<p>I'm a rising senior in high school, and I am looking into options for a major in college. The only things I really know is that I like computers and math. I am taking an introductory engineering course right now, and quite frankly I think it sucks. Circuits are just not my thing... So what would IS encompass? I'm looking for more than the basic overview you can find on wikipedia. Why is it mixed in with the business? Is it like a computer science-business mix just as computer engineering is a computer science-electrical engineering mix?</p>
<p>You have a very basic understanding. </p>
<p>IS/CIS/MIS is a field that seeks to bridge the gap between business and technology.</p>
<p>No offense. But your response seems like you have a very basic understanding, as well. </p>
<p>TheFatAnorexic, my best advice would be to go to the websites of your top college choices and check out the curriculum and the course descriptions. </p>
<p>UT MIS
[Management</a> Information Systems - Majors - Academics - Texas BBA - Undergraduate Program - The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin](<a href=“MIS | Academics | BBA | McCombs School of Business”>MIS | Academics | BBA | McCombs School of Business)</p>
<p>^^You should tell my employer that. I guess my degree, internships, and job offer are all because of a basic understanding. </p>
<p>The response I gave him was intended just to give him brief insight into the major, but I guess you can do that…having read course descriptions. Lol</p>
<p>LOL, game, set, match.</p>
<p>I mean if you know so much, which I never tried to prove you didn’t. You should give a better response. Between a degree, internships and job offers your answer doesn’t reflect it. To the OP, whose post is actually more helpful?</p>
<p>
Well let’s see. plscatamacchia gave very little information, but put it into simpler terms which made it easier to understand. You gave me more information, but it was somewhat more complex and I didn’t understand some parts of it. So…I nominate sp1212 for the best post because it was random. And because I don’t want to choose one person over the other since I want
both
of you to help me (this could backfire on me of course…)</p>
<p>There, now onto the practice of Information Systems. I looked at the UMD-CP website (my #1 choice) and their IS major has an attachment to it: “Specialization Business.” Whatever that means… [url=<a href=“http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/undergrad/majors/is.aspx]Here[/url”>http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/undergrad/majors/is.aspx]Here[/url</a>] is the link to the UMD website. Honestly, I do not really comprehend what it is talking about probably because it is a broad overview. I’m looking for more specific information. derekallen2009, could you help me dissect that course overview? And plscattamachia, you said that you have intern experience. Could you describe what you do in more detail?</p>
<p>My intern experience was working with System Analysts. Basically, they decide the best way to use the technology in a firm. </p>
<p>My job offer is an Associate Business System Analyst.</p>
<p>Please ignore the idiot trying to ask you to pick a post. He is some kind of agribusiness, CC transfer kid who has no connection to the field. </p>
<p>What I gave you was a watered down response, but a Business Systems Analyst is a very common way to enter into the field. What they do is meet with people from all different departments, managers, etc etc. They discuss with them how they are currently using the technology and software of the department. Using this information they look for ways the technology could be used more efficiently. (This is one thing they do, there is much more)</p>
<p>After some years in this position there are SO many paths you can take. I worked under a guy who had just become a Project Management Leader. His job was to implement new software and make the transition to this software as smooth as possible. </p>
<p>Another guy went the Database Administrator route. He was more hands on with the technology currently in place. IMO, this is more suited for CS majors, as it is much less human interaction. CIS/MIS majors are intended to interact with people. </p>
<p>Another position is IT Manager. He has his hands in everything (from what I understand, this persons role was one I really didn’t explore).</p>
<p>Of course every IS/CIS/MIS majors goal is to become a CIO (Chief Information Officer). They are the head honchos of the tech side of a firm. There jobs are very exciting. I actually have a great contact in a CIO of a Fortune 50 company and her job seems amazing. It is demanding, as any executive role is, but it is where you want to go. They will oversee EVERYTHING that goes on with the firms technology. In todays business world a talented CIO is priceless. </p>
<p>And there is another route in consulting, which I will be exploring as my career progresses. You are contracted by businesses (often small businesses) to make software, hardware, and other tech decisions for them. Often times, you will be held on retainer with your clients should any changes need to happen or quick fixes need to be done. </p>
<p>Let me know what other questions you have.</p>
<p>Now that post is worth something. And I’m going for Econ.</p>
<p>^^Alright, now this was the kind of response I was hoping for! Thanks a ton plscatamacchia!</p>
<p>It sounds like a Business System Analyst is the way to go for an entry position. Basically getting a look into all the departments and exploring the technology used. </p>
