with brands and products, as well as how marketers leverage the different digital channels to optimize sales, awareness, and engagement goals. You will also come away with a deeper understanding of how marketing teams function based on different KPIs for a real-world company or organization.

Provides an overview of Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) including organic, local, and paid results. Course content investigates applications to both B2C and B2B businesses with a focus on technical considerations for achieving high search results and effective return on investment (ROI) for paid listings. Special topics covered include keyword development, landing page optimization, programmatic advertising, implications of AI and Machine Learning, and the future of Search.

Provides a framework to create platform-specific content for various digital environments. Each week explores a specific format and guides the creation of human-authored written messaging designed to engage a defined target audience. Special attention is given to differences in form factor, character count limitations, platform restrictions, and contemporary industry practice. In addition, integrations between written content and static/motion graphics are explored, as well as implications for other marketing disciplines (e.g., search engine optimization, mobile-first design, and incorporation of AI-authored material).

The Multichannel Marketing Campaigns course is set up as a strategic and practical guide to designing, conducting and measuring multichannel marketing initiatives ' for B2B and B2C brands. The course is designed to teach the fundamentals of 21st Century Digital Marketing ' based on creating on-going, seamless customer experiences across digital and traditional channels. Included in the foundational topics covered in this class are the three stages of marketing: The New Customer Journey, and Why the Marketing Campaign is dead; Developing customer journeys ' the fundamentals; Content, Channels and Measurement for Consumer Journeys. In addition, this course will look at the principles of paid, owned, and earned as converged digital marketing, and the role of diagnosing the channels for acquiring new customers.

Digital marketing is a broad field that encompasses more than just acquiring new customers to your product or service. In Conversion Rate Optimization, you will learn how to improve the customer journey and reduce friction throughout the funnel. You will learn best practices to streamline signup flows, improve onboarding, nurture leads, and increase customer lifetime value. At the end of this course, you should have a better idea of how to handle digital touchpoints for both prospects and customers that have raised their hands to express interest in your product or service.

Equips students with the skills necessary to develop digital storytelling using both contemporary and AI tools, and to examine how brands use digital media across online platforms — from social media to blogs and websites. Students will analyze strategies and techniques brands employ to tell stories that engage audiences and drive consumer action.

Integrating lectures with dynamic, hands-on projects, students will build competencies in digital content production, video editing, and AI tools. They will learn to apply these skills to craft, construct, and critique compelling creative content for brand narratives and marketing campaigns, preparing them to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving digital media landscape. 

This course presents ethical dilemmas in digital marketing and works through the implications of various actions, such as tricking search engines (typically called 'black hat' techniques), posing as customers in social media, making false or exaggerated claims, and using questionable or sneaky channels (e.g. popups and plugins). In this course, we will explore several issues or concepts in depth, first introducing the facets and aspects of the topic, then utilizing that knowledge to develop our principles and values through dialogue and the examination of multiple perspectives.

Designed to provide students with an understanding of the challenges of collecting and maintaining electronic health data. The course focuses on issues specific to health data and the systems implemented to collect and store it. This includes an overview of various types of hospital systems; methods used to interface between systems; and operations issues typical of hospital systems. The course also includes a study of the evolving health care regulatory environment and common classifications for health care data. By the end of the course, students will be able to evaluate and identity health care data set problems and implement EHR-based solutions to the source data.

Gives students an overview of the history, concepts, purpose, and building blocks of healthcare analytics. Topics will include data acquisition and management, data analysis and visualization, and storytelling with data. Using case studies and other applied assignments, students will learn how to use statistical techniques to plan, deliver, and improve healthcare services, interpret data to make evidence-based decisions, and visualize large amounts of data to generate reports that tell a story. Given the rapidly advancing nature of the field, the course will touch on the latest technologies for healthcare data analytics. This course will also prepare students to begin work on the healthcare analytics capstone project, to be completed by the end of the program.

Among the most promising developments in data analytics is the growth in Data/Information Visualization. Across numerous disciplines, tools and techniques are emerging that help people interactively analyze and understand the flood of data now available. There is rapid growth in the availability of tools and also in the number of domains in which these techniques are deployed, including healthcare.

Visualization can tap into the ways in which health professionals rapidly and intuitively process information, taking advantage of IT tools to move beyond tabular displays and simple graphs. The theory and techniques of data visualization not only make information accessible, but also can open paths to exploration of cause and effect.

