IT Management (ITM) Track

This course explores strategic information technology management issues associated with doing business in digital times. It provides a framework to understand how information technology strategy aligns with business strategy and focuses on developing an understanding of the key information requirements for developing an information technology strategy and systems architecture. Students are encouraged to think and behave strategically with respect to exploiting leading-edge technologies and deliver the right business value with information technology. The course will focus on digital technology trends transforming how business is done, information management and architecture, e-business models and strategies, mobile commerce, social networking, engagement and social metrics and business process innovation.

The current trend towards computerizing the health care industry through interoperable electronic health records (EHR) is creating exciting opportunities for IT and business professionals in a diverse range of organizations including hospitals, IT firms (EHR vendors), government departments and health funds. This course is designed to introduce students to the various aspects of information management in health care organizations. Students will also gain a solid understanding of the health care field and how advanced information technologies can be used to reduce costs and improve the health care system overall. At the same time, the course focuses on unintended consequences resulting from deployment of advanced technologies in the health care field including user responses and usability considerations. Privacy and security laws in HIPAA will also be discussed.

Integration of information and processes is one of the biggest challenges faced by organizations today. Enterprise systems attempt to integrate all departments and functions across an organization onto a single computer system that can serve every department’s particular needs for up-to-date and accurate data. These systems dictate a standard data format across the entire organization, they are modular and multifunctional. This course examines various types of enterprise systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, supply chain management systems (SCM), customer relationship management systems (CRM) and knowledge management systems (KM) that support and enhance business activities. It provides an overview of the managerial and technical issues in selection and implementation of enterprise systems and technologies.

Organizations entrust a large portion of their budget to people who lead and manage IT infrastructure and operations. The ability to respond dynamically to changing business requirements is paramount for IT infrastructure and operations (I&O) organizations. Virtualization, IT modernization and real-time infrastructure architecture are increasingly essential to this agility. This class will balance hands-on interaction with infrastructure technologies and equipment as well as applications of technologies and services. Other topics include enterprise architecture and governance, cloud computing, enterprise-wide efficiency and green computing.

Organizations must structure themselves to deal with emerging technologies and making the right decisions, at the right time, can be critical to determining whether the organization succeeds or fails. This course provides students with a basic understanding of emerging technologies as they relate to innovation and information systems in organizations and the management strategies required to understand, leverage and benefit from these technologies. Students will identify current, real technologies that are emerging or about to emerge into the mainstream, investigate those technologies and ones from recent history, from a number of perspectives, to look at the impact of technologies on systems, business operations and corporate and technology strategy. They will study the impact, benefits and downsides of standards as they relate to information technology and delve into how those standards, and other factors, might affect the timing for implementation of emerging technologies in organizations.

Internships are a valuable experiential learning tool where students engage in work with an organization on an approved topic. Students will write a comprehensive report based on their learning experience along with weekly logs and a managerial evaluation. The report will be evaluated and graded by the instructor.

Students will work on proposing, developing and implementing a comprehensive project based on concepts learned during their program. A project is a form of research aimed at creating or contributing new knowledge in a discipline or an applied study that combines a specific topic with actual problems or issues within a setting.

An MBA in IT management focuses on business leadership with a technology emphasis. A master’s in IT management dives deep into leadership frameworks and organizational theory.

The IT management track in Cal Lutheran’s MSIT program bridges both, giving you the strategic mindset of an MBA and the technical fluency of an IT master’s. You’ll learn to lead projects, manage systems and make decisions that balance innovation with practicality.

Because leadership in tech is about managing people and understanding the systems that power them. This track helps you strengthen both sides: the technical insight to guide innovation and the strategic skill to communicate, budget and execute effectively. It’s built for professionals who want to turn technical credibility into real influence across their organization.

Most students finish the MSIT with a IT management specialization in 12 to 24 months. You’ll complete eight core courses, four IT management electives and an optional capstone project or internship.

Yes. Many students take one or two evening classes per term while working full time. The IT management track courses are on campus, but they are offered in the evening, so you can build expertise in IT management without putting your career (or life) on hold.

No. While many students come from hands-on IT roles such as system administration, networking or project management, the curriculum builds your leadership skills while grounding you in strategy, budgeting and communication. With these skills, you’ll be ready to transition into leadership or get started in IT management.

Yes. Through case studies, group projects and an optional internship or IT project, you’ll practice the real-world decision-making IT managers face.