What Can You Do With a Master’s in Information Systems? 8 Jobs to Consider

What You Can Do With a Master’s Degree in Information Systems and the Career Fulfillment in this Field

Information is a critical thread that runs through companies of almost any size. With information, businesses can make sound decisions, solve problems, communicate with stakeholders, and sell products and services to customers.

From start-ups to large corporations, information systems (IS) are the backbone of successful organizations. Read on as we take a closer look at the roles and career opportunities within the IS field and its bright future.

Information Systems Defined

IS (sometimes called information systems technology) is an umbrella term for the systems, people, and processes that create, store, and disseminate information. Information systems are incomplete without information technology (IT) — the systems that support, store, and administer data. Information systems standardize software applications and computer hardware to make vital information accessible and useful to employees, company management, and business owners. And in our burgeoning digital age, well-managed data and information are critical for the success of every business.

More than 100,000 information systems-focused positions are listed on Indeed — and that’s just one career website!

Increased Demand Means More Talent is Needed

People who specialize in information systems do their work in companies of nearly any type and size, including for-profit and non-profit organizations, the government, manufacturing, transportation, and higher education. And because information and data management is at the core of these various businesses, they find themselves competing for top IS talent.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the number of IS jobs will grow by 16% between now and 2031. That’s much faster than the average for all other occupations. For real-world comparison, we headed to Indeed and searched “information systems jobs” with staggering results. More than 100,000 positions are advertised in this dynamic field — and that’s just on one career website!

As companies seek talented and qualified IS professionals, candidates need something extra to stand out. A master’s degree in IS can take a resume from basic to all business. The Carl H. Lindner College of Business offers a popular online Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) program through UC Online for people who seek focused education and the cache of a master’s degree.

Career Opportunities and Job Titles for MSIS Degree-Holders

When it comes to the job title you might score, graduates of our program use titles like these on their LinkedIn profiles and business cards:

1. Management Analyst- also known as Management Consultant or Business Analyst, is a professional who is responsible for evaluating an organization’s processes, procedures, and operations to identify areas where improvements can be made. They analyze data and information, develop recommendations, and provide guidance to help organizations enhance their overall efficiency, productivity, and performance.
2. Systems Administrator – also known as sysadmins are IT professionals who ensure an organization’s computer systems are functioning and meet the needs the organizations.
3. Distributed Systems Engineer – is a professional responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining distributed computing systems. These professionals work with complex networks and multiple interconnected servers or nodes to ensure efficient data sharing, fault tolerance, and scalability.
4. Database Developer – is a professional responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining computer databases. They work with database management systems (DBMS) to develop and optimize database structures, write and optimize SQL queries, and ensure data is stored, organized, and retrieved efficiently.
5. Solutions Specialist – is a technical role that involves providing expert advice and guidance on selecting and implementing technology solutions for a specific business problem or need. These professionals work closely with customers or clients to understand their requirements and then recommend and deploy appropriate solutions, which could involve hardware, software, or services.
6. Data Engineer – is responsible for designing, constructing, installing, and maintaining systems for collecting, storing, and analyzing data. They work on creating data pipelines, databases, and data infrastructure to support data-driven applications and analytics. Data Engineers are skilled in data modeling, ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes, and database management.
7. Systems Analyst – analyzes an organization’s information systems and processes to design, improve, or integrate technology solutions. They bridge the gap between business needs and technology by identifying requirements, creating system specifications, and often playing a key role in software development projects. Systems Analysts help organizations make efficient and effective use of technology to achieve their goals.
8. Database Programmer: is a developer who focuses on writing code to interact with databases. These porgrammers create and maintain software applications that access and manipulate data within database systems.

Dive more into MSIS careers, salary and where our graduates launch their careers by visiting our career’s tab of the Master of Science in Information Systems page.

Spotlight on Information Systems Specialists

Third-party accolades, such as EdUniversal’s and our Lindner College of Business’ AACSB accreditation, mean the world to us. What we appreciate even more is the feedback we get from people enrolled in the MSIS program!

Here’s what a recent graduate and two current students said about their UC experience:

(Graduate) “With my bachelor’s in IT and industry experience of close to three years, I wanted to enhance my technical skills, get some management skills, and get back to the IT industry quickly. The MSIS program at UC is a perfect amalgamation of everything I wanted. I was exposed to disruptive technologies in machine learning, along with core management concepts in finance, accounting, and marketing. I got back to the IT industry quickly, within 10 months of starting the program.”

(Student) “I have an undergrad degree in information technology and around four years of work experience in the IT industry, where I have worked as a front-end web developer, quality assurance analyst, and business requirement analyst. Today, breakneck advances in technology and faster product lifecycles characterize the business environment. It becomes inevitable to make use of information technology and data analysis to discover innovative ways to solve business problems of today and tomorrow. I aspire to gain knowledge about the foundations of database and project management methodologies, data analysis, and modeling techniques, along with statistical computing and enterprise architecture insights. The courses offered in this program completely cater to my diverse experiences.”

(Student) “We have excellent faculty comprising experienced professionals and researchers who are committed to helping us learn and advance in our careers. This program has truly been enriching and has taught me to be analytical and data-oriented, and I intend to reflect that in my work going forward.”

Your career and educational goals could be like this student’s, vastly different or not even finalized yet — and that’s okay. And you might know how to parlay your advanced degree into a new role. For inspiration, explore what we found online, where IS professionals will:

• • • Ensure that all aerospace assets and software are properly accounted for, managed, and controlled.
    • Help perform technical and administrative work in supporting a municipality’s information and public safety systems.
    • Perform troubleshooting of defects and propose solutions to problems for a manufacturing company.
    • Work closely with Sales, Operations, Finance, and HR teams to capture requirements and perform the development, implementation, and maintenance of new sales compensation and reporting systems through cloud platforms.
    • Oversee and lead the IT department, designs, strategies, and infrastructure at an up-and-coming social media platform.
    • Use your IS skillset to help a non-profit carry out its mission in creative ways.

  

  MSIS Academic Director Robert Rokey says students often have a specific career goal when they enroll in  the fully online Lindner College of Business program. He recalls one IS professional who enrolled for two key reasons: to change their career path and the technical and business mix of the MSIS program.

  The 100% online, asynchronous master’s program which allows you to work at your own pace (studying when and wherever you want to). Our MSIS degree offers specialization in IS and paves the way for you to move up where you work today or position yourself for a new career elsewhere.

  Your career trajectory can change significantly after obtaining your master’s in information systems from the Lindner College of Business. It’s a top-15 program as ranked by EdUniversal.

Because the information systems field is constantly evolving and growing, it’s one where our graduates can almost write their own ticket to land the job of their dreams. Whether you hope to work in corporate America, at a start-up, or as an independent IS who consults with various firms, you’ll find UC’s MSIS program to be an asset to your career. It will increase your marketability as an information professional and equip you for long-term, meaningful success in the field.

 Connect With an Enrollment Services Advisor Today

Excited to learn more? Your next step to explore all UC Online offers to our students is as easy as a phone call or direct message to one of our Enrollment Services Advisors. Connect online today or call 833-556-7877, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

We look forward to meeting you and helping you plan an optimal path for success in information systems!