Bachelor of Business Administration - Management Information Systems

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Iowa State University

Program Overview

The Management Information Systems program at Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business is designed for students who want to combine business knowledge with technology, data and information systems to solve organizational problems and support better decision-making. Students develop both technical and managerial capabilities through coursework covering programming, systems analysis, databases, project management, cybersecurity, business analytics and emerging technologies.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their business and quantitative foundation through courses such as ECON 1010 Principles of Microeconomics, STAT 2260 Introduction to Business Statistics and COMS 1130 Introduction to Spreadsheets and Databases. These subjects build the analytical, economic and digital skills needed for later information-systems coursework.

Year 2: Students develop a broader understanding of business through the Ivy College of Business core while beginning to connect technology with organizational functions. MIS 2070 Fundamentals of Programming for Business and Analytics introduces programming concepts for business applications, while MIS 3010 Management Information Systems develops an understanding of how information systems support organizations.

Year 3: Students move into the core MIS sequence and develop stronger technical problem-solving abilities. MIS 3070 Intermediate Business Programming, MIS 3100 Information Systems Analysis and MIS 3200 Database Management Systems cover programming, requirements and systems analysis, and the management of organizational data.

Year 4: Students apply their technical knowledge to managing technology projects and can tailor their studies through advanced MIS electives. MIS 3400 Project Management develops project-management capabilities, while electives such as MIS 4350 Cybersecurity in Business, MIS 4360 Introduction to Business Analytics, MIS 4420X Generative AI in Business Decision-Making, MIS 4450 Enterprise Cybersecurity and MIS 4460 Advanced Business Analytics allow students to explore emerging and specialized technology areas.

Focus Areas

Information systems, business programming, database management, systems analysis, project management, business analytics, data visualization, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, information security, technology entrepreneurship, supply chain information systems, generative AI, enterprise resource planning, healthcare information systems

Learning Outcomes

Effective communication, effective collaboration, problem solving, understanding of business concepts, ethical and legal responsibility, technical and managerial understanding of information systems, application of technology to organizational decision-making.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The Management Information Systems major is offered through Iowa State’s Ivy College of Business, whose business education is accredited by AACSB International. The accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for business education and supports the college’s focus on business knowledge, analytical capabilities, ethics, innovation and professional development.

Reputation (Employability & Official Statistics)

Ivy College of Business reported that 94% of MIS graduates were engaged within six months of graduation in its 2022–23 MIS outcomes, including professional employment, graduate school, additional education and temporary employment/seeking permanent employment. The same report recorded an average reported bachelor-level salary of $67,909, with reported salaries ranging from $34,000 to $105,000.

For the more recent 2023–24 Ivy employment report, 45 MIS graduates reported salaries, with an average of $64,597, a low of $45,000 and a high of $105,000.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Students in Management Information Systems gain practical preparation by working with programming, databases, systems analysis, analytics, cybersecurity and project-management concepts that mirror technology challenges faced by organizations. The major also connects students with employers through Ivy College of Business career events, while the Information Systems and Business Analytics community provides opportunities to develop professional and technical skills beyond the classroom.

Students can strengthen their practical and professional experience through:

Business Programming: MIS 3070 Intermediate Business Programming builds on programming skills for business applications, following MIS 2070 Fundamentals of Programming for Business and Analytics.
Database Technology: MIS 3200 Database Management Systems gives students focused study of databases, an essential technology for organizations managing large volumes of digital information.
Systems Analysis: MIS 3100 Information Systems Analysis develops skills for analyzing organizational information-system requirements and designing technology-based solutions.
Project Management: MIS 3400 Project Management adds a practical management dimension by preparing students to plan and manage technology-related projects.
Cybersecurity: Students can choose MIS 4350 Cybersecurity in Business or MIS 4450 Enterprise Cybersecurity to develop knowledge of security issues within business and enterprise environments.
Business Analytics: MIS 4360 Introduction to Business Analytics and MIS 4460 Advanced Business Analytics allow students to develop analytical capabilities for technology-driven business decisions.
Generative AI: MIS 4420X Generative AI in Business Decision-Making provides an opportunity to explore the use of generative AI in organizational decision-making.
Information Systems & Business Analytics Club: Ivy identifies the Information Systems Business Analytics (ISBA) Club as a student organization through which MIS students can engage with their field and develop professionally.
Fin + Tech Career Night: The ISBA Club collaborates with Business Career Services on Fin + Tech Career Night, where employers connect with students interested in technology and finance careers.
Career Technology: Ivy recommends LinkedIn Learning for MIS students to strengthen technical skills and provides access to CyHire for researching companies and exploring internship and job opportunities.
Employer Engagement: Ivy's Business, Industry and Technology Career Fair provides opportunities to meet employers, while Business Career Services also provides interview preparation, resume support and individualized career coordination.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Management Information Systems program prepares graduates for technology-focused business careers ranging from systems analysis and application development to cybersecurity, data management, consulting and IT support. Iowa State's reported graduate destinations include roles such as IT Programmer, Application Analyst, Application Developer, Database Administrator, Information Security Analyst, IT Business Systems Analyst, Business Intelligence Analyst and Solutions Consultant.

Typical Career Roles: Business Analyst, Systems Analyst, Application Developer, Information Security Analyst

Career Development & Industry Exposure:

Business Career Services: Students receive individualized, major-specific support from professional Career Coordinators, including career coaching, internship and job-search assistance, resume and cover-letter support, interview preparation and employer events.
MIS Employment Outcomes: The 2022–23 MIS report recorded 94% of graduates engaged within six months, with 89% employed professionally and 3% entering graduate school.
Salary Outcomes: The 2023–24 Ivy report recorded an average reported salary of $64,597 for MIS graduates, based on 45 reported salaries, with a range of $45,000–$105,000.
Technology Employers: Recent MIS graduate destinations listed by Ivy include IBM, Ernst & Young (EY), KPMG, John Deere, EMC Insurance Group, Motorola Solutions, Mastercard, Optum, PepsiCo, Garmin and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), with graduates entering roles across application development, technology consulting, data, cybersecurity, systems and IT.
Fin + Tech Career Night: The ISBA Club and Business Career Services provide an employer-facing Fin + Tech Career Night specifically connecting students with organizations recruiting for technology and finance-related careers.
Career Fair: Ivy's Business, Industry and Technology Career Fair provides access to hundreds of employers, while Mass Interview Day gives employers opportunities to interview students for internships and full-time positions.
Professional Development: The Gerdin Leadership Academy and LinkedIn Learning are identified by Ivy as opportunities for MIS students to develop leadership and technical skills beyond their academic coursework.
Accreditation Value: AACSB accreditation provides a recognized quality framework for the business education delivered through Ivy College of Business.
Graduation Outcomes: Ivy's reported MIS destinations demonstrate progression into technology and business roles including software development, data engineering, cybersecurity, systems analysis, IT consulting and business intelligence.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into advanced study in technology and business disciplines. Iowa State offers a Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS), which covers areas including blockchain, big data, healthcare analytics, cybersecurity, project management and artificial intelligence in business decision-making; MIS graduates have also progressed to Iowa State's Master of Business Analytics program.