The Master’s of Science (M.S.) in Information Systems at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics features high-quality research and teaching faculty at the intersection of technology and business.

Among these research and teaching faculty are Information Systems Professor Gang Peng. Originally from China, Peng came to the United States for his graduate and doctoral studies, earning his Ph.D. from the University of Washington-Seattle. More than three decades of professional experience, teaching excellence and research studies in information systems translate into an outstanding immersive learning experience for students in his courses in the M.S. in Information Systems.

“Our information systems areas of research – business analytics, information systems and decision sciences – are a perfect match for the teaching, research training background I gained from the University of Washington,” says Peng. “Here, the information systems program focuses on both the theoretical development and practical applications. From the quantity and quality of our studies, our professors can compete with many of the research universities nationwide.”

Peng’s own publications have appeared in such prestigious journals as Decision Sciences, Information Systems Research, Journal of Knowledge Management, Industrial Marketing Management, and Journal of Management Information Systems.

Immersive and hands-on learning are now central to higher education, particularly in technology-focused disciplines like the M.S. in Information Systems. Professors like Peng are dedicated to tailoring the graduate school experience to meet this demand and leveraging their research to enhance teaching quality.

All of this is focused on preparing students for three major sides of information systems: analysis and design, application and management, and the assessment of the impact. In Peng’s case, the focus also includes research and analysis of social media trends, open-source software development, technology innovation, and new product development, translating to a holistic industry-wide focus.

In an Ever-Changing Field, Peng Focuses on Staying Relevant and Encouraging Lifelong Learning

Today’s information systems landscape is focused on growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and IT management. At the College of Business and Economics, the goal of information systems graduate studies is to synthesize the strengths of a business-focused education with the technical expertise found in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs. Currently, the M.S. in Information Systems is going through a transformation, with a new focus in IT management and business analytics debuting by 2026.

“A lot of this new focus will be related to artificial intelligence and will incorporate the latest trends and technologies to prepare our students for the new job opportunities, so the students will be successful post-graduation, not only for using technologies, but more importantly managing technologies,” says Peng. “We are looking at what the market is and revising our program learning goals and objectives accordingly. In case we’re missing any component, we want to fill in the gap.”

Peng notes that the combination of technical competence and managerial insights is what sets his teaching and the M.S. in Information Systems generally apart from a purely technical or purely business focus.

“Technologies have been making a tremendous impact in the business world,” he says. “Many students from computer science don’t understand the basics from the business side. What should come into the balance sheet? What about marketing and business plans? But purely from the business side, a student won’t be IT savvy enough to seize the opportunities afforded by technologies.”

For More on Business Graduate Programs

For more on CSUF’s M.S. in Information Systems program, visit the program’s website. And read more of our articles on Business Graduate Programs.