Best Bachelor's Degrees In Management Information Systems

Overview

The University of Pennsylvania does not offer a full degree in IS, but it does offer an optional track as part of its Operations, Information, and Decisions curriculum. This undergraduate degree, which is offered through the Wharton School, offers a strong foundation in all key areas of the IS profession, including management science and operations management.

Features

The IS track for this degree has a requirement of 15 credit hours, with the undergraduate degree requiring a total of 120 credit hours. Courses are subject to change between semesters, highlighting a unique feature of this degree, which is that the faculty, the majority of whom have worked in the IS field, have the option to update the curriculum of courses to reflect the changes in the profession. Students choose from a variety of topics, including:

• Computer Simulation Models
• Data Mining for Business Intelligence
• Advanced Topics in Information Strategy and Economics

Notables

This undergraduate degree was created for students who wish to become consultants in the IS profession, working with organizations and businesses to strengthen and improve their digital business and internal systems as the world moves more into the virtual space. Graduates often move into digital leadership roles in manufacturing companies, accounting firms, banks, or even open their own businesses.

Overview

Georgia State University is unique in this ranking in that it is one of the few schools that has a department that is dedicated to the education of IS professionals. The school’s Department of Computer Information Systems houses a BBA with a major in IS. Georgia State University’s undergraduate business degrees, including the CIS program, is currently ranked in the top ten by U.S. News and World Report.

Features

Students who study within this department are known as CIS students. This differentiates them from both business students and computer science students, as the degree encompasses both fields. In this case, CIS students focus more on how technology affects business, and how technology can be used to improve businesses worldwide. GSU requires a total of 120 credit hours for graduation. Some of these courses include:

• Systems Analysis
• Database Management Systems
• IT project Management

Notables

GSU students are also encouraged to take part in the study abroad exchange program. CIS students can study at the University of Nantes’ Institut D’Economie Et De Management. Up to 12 credit hours can be earned through this program. It is also a great way for students interested in working in multinational companies to experience their field in a different country.

Overview

The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University—Bloomington houses the Department of Operations and Decision Technologies. This is where prospective students can earn a BSB with a major in IS. This program is currently one of the highest-ranked business programs in the nation.

Features

At Kelley, students have access to a variety of new and exciting subjects in the IS major. Most of these topics are current trends in the field, allowing students to have an up-to-date education as soon as they graduate with their degree. Some subjects include:

• Web and Social Media Analytics
• Information Systems Security
• Visual Basic for Applications
• Application Integration

Notables

The BSB-IS was created for students who are interested in learning how management, technology, and business all work together. The ODT department takes special care to provide students with not only a great education in the IS field, it also makes it possible for students to dual major, effectively increasing their chances of getting the job of their dreams.

Overview

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a strong College of Business that has taken an interest in providing students with an undergraduate degree in IS. This degree, the BBA in Information System and Information Technology, known as ISIT, is in demand from prospective employers. For this reason, it’s perfect for students who wish to become IS professionals.

Features

Majoring in ISIT at UIUC will require a total of 130 credit hours, 22 of which come directly from the major itself. Altogether, students will be expected to complete the University and Business Core curriculums along with the major curriculum. Some topics for the major include:

• Individual Behavior in Organizations
• E-commerce Applications
• Web-based Systems

Notables

The BBA-ISIT curriculum centers on the actual systems those companies use to collect and analyze data, as well as new and innovative technologies that will help organizations run more efficiently. Students also have the added benefit of taking on a study-abroad semester while completing their degree. The College of Business offers over 15 different opportunities for a semester-long stay at a top international business school, and 15 more for short-term stays.

Overview

The University of Washington is known for its excellent business programs, which are accredited by the AACSB. The school is also nationally ranked among the Best Business Schools by Bloomberg Businessweek. It is here where students can get an undergraduate business degree with an MIS major.

Features

UW requires 120 credits for graduation. This major also requires 25 credits and a capstone project. While courses are subject to availability, they are all focused on providing students with theoretical and practical simulations that parallel the current IT industry’s issues. Courses include:

• Electronic Marketing
• Business of Computing
• Usability and User-centered Design

Notables

Because this degree is housed at the Bothell School of Business, students will graduate with a BABA in this major. This is perfect for students who wish to learn how business and IT work together and creates a strong professional who comes into the workforce understanding the relationship between the two fields.