This course provides an overview of the field of data visualization, presenting current theory and best practices to students. We will rely heavily on hands-on learning, developing skills in Tableau and R. Although we naturally will use particular software, the lessons are aimed at principles so that students can continue to refine their skills as new tools emerge. Students will learn to evaluate and assess existing visualizations as well as develop their own information-rich interactive displays.

Teaches theory and best practices of modern healthcare analytics with attention to classification and prediction models. We cover preparation, visualization, and exploration of data and provide hands-on experience with the main methods of data mining and machine learning. In working with RStudio and R packages, students will become experienced in the creation of accurate models, as well as professional communication of their analytic results.

Some of the most important recent innovations in healthcare analytics are rooted in the fields of data mining and machine learning. In this course we will study a variety of major techniques currently applied to healthcare data, always in the context of real problems, and the search for actionable results. We will regularly move between theory and practice, working through the challenges of coding and managing data sources in a flexible yet efficient manner.

This course covers the concepts and practices of using user access control techniques and mechanisms to appropriately address security requirements such as confidentiality, integrity, authentication, authorization, and accountability. Concepts explored include common IT security challenges; the role of cryptography; access control principles, mechanisms, and techniques related to user identification and strategies for enabling stronger authentication using Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI), smartcards, and biometrics; enterprise identity management concepts; and industry standards for enabling identity provisioning, single sign-on, and federation.

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.

Cloud computing is ubiquitous. Understanding Cloud and adding value in the migration, implementation, auditing and management of Cloud solutions and service models is the frontier of today's security leader. Increasingly our role is demanding advisory guidance and insight to groups such as Legal, Procurement, and Senior Executives. Being conversant in SaaS, PaaS, IaaS is no longer an option but is now a requirement, and integrating Cloud knowledge into a security program and security leadership will demand a multifaceted understanding of the technical, the managerial, and the business objectives. The focus of this course is to provide insight into:
' Cloud definitions and service models
' Cloud risk assessment and auditing
' Cloud security and controls
' Data governance and management
' Cloud contract management and managed service provider management
' Legal and regulatory considerations
Our goal is a comprehensive view on Cloud that will enable the security leader to become fluent in assessing, negotiating, managing, controlling and reporting upon Cloud value and Cloud data protection in their organization.

Network security is a broad term that can refer to the security of devices that comprise the network infrastructure, the traffic sent over that infrastructure, the hosts (clients and servers) attached to the infrastructure, the applications that utilize the network, the user community and the policies that govern usage of that network.

In this course, we will use the first four layers of the OSI protocol stack (physical, link, network, and transport) to introduce many aspects of network security. In particular, we will consider how devices at each layer provide 'defense in depth' by securing communications traffic as well as preventing unauthorized access. Our examination will be enhanced by using various security tools to observe network traffic that illustrates how security can be applied throughout today's enterprise.

Projects today are the means for introducing innovation and implementing an organization's strategy, and project management is a discipline to deliver value. In this course, students will study the foundational principles and concepts that are applicable to a wide variety of projects. The course will explore the predictive (traditional) as well as agile approaches to managing projects. Using a real life-like case study in which an organization addresses a business problem by launching a new project, students will have an opportunity to walk in the shoes of a project manager as the project goes through the stages of initiation, planning and execution. Working individually as well as in groups, students will apply the tools and techniques that they have learned and experience first hand the challenges of working in teams solving complex project problems.

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; and decision-making processes that optimize both project performance and return on investment.

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 and 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.

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. By participating in this course you will come to recognize the pervasiveness and importance of negotiation. You will acquire a new repertoire of negotiating skills. You will develop a systematic and positive approach to negotiating with colleagues, bosses, clients, other stakeholders, and external groups of all kinds--in ways that equip you to deal also with all kinds of conditions and circumstances.

The Project Management industry has grown immensely over the last ten years, and its trajectory is not slowing down.  As a result, the skill-set that Project Managers bring to the table is becoming more and more desirable to leaders, customers, project team members, subject matter experts, and stakeholders of all kinds.  Project Management is both a science and an art, and with both come specific challenges that Project Managers consistently face throughout the project lifecycle.

