A Masters in Information Systems can be a huge step into advancing your career in the technology field. However, before we start exploring what are the benefits of earning a master’s in information systems, let’s first understand what information systems are.
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What are Information Systems
An information system uses software, hardware, databases, networks, and even people to manage the operations of businesses, companies, and even governments. In today’s world, Information Systems (IS) is crucial for businesses since it enables them to take advantage of technology to collect, manage, and analyze data to make informed decisions. Also, information systems is used to help businesses connect with their customers and suppliers while also effectively competing in the marketplace. Information systems are not made for specific fields or industries. In fact, IS is used in many industries including healthcare, travel, financial services, retail, manufacturing and many more. A master of science in information systems is basically a graduate degree in computer science. A Masters in Information Systems is a sign that an individual has significant experience and knowledge in the world of technology and digitalization. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of having a career in information systems.
Benefits of Pursuing a Masters in Information Systems
Information Systems Skills
Students that graduate with a masters in information systems learn several technical and analytical skills that will help them succeed in whatever industry they pursue. Some skills acquired from information systems are computer programming, database administration, and data science. In a modern world where almost everything relies on technology, computer programming skills are critical in the world of information systems. Computer programming basics are considered a very valuable tool when it comes to creating software.
Database administration is very important for students studying information systems since it allows them to operate databases to ensure that the data is properly stored and retrieved. Similarly, learning data science gives students graduating with a masters in information systems the ability to efficiently collect and analyze valuable information that can help a business succeed within its industry.
Enhanced Career Prospects and Better Job Opportunities
A master in information systems allows students to connect the technical areas of computer sciences with the challenges that face technology professionals in the real world. A masters in information system gives graduating students a competitive edge when applying that they wouldn’t have got by just earning a Bachelor’s degree. What a masters degree in information systems signals to a company is that the candidate applying gained hands-on experience in the field and is capable of relating what they learned in the classroom to the actual challenges facing the business.
Earning a master’s degree in information systems offers graduates the ability to work in different roles depending on their interests and career goals. For example, information systems graduates can work as systems analysts, IT project managers, data scientists, IT consultants, and information security managers. It is expected that the employment of information systems managers will grow by 16% by the year 2031. Also, about 48,500 job openings in information systems are projected each year, allowing graduates with a master’s degree in information systems the opportunity to start working in the field.
Healthcare Informatics
Graduates with a masters in information systems that specialize in healthcare informatics work in the healthcare industry by using their knowledge in information systems to solve challenges that face the healthcare industry. For instance, graduates can leverage their knowledge in information systems to help solve problems facing electronic health records, health information exchange, telemedicine, and healthcare data analytics. Students aspiring to work in the path of health informatics have the opportunity to choose between different jobs like health IT managers or clinical informatics specialists.
Data Analytics
Graduates with a masters in information systems that specialize in data analytics are required to be able to collect, clean, model, interpret, and present data. Although data analysts can analyze data that already exists, a lot of times they are required to collect data themselves through ways that they think would collect accurate, unbiased data. This could be done through conducting surveys or tracking certain behaviors of certain groups of people.
A big part of data analytics is being able to clean data, which means students that specialize in data analytics are able to ensure that there are no duplicates, errors, skewed data, etc. Additionally, some of the skills that masters in information systems students gain by specializing in data analytics includes being able to present the data by modeling it and interpreting what it tells about the business. Students with masters in information systems that specialize in data analytics can apply to different roles including data analysts, data scientists, or data engineers.
Information Security
Information security is a common specialization by students that are pursuing a masters in information systems. Information security is the process of keeping information confidential and protecting it from any unauthorized parties that would potentially cause any kind of cyber threat. Masters in information systems graduates that work in information security can help businesses and companies protect their data by storing their data securely and preventing data breaches and attacks on the IT system. Information systems graduates that decide to specialize in information security can pursue roles like security analysts or cybersecurity consultants.
Business Intelligence
Business Intelligence is a potential specialization for students that are pursuing a masters in information systems. Business intelligence combines business analytics, data gathering, data storage, and data analysis to produce clear data that could be used to help guide a business strategy. Through business intelligence businesses can predict future trends, identify business inefficiencies, and accelerate growth. Graduates with a specialization in business intelligence have the option to choose between several job roles including business intelligence analyst, business intelligence consultant or even data analyst.
Timeline and Curriculum
To complete a masters in information systems, students usually need to complete between 30 and 45 credits, which takes about two years to complete. The credits that students need to complete usually consist of core courses that all students pursuing a masters in information systems are required to take. Some common core subjects that students are usually required to learn to include database design and development, IT project management, data mining, foundations of software engineering, and information architecture. However, students could also complete the rest of their credits by choosing elective courses that focus on the concentration or specialization area of choice. Some potential areas of specialization for students that want to earn a masters in information systems are healthcare informatics, data analytics, information security, artificial intelligence, and business intelligence. Costs for a master’s degree in information systems vary depending on which program you attend. However, many programs offer financial assistance through need-based financial aid, merit-based financial aid, fellowships, scholarships, and student loans. Applying for loans could be more difficult for international students, but international students could still receive private loans through specific institutions.
Requisites and Admissions
Typically, admission requirements to enroll in a masters in information systems program include a resume or a CV, one or more letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. Almost all masters in information systems programs in the U.S. require students to have a Bachelor’s degree or a four-year equivalent. Additionally, most programs require applicants to have a GPA of 3.0 or above. Several universities may require or prefer that applicants submit standardized test scores, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Masters in Information Systems for International Students
The good news is that a masters in information systems program qualifies as a STEM program according to the qualifications set by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. STEM is an abbreviation that includes disciplines that relate to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Graduating from a STEM program allows international students holding an F1 visa to legally work in the U.S. after graduating. Generally speaking, International students have 12 months to legally work in the U.S. via their Optional Practical Training (OPT). However, a STEM degree gives international students an additional 24 months of OPT, which allows international students with a F1 visa to legally work for 36 months after graduating.
International students that come from countries that don’t speak English as their first language are expected to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores to demonstrate their ability to speak the English language. However, some exceptions exist. For example, international students that attended school in the U.S. or attended a school where the language of instruction was English are usually exempt from taking the TOEFLor IELTS exams.
Masters in Information Systems Post-Graduation Salaries
Graduates with a masters in information systems can be confident that they are approaching a high paying job as they pursue different careers based on their interests. Some common jobs that graduates with masters in information systems pursue are computer system analyst, mobile application developer, and cloud architect. A computer system analyst has a median annual salary of $99,270 and a projected growth rate of 7% between 2020 and 2030. Mobile application developers have been in high demand recently, with a projected growth rate of 19% between 2020 and 2030 and a median annual salary of $105,310. Another growing job position is cloud architect, with a median annual salary of $120,520. However, there are numerous jobs in the field of information systems and the median annual salary for an information systems manager is about $159,010.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a masters in information systems is a valuable asset to have for aspiring professionals in that field. We’ve discussed the main topics to consider when deciding whether to pursue a masters in information systems or not. It’s definitely important to consider the benefits of earning a master’s degree in information systems and what specialization best fits you. Additionally, it’s important to choose the program that has a curriculum that is appropriate for you. Ultimately, it’s up to you to choose which program to apply to and which career path to take.
