College: Management Information Systems. Thinking about Major.

[Coldkilla]

I've changed my major in college so many times I've lost count. I was wondering if anyone here took a MIS degree in college. What kind of job do you have now? Do you enjoy it? Do you need to know how to program computers? Is the pay well?

I'm not entirely sure I'll have time to do any extra curricular activities as I will be taking 15 credits a semester, 2 classes for summer school, and 1 class every winter. (Trying to get out of college in two years, as I've been in here 3 already).

 

[Saint Nick]

Do extra curriculars. You'll have time.

Also, MIS sucks. But thats JUST ME, not everyone. I hate it. I am getting my degree in MIS in December and plan on going back to school already to do something I enjoy (music) My job isn't so bad, but its that corporate environment. So if thats your thing...then hit it! Job security s nice...but not when you are unhappy.

Program computers? Not really a lot of programming involved, you take classes, but unless you are a web developer, not a lot of programming involved on the job IMO.

 

[rh71]

It's very broad. You will have the benefit of knowing the basics as it relates to business, including some simple SQL (a 400-level class for MIS) to run reports for an everyday job. There may have been a couple CS classes thrown in - that's as techie as it got for us. I do web apps but it is not because of my degree, though the SQL stuff gave me a good foundation for what I do everyday. Can't really remember anything else that has come in handy for this role. I'm sure project managers can come from MIS backgrounds too.

My wife was a finance/MIS major and is doing sys admin stuff for a financial firm. Most of our friends in MIS are doing random things in IT. It doesn't pit you into any one role. If you're still unsure of what you want to do but know it's with IT, stick with MIS.

 

[Cogman]

Someone once posted that a MIS degree is very looked down upon. They said it stands for "Math is Scary"

 

[Gooberlx2]

I think MIS is what you make of it. Like rh71 said, very broad. I have a few friends who did MIS in college. Generally, they're all doing well (one is a sysadmin, another runs reports, etc...), but the one who specialized early on, with multiple internships and training, is doing much better than the rest as an independent consultant/developer.

 

[Coldkilla]

Also, MIS sucks. But thats JUST ME, not everyone. I hate it. I am getting my degree in MIS in December and plan on going back to school already to do something I enjoy (music) My job isn't so bad, but its that corporate environment. So if thats your thing...then hit it! Job security s nice...but not when you are unhappy.

I'd like to go to film school, but only after I have a decent degree and a steady job.

 

[Pegun]

Any college degree (bachelors at least) is going to be what you make it. In a number of companies I've worked in, my managers have sociology or psychology degrees and are working in software testing or even systems administration. Degrees are there to show you how to learn, and specifically how to teach yourself as you go further into life. The real question is, what do you want to do when you grow up?

 

[iamwiz82]

I have an Management degree with a focus on IS. It's worked for me, since it dealt with lots of higher level things, ERP design, software and business processes, etc.

 

[Ns1]

I did accounting information systems, and while ideally I'd do things like process improvement, ERP design, etc, as it turns out I'm a glorified excel monkey working in the accounting/finance field.

At least with AIS, I have accounting as a backup.

 

[BoberFett]

I did accounting information systems, and while ideally I'd do things like process improvement, ERP design, etc, as it turns out I'm a glorified excel monkey working in the accounting/finance field.

At least with AIS, I have accounting as a backup.

I'm thinking about making the jump to consulting to do just the things you mentioned. The times I enjoy my work the most is when I'm looking at the big picture. I've worked in SMBs my entire professional career and I've found it's what I'm good at. Looking at a company's business processes and using technology to take them to the next level. Most SMBs don't need a full time IT Director though and big companies just seem to entrenched for me to really make an impact. The company I'm at right now doesn't really need me as an IT Director because they're not making large scale strategic changes despite my efforts to the contrary. They're set in their ways. What I want to do is help small companies grow through things like ERP, DMS, BPM and the like and I think consulting might be a way to do that. We'll see.