Is Management Information Systems a Hard Major?

Management Information Systems or MIS is a very demandable degree that offers strong employment prospects and excellent salary. Many people show interest in this degree but wonder whether it’s a hard major or not.

Well, Management information system is not a hard major if you compare this degree with computer science (CS), computer information system (CIS), Information Technology (IT), Database Management, etc. This is because MIS requires less mathematics and all the available mathematics are business-focused than computer science. Moreover, it is a traditional business focus degree so you can easily pursue this degree with basic to moderate skills in mathematics.

What is Management Information Systems?

According to Wikipedia –

“A management information system is an information system used for decision-making, and for the coordination, control, analysis, and visualization of information in an organization”

So, basically, a management information system is a method of studying people, technology, and organizations, to collect data and then use them for decision-making for a company. The main purpose of MIS is to help a company improve, transform and support business operations. The MIS degree mostly focuses on the management of information and communication technology related to the business. So, as a management information systems student, you will have a clear idea about computer databases, networks, computer security, data analysis, project management, customer service, and underlying business theories.

Is Management Information Systems Degree Worth It?

Yes, a management information systems degree is definitely worth it. The demand for MIS is rising rapidly because of the advancement of technology and the use of the latest technology in business. The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that there is a growth of more than 11% in computer and information technology occupations. Moreover, MIS has some of the highest paying job options like –

Career	Annual Median Salary
Computer and Information Systems Manager Computer and Information Research Scientist Computer Hardware Engineer Computer Network Architect Software Developer Top Executive Database Administrator Computer Systems Analyst Computer Programmer Network and Computer Systems Administrator	$151,150 $126,830 $119,560 $116,780 $110,140 $107,680 $98,860 $93,730 $89,190 $84,810

Other key reasons for pursuing a major in MIS are –

• Job satisfaction
• High placement rate
• Exciting field
• Challenging field
• Hands-on problem solving
• Innovation and creativity
• Global opportunities, etc.    

So, if you have excellent problem-solving skills, the ability to manage time and resources, want to work with people closely, and have good communication skills then an MIS degree will be the right choice for you.

How Hard Management Information System Degree Is?

Well, the exact answer to this question depends on your skill, knowledge, and from which institute you are obtaining the degree. But in general, MIS is a relatively easy IT degree. Usually, CS or IT degrees are dominated by mathematics, coding, and programming but that is not the case for management information systems. If you are weak in math then you will be happy to know that MIS is less mathematical. Usually, the MIS degree is administered by university-level business schools. Though MIS has a fair amount of mathematics but these mathematical terms are business-focused. Moreover, MIS has fewer coding and programming subjects which is also very convenient. So, if you are willing to work with computers but not comfortable with mathematical theories and complex equations then MIS is the best option for you.

List of Best Certifications for Management Information System Degree           

1. IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL)
2. Project Management Professional (PMP)
3. Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)
4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional – Architecture (CISSP)
5. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
6. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
7. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
8. Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
9. Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
10. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
11. Management Consultant Professional (MCP)
12. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
13. Master Project Manager (MPM)
14. Information Systems Security Management Professional (ISSMP)
15. Program Management Professional (PgMP)
16. Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
17. SharePoint 2010 Certification
18. Certified Network Computer Technician (CNCT)
19. Certified Service Manager
20. Information Systems Professional (ISP)

