Certificate Requirements
The certificate is designed to be completed in one year. Four of these courses can also be applied to the MSITS degree.
Note: Course 773.719 requires completion of prerequisite 770.517 Information and Telecommunication System Architecture, an equivalent course, or relevant professional experience, as determined by the CI faculty. The prerequisite course 770.517 may be waived (see the waiver policy):
The Competitive Intelligence certificate consists of five courses (15 credits).
- 771.710 Organizational and Legal Issues in Technology
- 773.719 Information Security Foundations
- 773.701 Data Mining and Discovery Informatics
- 773.721 Competitive Intelligence
- 776.716 Knowledge Management Systems
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771.710 Organizational and Legal Issues in Technology
With the advent of information systems, complex legal issues have developed concerning the planning, management, operation, and support of technology functions. This course provides a background in legal theory in the context of technology’s impact on business operations. Topics include ownership, intellectual property rights, software licensing, liabilities, contracting, and privacy. (3 credits)
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773.719 Information Security Foundations
This course covers the basic principles and concepts in information security and information assurance. It examines the technical, operational, and organizational issues in assuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Topics include malicious code, cryptography, security risk management, and security procedures and policies. (3 credits)
Prerequisite(s): BU.770.517
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773.701 Data Mining and Discovery Informatics
Discovery informatics is the study and practice of effectively employing the full spectrum of computing and analytical sciences and technologies to discover knowledge by identifying and validating patterns in data. Students learn strategies, methods, and tools associated with this emerging methodology, including data mining, the knowledge discovery process, identification of structural patterns in data, decision trees, classification and association rules, evaluation and validation of discovered patterns, visualization, and ethical and privacy issues. (3 credits)
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773.721 Competitive Intelligence
Competitive Intelligence (CI), as defined by the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP), is a systematic and ethical program for gathering, analyzing, and managing external information that can affect an organization’s plans, decisions, and operations. Students learn to apply the CI process and CI-related methodologies, techniques, and tools to better analyze an organization’s current and future competitive position. Students will apply analytical and socio-technical techniques to improve organizational decision making as related to CI, and should understand the issues related to the collection, analysis, and management of external information. (3 credits)
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776.716 Knowledge Management Systems
Students learn the fundamental principles of knowledge management (KM) and a wide range of KM strategies, techniques, and technologies that can be introduced to improve the effectiveness and competitiveness of organizations. Topics include enhancing organizational communication and innovation; capturing, mapping, and structuring knowledge; using KM for human capital strategies; supporting and enhancing collaboration; creating and sustaining a knowledge-sharing culture; leveraging advances in artificial intelligence and expert systems; managing and measuring intellectual capital; and designing effective knowledge management systems. (3 credits)
