Degree Spotlight: Information Systems Management
by Amelia Gray
Online Education Columnist
What is information systems management? Many students and business professionals see it as a tech degree that goes one step further than the rest. Its focus on both business and technology makes it an excellent qualification for today's competitive job market.
In the business world, information systems professionals help both customers and co-workers use technological resources more efficiently. A Management of Information Systems (MIS) degrees prepares students to perform this very function, combining business and technical knowledge to form a broad skill set.
Career Growth Tied to MIS Education
An online degree in information systems management is one way to enter some of the tech industry's fastest-growing careers. Hiring managers across various occupations trust MIS graduates to operate comfortably with a variety of technology and business applications.
Top Jobs for MIS Graduates
Graduates of MIS programs often find opportunities in two major careers:
- Systems analysts must incorporate rapidly changing technology into evolving business models. They may specialize in a specific type of system, choosing to work with business, accounting, or financial systems.
- Median earnings (2006): $69,760
- Database Administrators work to find the most efficient way to organize and store data. Business knowledge helps them understand essential processes, and they are often relied upon to add new users to the system and maintain records. Database security is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the job profile.
- Median earnings (2006): $64,670
Online MIS degrees appeal to students who wish to take their business acumen to the IT industry. While no degree program can guarantee a particular career or salary, hiring managers often consider the MIS degree a powerful asset.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics--Fastest-growing Jobs
Bureau of Labor Statistics--Systems Analyst
East Carolina MIS
About the Author
Amelia Gray is a freelance writer in Austin, TX. Amelia earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Arizona State University and an MFA from Texas State University.