This course will examine those various challenges that more often than not arise within projects lifecycle, threatening project success.  The course gives students the opportunity to analyze the reasons these challenges occur and solutions for anticipating, preventing, minimizing and/or mitigating them. Because the primary source of many of these challenges are related to people, process, and communication, the course will focus heavily on these three elements, while also leaving room for additional challenges that may stem from different sources.

Successful Project Management requires people to excel in collaboration, facilitation, and communication.  Therefore, this course’s activities will vary between individual reading, group discussions, individual assignments, and collaborative team assignments.  Students should be ready to be on camera, collaborate with their fellow classmates to identify and analyze the challenges presented, and get creative with resolutions for the issues that arise as a result of these challenges.

Programs connect a company's strategic plans to the projects necessary to implement them. Programs frequently 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.

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) and the evaluation and use of contract information systems.

This course examines the people-related aspects of project management across several areas, including team and stakeholder management; the role of the project manager in relation to the different levels, positions and personalities among the team and stakeholders; and the vital aspect of communications in effective project management. Also covered is the importance of project leadership vs. management, and an in-depth examination of the many people-related issues that often arise during the project lifecycle.

Agile project management techniques are being applied within a growing number of companies of various sizes and industries, from the entrepreneurial to the conservative. This course covers characteristics and delivery frameworks for agile project management. The course also explores how agile methods differ from traditional project management, along with how to recognize projects that may be suitable for agile techniques. Additional topics include the values, roles, deliverables, and practices of Scrum; additional agile and iterative methods; scalability and enterprise-wide considerations.

Agile approaches are being utilized in a myriad of projects, startups, and business units throughout the corporate world. This course takes the basics of Agile and sharpens this knowledge by demonstrating techniques to implement Agile practices in teams, projects, and the enterprise. We will first take a deeper dive into Agile techniques and practices that help teams create value. We will then study how Agile at scale creates an Agile enterprise where innovation teams collaboratively work with plan based approaches to deliver better results at the enterprise level. Students will be able to carry tools with them that will not only help in delivering innovative solutions in an Agile environment, but also help them coach teams and organizations to embrace Agile approaches.

In this course, we will be exploring how to approach projects as investments and how to measure and manage their performance. You will learn advanced concepts in critical path analysis and how to calculate metrics related to understanding the cost and value of projects.

As you progress through the course, you will discover how to manage the triple constraint in order to maximize the return on investment of your projects. This includes learning about resource scheduling and leveling, as well as earned-value-based techniques such as the schedule performance index (SPI) and earned schedule tracking. You will also delve into innovative measurements such as critical path drag, Devaux's Index of Project Performance (DIPP), and the cost of leveling with unresolved bottlenecks (CLUB).

All projects are investments, and this course will teach you how to allocate your resources effectively in order to achieve a profit or positive result. Whether you work in a corporate setting, government agency, or non-profit organization, the skills and knowledge you gain in this course will be valuable in helping you manage your projects as investments.

This course provides a foundation of the history, concepts, purpose and application of both data science and analytics in a business environment. This includes the methods of data collection, preparation, analysis, visualization, management, security, and preservation of large sets of information. Also covered in the course are the primary methods of analytics, including predictive, prescriptive, and descriptive. The course will examine the various uses of analytics and how these methods identify and leverage competitive advantage in the era of ever-growing information requirements.  Through Python programming for beginners and real-world public datasets, some business problems will be analyzed in this course. Tools such as Pandas, Jupyter Notebooks, or Spyder are used to identify and understand relationships in data and visualize information. The course will offer opportunities to create expressive data science projects while utilizing case studies, trends, techniques, and best practices in the data science field.

Tap into technology’s full potential — through Business Intelligence (BI) and Strategic IT Leadership. Explore how digital transformation propels the business world with increased speed, innovation, and effectiveness. Learn how to apply new technologies for Business Intelligence (BI) and real-time analytics to turn your resources into a competitive advantage through actionable insights into emerging markets and customer behavior. Weekly modules will teach you how digital transformation fundamentally changes business operations and how Artificial Intelligence and machine learning change how data is analyzed and decisions are made.

This course does not stop with theory. You will acquire practical skills to use data to your business advantage through sound data management techniques, tap into the power of cloud services, build robust network infrastructures, and adopt the latest decision-making strategies. You will critically examine the role of enterprise systems and knowledge management. You will also explore the ethical dimensions of IT and artificial intelligence. Ultimately, you will be an expert in using BI to guide your strategic advantage. You will be ready to lead IT initiatives to drive your business into a sustainable future. Join us to become an effective leader in the changing landscape of business intelligence and IT leadership.

