MIS personnel help businesses improve efficiency and effectiveness in a competitive global marketplace. You can choose from a variety of degrees to get you started in this field.
Do you enjoy solving complex problems? Do you take pride in calling yourself a computer geek? Do you jump at the chance to meet new people? If you answered yes to these questions, you should consider employment in management information systems. In just a few years, you could earn your degree and impress top employers with your unique set of skills.
You may be asking, "Exactly what does management of information systems mean?" MIS involves studying an organization's technical problems to provide timely, cost-effective and long-term solutions. Although business analysts play the most commonly recognized MIS roles, jobs in this field can take many forms. Some MIS graduates concentrate on resolving user issues, while others lead strategic IT initiatives on a much larger scale.
Overall, MIS personnel help businesses improve efficiency and effectiveness in a competitive global marketplace. Potential management information systems careers include the following:
- Business intelligence analyst
- Tech support/help desk specialist
- Application programmer
- Web developer
- Systems analyst
- Information analyst
- Network administrator
- Project manager
- IT manager
- Consultant
- Chief information officer
You may qualify for some of these positions right out of college, while others require a few years of work experience before you can advance.
The first step to landing one of these jobs is to enroll in a specialized degree program. A management information systems degree merges business and technology so that you are not pinned down to a one-sided career. You can explore management information systems at the following levels:
- Associate degree: You want a general education to get your foot in the door. You can graduate in about two years.
- Bachelor's degree: You desire a more in-depth look at the field. A bachelor's degree is the minimum education requirement for many MIS jobs. Graduation takes about four years.
- Master's degree: You possess relevant work experience or an undergraduate degree in MIS, but you need advanced knowledge in the field. You can earn your degree in 18 months to three years.
- Doctoral degree: You have your sights set on teaching or conducting high-level research. You should graduate in four to eight years.
The type of courses you need for graduation depends on the college and degree level you choose. For a bachelor's degree in management information systems, for instance, you may study any of the following:
- Operations management
- Computer programming
- Enterprise information systems
- Networking
- Database administration
- Systems design
- Project management
- Information security
- Marketing
- Accounting
- Economics
- Business law
- Business intelligence
Many institutions let you customize your degree so that your courses relate to your career goals and interests. Once you have decided to major in management information systems, your last hurdle is to select and apply to your chosen school. Thoroughly researching your options will help you to save time, money and take advantage of financial aid available to you.
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