The Field of Management Information Systems

If you’re thinking about going for an MBA in Management Information Systems, you are probably wondering if it’s the right move. Luckily, we have all of the information you need to make the right decision, starting with the basics below.

What is an MBA?

Though an MBA is a commonly heard term, many people are still a bit confused as to what that even means. MBA stands for master of business administration. MBAs focus not only on the concentration (in this case, management information systems) but also on teaching and refining general skills needed to go into business administration careers.  

Many skills that are taught in MBA programs, such as people management skills, accounting and technological skills, are highly valued by potential employers, regardless of your career choice. An MBA essentially wraps up business skills with the education you need and combines them into one degree, allowing you to study business alongside your chosen career field.

What is Management Information Systems?

Management information systems is essentially the study of people, technology and processes, and how they interact with each other. MIS is a system used not only to help organizations and businesses make decisions but also to help businesses organize and visualize information. Basically, management information systems helps businesses be more organized and make better decisions.

If you get into the field of MIS, a lot of career options open up. Even a bachelor’s degree would open a lot of doors, but with an MBA, you would never have trouble finding a job. People with this degree can get any job—even leading projects—from programming to website management.

Top Five Reasons You Should Get an MBA in Management Information Systems

Weighing the pros and cons of potential careers is a huge part of every graduate student’s decision-making process when it comes to deciding on a degree. Going for an MBA is no small decision, so, of course, you want to make sure you’re making the right decision. Here are the top five reasons you definitely should pursue an MBA in management information systems:

1. Variety of Career Options
   As mentioned above, there are many career paths for those with degrees in MIS. Having such a wide array of options is quite possibly the best reason to get an MBA in management information systems—you can get a job in almost anything you want, and having an MBA shows employers that you have put a lot of time into learning the field, giving you the upper hand.
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2. High Placement Rate
   Management information systems is a field that’s constantly growing, but it is still young. This is particularly good for anyone hoping to pursue higher education in MIS. The demand for experts in the field heavily outweighs the supply. In other words, you have a much higher chance of being hired in this field than in other, older fields.
   
3. Gain valuable skills
   MIS offers a unique blend of interactions with people and technology. This allows you to grow your skill set by picking up on valuable people skills (leading/managing teams, analytic and strategic thinking, business practices, etc) as well as technical skills (using IT skills for business-related problems, how to organize tech in a way everyone understands, etc)
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4. High salary
   As with any career, a good salary is always an important draw. If you enjoy the field of MIS, you’ll be glad to hear that an average salary for someone working in management information systems is around $86,000 a year, according to PayScale. 
   
5. Career satisfaction
   Finally, if professional fulfillment is what you are after, then MIS is a fantastic option for you. People in the field of MIS are able to develop a wide variety of skills and work with technology toward helping people, so it is a highly satisfying career.

Careers in MIS in 2020

As with any field, the demand for workers in management information systems falls and rises. The good thing about MIS is that it is ever-growing, so the number of jobs available to graduates is potentially endless, especially for those with an MBA. Since it is such a quickly growing field, it is a good idea to stay up-to-date on what jobs are most in demand for this year. This way you’d get an idea of what will be available to you once you begin applying for jobs.

In 2020, some of the most in-demand careers within the MIS field—according to the Career Explorer, College Factual and Indeed—are:

• Computer Systems Administrator
  • A computer systems administrator documents any malfunctions and troubleshooting attempts with computers to help keep the machine’s performance and security needs up-to-code without going over the budget
• Database Administrator
  • A database administrator works with a company to store important data and information using special software
• App Developer
  • This one is self-explanatory—App developers use software to develop applications for various devices
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• Information Technology Manager
  • Information technology managers lead IT workers within a company to meet company goals through new policies and budgeting
• Information Security Analyst
  • Information security analysts are tasked with protecting the company’s networks by creating security measures

These are only a few of the options for a career in management information systems, but as you can see from even such a small sampling, there is a wide variety of job opportunities. These are also high paying jobs, as I am sure you can tell by their titles. For the graduate student who enjoys tech, it is highly unlikely you would be unable to find an enjoyable and satisfying job within an MIS field.

How to Earn an MBA in Management Information Systems

The college experience is rather straightforward, but once you earn your undergrad and become a graduate student, it can be a bit more difficult to find your way. The great thing about an MBA in management information systems is that it is a degree you can achieve easily from multiple college paths. 

The first thing you will need to do to earn your MBA in MIS is to earn your first degree. College degrees are like stepping stones; you go from associate to bachelor’s to master’s, and so on. You can go the route of earning an associate degree in MIS, then a bachelor’s and finally an MBA. However, you will likely need to have 1-2 years of work experience prior to starting on your MBA.

You don’t need a bachelor’s degree in MIS to go for an MBA in the field. As an option for those looking to switch careers, it is as simple as obtaining any bachelor’s degree and meeting with an academic advisor at whichever university you plan to attend for your MBA to discuss logistics. If your degree is not in MIS or a similar field, you will likely be required to have prior work experience to qualify.

Another option to explore is completing an online MBA program. Fortunately, there are plenty of colleges that offer this program online, giving you quite a range of choices. The college you have already attended may even offer this option, so you don’t have to switch universities. The registration process for an online program is very similar to the on-campus one. Many institutions recommend you meet with an academic advisor prior to registering, but with online programs you would likely have the option to choose between attending a physical meeting or simply emailing back and forth or having a phone call. Once you have spoken with an advisor, they will help you navigate the online program. The online option is a good one for students who have busier schedules and need the freedom to do things on their own time.   

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Why an MBA?

At this point, you are probably wondering why you should consider a master of business administration rather than simply stopping at your bachelor’s degree or skipping the MBA and going straight for your master’s or Ph.D. Here are a few of the top reasons we recommend an MBA, especially in the field of management information systems:

1. Save time
   One of the best parts of an MBA is that compared to a master’s degree, you shave off a few years of college time. While a master’s degree requires an additional two years of schooling after completing your undergraduate degree, an MBA can be completed in as little as 1 year! This is good for graduate students looking to get out of college and chase their career goals as soon as possible.
   
2. Earn more
   With any degree higher than an undergraduate diploma, you will likely get paid more. However, with an MBA you earn more simply because you have studied not only the field of your MBA but also business administration. This allows you to offer companies a wider range of valuable skills.
   
3. Advance or change careers more easily
   Especially in the world of tech, a lot of jobs are requiring candidates to hold an MBA. If you earn your MBA before you start your job hunt, you will likely have a much easier time finding employment.

By choosing to pursue a master of business administration in management information systems rather than stopping at an associate or bachelor’s—or pursuing a master’s degree—you are opening up a whole new field of work within the business administration world. With simply an associate, bachelor’s or master’s, you are more than able to break into the field of MIS, but you are not as likely to get a higher-paying job in leadership roles. However, if you decide to pursue an MBA, you are giving yourself the upper hand in the job market by showing employers that you not only have the necessary knowledge of MIS to do the job, but you also have the skills of a business administrator. You’d be showing your prospective employer that you are capable of doing higher-level work.

If you are still wondering if this is the right degree for you, take some time to think about it! But, going after an MBA in management information systems is a fantastic idea for any graduate student wanting to work in the tech field. You will gain many skills valuable for working with people, tech and your life outside of work, opening the doors to many different career opportunities. You will also get paid a very high salary. 

You can also choose to pursue this degree online or on-campus, from almost any university you can think of, and it will only take you 1-2 years to complete. All in all, it is safe to say that pursuing an MBA in MIS is an incredibly smart and rewarding decision, for both you and your career.