<p>I'm currently working towards an associates degree in computer network administration at my local community college. I'm looking for some guidance in the area of MIS / IT / Business online degrees. Due to my work, as well as my preferred learning method, I know an online degree is my preferred method. If anybody can provide some info on the reputations of these colleges and their respective online programs (or throw out your own suggestions), I'd greatly appreciate it!</p>
<p>-Eastern Carolina University
-Washington State University
-University of Minnesota, Crookston
-Old Dominion University
-Regis University
-New Mexico State University</p>
<p>I'm also interested in input regarding the following:</p>
<p>For those in the IT / MIS field, is an MIS degree worth it? I know for a fact a computer science / engineering degree isn't for me. What I'm curious, though, is would a BS in business / business management (without the MIS concentration), combined with my associates in computer networking and related certifications be viewed as just as good as an actual MIS degree?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>University of Toledo is also another I’ve heard good things about.</p>
<p>Can’t help you with the on-line MIS degrees, but might be able to help with your other questions. I’m in the IT business in a managment role; my current focus is on project managers and business analysts, but I’ve hired other technical roles in the past as well.</p>
<p>In my experience, for the technical roles the question is really what do you know (technology/tool/language/etc.) and what experience do you have with it. Having certifications (as you mentioned) is a big help. So it is certainly feasible that the associates degree plus certifications will be a suitable complement to a business degree. </p>
<p>But this also begs the question, what are you wanting to do? Is there something you want to do with general business classes that makes them preferable to the MIS classes? I don’t have a bachelor in either business or MIS, but from what I understand about most 4-yr MIS degrees they include a lot of basic business courses anyway. If you are wanting to work in a technology field, having knowledge of a variety of technical skill sets will make you more attractive to an employer. They might be looking for someone with networking + another specific skill set. If you can get that skill set through the classes it just helps you get a little farther in the hiring process.</p>
<p>But if you are wanting to take a somewhat different career path then the business classes might be better. However, if you are looking at the general business classes as a path to management, I think you would be better off getting the more technical MIS degree, getting some experience, then going back and getting an MBA. Just my opinion and certainly there are a lot of managers out there without MBAs.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply!</p>
<p>My reason for bringing up the regular business degree versus an MIS-specific business degree was because there are quite a few more reputable online institutions out there that offer regular business degrees vs MIS degrees. I’m looking for an actual brick and mortar college that offers an online program, and for MIS specific stuff, it’s a bit limited. Being able to open myself up to a regular business degree brings in many other choices.</p>
<p>Thanks again for your input!</p>
<p>OK, I see where you are going with that. From that perspective I think a business degree plus your other degree & certification should get you in the door in many places.</p>