This course presents fundamental principles of statistics in the context of business-related data analysis and decision making, including methods of summarizing and analyzing data, statistical reasoning for learning from observations (experimental or sample), and techniques for dealing with uncertainties in drawing conclusions from collected data. Topics covered include applied probability, sampling, estimation, hypothesis testing, linear regression, analysis of variance, categorical data analysis, and nonparametric statistics.

This course will focus on the topic of big data and its management, including the tools and techniques designed to effectively analyze and visualize big data for strategic advantage. The course will cover definitions and concepts related to the areas of big data, strategic analytics, and data visualization; the overall problem of big data and the tools and techniques designed to manage it; and the ways in which strategic analytics and visualization can be utilized in different fields and industries to have a strategic impact on an organization's competitive advantage in today's business environment. The course will also address the future path of big data management, analytics and visualization, including career options and outlook.

This course will provide an introduction to advanced analytics and measurement in the areas of social networking and media, web and marketing analytics. The topics covered include the history, tracking, performance, optimization, metrics, analysis, visualization, decision making, reporting and best practices in each of those three areas. E-commerce will also be covered as it relates to web and marketing.

This course will provide an overview of data governance, including building a governance infrastructure with  organizational management, roles and responsibilities, stewardship, governance communications, regulatory  compliance, privacy concerns, data security, and risk management. Data quality will be addressed as a  continuous issue in data management, and the challenge it poses as the volumes of data increase and the uses  for data expand. This course will utilize case studies, trends, techniques, and best practices as it examines the  topics of data quality and data governance.

This course will focus on the fundamentals of predictive analytics as it relates to improving business performance. The course will cover predictive models, key modeling techniques, scoring, non-parametric regression and classification, principal components analysis and dimension reduction, time series, quality control methods, multiple predictor variables, and decision trees. The course will utilize best practices and case studies to illustrate how predictive analytics can facilitate educated decision-making to reduce costs, increase revenues, and provide competitive advantage across a variety of industries.

Organizations are experiencing unprecedented change due to the new realities of the digital world. Data now drives decisions in organizations more than ever before. Organizations have more data than they have ever had before, and more ways to analyze it are presented every day. Yet strategic initiatives continue to fail as often as they have in the past. Clearly a new approach to this issue is necessary. This course will cover an integrated approach to strategic management decision making, incorporating a thorough and realistic treatment of its relevance and its challenges. The course also covers how to plan and adopt big data analytics solutions through comprehensive planning, strategy development, and analysis.

This course will provide an overview of data security, privacy concerns, and ethics. The areas where information technology and privacy and ethics meet will be covered. Throughout the course, students will learn how to identify and assess the challenges inherent in data security and privacy, and the effectiveness of data security controls are discussed. This course will utilize case studies, trends, techniques, and best practices as it examines the latest technology impacting data security, privacy, and ethics in cyberspace. The course will touch on the virtual security, data security, and ethics in virtual worlds like Metaverse environments, and cover security and challenges of cryptocurrency wallets, and exchanges.

This course covers principles and concepts of agile project management in alignment with the needs of strategic analytics projects. Agile project management techniques take into consideration the values, roles, deliverables, and practices of Scrum; additional agile and iterative methods; scalability and enterprise-wide considerations. Concepts covered include process groups from initiation through closure; techniques for estimating and reporting; and management of risk, quality, resources, and communications. The dynamic nature of analytics projects, which include data warehouse implementations and business intelligence solutions, are characterized by uncertain or changing requirements and high implementation risks.

The field of Strategic Analytics is continually expanding and makes the news both national and globally every day. This Strategic Analytics Special Topics course facilitates the introduction of cutting-edge data practices'particularly around big data--as they are introduced in the industry. This course will cover new standards and practices as they are introduced, novel approaches and refined existing methodologies, and updated industry data and case studies on the most recent developments and practices in the area of Strategic Analytics.

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).

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.

This course examines major aspects of the Spring Framework. The Spring Framework can be used in developing any Java application, but it is especially effective for building Web and Enterprise Java applications (JEE). Spring is the most popular application development framework for the Web Enterprise Java. Millions of developers around the world use Spring Framework to create high performing, easily testable, reusable Web and Enterprise Applications.