<p>I’m looking into the possibility of throwing a CS minor (concentration in computer security) with an IS major. Are there any positions other than Database Administrator that this could fit?</p>
<p>It has been my ambition for a while to work in the defense industry (not necessarily for the government). Do you know what concentrations in college would be better suited for this? And what type of jobs?</p>
<p>Can you go into more detail about the CIO? This is a bit of a sticky point for me. Everything you described excites me a lot because it is what I know I am interested in. Right now, I work in at a place which allows me to do rudimentary jobs that fall under the categories you described, and I absolutely love it. However, your claim that every IS/CIS/MIS should seek out a CIO position doesn’t really fit my desires. My friend’s mom is a department head at Microsoft and she works constantly. In my opinion, she works so much that she kind of neglected my friend, showering him with money instead of spending time with him more. I don’t really want to become that type of person; I want to be more of a “family” person. The whole prospect of what a CIO does excites me, it’s just that I know the job is going to constantly demand attention. Far more attention than I am willing to commit. </p>
<p>Anways, thanks again! That post was extremely helpful!</p>
<p>Well there are, of course, heads of data security/computer security positions. I am not sure how an IS major, CS minor would help, but all of the guys who dealt with security that I have met have been hardcore programmers with CS degrees. </p>
<p>ANY job in IT within a corporation will at times demand long hours. When deadlines come around you will be pulling 60-70 hour weeks. </p>
<p>As for the CIO, the contact I have works very hard. Her branch within this large corporation is actually the Asia-Pacific hub. She is married, but does not have children. Her marriage is a very healthy one, but they just never desired to have children. She does work VERY hard. 3 AM conference calls with the American Corporate Headquarters, flying to Australia, Hong Kong, etc often to make sure projects are moving smoothly. However, she also has 6 weeks paid vacation that she spends in either he home in Aspen, CO or Somewhere, FLA (can’t think of it right now). Her husband works very few hours as a consultant. Basically, if they did have children it would be a backwards…provider, nurturer family style. </p>
<p>As I said before though, her job is very exciting and constantly fast-paced. However, this is not for everyone (like yourself). However, like I said, working mid-level IT jobs will require weeks where you work LONG hours. The IT project manager I worked under had just finished implementing some new software. He said he worked probably 80 hours/ week during the final stages. However, the rest of the year its normal 9-5. Here is a link to some mid-to-upper-level jobs and their salaries. You can google their titles to find out more.</p>
<p>[Average</a> IT – Manager Job Salary Range. IT – Manager Pay Scale. Unemployment, Benefits, and Career](<a href=“http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_narrowbrief_it07.html]Average”>http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_narrowbrief_it07.html) </p>
<p>(IT Manager - 105k median - not to shabby, DBA - 100k median - Basically all of these are around 100-115k median salaries)</p>
<p>So how long would those “final stages” of 80 hour weeks be? 2-3 weeks? </p>
<p>And about the salary…DBA is about 109k on the website you provided, but on the [Bureau</a> Labor of Statistics](<a href=“http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm#training]Bureau”>http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos305.htm#training) it says about 70k? I tend to trust the government statistics more than any random salary website…</p>
<p>Well to resurrect this thread since I still have some questions, how hard is it to get an internship after freshman year? The course material that I have looked at for UMD’s website seems to have freshman and sophomores taking basic classes that do not go into IS specifics.</p>
<p>I think its easier to get a internship between junior and senior year based on plscatamacchia said here: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/958072-mis.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/business-major/958072-mis.html</a></p>
<p>Anyways, TheFatAnorexic, UMD is in the top 10 MIS programs. Are you instate or out of state? Did you get a scholarship or FA?</p>
<p>^^That is correct, IMO.</p>
<p>For MIS, moreso than ANY other business major you need to have a hands on internship. To be prepared for this type of internship you need to take upper level MIS classes. For example, by the time I had my internship I had taken:</p>
<p>2 System Analysis classes
2 Project Management classes
1 DBA class
1 Programming class.</p>
<p>Not only did this allow me to do more things as an intern, I think it showed them that I knew my stuff. I was offered a great job after this internship. If I had gone in and filed papers and knew nothing about IS design and implementation I would have seemed worthless and may not have received a job offer this early.</p>
<p>
I’m instate, but I’m also a rising senior. I’m hoping to get a scholarship. I have a 3.77 UW and a 4.36W GPA along with a 1450/1600 SAT score. </p>
<p>
Well, I know that going into an internship knowing next to nothing is never a good thing, but suppose that that internship was obtained the summer after freshman year. Would the benefits of getting experience that early on outweigh the other negatives? And what year were you when you received a job offer?</p>