In the industry of Information Technology (IT), there is a growing need not only for IT professionals, but for IT experts who can also hold management positions within different organizations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information systems managers is projected to grow 15 percent from 2022 to 2032. With a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), you can learn both IT and management tools that can help bridge the gap between an organization’s audience and technical developers.
Why Pursue a Career in Management Information Systems?
The IT industry is an all-encompassing field, and professionals with diverse backgrounds and experience can help propel the success of organizations. In addition, a skillset in IT is valuable to virtually all modern industries, giving students a broad range of available career paths.
“Many students are attracted to the IT field but are not interested in a career as a pure technologist, rather they would like to work on the business side of IT,” says Barry Douglass, program director of information technology management at UMGC. “Managers who can lead the teams that integrate information systems with general business processes are in high demand.”
There are many different career opportunities for those who pursue management information systems (MIS) as an undergraduate. Industry and government organizations hire full-time MIS professionals and contractors from outside providers to meet their goals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for computer and information systems managers was $164,070 in 2022.
“Jobs in IT project or program management are ideally suited to beginner MIS specialists,” says Douglass. “As these specialists move up in responsibility within management, they could advance to senior executive leadership level as a Chief Information Officer (CIO) in a large organization.”
How Does Management Information Systems Differ from Other IT Degrees?
At UMGC, students who pursue a MIS degree learn about all aspects of IT management including governance, project management, and the role of IT in organizations. This program differs from other IT degrees by having students gain skills in both IT and management.
“Students learn about computer technology from a broad perspective and to understand the technology without having to learn deeply technical skills,” says Douglass. “They learn cybersecurity, business data, systems analysis and design, data analytics, as well as finance for nonfinancial managers, and ethics in IT.”
The courses in the MIS undergraduate program are taught by faculty who are experts in their field and who stay up to date on the latest industry trends. A recent important trend of interest in the IT industry is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“A very important aspect of AI is the role of AI generated information in organizational decision making,” says Douglass. “Knowing how to interpret and analyze this new form of information, and how to use it without overly relying on it, depends on understanding what it is. Our students are being exposed to these concepts in their coursework.”
In addition to learning how to use diverse technologies to achieve organizational goals, students in this program can also prepare for relevant industry certification exams. Students are taught principles of project management which could help them prepare for the Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®, and the Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification exams.
Why Choose UMGC?
Students pursuing their bachelor’s degree in management information systems from UMGC can also benefit from various support services. They can earn their degree completely online, and the streamlined admissions process doesn’t require the SAT®1. As a student, they also receive complimentary access to tutoring, the writing center, and lifetime career services to help them network in the industry.
“UMGC has been offering this degree for well over a decade, we are well established in the field,” says Douglass. “With our expertise in online education our students will find our degree to be a fulfilling learning experience with maximum flexibility to accommodate their personal schedules, even while they work on their degrees.”
Management information systems are a critical part of the strategic decision-making process in today's public and private organizations. The career of management information systems is an exciting opportunity that can be enhanced with a bachelor’s degree in the field.
/blog-umgc-it-software-engineering-linklist-GettyImages-1212010354.jpg)
/blog-umgc-degrees-data-analytics-linklist-shutterstock-1840534423.jpg)
Share This