2025-2026 Bulletin: Program Requirements

Aug 17, 2025

2025-2026 Bulletin: Program Requirements

PhD, Information Systems and Technology

The PhD program prepares students to participate in the academic information systems and technology research community. Doctoral graduates are prepared to conduct rigorous and relevant research and to apply learning and skills to teaching, consulting, and other activities.

University Policies

Policies detailed in the current Policies and General Information Bulletin apply.

Admissions Requirements

Admission requirements are detailed in the Admissions section of the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.

Degree Requirements

Coursework. A total of 76 units are required for the degree including 4 units of TNDY course(s).

Transfer Credit. Credit may be given for coursework taken at other institutions and other courses may be transferred per the University’s policy on transfer credit.

Qualifying Exam. Students beginning the doctoral program in Summer 2014 and later are required to take the Qualifying Exam within 18 to 24 months after starting the program. To be eligible to take the exam, students must have completed the specific courses covered by the exam and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5, with no grade of less than B+ in those courses. Students who do not pass the exam on the first attempt are permitted only one additional attempt, to be taken within one year of failing the first attempt.

Doctoral Research Seminars

IST 501A - Introduction to IS&T Research
IST 503 - Qualitative Research
IST 504 - Quantitative Research
IST 505 - Design Research
IST 507 - Dissertation Proposal: From Ideation to Draft Proposal (to be taken after the Qualifying Exam is successfully passed).

Qualifying Portfolio. The program requires students to develop a qualifying portfolio.The Qualifying Portfolio contains documented activities that reflect your transition from doctoral student to industry professional or academic expert. As such, your Qualifying Portfolio will include items specific to your career goals.

Dissertation. Requirements and processes for the dissertation are established by University policy. Refer to the Doctoral Degree Regulations section of the current Policies and General Information Bulletin.

Time to Degree. The University’s Time to Degree policy applies, including a reduction of time due to transferring units (see the current Policies and General Information Bulletin) for applicable policies. Students who are unable to complete their PhD in ten years will be dismissed from the program.

Grade point average. Students must comply with the Satisfactory Academic Progress policies of the University. The doctoral program in Information Systems & Technology requires students to maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Competency Courses

The competency courses do not count towards the 76 units required for the doctoral degree. Students are either admitted with equivalent courses or may enroll in the courses at CGU, understanding that the units do not count toward degree requirements.

Programming - any introductory level programming course

MGT 306 or another graduate-level Statistics/Qualitative Methods course is required

Basic Statistics if choosing the data science and analytics concentration

Core Courses - 16 units

IST 302 - Databases
IST 303 - Software Development
IST 304 - Communications & Networking
IST 305 - Management of IT in Complex Times

Concentration - 16 units

Four concentration courses are required.

Six concentration areas are offered:

AI-Driven Innovation

Data Science and Analytics

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing

Health Informatics

IT Strategy and Innovation

Research Courses - 20 units

Doctoral Research Seminars

IST 501A - Introduction to IS&T Research
IST 503 - Qualitative Research
IST 504 - Quantitative Research
IST 505 - Design Research
IST 507 - Dissertation Proposal: From Ideation to Draft Proposal (to be taken after the Qualifying Exam is passed).

One (1) Transdisciplinary Course and Five (5) Non-IST Courses - 24 units

Any 4 units of Transdisciplinary Coursework

Five non-IST courses in fields such as management, philosophy, psychology, religion, etc. Elective IST courses will also satisfy this requirement.

Concentration: AI-Driven Innovation

This concentration is available to students enrolled in the PhD program in Information Systems and Technology.

The following is a list of courses in the concentration. This list is subject to change without prior notice.

Courses:

IST 327 - Design Thinking and Creative Problem Solving

IST 332 - Natural Language Processing

IST 345 - Building Generative AI Applications

IST 347 - Machine Learning in Healthcare

IST 340- Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining

IST 601 - AI for Digital Transformation

Concentration: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

The concentration is available to students enrolled in the PhD programs in Information Systems and Technology both on-campus and online.

The following is a list of courses in the concentration. This list is subject to change without prior notice.

Courses:

IST 370 - Introduction to GIS Analytics and Solution Development

IST 372 - Advanced GIS Analytics and Solution Development

IST 373 - GIS Practicum

IST 375 - AI and UAV Mapping: Innovations in GIS

IST 377A - GIS Special Topics: GIS for Data Science

IST 377B - Location-based Market Intelligence

IST 378 - GIS for Mapping and Analysis using Unmanned Aerial Systems

IST 379 - Applied Geospatial Project

Concentration: IT Strategy and Innovation

This concentration is available to students enrolled in the PhD program in Information Systems and Technology online and on-campus.

The following is a list of courses in the concentration. This list is subject to change without prior notice.

Courses:

IST 314 - AI-Powered Enterprise Systems and Intelligent Supply Chains

IST 315 - CRM and SRM Systems

IST 327- Design Thinking and Creative Problem Solving

IST 316 -Enterprise Systems and Supply Chain Management Practicum

IST 322 - Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship

IST 323 - Information Technology Strategy and Innovation Practicum

IST 324 - Digital Product Management

Concentration: Data Science & Analytics

This concentration is available to students enrolled in the MS/PhD programs in Information Systems and Technology online and on-campus.

The following is a list of courses in the concentration. This list is subject to change without prior notice.

Courses:

IST 332 - Natural Language Processing

IST 340 - Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining

IST 341 - CS Insights via Python Programming

IST 342 - Managing Data at Scale

IST 343 - Data Science Practicum

IST 344 - Data Analytics and Information Visualization

IST 345 - Building Generative AI Applications.

IST 347 - Machine Learning in Healthcare

IST/TNDY 336 - Analysis of Social Networks

IST 370- Introduction to GIS Analytics and Solution Development

IST 372- Advanced GIS Analytics and Solution Development

IST 601 - AI for Digital Transformation

Concentration: Cybersecurity and Cloud Computing

This concentration is available to students enrolled in the the MS/PhD in Information Systems both on-campus and on- line.

The following is a list of courses in the concentration. This list is subject to change without prior notice.

Courses:

IST 313 - Introduction to Cloud Computing

IST 350 - Cryptography & Computer Security

IST 351 - Cyber Security Risk Management

IST 353 - Practicum in Cyber Defense and Cloud Security

IST 354 - Fundamentals of Cybersecurity

IST 355 - Cybersecurity Essentials Series with Optional Certifications

IST 360 - Internet of Things: A Hands-on Approach

IST 361 - AI-Enhanced IoT: Future-Proofing Critical Infrastructures

Concentration: Health Informatics

This concentration is available to students enrolled in the MS/PhD programs in Information Systems on-campus.

The following is a list of courses in the concentration. This list is subject to change without prior notice.

Courses:

IST 380 - Introduction to Health Informatics

IST 381/TNDY 402X - Persuasive Technology: Ethics & Social Impact

IST 383 - Health Informatics Practicum

IST 385 - Telehealth

IST 347 - Machine Learning in Healthcare