The Master of Arts in Information Systems & Technology (MAIST) program was created to address advanced topics in IT through a dual focus approach. This approach aims to combine the application of research-based knowledge with the real world challenges experienced by working professionals in the Information Technology (IT) field. Offered in both part-time and full-time formats, the program fits the needs of IT academics and professionals alike.
York's multidisciplinary approach draws together faculty from across the university who offer unique perspectives on information technology and the human factors that go into its use. As part of the leading interdisciplinary institution in Canada, the MAIST program explores various ways in which the integration and customization of new and existing technologies can meet the needs of a wide gamut of users. The fostering of creativity and productivity across a variety of sectors is a major aim of the program. To this end it benefits from the unique position it occupies between the disciplines of computer science and business studies. As such, MAIST investigates the intersection of IT with a range of fields, from business to the sciences, to the arts and humanities.
You will study among a large number of leading researchers who are consistently funded by external agencies, within a School of Technology that already enjoys an excellent reputation for producing students with the most current knowledge about information technologies and their application in modern organizations. Students have three options for completing the program.
Your MAIST degree will prepare you for employment in a broad range of sectors such as the not-for-profit and public sectors, including health and education, and the private sectors including business, industry and information technology.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission, candidates must have completed an Honours undergraduate degree program (typically a four-year degree), in information technology or a related field, from a recognised postsecondary institution, with a minimum grade point average of B+ in the last two years of study. Related disciplines may include but are not limited to library science, health informatics, or computer science and engineering.
Applicants with an Honours Bachelor’s degree in an area other than those listed above may be considered for admission if they have at least five years work experience at a senior level in the field of information technology.
All applicants must:
- Submit a Curriculum Vitae.
- Provide 3 letters of reference. Students interested in the thesis or MRP options must also:
- Submit a written statement describing research experiences and areas of interest. The statement should be 1 – 2 pages long.
Proof of language proficiency is required for applicants who do not meet one of the following criteria:
- Their first language is English; OR
- They have completed at least one year of full-time study at a recognized university in a country (or institution) where English is the official language of instruction.
A minimum TOEFL score of 577 (paper-based) or 90 (Internet-based), or International English Language Testing System 7.0 is required.
Program Learning Outcomes
After completing the program, students will be able to:
- Explain and apply specialized knowledge about advanced concepts, technologies, practices, and current trends in information technology that can be applied within an organization or social setting
- Demonstrate original research on a significant information technology problem
- Evaluate and validate an information technology solution using appropriate methods
- Analyze data using appropriate methods for the data collected
- Extrapolate research results to broader implications for research and practice
- Analyze a problem domain, and identify and define the requirements for its solution
- Design, implement, and evaluate software‐based systems, processes, or programs to meet desired needs
- Apply information technology methods and tools to solve complex problems
- Apply management principles and techniques throughout the entire lifecycle of information systems
- Demonstrate autonomy, adaptability, and responsibility, self- reflect and critique own performance and identify and plan future development as a professional
- Demonstrate a high standard of ethical, legal, and responsible behavior in the development and deployment of information systems to meet organizational needs.
- Effectively transmit models, frameworks, specifications, trade-offs with consideration to impacts and outcomes to both specialists and non-specialists
- Demonstrate communication and decision-making skills within a team of information technology professionals
- Critically evaluate both scholarly and professional literature as well as the application of various research methods
