An information system is a collection of methods, practices, algorithms and methodologies that transforms data into information and knowledge desired by, and useful for, individual and group users in organizations and other entities. This system can involve a combination of work practices, information, people, and technologies organized to accomplish goals in an organization.
At UMBC, Information Systems is the study of a system and how technology can be incorporated into that system to make it fully functional and efficient. Some areas of study in Information Systems include system analysis and design, databases, software engineering, networking, human-centered computing (HCC), health informatics, artificial intelligence, knowledge management, security, project management, and decision sciences. Currently, Information Systems is one of the largest majors on campus, with more than 1000 students in the department. At UMBC, Information Systems students learn to become problem solvers in an electronic and digital world.How does IS differ from Computer
Science?
Information Systems (IS) and Computer Science (CMSC)
both involve computer technology. Unlike IS, CMSC frequently
takes an inner-workings perspective of technology and
involves the principles of hardware and software design.
Information Systems, on
the other hand, focuses on the entire system of information,
knowledge, delivery and use, taking an external,
human-based perspective on technology– its
focus is on how technology
can be implemented to serve the informational needs
of people and organizations. This is why at UMBC
we refer to Information Systems as the human side of
computing. IS graduates from UMBC have opportunities
to really make a difference—have an impact—on
technologies that affect everyone from children to
retirees.
IS graduates enter various industries with more than
just the technical skills of programming, network applications
and design, operating systems, telecommunications, database
application and design, and web development and design.
They also leave UMBC with a strong business and management
background. In fact, many graduates have gone on to start
their own successful thriving businesses. UMBC Information
Systems students also develop excellent human communication
skills that can be used to interact with a variety of
audiences with various backgrounds. These skills are
not only key career talents but excellent life skills.
-->What Kind of Jobs Can I Obtain
with an Information Systems Degree?
Information Systems graduates
are problem-solvers with excellent communication skills
and can be employed as network engineers, software
engineers, network administrators, systems analysts,
systems integrators, systems designers, database managers,
database administrators, interface specialists, product
support professionals, programmers, programmer analysts,
information and knowledge officers, managers of information
systems, academic researchers, information system educators
and more. Careers in IT (Information Technology) and
IS (Information Systems) offer some of the highest
post-undergraduate starting salaries. In fact, salaries
in IT and computer-related fields have climbed nearly
17% over the last 7 years (1999-2005).1 A major in
IS at UMBC is definitely one that can boost your paycheck.
Companies that have hired
Information Systems graduates include—but are not limited to— utilities,
financial institutions, local, state, and federal governments,
government contractors, technology companies, and health
related organizations. Plus, UMBC Information Systems
graduates continue to find well-paying Jobs in IT.
A recent survey of UMBC’s Information Systems
(IS) Baccalaureate graduates is painting a bright IT
jobs picture for incoming and soon-to-be-graduated
IS students alike. As the UMBC IS degree continues
to be well-recognized by IT employers, 75% of the survey
respondents report their job search took 3 months or
less, and 40% responded the process took less than
one month.
Additionally upbeat are early survey results indicating
that starting salaries for respondents average $50K-plus
with full benefits (well in line with the national
average) and that many IT job seekers who have graduated
from UMBC IS programs are receiving multiple job offers.
When considering the value
of the UMBC IS degree during the job search process,
96% of the respondents indicated that their degree
was helpful with 55% saying their UMBC degree was "extremely helpful" during
the search process. Respondents of the survey, thus
far, comprise approximately 23 unique job titles within
the IT industry, many in the areas of database administration,
network administration, project management, and systems
analysis and design.
Overall, graduates of UMBC’s
Information Systems programs are enjoying relatively
short periods on the IT job market after graduation,
many with multiple job options from which to choose,
and at salaries that are not only comparable with
the national average, but might be considered quite
attractive to an adult in their early 20s.
1Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
-->What Do Information Systems Majors
Study?
Information Systems offers two baccalaureate degrees:
a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Information Systems,
and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Technology
Administration.
The
B.S. is the more technical of
the two degrees and prepares students for positions
involving the analysis and design of systems, databases,
and computer networks. The B.S. consists of 64 credit
hours of coursework in IS, computer programming, mathematics
and statistics, management, economics, accounting,
and technical writing.
The
B.A. focuses
on microcomputer-based office automation systems. It
also requires the student to complete a minor or
certificate. The B.A. consists of 55 credit hours
(not including those from the selected minor or certificate)
in IS, mathematics, statistics and management.
The Combined B.S./M.S. Degree
The Information Systems Department also offers a combined
B.S./M.S. degree intended for academically superior
juniors who wish to apply to the M.S. program after
graduation. If admitted to the B.S./M.S. program,
they will take, in their Senior year, three graduate-level
courses which will be applied to the M.S.
-->Special Opportunities for Information
Systems Students
UMBC has the largest cooperative
education program in Maryland. Information Systems
students participate in this program in greater numbers
than any other major on campus. The department encourages
all students to participate in co-op or internship
programs. Students have found the experience invaluable
in helping them understand class concepts and in
getting a job after graduation. All co-op and many internship programs
are paid positions. Many may also be used toward
college credits.