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.

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 and Use Case analysis; control and distribution models; estimating and scheduling; risk management; software maintenance and improvement; and ethics within the industry.

This course provides an introduction to theory, tools and techniques needed by software release engineers. It is intended to give students the skills to evaluate and use tools for continuous integration and delivery (DevOps).

This course provides an opportunity for students to work collaboratively on a complex software project. Organized in teams, students will analyze a software problem, develop requirements, designs, test plans, and deliver code. Students will synthesize skills learned in the core courses of the Software Engineering program to deliver a significant project, under the guidance of faculty.

This course introduces user interface design principles and concepts of user-centered design. User interface concepts for web, desktop and mobile applications are practiced in a variety of design projects. Universal design concepts, accessibility design, navigational schemas and elements of screen design are also discussed.

Introduces students to a variety of systematic testing techniques and methods, as well as an overview of the levels and styles of testing used in practice. You will be able to work with tools to create and run unit tests and behavior-driven tests with a final assignment involving Web testing.  We will also investigate a variety of tools applicable to testing, including code coverage, profiling, and statistics related to testing.

Experience with Java is essential – students will be expected to write code and automated tests in Java.

This course provides hands-on experience with functional programming'a style of programming that has seen increasing popularity due to its ability to work with complex concepts through highly adaptable models. Functional programming supports higher-level abstractions, customizable data structures, as well as concurrency and parallelism inherent in cloud computing and big data analytics. Students will use functional extensions of Java and a popular functional programming language Scala to apply functional programming approach to a variety of design, modeling and implementation challenges.

This course provides an extensive examination of the following Web Development Technologies used in developing web applications: HTML5, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS3), Responsive Web Design, Modern JavaScript, React JS.

Design Patterns form an advanced area in object oriented design and architecture. Design patterns focus on solutions to problems commonly found in design of object oriented programs. The first part of the course examines the fundamentals of the core patterns: creational, behavioral, structural, and system patterns.

This course provides an in-depth, hands-on study of building microservices applications using Java, Spring Framework, Spring Boot, Docker, Swagger, Kubernetes. Microservices create small, distributed, and independent services that require careful design and implementation.  Spring Boot simplifies microservices application development. It removes the boilerplate code involved with writing a REST-based service. Docker containers help to pack, ship, and run any application as a lightweight, portable, self-sufficient container that can run virtually anywhere. Swagger provides an efficient way to document the REST APIs developed by Microservices.Kubernetes provides an efficient deployment, scaling, management of Microservices. Hands-on development projects will provide opportunity to apply Microservices technological capabilities to creation of Microservices Projects.

Agile Software Development has evolved into a flexible software lifecycle model, framework, and set of development techniques that present an answer to challenges of developing software projects under tight timelines and changing requirements. This course will use a variety of software projects and case studies to define agile software development practices and the concepts of adaptive and evolutionary refinement, and to demonstrate how they can be used to deliver software projects. The course will examine best practices in applying agile software development techniques as a flexible response to changes. SCRUM framework, a popular methodology in Agile Software Development, will be examined and used in team projects, as a flexible methodology for self-organizing teams.

This course introduces students to user-centered design (UCD), design thinking, Lean UX, and associated methodologies. It is heavily focused on user research and user-centered design. Students will explore a range of UCD approaches while gaining practical experience creating portfolio-ready deliverables. The course will focus primarily on website and mobile user research and design.

This course will examine the psychological and social principles impacting human factors in physical and virtual environments. Students will explore biological, perceptual, and cognitive factors in the context of interface design and ergonomics. Human-centered design will play a central role in considering the cultural and social implications of design.

Information Architecture (IA) is defined as 'the art and science of organizing and labeling shared information environments (websites, intranets, online communities and software) to support usability and findability.' (source: iainsitute.org). This course balances theoretical grounding of IA with practical design work. We will cover principles of IA as a professional practice and how to design effective, research-supported, user-centered information systems. Students will understand and apply information organization concepts; design and apply appropriate assessment techniques for particular information environments; and develop strategies to effectively communicate design rationale and advocate for users.

Human-centered design depends on a deep understanding of user goals, needs, and behaviors that only user research can provide. This course will introduce students to key qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including surveys, interviews, and usability testing. A range of research approaches will be covered, including moderated vs. unmoderated; formative, iterative, and summative; as well as lab, field and remote studies. Key statistical and ethical concepts will be explored in the context of applied research challenges.

