What is Management Information Systems?

Management Information Systems

Management information systems is a multidisciplinary field that involves the study of people, organizations and technology. In simpler terms, it’s the integration of information technology into business and management. Information systems is used in all areas of our life whether it’s using an iPhone, adding up sale on a cash register, or retrieving information from a database. Many career opportunities are available to individuals with degrees in management information systems or related fields.

What Type of Jobs are in Management Information Systems?

Because the field of management information systems is so vast, there are many potential careers open to individuals with degrees in this field. Here are a few of the jobs open to management information systems professionals.

• Computer and information systems manager
• Business analyst
• Computer systems analyst
• Information technology consultant
• Information security manager
• Information systems manager
• Database analyst
• Business application developer
• Systems analyst
• Information security analyst
• IT development project leader
• Systems developer
• Database administrator
• Network administrator

Degree Level Needed

The degree level required of management information systems professionals has a lot to do with the type of job the individuals hopes to pursue. Typically, a bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science or a similar field is the bare minimum for this career. Candidates who want to work in management, which is common for management information systems professionals, often pursue master’s degrees. While the fields of computer science and information technology both offers various disciplines and career options, management information systems is the only major that actually deals with both information technology and business processes.

Bachelor’s degree programs generally take four years to complete, and master’s degrees add an additional two years. These time tables do not necessarily apply if the individual is enrolled in an online program. U.S. News & World Report reports that there are many online programs for aspiring information systems managers.

Wage Potential

As stated above, management information systems professionals are generally paid very highly for their knowledge and services. Wages may vary from one job to another. The employer, years of experience and geographic location all play a role in determining wages as well. Here are a few positions along with the average annual wages as reported by the BLS as of March 2017.

• Computer and information systems manager - $139,220
• Information security manager - $117,514
• Database administrator - $87,020
• Computer systems analyst - $88,270
• Information security analyst - $92,600

Career Outlook

Professionals working in the field of management information systems are some of the highest-paid employees in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report. Job growth is expected to be very high in this field because there are so many potential career options available to the management information systems graduate.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the demand is high for these professionals. For instance, information security analysts could see a job growth of 28 percent between 2016 and 2026. Computer and information systems managers can expect employment growth of 12 percent.

Related Resource: The Top 20 Best Master's in Management Information Systems Online Degree Programs For 2018

Information doesn’t mean very much to us is it’s not used for a purpose. Here is where management information systems is so important in the business world. Those who choose careers in management information systems not only earn good wages but also play an important role in using information to bring improvement and advancements into the lives of many.