Master's Degrees in Business Information Systems

Why would I want an information systems degree?

Technology is one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy, and a degree in information systems (IS) will give you a good, broad knowledge of computers and technology and how they relate to the business world. Most of the jobs in this industry pay well, and the job outlook in the industry is very good. If you are someone who likes to stay up-to-date on the latest technology, and who also likes to keep up with business trends, this would be a good degree for you.

What does an information systems person do?

Due to the broad knowledge that is gained with an IS degree, there are a variety of things that someone with an IS background could do. In a broad scope a definition from Wikipedia.com applies: “the term Information Systems (IS) is a scientific field of study that addresses the range of strategic, managerial, and operational activities involved in the gathering, processing, storing, distributing, and use of information, and its associated technologies, in society and organizations. The term information systems is also used to describe an organizational function that applies IS knowledge in industry, government agencies, and not-for-profit organizations.”

People with an IS background (especially IS managers) are often times the people who bridge the gap between the technology department and the business department. They plan, coordinate, and direct research on the computer-related activities of firms, and help business managers make decisions based on their work.

The most common jobs in this field are:

• Network / Communications Analysts
• Software Engineers / Application Analysts
• Management Analysts
• Database Administrators
• Network / Systems Administrators
• Computer Systems Analysts

How much does an information systems person make?

The salaries for people with an IS background are very good. The lowest 1% in the entire field still brings in an average annual salary of $54,760. The top 10% in the industry earn a six-digit salary and average close to $123,000 annually. The median salary in the industry ranges between $80,000 to $90,000. In addition to salaries, IS people, especially at higher levels, often times receive employment related benefits such as expense accounts, stock options, and bonuses.

How popular are information systems jobs?

Jobs in this sector are plentiful, especially for those who are well qualified. In all IS related fields, employment is expected to grow from faster to much faster than average. The growth rate ranges from 9% to 30%.

Spurring this growth is continued demands in the technology sector and the need for businesses to stay on the cutting edge of technology in order to stay competitive. New applications are constantly being introduced, and those businesses which ignore these new technological applications will lose their edge; therefore, people with IS backgrounds have become a very important part of any business with serious intentions.

How do I become an information systems person?

Positions in technical fields like IS, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree is almost always needed. Many schools offer an information systems degree. For those schools that don’t, most will offer other technical degrees you can earn in order to get the appropriate knowledge and experience for an IS position.

As in most fields, the more education you receive, the more employable you become. Master’s degrees in this field are quite common. Those who want to take the business/manager angle would benefit greatly from getting an MBA. Those who have found a specific area in IS that they would like to run with, getting a Master’s degree in that area would be very beneficial.