Database Administration GCERT

About this program

The Database Administration Graduate Certificate is an exciting certificate program that offers students not only an excellent education in this critical area of IT, but also provides a great head start toward moving into an MIS master's degree.

The program was developed in consultation with the Metropolitan State MIS Advisory Committee (MISAC) and the Center for Strategic Information Technology and Security (AdvanceIT), a Metropolitan State University Center of Excellence. The Committee and the Center supported the curriculum development and design as being consistent with our vision for graduate education in Database Administration.

This program is:

  • designed to provide both strategic and operational expertise in the administration of database and related technologies
  • designed to provide a strong background and ability to use databases and related systems in providing strategic advantage to modern firms.
  • based on a review of national standards for this area, including those from the Data Management Association International Foundation Committee on the Advancement of Data Management in Post Secondary Institutions, and the database administration components of the MSIS (Masters of Science in Information Systems) 2006 standards developed in conjunction with the ACM (Association of Computing Machinery).

Program outcomes include:

  • Improved preparation for management in an increasingly information driven world,
  • Ability to develop organizational strategies based on using data as a competitive tool, and
  • Broadening of your knowledge of the use of database technology to enhance MIS management areas to meet tactical and strategic organizational objectives.

Student outcomes

Gainful Employment Disclosure

Gainful employment programs are those "that prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation." Public institutions are required to report this information for all undergraduate and graduate programs that are Title IV eligible and that lead to certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates or specialist awards. Degree programs at all levels are not considered to be gainful employment programs.

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Enrolling in this program

Application instructions

Questions?

For questions about applying to the Database Administration GCERT program, email graduate.studies@metrostate.edu (preferred) or call 651-793-1302.

Deadlines

Jul 1 - Fall semester
Nov 15 - Spring semester
Mar 15 - Summer semester

*U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents

Applications are complete once all requirements are met and fee received. Completed application files will be forwarded to the College of Management Graduate Admission Committee for review, please allow 7-10 business days.

Late applications: applications will continue to be accepted beyond the deadline, however we cannot guarantee admission, though we can defer admission to the next available semester.

Incomplete applications will be moved to the next available semester for up to three terms total, giving applicants who need it, up to one year to complete their application file.

International Students: Because this is not a degree-granting program, applications from international students studying on an F-1 student visa will not be accepted.

Application packet

Part One

  • Complete the Online Graduate Application—You will use your Minnesota State StarID to complete the application. If you don't have a Minnesota State StarID you will create one at the beginning of the application.
    • If you do not have or choose not to provide your Social Security number (SSN) please follow the No SSN instructions to activate your StarID.
    • If you encounter difficulty with the online application please email graduate.studies@metrostate.edu
  • $20 non-refundable application fee; pay online
    • Waived for graduates of Metropolitan State, and for certified veterans & active military.
  • Official transcripts
    • Transcript showing a baccalaureate degree or equivalent earned from a regionally accredited institution with grade-point average or narrative description describing courses completed.
    • Transcripts from any graduate or professional programs are required.
    • All transcripts from non-U.S. schools must be evaluated (course-by-course) by either ECE (preferred) or WES.
    • Electronic transcripts should be sent to admissions@metrostate.edu
    • Paper transcripts should be sent directly from the sending institution (preferred) to:

      Metropolitan State University
      Attn: Graduate Admissions
      700 East Seventh Street
      Saint Paul MN 55106

Part Two

After you have submitted your online application, log in to the Applicant Portal using your Start ID and password to upload application materials, and check on the status of your application.  The Applicant Portal will indicate missing application items.

  • Current Resume; upload via the Applicant Portal using your StarID.
    • One year of professional work experience is required for the program.
  • Math Assessment: If you already possess an earned PhD, DDS, MD, or JD degree from an accredited U.S. institution the requirement may be waived. The MMIS program teamed up with ALEKS.com to create an online math assessment specifically designed for our applicants. MMIS College Algebra Component is self-paced math assessment that will teach you the skills you need to succeed.
    • Apply to the program first (see Part One).
    • Please register at www.aleks.com with course code: VYLHK-ET3TD.
    • Select Purchase an Access Code (cost is $40.00).
    • 70% of topics must be mastered in order to successfully complete the assessment.
    • You have six weeks to complete the assessment, and the assessment must be complete by the application deadline.
  • Admission Essay; upload via the Applicant Portal using your StarID. Your admission essay will serve as both a goals statement and a writing assessment. The admission essay is extremely important to the application review process. Submit your essay in 600-700 words (about three pages) in 12-point font, double-spaced, clearly written, well-organized, with correct grammar, accurate spelling and punctuation, good sentence structure, and clear sub-headings. Make sure that you carefully address each of the following:
    • Pledge of Authorship: Please begin your admissions essay with the following statement: (Your essay will not be accepted if this is not included.) I, (complete name)____________________________________, verify that this admissions essay is my own work, and I am fully aware that discovery otherwise will invalidate my entire application.
    • Describe the kinds of responsibilities and positions you have held in your past work and professional experience (volunteer or employed), both IT-related and others.
    • Explain why you are pursuing a Database Administration graduate certificate. Please note areas of particular interest and why you are interested.
    • Describe how a graduate certificate in Database Administration will enhance your career and life plans for the future.

