Management Information Systems Career Brief
- Overview
- Degree Requirements
- Other Preparation
- Career Opportunities
- Salaries
- Certification
- Recruitment Opportunities
- For More Information
Overview
The field of management information systems involves applying computer technology, quantitative techniques, and administrative skills to the information processing requirements of organizations. MIS combines computer technology with management decision-making methods - to analyze, design, implement, and manage computerized information systems in an organizational environment. A bachelor's degree is generally adequate for entry-level jobs; graduate training is necessary for research and teaching positions.
The Eller College MIS Department has placed in the top five nationally in U.S.News & World Report for almost a decade. Currently the MIS Department ranks fourth.
Degree Requirements
The requirements include: foundation courses required for Professional Admission*, general education requirements, professional core courses, free electives, and a set of specific MIS courses.
The MIS program is a competitive, restricted-entry, program. Students must apply for the MIS Program in addition to Professional Admission.
Sample MIS Courses:
- Introduction to "Java" Programming Data Structures and Algorithms Data Communications & Networking Database Management Systems Information Systems Analysis and Design
- Information System Design, Prototyping and Evaluation
*Students must achieve Professional Admission (a competitive and selective application process) to move from the pre-professional phase to the professional phase.
**Check the Degree/Academic Progress Report (APRR's) for your specific academic program requirements per your catalog at http://catalog.arizona.edu.
Other Preparation
Clubs and Organizations
The college has a wide variety of professional fraternities, honoraries and student clubs. Student organizations offer: career information; networking opportunities with alums, corporate representatives, faculty, and fellow students; social and professional activities; and provide leadership roles and skills building opportunities.
Student organizations for MIS students include Management Information Systems Association (MISA).
Visit the FESO - Federation of Eller Student Organizations website for more information.
Research and Internships
Students in the program are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities for independent study, research, internships, and part-time work, even full-time work after the first year of the MIS curriculum. Internships should ideally have a visible connection to the company's success, and allow the student discretion in making decisions in areas such as design and project management.
Technology
Laboratory facilities for MIS students are equipped with state-of-the art computer technology. Many locations on campus make computer workstations accessible for student use.
Certifications
MCSE and Oracle are particularly good to have. Also: Cisco, Java, Linux, SAS, A+
Informational Interviews
Talk one-on-one with someone who does what you'd like to do; find out how to get yourself there.
Career Opportunities
MIS graduates will find career opportunities wherever computers are used in business, industry, and government. Here are just a few examples:
- Website management
- E-commerce development
- Decision support systems
- Credit and billing systems
- Inventory control systems
- Software product development
- Knowledge management systems and business analysis
Typical Job Titles
- Programmer
- Systems analyst
- Database manager
- Computer specialist
- Network administrator
- Software developer
- Project lead
- Information technology consultant
- Applications developer
Employment Outlook
Information-technology professionals are among the most sought-after talent in the job market today - but companies seek candidates with solid speaking and writing skills because presentations to clients and working with sales and marketing teams are part of the normal job requirements. Sign-on bonuses are common, relocation packages are broader and more generous, pay rates are accelerating, and guaranteed bonuses are common. There is strong demand for professionals with experience in so-called "enterprise-wide solutions." Industry experience is a plus but not necessary to land good job offers. All the major consulting firms are competing for systems analysis talent. Financial services firms are looking for IT professionals who can design electronic banking systems. Openings abound for Java, and Internet programmers with good communication and team skills.
Salaries
Starting salaries vary by size and type of employer, location, course work, and experience.
- UA graduate average offer $52,209 (UA Career Services 2008).
- National average salary offer: $52,817 (NACE Salary Survey/Fall 2008)
Certification
Levels of certification are available through various organizations.
Recruitment Opportunities
Management Information Systems graduates obtain jobs through various avenues, leading to placements with a wide range of firms and organizations.
Recruitment opportunities include the annual "Career Days," sponsored each fall by UA Career Services and the spring "Career Showcase" coordinated by Eller Student Council and Delta Sigma Pi.
Click here to view curernt business economic related internships and jobs!
A sample of employers that recruited Eller College MIS majors for both placement and career-related experience in the 2007-2008 school year through the Career Services office:
| 3M Corporation ABF Freight Systems Accenture Acxiom Inc. AdvancePCS Advent Software, Inc. Agilent Technologies Aliance Funding Altera Amazon.com American Express Technology Group AMS (American Management Systems) AOL (America Online) Arthur Andersen Asarco Balboa Capital Bechtel Beneficial Life Black & Decker Bombardier Calence, Inc. California State Controllers Cap Gemini Ernst & Young US LLC Capital One CED (Consolidated Electrical Distributors) CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) Cigna Healthcare Cintas Corporation Cisco Systems Clarkston Compaq Computer Corporation Corning Inc. Dell Computer Deloitte & Touche Deloitte Consulting DMA (DuCharme, McMillen & Associates) EDS E & J Gallo Winery EMC The Enterprise Storage Company Equis Ernst & Young LLP |
ExxonMobil FactSet Research Systems Farmers Group FDIC (Federal Depository Insurance Corp.) Federal Express Corp. Ford Motor Company Gap, Inc. Information Technology General Electric General Mills Haas Publishing Hewlett Packard Holsum Bakery Honeywell i2 Technologies IBM Global Services IIS (Integrated Information Systems) IMC (Information Management Consultants) Inforte Inteflux Intel Corporation International Rectifier Intuit J. D. Edwards Jacobson Financial Services John Hancock Financial Services Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Jules & Associates Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Lockheed Martin Corporation Macy's West March of Dimes Mervyn's California Corporate Buying Micron Technology, Inc. Microsoft MIDS MITRE Corp. Motorola |
MTG Management Consultants NDC Research & Consulting New England Financial Nordstrom North Star Resource Group OLDE Discount Corp. ON Semiconductors Onsite Companies Otis Elevators Paccar Pacific Atlantic Systems Leasing Pagemasters PeopleSoft Philip Morris USA Power Mail PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting Quidnunc Qwest Rainbow Studios Raytheon Company Safeco Scient Seagate Technologies Software Architects Spartacom Technologies Inc. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Stryker Endoscopy TAOS (The Sys. Admin. Company) TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) Teradyne Terrex TRW Systems & Information Technology Tucker Alan Inc. UNUM US Department of Energy USG Corporation Ventana Medical Systems Ventro Corporation Visteon WalMart Internal Audit Xerox Corporation |
For More Information
- Undergraduate Programs Office
Eller College of Management
McClelland Hall 204
P. O. Box 210108
Tucson, AZ 85721-0108
520-621-2505
http://ugrad.eller.arizona.edu/
- UA Career Services
Student Union, Suite 411
520-621-2588
www.career.arizona.edu
- Department of Management Information Systems
Eller College of Management
McClelland Hall, Rm. 430
520-621-2748
http://mis.eller.arizona.edu/
- Major and Career Advisor
Stefanie Goldman
schristopher@eller.arizona.edu
Professional Associations
- Arizona Software and Internet Association
www.azsoft.net - The Source for Women in Computing
www.girlgeeks.org
Online Publications
- InfoWorld
www.infoworld.com
Business 2.0www.business2.com
For additional information, please contact us.
