With information systems being integral to the efficient running of businesses, the demand for information systems managers is growing. Concurrently, management information systems (MIS) and related, integrative information systems are seeing advancements and innovations.
Professionals who aspire to top-level MIS positions must be experts in the emerging technologies and systems driving the future of the field. Yet MIS also refers to the intersection and interactions between information systems and the people and businesses that use them. Thus, MIS professionals must also act as a bridge between information systems and people, maximizing the utility of those systems for strategic decision-making.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) offers an online Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Management Information Systems Specialization that provides students with the technical, interpersonal, managerial and generalized business expertise needed to excel in MIS leadership positions.
What Will I Study in SIUE’s MIS MBA?
SIUE’s core MBA courses cover generalized business topics like accounting, finance, economics, marketing analysis, information systems and technology. These studies provide a foundational understanding of the essential business functions engaged by MIS roles.
Further core studies explore managerial subjects in theory and practical application. Students examine quantitative analysis, strategic management and organizational decision-making as well as the complexities of leadership practices and behavioral dynamics in the workplace. These areas of study help students understand and gain competence with the strategic and interpersonal elements of managerial effectiveness.
Building on core studies, SIUE’s MIS elective courses delve into myriad aspects of the information systems that drive modern business. Students gain advanced knowledge of the nuances of information systems design and analysis, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software and the languages used to communicate with database management systems. Students also explore information technology and IT applications from a strategic management perspective.
This combination of generalized and specialized studies prepares students to navigate intersections between various business operations and information systems management.
What Is the Job Outlook for Professionals With an MBA in MIS?
Professionals with this advanced credential and an understanding of MIS in action are highly sought after and well-compensated.
The most obvious professional application of an MBA in MIS would be computer and information systems managers. Not all of these professionals have an MBA. But the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that many organizations require an MBA of job applicants. Earning a specialized MIS MBA can give professionals a significant competitive advantage in the job market as well as the qualification necessary to take advantage of a wider array of job opportunities.
Plus, demand for highly qualified MIS professionals is outpacing supply, meaning employers compete for talent. This drives up potential compensation for MBA-credentialed MIS professionals. BLS reports that computer and information systems managers made an impressive median annual salary of $151,150 in 2020.
The outlook for jobs in the profession is also very positive. According to BLS, jobs for computer and information systems managers are projected to grow 10% from 2019 to 2029. BLS describes this growth as “much faster” than the average projected job growth for all professions.
The skills and knowledge gained in SIUE’s MBA in MIS prepare graduates for several other professional roles related to information systems and information technology. An MBA in MIS graduate could pursue work as a database administrator, network and computer systems administrator, computer systems analyst, computer network architect or computer and information research scientist.
What Is Unique About SIUE’s Online MBA in MIS?
One aspect of SIUE’s MIS program that can be very helpful for working professionals is its fully online design. BLS notes that many people in this line of work take MBA classes while employed. The flexibility of SIUE’s online MBA program allows students to continue working while earning their degree.
Students can complete SIUE’s MIS MBA in as few as 12 months, and they do not have to take extra foundation courses. This can equate to rapid program completion, allowing graduates to put their degree to use as quickly as possible.
Plus, the broad business acumen and management skills students develop in SIUE’s MBA in MIS applies to numerous managerial roles. Having such transferable skills combined with knowledge of many business functions gives graduates a great deal of job flexibility.
Holding a versatile degree can also bolster career resilience amidst disruptions in the industry or the economy. An online MBA in MIS from SIUE can boost a professional’s job options, hasten career advancement and increase the earning potential in a rewarding and thriving field.
Learn more about SIUE’s online MBA program with a Management Information Systems Specialization.
Sources:
Career Karma: The Field of Management Information Systems
MBA Central: What Can I Do With a Management Information Systems MBA
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Computer and Information Systems Managers
