What is Management Information Systems?

Management Information Systems (MIS) are the computer-based systems in an organization that handle the daily activity of and provide information to management for planning, organizing, and controlling their organization. MIS can range from a financial application on a personal computer to complex applications using large networks of computers in industries like banking and airlines.

Businesses are increasingly recognizing the strategic importance of timely information. For a business to manage its information resources, it must effectively use and coordinate the many ways information is processed including personal computers, office automation, data processing, and decision support systems.

The Degree Program

The primary overall objectives of the MIS program at Wright State University is to provide graduates with the knowledge, understanding, abilities, and attitudes necessary to function effectively in the area of MIS for lifelong professional development. The curriculum objectives provide:

• Prepare individuals to deploy information technology to support organizations.
• Prepare individuals to understand, perform and manage the process of information system development.
• Prepare individuals for entry-level positions in information technology or in a graduate school program.
• Prepare individuals for a process of life long learning.

The curriculum requirements are based on IS'97 Model Curriculum and Guidelines for Undergraduate Degree Programs in IS endorsed by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Association for Information systems (AIS), and the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) (formerly DPMA).

Careers in MIS

The MIS program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as business systems analysts, programmer/analysts, applications programmers, or as support persons in an information center. With additional experience, graduates of the program will have a sufficiently rigorous background leading to management positions in systems analysis, systems design, programming and systems project leadership, and systems management.

Career Opportunities

Applications Developer Assistant Data Processing Manager Computer Consultant Customer Service Representative Database Administrator Database Manager Data Processing Manager Director of Data Processing Director of MIS Lead Applications Programmer Lead Systems Analyst Lead Systems Programmer MIS Manager MIS/DP Officer Programmer / Analyst Project / Team Leader Senior Applicaitons Programmer Senior Systems Analyst Senior Systems Programmer Systems Administrator Systems Analyst Systems Programming Manager Technical Support Technology Consultant User Support Coordinator

Positions Held by Grads: Programming Consultant Computer Help Desk Manager Computer Programmer Cost Analyst Data Resource Coordinator Database Analyst Director of MIS Materials Management Materials Scheduler Production Supervisor Purchasing Agent Quality Assurance Systems Analyst Who Hires WSU Grads: Airborne Express American Mitsubishi Delphi Chassis Systems EDS Fifth Third Bank General Electric Company GM Hobart Corporation IBM Lexis-Nexis Navistar NCR Reynolds & Reynolds PFI Precision Machining Software Architects, Inc. Standard Register