Business Administration BS/Management Information Systems MS

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University at Buffalo SUNY

Program Overview

The Business Administration BS/Management Information Systems MS pathway combines a broad business education with advanced training in technology, information systems, analytics and digital transformation, making it well suited to students who want to connect business strategy with technology-driven solutions. Students build their foundation through business studies and an MIS concentration before progressing into the STEM-designated MS in Management Information Systems, where they develop deeper expertise in areas such as cloud infrastructure, databases, systems analysis, predictive analytics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and technology management.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students begin by establishing a strong business foundation, developing an understanding of how organizations operate while building quantitative, communication and analytical skills. This foundation prepares students for later coursework in technology and management and provides the business perspective needed to understand how information systems create organizational value.

Year 2: Students expand their knowledge across core business disciplines while beginning to connect business decision-making with technology. Coursework progressively develops the analytical and managerial perspective needed for the MIS concentration, preparing students to approach technology as a business resource rather than simply as a technical tool.

Year 3: Students move into upper-level business and MIS coursework, with the concentration focusing on technical and managerial topics. Courses such as Database Management Systems and Telecommunications Technology and Systems Analysis and Design develop students' ability to manage information, analyze organizational requirements and design technology-based solutions.

Year 4: Students deepen their MIS expertise through coursework such as Management of IT Projects, while completing the requirements of the BS in Business Administration. The concentration's six upper-level courses build technical aptitude and familiarity with technologies and programming languages and prepare students for entry-level MIS and related positions.

Graduate Phase – MS in Management Information Systems: The graduate stage advances from undergraduate MIS knowledge into specialized technology and management capabilities. The current MS curriculum includes courses such as Statistical Foundations of Analytics, Technology and Innovation Management, Database Management Systems, Systems Analysis and Design, Predictive Analytics, Data Visualization, Cybersecurity, Privacy and Ethics, and Information Technology and Cloud Infrastructure Management, with electives allowing students to explore areas including generative AI, digital forensics, IT project management and cybersecurity.

Graduate Capstone/Practicum: Students complete an applied graduate experience through MIS Project Guidance (Certification) or the MS Practicum (Full-time internship), allowing them to translate their academic knowledge into professional practice. The MS program is 31 credits and is designed around a balance of technical and managerial skills.

Focus areas: Business analysis and consulting, data analytics and forecasting, data storytelling, generative artificial intelligence, information security and risk management, product and portfolio management, strategic technology architecture, cloud computing, predictive analytics and digital transformation.

Learning outcomes: Students develop the ability to use technology to create business value, analyze business and information-system requirements, work with databases and cloud technologies, apply predictive and statistical analytics, understand cybersecurity and information risk, manage technology projects, evaluate emerging technologies and communicate technology-driven solutions in a business environment.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The University at Buffalo School of Management is AACSB-accredited, while the MS in Management Information Systems is a STEM-designated graduate program. The combined pathway also provides a direct, structured route into the MS degree for eligible entering first-year students, with UB stating that students in the 4+1 programs can receive guaranteed MS admission when they meet the specified undergraduate GPA requirement.

Reputation (employability rankings/statistics): UB's School of Management states that it is among the top 10% of AACSB-accredited business schools according to Bloomberg Businessweek and U.S. News & World Report. For the MS in Management Information Systems, UB reports that 93% of job-seeking graduates accepting jobs were employed within six months in 2025, with a $97,061 mean salary and $84,000 median salary among reported graduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The program is designed to move beyond classroom theory by combining business education with technology-focused application. At the undergraduate level, students work with databases, network devices, cloud technologies, computer-based systems and programming languages, while the graduate MIS program adds action learning, real-world projects, internships, professional networking and opportunities to explore emerging technologies such as AI, predictive analytics, cybersecurity and cloud computing.

Students also benefit from the School of Management's dedicated career infrastructure and technology-focused learning environment, with graduate coursework taught by faculty who include active industry practitioners. The MS curriculum is deliberately structured to leave room for career-enhancing experiences, including action learning, professional development and community involvement.

Key practical opportunities include:

Projects Clinic: Students can work as paid student assistants on multiple short-term, real-world projects alongside community partners, gaining experience solving practical organizational problems.
Internships: The MS MIS program provides opportunities to gain experience through challenging real-world projects, develop professional competencies and build networks with colleagues and supervisors.
MS Practicum: Students can complete MGS 649 MS Practicum (Full-time internship) as a graduate capstone option, providing a direct opportunity to apply MIS knowledge in a professional setting.
Technology-focused coursework: Students work with areas including database management, cloud infrastructure, predictive analytics, data visualization, cybersecurity, IT project management and generative AI.
AI and emerging technology: The current MS MIS program emphasizes generative AI and prepares students to apply, question and ethically manage AI across business environments.
Professional networking: The program provides opportunities for professional networking and community involvement, while the School of Management's Career Resource Center supports recruiting and employer engagement.
Career preparation: Students have access to the School of Management Career Resource Center, BizLink recruiting resources and UB's central Career Design Center.
Career and metropolitan trips: The MS program highlights approximately 50 trips offering opportunities to explore geography, culture, careers and post-degree living in major U.S. metropolitan areas such as New York and San Francisco.
Programming and technical development: The undergraduate MIS concentration develops familiarity with programming languages and technologies alongside business coursework, helping students build the technical aptitude required to work between business and technology teams.

Progression & Future Opportunities

This combined pathway is designed for students who want to graduate with both broad business knowledge and advanced technology-management expertise. The MS MIS component is STEM-designated and focuses on career areas including business analysis, consulting, data analytics, generative AI, information security, product management and strategic technology architecture; UB reported 93% employment within six months for job-seeking MS MIS graduates in 2025, with a mean salary of $97,061.

Typical career roles include Business Analyst, Systems Analyst, Technology Consultant, IT Project Manager, with UB also identifying career directions in solution architecting, data analytics, product management, information security and strategic technology architecture.

Students can build toward these opportunities through:

Career Resource Center: UB's School of Management Career Resource Center provides individual and group advising, career courses, networking events, employer information sessions and interview training. The center collaborates with more than 150 employers annually and supports recruiting events and networking opportunities.
Graduate career outcomes: For the MS MIS Class of 2025, 93% of job-seeking graduates accepting jobs were employed within six months; the reported mean salary was $97,061, with salaries ranging from $53,830 to $200,000.
Undergraduate outcomes: UB's 2025 School of Management data reports that 94% of BS Business Administration graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months, while graduates working in the Management Information Systems function reported an average salary of $65,900.
Employer connections: The School of Management maintains employer relationships through its Career Resource Center, recruiting activities, employer information sessions, interviews and job postings; students can also use BizLink to search internship and full-time opportunities.
Industry-informed curriculum: UB states that the MS MIS curriculum was developed with input from corporate recruiters, alumni and industry experts, helping keep the program aligned with changing technology and business requirements.
Professional relevance of accreditation: The School of Management's AACSB accreditation provides an externally recognized quality framework for business education, while the MS MIS's STEM designation is particularly relevant to international students seeking technology-focused study and eligible F-1 OPT opportunities.
Graduation and career flexibility: Students can complete the MS MIS through a focused summer-start 10-month format or a longer spring-start pathway, allowing the graduate stage to be structured around different professional-development needs.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the BS/MS pathway, graduates can continue into specialized graduate certificates or doctoral-level study depending on their career goals. Within UB's MIS environment, students can also pursue the Advanced Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity, which can be completed concurrently with the MS MIS and involves collaboration between the School of Management, Computer Science and Engineering, Mathematics and the School of Law.