Prerequisites: RUCD 101 and RUCD 140.

Contextual research allows researchers and organizations to gain richer insights into user goals, needs, and challenges by bringing the researcher directly into the user’s real-world environment. It draws from the social science-based method, ethnography, and has been adapted for product and service design.

This course emphasizes the role of the researcher as the primary data collection instrument. Students will hone skills like observation, reflexivity, and storytelling. Through hands-on practice and guided exercises, they will learn to engage with and interpret real-world contexts, conducting their own field research to apply these essential skills.

The goal of this course is to build practical interaction design and problem-solving skills. Students will be exposed to a toolkit of methods for every stage of the design process, from brainstorming and sketching through prototyping at various levels of fidelity. Throughout the course, students will practice divergent and convergent thinking necessary to solve real world design problems within the context of a collaborative and user-centered process.

The goal of information visualization is to communicate information accurately and effectively to users, helping them to analyze and make decisions about data and evidence. The course will cover various data visualization theory and techniques, while providing students with the opportunity to apply them. Students will gain an understanding as to how humans visually perceive and make inferences from data graphics. They will experiment with various data models, graphical conventions, and tools as they design, innovate and evaluate data visualizations.

Prerequisites: RUCD 101 and RUCD 140 for UCD students. (RUCD 101 for all others.)

Surveys, when done well, are a valuable part of the UX and market research toolkit. This course will cover the entire survey design and analysis process, including writing effective questions, pre-testing, data collection strategies, and reporting. In addition to designing and fielding their own survey, students will learn when and how to utilize specialized questionnaires such as the Net Promoter Score and System Usability Scale. Relevant statistical concepts related to sampling and data analysis (e.g., margin of error and confidence intervals) will be introduced in a manner accessible to students with no previous knowledge of statistics. Lastly, surveys will be placed in their proper context of a mixed methods research strategy.

In this course students will learn the strategies for effective leadership of design teams and processes, particularly from an institutional/business perspective. Operational topics include: building effective teams; project management; cost analysis; and resource allocation. Leadership components include methods of leadership within the contexts of conception, design, implementation; and operational leadership for products, processes and systems.

The goal of universal design is to build products and interfaces that are usable and accessible to everyone, not just a small subset of normative or ‘average’ users. This course will provide an introduction to universal design for digital and physical accessibility. Students will gain an understanding of the range of physical, cognitive, contextual, and social disabilities that challenge technology users, and how inclusive design benefits everyone. Topics covered include accessibility guidelines, assistive technologies, plain language, and legal and ethical considerations.

This seminar-style course is intended to bring together all of the prior knowledge and skills that the student has obtained. Students will work independently or in small teams to produce a prototype of a product or system. The process will be an iterative, semester-long project in which students (or small teams of students) will identify the purpose of the design; construct a set of wireframe documentation with justification for the design, capturing the up-front intentions behind the user experience; and mockup and/or prototype the UX with subsequent user testing that leads to a final prototype. With the exception of the final prototype, each part of the process will include peer reviews. A final presentation of the product will be the culminating activity, and will receive feedback from a program-curated group of industry experts.

The field of user-centered design is continually evolving. New technologies and research into human factors are continually introduced and evolving. This course facilitates the introduction of cutting-edge practices and technologies as they are introduced in the industry.

The Internship course provides students with an opportunity to learn and gain hands-on experience related to their individual career goals and/or field of study. There are many benefits in pursuing an internship, including valuable workplace experience, learning from professionals, meeting new contacts, and testing your "fit" in a field.
UX internships offer students the opportunity to apply the design and research skills they have mastered through UCD coursework. Students are responsible for securing the internship and the support of a site supervisor with a UX background who is willing to commit to actively mentoring them throughout the session. The internship has to have a specific focus on one or more aspects of user experience or an adjacent field (user research, UX design, service design, etc.). Students cannot earn internship credit through their current position/employer. Students must work at least 100 hours at the internship site, and complete a portfolio piece, reflection paper or case study based on their experience.
Students are limited to completing one internship for graduate credit as part of their Master’s degree. Internships must be secured by the student and approved by the chair at least 45 days prior to the start of the session. The internship must include a supervisor to whom you report for your work at the company or organization.