The M.S. in Information Systems graduate program at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics is preparing the next generation of information systems professionals with the skills, insights and experiences needed to thrive in today’s tech-focused field.  

Among the recent grads from this program now making an impact in the rapidly growing information systems space is Aryan Alpesh Agarwal ’25, an international student from India. Agarwal served as a graduate assistant in both the marketing and information systems programs at the business college during his master’s program, bringing with him the experience gained as a data analyst at Barclay’s in Mumbai, India, among other experiences, to support his fellow Business Titans.  

In the marketing office, Agarwal helped Professor Mehrnoosh Reshadi advance her research by gathering internet data and transforming it into actionable insights with machine learning models. Under Information Systems Professor Rahul Bhaskar, Agarwal implemented advanced AI solutions to create intelligent agents, supporting departmental initiatives through hands-on tasks.  

Agarwal points to courses such as ISDS 551 – Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence and ISDS 574 – Data Mining for Business Applications to directly power these projects.  

“ISDS 551 provided me with the skills to build robust star-schema data warehouses, echoing my entrepreneurial experience and enabling me to successfully revamp six critical Airflow pipelines that fed real-time campus BI dashboards,” Agarwal explains. “ISDS 574 equipped me with practical data-mining techniques, directly aligning with a project where I clustered over 100,000 esports survey responses using k-means, mirroring our class labs. These experiences not only sharpened my technical proficiency in Python, SQL, cloud platforms, and machine learning, but also enhanced my ability to translate complex data into clear, strategic insights—an essential skill that will power my career forward in analytics and AI roles.”  

Like many of our specialized master’s students, Agarwal brought with him several years of applied professional experience in his field. In 2022 and 2023, he was data analyst at Barclays, one of the premier international financial institutions, in his native India. In this role, he leveraged advanced machine learning techniques and cloud platforms such as Databricks and AWS to analyze billions of transaction records, identifying patterns and detecting anomalies that could pose risks.  

“I learned firsthand how analytics and AI can directly impact strategic outcomes at the highest levels of a global financial institution,” he says. “My time at Barclays provided a real-world bridge to the coursework at CSUF—particularly around big data management, predictive analytics, and business intelligence.”  

Agarwal looks at his international student experience as an exciting adventure of exploring new cultures, navigating unfamiliar environments and experiencing life on his own under personal responsibility.  

“Prioritize networking from day one. The Titan alumni community is incredibly supportive, and attending events organized by CSUF’s robust network can unlock countless professional doors,” says Agarwal. “The Business Titan experience uniquely combines academic excellence with vibrant networking opportunities, making it an ideal environment for international students ready to take charge of their careers and futures.”  

Currently, Agarwal looks forward to a career in AI, machine learning and data analytics, with a long-term goal of leading an AI engineering team, acting as a bridge connecting data science, advanced cloud technologies and strategic business objectives. The M.S. in Information Systems program enabled Agarwal to enhance his critical technical skills, including Python, SQL, Tableau, LangGraph, Databricks and AWS; storytelling and communication abilities honed as a graduate assistant and math tutor; and proven leadership from previous startup and team experience.  

Feel the M.S. in Information Systems is the right path for you? Discover more about the program or apply today! Read more of our articles about specialized master’s and MBA programs.