Overview

The University of Georgia houses their undergraduate management information systems degree at the Terry College of Business. This degree is well-respected and has even ranked in the top ten programs of its kind by USA Today. It is perfect for students who prefer hands-on learning.

Features

This degree requires 120 credit hours and an internship for completion. These courses, when completed with the University Core and the Business Core, helps prepare students for a fulfilling career in IT. By the time students graduate they will have a firm understanding of the following:

• Business Process Management
• Data Management
• Computer Programming in Business
• System Analysis and Design

Notables

UGA’s undergraduate BBA with the MIS major is a perfect marriage between lectures and practical learning. The faculty takes the time to ensure students understand the theory of the concepts before moving on to lab simulations, team projects, case studies, and even field trips. There are also presentations by current industry practitioners, which will help students understand how professionals in their field work with the current trends.

Overview

The University of Michigan does not offer a specific undergraduate degree in IS. Instead, the school confers the Bachelor of Science in Informatics. This degree is a new interdisciplinary program that is being offered in conjunction with several departments. It was created due to a demand from employers for students who understand the field of informatics.

Features

This degree takes into account the role of informatics within the STEM fields. Students also have the option to choose courses that reflect their interests in medical, engineering and computing statistics and analysis. Core subjects include:

• Computer Programming
• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Social Sciences and Ethics

Notables

While Life Sciences Informatics is currently the most popular track for this major, there is an option to pursue a Data Mining Information Analysis track. This track focuses a student’s education on research and analysis methods for digital data mining in a variety of fields. This gives graduates a firm foundation in how data mining can influence organizations and how they do business in the real world.

Overview

Rockhurst University does not currently offer an IS undergraduate degree, but it does offer the chance for students to take part in its IT program. The B.S. in Information Technology is one of its most popular STEM programs and is currently one of the most selective programs offered by this university.

Features

The undergraduate degree in IT focuses on the software and programming aspects of a business. Students learn about software development, digital media, and web engineering. Students will be required to complete 134 credit hours, 60 service hours, and an internship. Samples of courses that a student will take as part of the Core Curriculum include:

• Software Engineering
• Program Language Design and Implementation
• Data Structures

Notables

The internship is separate from service hours. Participation in the internship allows students to get a glimpse into what their prospective career path will look like after they’ve graduated. It also serves to help students build a strong portfolio that can be used to showcase their competency to future prospective employers.

Overview

The Saunders College of Business at the Rochester Institute of Technology offers an undergraduate M.I.S. degree to interested students. This program, which has been nationally ranked in the top ten best programs of its kind by U.S. News and World Report, is also one of the most interesting on this list. This program is accredited by the AACSB.

Features

Students at RIT have a unique choice in that they can choose to earn their degree on the school’s campus in America or at Beijing Jiaotong University, which is also known as BJTU. Classes at either campus are taught in English and give students the chance to travel while earning their degree. The courses are the same, no matter what campus students decide to choose. All students must complete the University Core and the Business Core along with the major requirements, totaling 128 credits. Courses for the major include:

• Developing Business Applications
• Database Management Systems
• System Analysis and Design

Notables

Students will also be required to finish a capstone project and a cooperative education experience. The cooperative education experience is a requirement that sees a student spend one or two semesters in a full-time employment position, totaling a minimum of 560 hours. Alternatively, students can choose to study abroad and fulfill this requirement.

Overview

New York University’s School of Professional Studies has been a leader in undergraduate degrees for over a decade. Among their offerings is the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management. This degree is perfect for students who are interested in pursuing a degree in the IT field, specifically as how it pertains to businesses and organizations.

Features

This undergraduate degree has a liberal arts foundation, meaning that students are expected to first master critical thinking, communication and analytical skills before moving on to more specialized subjects. NYU requires a total of 128 credit hours for completion of this degree. A graduation project is also needed. The majority of these credit hours are focused on the major’s requirements. Here’s a look at a few:

• Information Security Management
• Management of Risk and Quality
• Introduction to Cloud Computing
• Mobile Application Development

Notables

Students at NYU will be happy to know that all courses for this major are taught by faculty who have real-world experience in the field. This ensures that the curriculum is current with industry standards and gives students a competitive edge once they graduate, as they will have hands-on practice with IT systems prior earning their degree.

Overview

Santa Clara University may be one of the only universities to have an entire department dedicated to MIS majors. The department of OMIS is dedicated completely to this field and can be found housed in the Leavey School of Business. This is where students who are interested in a Bachelor of Science in Management Information System can find their perfect degree.

