The Courses, Unit Load, Schedule of Offering, and Prerequisites

CORE COURSES

*Consent of Instructor (COI) is given to all MIS students who will take any IS courses except for IS 295b. 

ELECTIVE COURSES

The MIS Program requires 9 units of elective courses to be chosen by students. Elective courses may be taken from other UPOU graduate programs like the Diploma in Computer Science, Master of Development Communication, Master of ASEAN Studies, and Master of Public Management.

Strategies in choosing your electives:

1. Prioritize the recommended courses provided by FICS. Check the course prerequisite and its semester offering.
2. Opt for courses that can address your IT weaknesses. Recommended courses to take are available in the DCS program.
3. For practical purposes, align your elective courses to the nature of your work. This can also help in improving your GWA.
4. Choose courses that can supplement your undergraduate background. For example, if you take Devcom as your undergraduate course, you can take Computer Science courses to further harness your skills.
5. Embrace your passion and interest. This is your time to explore and grow, make the most out of it.

The list of recommended elective courses can be found here. If you want to take other elective courses aside from the recommended list, please seek approval first from your Program Chair.

If you need assistance on prerequisites, contact the FICS faculty secretary support at [email protected]

For more information, please read the MIS Program Handbook

Program Tracking

Below is a sample curriculum for you to be able to complete the program in two years. Normally, you could take 1-3 subjects per semester depending on your workload (part-time students can take 1-2 subjects per semester) but you should also keep in mind that the MIS Program has a maximum residency rule of 7 years.

*Students must pass the Comprehensive Exam before registering for IS 295b
**Do not choose electives you have already previously taken and credited in any program. MIS students are not allowed to take PhD courses as electives.

Program Chair

• Dr. Ria Mae Borromeo (Assistant Professor)

Full-time Faculty

• Blancaflor P. Arada (Associate Professor)
• Mari Anjeli Crisanto (Assistant Professor)
• Dr. Reinald Adrian dL. Pugoy (Associate Professor)
• Cecille Moldez (Assistant Professor)
• Concepcion Khan (Associate Professor / Affiliate Professor)

Lecturers

• Gerard G. Ravasco (Senior Lecturer)
• Gulshan Vasson (Senior Lecturer)
• Juan Miguel Abriol-Santos (Senior Lecturer)

What are the requirements for application?

• Print a copy of the accomplished online application form or apply online.
• Original and photocopy of valid Transcript of Records (TOR) from all schools attended. The TOR should bear the school dry seal and imprint, and the Registrar’s signature in ink, and with acceptable remarks (view the List of Remarks in a TOR that will make it valid as a transfer credential)
• Two (2) letters of recommendation from any of your: a) employer/supervisor; b) former professor; or c) former program adviser
• Proof of payment of application fee (non-refundable). If payment was made other than online payment, please upload a scanned copy of the digital image of the proof of payment)
• Two identical 2” x 2” photos and two 1” x 1” photos, with your name and the program applied for, printed at the back of the photos
• Certificate of training/experience to prove proficiency in at least one programming language.
• 500-word essay explaining why you are applying for admission to the MIS Program and some background on your experience in systems development
• Photocopy of NSO Birth Certificate
• Photocopy of government-issued IDs with photo

Can I send my application through mail/personally?
You can send your application through mail or personally submit it to:

The Admission Section
Office of the University Registrar
UP Open University
Los Baños, Laguna 4031
Philippines

Is there a different application procedure for international students?
No, there is no separate application procedure for international students. All students will accomplish the same set of requirements.

Are international students required to submit their English language proficiency scores?
No, there is no need for international students to submit their English language proficiency scores for the MIS Program.

Are transferees from other master’s programs (UP and Non-UP) allowed?
Yes, applicants must accomplish the following for crediting of courses that are equivalent to be taken in the MIS Program:

• Accomplish the application for transfer of credit form.
• Submit the completed form and a photocopy of the transcript of records to the Learning Center or provide your Faculty Secretary a soft copy of the documents.

Please ensure that what you submitted to the Office of the University Registrar (OUR), particularly to the Admission Section, is an updated, valid, and original copy of your previous TOR. Otherwise, the OUR will not encode your evaluated application for transfer of credits.

Ms. Elvira R. Lalap
Coordinator
UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna
Tel.: +63(49) 536-6001 to 06 loc Telefax: +63(49) 536-5484
Email: [email protected]

Prof. Joyce Manalo
Secretary to the Faculty
Faculty of Information and Communication Studies
[email protected]
Faculty website: fics.upou.edu.ph

• The FICS will provide you with the result of your application through email or by sending you the original copy. The OUR, specifically the EDP Section, will encode the evaluated document and consequently be shown in the Student Portal for viewing by the students.
• For courses taken more than five (5) years ago from the time of application are required to take the validation exam. Please coordinate with the Faculty Secretary for the details of the examination.
• For UP Transferees – a maximum of 9 units earned in another UP unit may be eligible for transfer of credits. The final grades earned must not be lower than 2.0 and must be taken within the last five years from the time of application; otherwise, the student must take and pass validation exams.
• For non-UP transferees – a maximum of 9 units earned in another school, college, or university may be eligible for transfer of credits. The final grades earned must not be lower than 2.0 and must be taken within the last five years from the time of application. A student must take and pass a validation exam for every course.

A formal application for transfer of credits must be submitted before the first semester of admission.

When is the application deadline?
The application deadline can be found on the Academic Calendar.

Are late submissions of applications allowed?
No, the application deadline is strictly followed by the university.

How can I check if my application was accepted?
The application status of MIS Program applicants can be found here.

What are the enrollment procedures?

Enrollment can be done through online registration. To enroll online, you must do the following:

• Access the Student Portal by clicking the “Request for Password” link on the homepage of the Student Portal and entering your student number. Use the generated password to your email to log in to your Student Portal account.
• Once logged in, click the Online Registration System (ORS) icon. Select the term and select courses by clicking the course number/code. You must follow the recommended courses per batch posted on the Student Portal or seek advice from the MIS Program Chair. The system will automatically display the assessment of fees once courses are selected.

Materials:

• MIS Program Handbook
• Guidelines in Preparing the Information Systems Capstone Project
• General Style Guide
• Journal Format

Platforms:

• Student Program Planning @ UPOU Canvas – https://upou.instructure.com/
• Discord Server – Soon

Contact:

• Support:  [email protected]
• Talk to the PC:  [email protected]