What Can I Do With an Information Systems Master’s Degree?

Academic decisions have a significant impact on your future. The postsecondary programs you pursue determine how long you need to spend in school, and depending on the program, you may need to relocate to complete your studies. Your academic choices also affect your finances, particularly if you have to take out student loans to cover your tuition and other costs.

Your education level can also affect your earning potential. Most professionals who complete graduate studies earn more money and have lower unemployment rates than those without an undergraduate degree. Let’s explore an information systems master’s degree, how to earn a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS), and which occupations you can consider with this degree.

How can you earn a master’s degree in information systems?

Thanks to the internet, you can earn a masters in information systems online. Students taking online programs must complete 30 credit hours to graduate. Subjects include information technology (IT) research methods, enterprise security and forensics, advanced storage technologies, games for learning and stimulation, and machine learning and data mining for IT.

Program applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. Those who didn’t graduate with a 3.0 GPA must take 12 credit hours of bridge courses if accepted to the MSIS program. Students can pursue full-time or part-time studies. Those who pursue full-time studies can complete their master’s degree in two years. Both part-time and full-time students benefit from the flexible scheduling, enabling them to focus on their studies when they choose instead of attending scheduled seminars.

Which occupations can you pursue with an MSIS degree?

MSIS program graduates can explore multiple career options. They’re equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to work in IT, ensuring they can earn lucrative salaries.

Information security analysts don’t need a master’s degree, but they can increase their job prospects with a graduate degree. Information security analysts identify security threats and create security protocols to prevent data breaches. Data breaches can cost companies millions per breach, fueling the demand for cybersecurity experts. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that information security analysts will see a 30 percent job growth rate between 2020 and 2030, almost four times the average job growth rate for all occupations. The BLS reports that information security analysts took home median annual incomes of $103,590 in 2020.

You could also pursue opportunities as a computer and information research scientist with a Master of Science in Information Systems. These IT professionals must have a master’s degree and strong analytical skills. They may create computer languages or develop strategies to resolve computer system issues. The BLS indicates computer and information research scientists earned median annual incomes of $126,830 in 2020 and should enjoy a 22 percent job growth rate between 2020 and 2030.

Your information systems graduate degree can also equip you with the credentials needed to become a management consultant. Also known as management analysts, management consultants research business issues and develop ways for organizations to improve operations. The BLS reports management analysts earned median salaries of $87,660 per year in 2020 and should see jobs increase by 14 percent between 2020 and 2030.

MSIS program graduates could opt to launch a company or provide video production services to clients. Video production experts work with clients to produce expert film footage used in commercials, documentaries, movies, and TV programs. Duties could include writing scripts, filming scenes, and editing footage.

You could also consider an academic career. Community colleges may hire individuals with a master’s degree to teach undergraduate courses. The BLS reports that postsecondary computer science teachers should expect to see a 7 percent job growth rate between 2020 and 2030. The BLS also indicates these educators took home median incomes of $85,540 in 2020.

Earning a Master of Science in Information Systems can increase your job prospects and earning potential. People who graduate from an MSIS program can pursue opportunities in IT, business, or education.