Features

The OMIS department is dedicated to providing an education that is built around how technology facilitates, and indeed, guides business to success through organizational strategies and new IT systems. This department produces a firm foundation in this field by pairing theoretical lectures with practical learning, ensuring students master a system and its issues before moving on to another subject. The major requires 21 credit hours on its own, making it a comprehensive and rigorous undergraduate degree. Here’s a sampling:

• Computer and Simulation Modeling
• Computer Communication Systems
• Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence
• Data Science with Python

Notables

A unique feature of the Santa Clara OMIS department is its faculty. Many of the instructors who teach through the department have real-world experience in IT. Some have even founded companies, and still others are still working as researchers in business intelligence and other related fields.

Overview

The University of Notre Dame is a world-class institution that’s dedicated to graduating students with degrees that help them in their dream careers. As STEM jobs become more and more in-demand, the school has continued its focus in strengthening their undergraduate programs in these areas. That includes the BBA in Management Information Systems.

Features

This degree is currently aligned with the recommendations from the Association for Computing Machinery’s Curricula Report. Notre Dame requires that all students who major in this area complete the Business Administration Core Curriculum. An additional 24 credits are needed for this major. Courses include:

• Systems Analysis
• Enterprise Architecture
• Information Technology Infrastructure

Notables

Students who choose Notre Dame will find that this degree will prepare them to function as IT professionals. The degree is also a great foundation for further education in the field at the graduate level. It was designed to help students bridge their critical thinking skills to IS problems and issues that arise in the business world.

Overview

The Loyola University Chicago houses the Quinlan School of Business. This is where students who are interested in becoming computer and information systems managers will find the best degree for them. The BBA in Information Systems is fast becoming one of the most popular programs for the school, ensuring that students will get a quality IT degree from a world-class school.

Features

The BBA-IS degree integrates academics with applied science and is focused on providing students with a strong foundation in data analysis and IS. The curriculum, which improves every year with the discovery and implementation of new IT in the workplace, teaches students about IS within the business environment. The advantage of majoring in IS through a general business degree ensures that students understand the dynamics that are at play in the real world, which make them high-quality candidates in the workforce. Courses for IS students include:

• Business Intelligence
• Systems Analysis and Design
• Requirements Analysis and Communication

Notables

Loyola Chicago has also endeavored to make system development environments, the same ones students would use at work after they graduate, available to students. Some of the systems that a student will have access to during their time at the school include Oracle, C#, VBA, and OLAP/BI Tools.

Overview

Students interested in getting an undergraduate degree with an MIS major will be happy to know that Villanova has risen to meet that demand. The Bachelor of Business Administration provides this major, preparing a student to work in business organizations as an IT professional. Villanova is currently ranked first in the nation for its undergraduate business program by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Features

To earn this major, students will be required to complete the Business Core along with six different courses in that particular field. While this may add time towards completion of the degree, it will give those who wish to have a solid IT background an advantage over students who do not participate in this major. Relevant classes include:

• Data Mining
• Advanced Analytics
• Business Intelligence and Performance Management

Notables

VSB requires 125 total credits for graduation. This includes both the Business Core and the major courses. Once a student has completed the degree, they will graduate with a firm understanding in not only how IT affects businesses and organizations, but why it’s important to research and improve organizational efficiencies. The skills a student learns at VSB will be important building blocks, should they wish to continue their education with a graduate degree.

Overview

Georgetown University does not offer any IS undergraduate degrees, but it is often the first stop for students who wish to get a graduate degree. The university confers a Master of Professional Studies in Technology Management through the School of Continuing Studies. It is a program that is designed for working IS and IT professionals who wish to become chief information officers or strategic IT executives.

Features

This graduate degree requires 30 credits and a capstone project for graduation. It can be finished in as little as two years with part-time study, though some graduates finish in as little as 18 months by going to school full-time and all year round. Students can also take a variety of elective courses, with over 25 different courses to choose from. The core requirements for this degree include:

• Ethics in Technology Management
• Management of Technology
• Financial Analysis for Technology Managers

Notables

Some students choose to create a specialization from their electives. Some specializations include technology policy, cyber security, healthcare informatics, computer forensics, and data analysis. While these specializations can be created by students, it is also encouraged that they meet with their advisors to ensure that the courses they choose will keep them on track towards graduating on time.