Does anyone have a degree in Management Information Systems (MIS)?

I changed my major to MIS and I was wondering if anyone here has a degree in that subject and would be able to chat with me about it?

Thanks

no

Originally Posted by Resipsa

no

Nice review.

Originally Posted by Darrell

Nice review.

Too bad nobody ever told u that..... And meant it,

[Neuromancer]

I don't have a BS in MIS, but I have an AS in Computer Programming (and a BA in English Lit), and worked in the field for thirty years...started as a COBOL Programmer, worked my way up to Systems/Business Analyst, and around 2000 switched to Network Analyst/Engineer...I hold several certs, Microsoft and Cisco, A+, Network+, MCP, MCSE, MCDBA, CCNA...what would you like to discuss?

Originally Posted by Neuromancer

I don't have a BS in MIS, but I have an AS in Computer Programming (and a BA in English Lit), and worked in the field for thirty years...started as a COBOL Programmer, worked my way up to Systems/Business Analyst, and around 2000 switched to Network Analyst/Engineer...I hold several certs, Microsoft and Cisco, A+, Network+, MCP, MCSE, MCDBA, CCNA...what would you like to discuss?

I was hoping to find out what people do with it in the field. I've read 20 or 30 "canned" descriptions from different campuses across the nation, but I don't know anyone with the actual degree to find out what day to day life is like in that job.

[pnoon]

Originally Posted by Darrell

I was hoping to find out what people do with it in the field. I've read 20 or 30 "canned" descriptions from different campuses across the nation, but I don't know anyone with the actual degree to find out what day to day life is like in that job.

You probably need to be more specific. Your question is akin to asking what day to day life is like in the field of medicine or law. It depends on what you want to do.

Originally Posted by pnoon

You probably need to be more specific. Your question is akin to asking what day to day life is like in the field of medicine or law. It depends on what you want to do.

True. I used to work very closely with our director
Of MIS, while he himself was a programmer thats not what his job was about. Literally he managed our information systems, from worki g with end users to determine what legal database software we used, to a host of other things

Likewise, my brother who moved to the caribbean was the director of HR MIS for Merck for over 10 years. Again, day to day he dealt with what hr software was used to track emplyee performance, and associated issues relating to how their information systems were managed

Originally Posted by pnoon

You probably need to be more specific. Your question is akin to asking what day to day life is like in the field of medicine or law. It depends on what you want to do.

True... I have a degree in Biology, Minor in Chemistry and IS. I have been working in IT for over 10 years and there is always something different. I used to manage a help desk and now manage networks as network administrator. Certs are good, but it doesn't always mean you know how to apply what you just passed on a computer in real life situations. My day yesterday consisted of making sure that all was well with our wireless infrastructure. Today, some nimrod pulled out a supervisor engine from the wrong switch and hosed it over. I am still at work running through all the connections making sure they are up before I can go home.

Thanks for the info so far guys.

As far as being specific, Peter. I asked a general question so I could see the BROAD PICTURE of what a number of MIS majors do.

[mosesbotbol]

Been consulting in IT for 12 years and have/had Microsoft Certs.

If were to go into MIS, I would study SAP, without question.

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Been consulting in IT for 12 years and have/had Microsoft Certs.

If were to go into MIS, I would study SAP, without question.

What is SAP?

[M1903A1]

Originally Posted by Darrell

What is SAP?

It's a common business management/operations/financial software. Oracle is a common and very similar product.

(All: how would I learn SAP? I'm not a computer person, but my employer uses Oracle instead of SAP, and I figure it'd look good on a resume to have experience with both.)

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by Darrell

What is SAP?

SAP is the top job skill when you sort IT jobs on Monster or Dice from highest paying to lowest paying. You can get a 4 year degree in it and be making $150 an hour in no time.

Follow my advice and in 5 years you can send me the Behikes.

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

SAP is the top job skill when you sort IT jobs on Monster or Dice from highest paying to lowest paying. You can get a 4 year degree in it and be making $150 an hour in no time.

Follow my advice and in 5 years you can send me the Behikes.

If that sort of thing matters to you that is.

I started MIS and realized it wasn't what I wanted to do. Went Engineering instead.

Just food for thought. Make sure it's what you want to do with your life.

[Volt]

I know when I was job hunting the two areas that always had the big $$$$$ assigned to them were true database folks (SQL, Oracle, SAP, etc) The ability to take raw data and make information out of it. The second was the true network security folks. Typically the upper level CISCO certs, firewalls, routing, etc. I went too generic: server, software, printers, desktop, etc as everyone needs these skills but more common and pay much less.

[357]

Originally Posted by Volt

I know when I was job hunting the two areas that always had the big $$$$$ assigned to them were true database folks (SQL, Oracle, SAP, etc) The ability to take raw data and make information out of it. The second was the true network security folks. Typically the upper level CISCO certs, firewalls, routing, etc. I went too generic: server, software, printers, desktop, etc as everyone needs these skills but more common and pay much less.

Let me start by saying I have no degree. I have been working in IT for 10-15 years depending on your definition. What Volt said is very true. You can be either a network architect or a database administrator (DBA) without a degree. These are both very well paying jobs. In my part of the country, if you're good, you can make six figures at either position. If you get the proper certifications a degree is not necessary in these two fields. I am a Windows Server Administrator. I also adminster our company's SAN, Firewalls, Network Switches, Virtual environment (VMware), and more. This is mostly because of the size of the company I work for. The larger, the more pigeon-holed you get. The smaller, the more "hats" you get to wear regardless of whether you are a tech (engineer) or a manager.

That said, an MIS degree may get your foot in the door as a tech or programmer. A degree with certifications will almost always get you an interview. As a tech or a programmer with a degree it is possible to get promoted to a management position. Since I have no degree it is difficult for me to make that transition. I can however get more advanced certifications along with my experience and move into a better paying role.

I hope this helps.

[mosesbotbol]

Another reason to learn SAP is that you'll be making a real living right out the door and you can get a job very easily all over the world.

Security is good, but is really dependent on a work history as well as cert's. Darrell doesn't have the experience and it's going to take long time to build.

IT jobs aren't paying like they use to and many skill sets are being outsourced over seas or the need for support staff has diminished. SAP is unlikely to be outsourced due to the nature of the data and the business units working closely with the SAP developers.

[Ashcan Bill]

Darrell, my wife has an MIS and is a retired System Administrator.

I was the plant SAP Administrator and user trainer for the company I retired from.

Let me know if there's any specific questions we might be able to help with.

Bill

Hey Darrell, new to the site but I thought I would throw my two cents in. Little background; Graduated with a BS in MIS and have been working in the healthcare industry for the past 7 years as a Database Designer for a clinical CRO. I work heavily with our Statisticians, SAS programmers and Data Managers to develop clinical trial databases in Oracle and various EDC tools.

Some things to think about now that you are going the MIS route:
Do you want to be more business or technically focused?
Business related careers deal more with analyst and design such as a System Analyst, Database Designer, Business Analyst, Risk Analyst, System Architects, IT Consultants. Technically focused careers focus more on troubleshooting and helpdesk like a Network Analyst, Network Administrator and DBA.
These are just generalization about some of the jobs you’ll see out there. Job titles vs functions vary company to company.

Which industry would you like to get into? (Financial, Manufacturing, Human Resources, Health Care, etc…)
This will start to define what language you should look into. Oracle, SQL, SAP, etc..
What about certifications?
Great resume/salary booster but you need to know exactly what you want to get certified in. Answer the two questions above and a number of other ones and you got a good base for some certs.

Your degree will get you in door for your first job but from there it will be your discretion what area you specialize in.