Information Systems / MIS
The business side of technology: systems that run organizations.
Management Information Systems (MIS) programs sit between a business school and a computer science department. You'll study databases, systems analysis, and enterprise software, but always in service of a business question: how does this system help an organization make decisions or operate more efficiently.
Expect a mix of technical courses (databases, basic programming, systems design) and business core courses (management, accounting basics, operations), since MIS graduates are often the people who translate business needs into technical requirements.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Intro to MIS
- ✓Business Programming Fundamentals
- ✓Database Design & Management
- ✓Systems Analysis & Design
- ✓Business Data Analytics
- ✓Enterprise Systems
- ✓IT Project Management
- ✓Business Process Management
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Intro to MIS
- +General education requirement
- ✓Business Programming Fundamentals
- +General education requirement
- ✓Database Design & Management
- +General education requirement
- ✓Systems Analysis & Design
- +Free elective
- ✓Business Data Analytics
- +Free elective
- ✓Enterprise Systems
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓IT Project Management
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Business Process Management
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Interested in technology but also in how businesses run
- ★Likes organizing information and processes
- ★Comfortable talking to both engineers and executives
- ★Practical, systems-oriented thinker
Common minors & double-major pairings
Business Administration · Accounting · Data Science
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Data Analyst
Turns raw data into reports and insights that inform business decisions.
Database Administrator
Keeps an organization's databases running, secure, and performant.
Data Engineer
Builds the pipelines and infrastructure that move and organize data for analysis.
Product Manager (Technology)
Decides what a software product should do and why, coordinating the team that builds it.
Business Analyst
Bridges business needs and technical or operational solutions.
SEO Specialist
Optimizes content and websites to rank well in search results.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Information Systems / MIS major?
The business side of technology: systems that run organizations.
What courses do Information Systems / MIS majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Intro to MIS, Business Programming Fundamentals, Database Design & Management, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Information Systems / MIS program?
Information Systems / MIS coursework typically builds skills like Systems analysis and requirements gathering, Database design and querying, Business process mapping, Project management fundamentals.
Is Information Systems / MIS a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Interested in technology but also in how businesses run" or "Likes organizing information and processes" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Information Systems / MIS degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Data Analyst, Database Administrator, Data Engineer. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Information Systems / MIS?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Business Administration, Accounting, Data Science.
How is Information Systems / MIS different from Business Administration?
They're related but distinct. Information Systems / MIS: The business side of technology: systems that run organizations. Business Administration: A broad foundation across management, finance, marketing, and operations. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Information Systems / MIS degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
From our guides
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/information-systems