The Graduate Certificate in Networked Information Systems provides the student with a set of four courses through which s/he can develop an understanding of this priniples and practices needed to compete in this major new area. An introductory course presents the major components of a fully integrated information system integrated with a data network infrastructure. This introductory course is followed by three courses, each providing depth in one of the main areas impacting the engineering, evaluation, maintenance, and upgrading of a complex networked information system. (1) Security and privacy are major issues, intrinsic to the acceptance and use of contemporary networked information systems. (2) Multimedia information (visual, audio, haptic, and other) demands substantial network bandwidth and storage but greatly advances the value of information. (3) Contemporary data networks form the backbone of contemporary, distributed infomation systems, whether used for internal operations within an enterprise or for communication with customers.

Students completing this Graduate Certificate will have been provided with a balance between the principles and practice that underly this exciting field. The rapid changes in the technologies (both hardware and sofware) available for advanced information systems requires continual upgrading and reconfiguration of system. Highly heterogeneous systems evolve, intermixing legacy systems with new systems providing enhanced capabilities. As a result, the technical issues encountered when confronting a real-world networked information system are wide and complex. The Graduate Certificate in Networked Information Systems is designed to provide the student with the technical background expected for those responsible for successful operation and evolution of complex networked information systems.

All courses in the Networked Information Systems Graduate Certificate program are part of the regular graduate program in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Stevens. Students completing the Certificate can apply the courses for credit towards a Master's degree if desired.