Online management information systems (MIS) degrees teach students how employees interact with technology at an organization and how to set up information systems in such a way that each employee can access it seamlessly to carry out daily business operations. MIS is typically offered within the framework of a broader business education, alongside business core courses in finance, accounting, marketing, and management.
Online MIS degrees differ from other information systems degrees because of their emphasis on how businesses can best utilize available technology. In other words, MIS tends to be a business degree with an emphasis in technology rather than a highly technical degree with a business emphasis. Instead of featuring in-depth course work in software systems, networking, programming, and other technical areas, the majority of course work covers business topics such as economics, statistics, business law, and operations management. Any technical courses, such as business programming or systems analysis and design, are offered with the overarching purpose of applying these technical skills in business settings.
Course work in an MIS degree online will explore how business professionals can promote innovation through technology, how they can budget for technology upgrades, and how information systems are used to accomplish business purposes. Students may take courses in database systems management, enterprise models, and technology project management.
Graduates of online MIS degree programs may go on to become information technology (IT) managers, systems analysts, client server support analysts, and management analysts/consultants. People in these roles will be expected to research, evaluate, budget for, and implement solutions related to technological infrastructure, and perform cost-benefit analyses for software and operating system enhancements.