Program requirements

If the MIS Director determines that you have full prior competence in a certificate course, you may be given credit for the competency and allowed to take sufficient alternate credits to meet the total credit requirement of the certificate (e.g. if you have completed a graduate 4 credit Project Management course that is accepted, you would be allowed to consider that function completed within the certificate, and can then take an alternate 4 credits, agreed upon with the Director).

Course requirements

Requirements (22 credits)

MIS 600 Management Information Systems

4 credits

Management Information Systems (MIS) evolved from essentially an organization's support operation to a strategic element of an organization's life and survival. This course explores information systems' new and expanding roles in the enterprise. Models examined showing how new technologies are assimilated into the organization, how to plan for systems within the overall strategic management process, assess the risk in system development projects, and become a "sophisticated user" of information systems. Traditional and new technologies are utilized. The course also includes a solid review of the strategic and tactical impact of computers, networks and new technologies. . This course broadens understanding of the design and implementation of various computerized information systems to support management decision making and evaluation, and prepares the student to integrate new technologies and configurations into the management process.

Full course description for Management Information Systems

DSCI 620 Project Management

4 credits

This course provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of project leadership and management. Topics covered include all aspects of project management from project initiation issues, RFP formulation, proposal decisions, preparation, and evaluation, project planning and implementation to organization, risk assessment, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Also included are project planning techniques such as PERT, CPM, Earned Value Analysis, and project monitoring and simulation using Microsoft Project software.

Full course description for Project Management

MIS 653 Supply Chain Information Systems

2 credits

This course examines the use of information technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the corporate supply chain. Topics covered include key information technologies in supply chain management: Collaborative Planning Forecasting & Replenishment, Electronic Procurement, Inventory management technology (including auto-identification for inventory such as Bar Codes and RFID tags), Labor Management and Manufacturing Execution systems along with Shipping/Transportation Management & Asset Maintenance technologies. Hands-on exercises with actual ERP software will be used as well. Prerequisite: MIS 600.

Full course description for Supply Chain Information Systems

MIS 657 Database and Client/Server Systems

2 credits

Databases represent not only data storage, but critical organizational assets. MIS professionals must not only understand the basics of database management and relational design, but must also know how to leverage these assets for competitive advantage. This course covers database design and implementation and creation of information and standards. Client/Server technology represents an important part of modern database applications. It allows the firm to implement database applications as efficiently as possible in networked environments. Competence in the application, development, evaluation, management and use of corporate and external databases, including client/server technologies are skills needed by all business people. More importantly it is critical to MIS professionals given the vast array of options and new tools available. Topics in distributed database management including transaction management, concurrency control, deadlocks, replicated database management, query…

Full course description for Database and Client/Server Systems

MIS 658 Advanced Database Administration

2 credits

This course aims to take students' knowledge of databases (including their application and strategic management) to an advanced level by providing high level concepts and strategies for database administration in the modern firm. The course provides an in-depth description and analysis of the database administration environment, performance management, data integrity and security, and disaster planning, recovery and management. This course provides a solid managerial context for database administration and helps the students learn strategic roles for databases in the modern firm.

Full course description for Advanced Database Administration

MIS 680 Introduction to Information Assurance

4 credits

Modern organizations operate in a net-centric world. New information technologies arrive at lightning speed, allowing us to share information across town, across the country, and around the world faster than ever before. Organizations in both the public and private sectors organizations suffer from not realizing the value of the information assets they manage. This class will present and provide an introduction to information assurance (IA) and explore a wide range of business services and how they are impacted by IA issues. Topics covered include: How to assess risks and develop a security policy for operational integrity. Learning outcomes for this course include: Defining the roles and responsibilities of technical and non-technical participants in Enterprise systems development and utilization; The applications of information technology in business organizations and managerial decision making; Knowing associated ethical and societal implications; Understanding how emerging…

Full course description for Introduction to Information Assurance

MIS 683 Process Analysis and Design

2 credits

This course was created to give students a thorough look at the discipline of process analysis and design, workflow analysis and process reengineering. It uses a highly visual approach to both designing and communicating process analysis. Students will learn to properly analyze, design and build the main visualizations for process analysis including flowcharts, data flow diagrams, entity relationship diagrams and others as tools for communicating management designs.

Full course description for Process Analysis and Design

MIS 685 Data Mining Tools

2 credits

This course introduces how analytics and Data Mining tools can be used to solve business problems like Best Next Offer, Customer Retention, Customer Potential Life Time Value estimation, Market Basket analysis, etc. This course gives students an opportunity to exercise advanced Data Exploration and Mining software. Introduction to Data Mining tools/solutions evaluation is also part of this course.

Full course description for Data Mining Tools