Master's Degree in Information and Communication Science

High ROI

Our degree is lower cost than most and we have a 90 percent job placement rate, making the Ball State master of science in information and communication sciences a degree with a high return on investment. We encourage you to compare our costs with others.

The Wall Street Journal even has a thing or two to say about our program, ranking our MS in ICS first in graduate degree value. Read more.

The world of information technology and communication sciences is one of continued growth and change. Today, nearly all organizations are technology organizations in core ways. New opportunities are created every day for those willing to attain the skills and education necessary to join in and advance this field even further.

The online master of science in information and communication sciences provides that education with innovative course work, a flexible degree plan, and immersive learning opportunities that present you with real-world issues to solve and projects to collaborate on with working professionals and alumni in the field. You will also work closely with our team of forward-thinking faculty, including many of the same faculty who teach this award-winning program on campus.

You’ll graduate with the skills, connections, and confidence you need to be an attractive candidate for a variety of information technology positions, business positions, and those that meld the two. The opportunity, however you choose to pursue it, is yours.

For Working Professionals

You'll study and collaborate with other professionals since MS in ICS requires three years of work experience. Course work does not utilize recorded lectures or streaming classrooms. You can expect high collaboration, interesting discussion, and projects lifted directly from the real world.

This degree integrates business administration and information sciences by combining the best of both. You will receive the quality and valuable business and leadership instruction as well as the rich technical data curriculum covering areas from data science to networking to coding. As a result, you will be a sought-after commodity in the business and tech world, where the boundaries are increasingly disappearing.

Program Features

Immersive Learning

Immersive learning is Ball State University’s approach to student-driven projects, lasting outcomes, and community partnerships.

In our program, you can take part in special projects for information and communication companies. You can gain valuable experience and build business relationships in the process. You’ll receive:

• real-life application of the concepts you are learning in the classroom
• feedback from professors, alumni, and industry professionals to reinforce your management and leadership skills
• broad connections to alumni and organizational leaders working across every technology field
• professional experiences to build your skills in categories such as decision-making, stakeholder analysis, conflict resolution, and more
• satisfaction from helping our communities through service

Social Learning

The Student Social Learning Program is our well-developed strategy to grow our graduate students into more knowledgeable professionals who function well in business social settings at the leadership level. At the start of each term you will have the opportunity to advance your professional skills and broaden your social network through one- and two-day workshops. There will also be optional networking and professional development opportunities throughout each year.

Cloud Computing

The Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS) is the first institution nationally to have two-faculty members certified as AWS Cloud Practitioners, including program associate director Kirsten Smith.

And, Ball State is now the first university in the country partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy to deliver its inaugural Cloud Practitioner curriculum (and hands-on labs).

This curriculum is focused on the requisite knowledge to operate systems in the rapidly expanding Cloud technology environment. The AWS Cloud Practitioner designation is new to AWS’s educational platform, providing content for understanding the fundamentals associated with cloud computing, storage, databases, content delivery (multimedia), scaling networks, security, and other services tied to cloud infrastructure. A critical aspect of the curriculum is designed to help you understand how to use cloud-based services that are highly elastic, scalable, and cost effective for business applications.

At the end of the course, you will be qualified to take the exam certification, which provides you with an industry-recognized achievement in the cloud networking industry.

Courses

This 36-credit program can be completed in as little as 6 terms.

At least one elective course outside CICS can be selected in consultation with the advisor and subject to the approval of the CICS director.

For a full list of required courses and their descriptions, see the course catalog.

View Catalog

More about Online Learning

Ready to Apply?

Applicants for the online program must have three years of professional work experience to qualify. No GRE is required.

Applying for admission is easy. Use our convenient and secure online application.

Get Started

Students from Other States

Ball State is authorized by the U.S. Department of Education to accept online students from all U.S. states. However, if you are considering a program that leads to professional licensure, some states may have additional regulations. Review our state authorization website if you live outside of Indiana and contact us if you have questions.