Best Business School to Pursue Management Information System Degree

Name of the Institute	Tuition Fees	Core Topics
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$46704	Enterprise Transformations in the Digital EconomyThe Economics of InformationSoftware and Internet Entrepreneurship
University of Minnesota	$20810	Analysis and Modeling for Business Systems DevelopmentInformation SecurityData Analytics
Georgia Institute of Technology	$32396	Business ProgrammingTechnology StrategyEmerging Technologies
University of Arizona	$30025	Management Information Systems Analysis and Design using and Managing ISBasic Operations Management
University of Maryland	$32045	Designing Applications for Business AnalyticsDatabase SystemsSystems Analysis and Design
The University of Texas at Austin	$34836	Strategic Information Technology ManagementIntroduction to Problem Solving and ProgrammingWeb Application Development
Carnegie Mellon University	$50410	Database Design and ImplementationApplication Design and DevelopmentAccelerating Innovation and EntrepreneurshipWeb Application Security
Brigham Young University	$20000	Enterprise Application Development Project ManagementBusiness Process and Controls
Temple University	$25122	Enterprise IT ArchitectureDigital Solutions StudioApplication Integration and EvaluationLead Global Digital Projects
University of California-Irvine	$39458	Business Intelligence for Analytical DecisionsManagement of Information TechnologyOperations ManagementInformation Retrieval
University of Pennsylvania	$49536	Computer Simulation ModelsData Mining for Business IntelligenceAdvanced Topics in Information Strategy and Economics
Georgia State University	$28896	Systems AnalysisDatabase Management systems Project Management
Indiana University-Bloomington	$33741	Web and Social Media AnalyticsInformation Systems SecurityVisual Basic for ApplicationsApplication Integration
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	$30786	Individual Behavior in organizations-commerce ApplicationsWeb-based Systems
University of Washington	$34143	Electronic MarketingBusiness of ComputingUsability and User-centered Design
University of Georgia	$29832	Business Process ManagementData ManagementComputer Programming in BusinessSystem Analysis and Design
University of Michigan	$43377	Computer ProgrammingMathematicsStatisticsSocial Sciences and Ethics
Rockhurst University	$34790	Software EngineeringProgram Language Design and ImplementationData Structures
Rochester Institute of Technology	$37124	Developing Business ApplicationsDatabase Management SystemsSystem Analysis and Design
New York University	$46170	Information Security ManagementManagement of Risk and QualityIntroduction to Cloud ComputingMobile Application Development
Santa Clara University	$45300	Computer and Simulation ModelingComputer Communication SystemsData Warehousing and Business IntelligenceData Science with Python
University of Notre Dame	$47929	Systems AnalysisEnterprise ArchitectureInformation Technology Infrastructure
Loyola University Chicago	$39179	Business intelligence systems Analysis and DesignRequirements Analysis and Communication
Villanova University	$47591	Data MiningAdvanced AnalyticsBusiness Intelligence and Performance Management
Georgetown University	$48611	Ethics in Technology ManagementManagement of TechnologyFinancial Analysis for Technology Managers

List of Jobs for MIS Major in the USA with Salary Range

Job Title	Salary Range	Average Salary
Information Technology (IT) Manager Software Engineer Information Technology (IT) Director Data Analyst Systems Administrator Project Manager, (Unspecified Type / General) Business Analyst, IT Software Developer Business Systems Analyst Information Technology (IT) Consultant Senior Software Engineer Project Manager, Information Technology (IT) Senior Business Analyst Cyber Security Analyst Senior Project Manager, IT Product Manager, Software Systems Analyst Vice President (VP), Information Technology (IT) Sr. Software Engineer / Developer / Programmer Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst Business Intelligence (BI) Developer Network Engineer Data Engineer Systems Engineer, IT Information Security Analyst Senior Systems Engineer Program Manager, IT Chief Information Officer (CIO) Business Analyst (Unspecified Type) Programmer Analyst Technical Consultant Security Engineer Solutions Architect Financial Analyst Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Information Technology Specialist Senior Product Manager Information Technology (IT) Auditor Information Security Manager Operations Manager Development Operations (DevOps) Engineer	$60k – $131k $61k – $114k $81k – $176k $43k – $81k $49k – $90k $58k – $124k $48k – $88k $54k – $104k $52k – $91k $54k – $112k $83k – $153k $58k – $128k $64k – $111k $67k – $119k $88k – $140k $71k – $128k $46k – $90k $102k – $200k $79k – $136k $52k – $91k $58k – $100k $55k – $114k $68k – $124k $54k – $103k $54k – $112k $87k – $143k $78k – $163k $111k – $260k $51k – $93k $49k – $85k $56k – $114k $60k – $116k $79k – $155k $49k – $83k $68k – $125k $38k – $94k $96k – $168k $52k – $109k $81k – $144k $49k – $119k $65k – $117k	$90,834 $84,448 $128,188 $58,950 $66,362 $84,779 $64,854 $75,556 $69,357 $78,552 $114,385 $90,750 $84,101 $90,127 $113,105 $96,583 $64,882 $150,287 $104,745 $67,891 $76,066 $79,624 $91,428 $75,175 $77,118 $111,581 $115,006 $173,052 $69,020 $64,956 $80,015 $84,601 $113,854 $64,196 $95,351 $58,652 $135,660 $69,974 $111,168 $76,955 $88,347

References:

https://online.maryville.edu/blog/mis-degree-vs-cis-degree/

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Degree=Bachelor_of_Science_(BS_%2F_BSc)/Salary

Last Updated on December 25, 2023 by Magalie D.