George Washington and George Mason are both Washington-area options, but they target different balances of business technology and computing depth. GW’s MSIST is a business-school degree with explicit AI coursework; Mason’s MSIS is housed in computing and requires stronger technical foundations.
| Factor | George Washington | George Mason |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | MS Information Systems Technology | MS Information Systems |
| Length | 30 credits | 30 credits |
| Format | Online or in person; full- or part-time | Technical graduate program |
| STEM | Yes | Confirm in current program materials if needed for immigration planning |
| AI Exposure | Very High | High |
| Testing | GRE/GMAT not required | See current Mason requirements |
Curriculum difference
GW combines programming, databases, cloud and systems with Foundations of AI, Business Applications of AI and required Generative AI for Business. Mason’s core includes mathematical foundations, database systems, systems analysis/design, big-data analytics and prototyping, with electives in NLP, machine learning, deep learning and cloud security.
Prerequisites
GW publishes no formal prerequisite set, though programming knowledge is useful. Mason requires foundation knowledge in programming, object-oriented development, data structures/algorithms, computer architecture and discrete mathematics.
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Based on program data reviewed/verified by MSITM.com in September 2026.