Information Systems Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

An Information Systems major connects business and technology: how organizations choose, build and use information systems. Information systems majors, often housed in business schools as management information systems (MIS), study databases, systems analysis, business processes, project management and IT strategy.

An Information Systems major includes coursework in systems analysis and design, database management, business process management, IT project management, and enterprise systems and more. You build skills such as requirements gathering, database design, process improvement, and project coordination. Typical degrees: bachelor's and master's degrees.

Typical courses include systems analysis and design, database management, business process management, IT project management, enterprise systems, and business fundamentals. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Information Systems is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Bachelor's and master's degrees. In the latest federal data, 170 colleges reported certificate awards, 129 colleges reported associate awards, 428 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 180 colleges reported master’s awards, and 33 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to information systems include computer systems analyst, database administrator, IT manager, management analyst, IT support specialist, and web developer. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include computer systems analyst (typical training: 4 years), database administrator (typical training: 4 years plus experience), it manager (typical training: Bachelor’s plus 5+ years of IT experience), management analyst (typical training: Less than 5 years of experience), it support specialist (typical training: 3–6 months), and web developer (typical training: 6 months to 4 years).

Information Systems majors build skills such as requirements gathering, database design, process improvement, project coordination, and business communication.

Good pairings include Accounting (fits accounting information systems and IT audit roles), Data Analytics (adds analysis to your systems skills), and Cybersecurity (adds security, a growing part of systems work).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as computer systems analyst, database administrator, and IT manager, and enjoy subjects like systems analysis and design and database management. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes systems analysis and design, database management, and business process management; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

673 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

New York (54), Pennsylvania (48), Texas (46), Illinois (33), and California (32), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

618 of the colleges that offer information systems also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Information Systems connects business and technology: how organizations choose, build and use information systems. Computer Science studies how computers and software work and how to design programs that solve problems. Information Systems leads to careers such as computer systems analyst and database administrator, while Computer Science leads to careers such as software developer and web developer.

Information Systems connects business and technology: how organizations choose, build and use information systems. Information Technology focuses on setting up, running and supporting the computer systems organizations depend on. Information Systems leads to careers such as computer systems analyst and database administrator, while Information Technology leads to careers such as IT support specialist and network administrator.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to information systems, such as Computer Systems Analyst Training.