Due to the IS Department’s vast initiatives
in human-computing research—including a Master’s
program in Human Centered Computing (HCC), IS undergraduates
enjoy a number of faculty-mentored research opportunities
that IS programs at other colleges cannot provide.
As an IS undergraduate at UMBC, students get to apply
their education to “real” research that
can lead to actual everyday technology applications.
-->An information system is a collection of methods, practices, algorithms and methodologies that transforms data into information and knowledge desired by, and useful for, individual and group users in organizations and other entities. This system can involve a combination of work practices, information, people, and technologies organized to accomplish goals in an organization.
At UMBC, Information Systems is the study of a system and how technology can be incorporated into that system to make it fully functional and efficient. Some areas of study in Information Systems include system analysis and design, databases, software engineering, networking, human-centered computing (HCC), health informatics, artificial intelligence, knowledge management, security, project management, and decision sciences. Currently, Information Systems is one of the largest majors on campus, with more than 1000 students in the department. At UMBC, Information Systems students learn to become problem solvers in an electronic and digital world.How does IS differ from Computer
Science?
Information Systems (IS) and Computer Science (CMSC)
both involve computer technology. Unlike IS, CMSC frequently
takes an inner-workings perspective of technology and
involves the principles of hardware and software design.
Information Systems, on
the other hand, focuses on the entire system of information,
knowledge, delivery and use, taking an external,
human-based perspective on technology– its
focus is on how technology
can be implemented to serve the informational needs
of people and organizations. This is why at UMBC
we refer to Information Systems as the human side of
computing. IS graduates from UMBC have opportunities
to really make a difference—have an impact—on
technologies that affect everyone from children to
retirees.
IS graduates enter various industries with more than
just the technical skills of programming, network applications
and design, operating systems, telecommunications, database
application and design, and web development and design.
They also leave UMBC with a strong business and management
background. In fact, many graduates have gone on to start
their own successful thriving businesses. UMBC Information
Systems students also develop excellent human communication
skills that can be used to interact with a variety of
audiences with various backgrounds. These skills are
not only key career talents but excellent life skills.
-->What Kind of Jobs Can I Obtain
with an Information Systems Degree?
Information Systems graduates
are problem-solvers with excellent communication skills
and can be employed as network engineers, software
engineers, network administrators, systems analysts,
systems integrators, systems designers, database managers,
database administrators, interface specialists, product
support professionals, programmers, programmer analysts,
information and knowledge officers, managers of information
systems, academic researchers, information system educators
and more. Careers in IT (Information Technology) and
IS (Information Systems) offer some of the highest
post-undergraduate starting salaries. In fact, salaries
in IT and computer-related fields have climbed nearly
17% over the last 7 years (1999-2005).1 A major in
IS at UMBC is definitely one that can boost your paycheck.
Companies that have hired
Information Systems graduates include—but are not limited to— utilities,
financial institutions, local, state, and federal governments,
government contractors, technology companies, and health
related organizations. Plus, UMBC Information Systems
graduates continue to find well-paying Jobs in IT.
A recent survey of UMBC’s Information Systems
(IS) Baccalaureate graduates is painting a bright IT
jobs picture for incoming and soon-to-be-graduated
IS students alike. As the UMBC IS degree continues
to be well-recognized by IT employers, 75% of the survey
respondents report their job search took 3 months or
less, and 40% responded the process took less than
one month.
Additionally upbeat are early survey results indicating
that starting salaries for respondents average $50K-plus
with full benefits (well in line with the national
average) and that many IT job seekers who have graduated
from UMBC IS programs are receiving multiple job offers.
When considering the value
of the UMBC IS degree during the job search process,
96% of the respondents indicated that their degree
was helpful with 55% saying their UMBC degree was "extremely helpful" during
the search process. Respondents of the survey, thus
far, comprise approximately 23 unique job titles within
the IT industry, many in the areas of database administration,
network administration, project management, and systems
analysis and design.
Overall, graduates of UMBC’s
Information Systems programs are enjoying relatively
short periods on the IT job market after graduation,
many with multiple job options from which to choose,
and at salaries that are not only comparable with
the national average, but might be considered quite
attractive to an adult in their early 20s.
1Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
-->What Do Information Systems Majors
Study?
Information Systems offers two baccalaureate degrees:
a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Information Systems,
and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Technology
Administration.
The
B.S. is the more technical of
the two degrees and prepares students for positions
involving the analysis and design of systems, databases,
and computer networks. The B.S. consists of 64 credit
hours of coursework in IS, computer programming, mathematics
and statistics, management, economics, accounting,
and technical writing.
The
B.A. focuses
on microcomputer-based office automation systems. It
also requires the student to complete a minor or
certificate. The B.A. consists of 55 credit hours
(not including those from the selected minor or certificate)
in IS, mathematics, statistics and management.
The Combined B.S./M.S. Degree
The Information Systems Department also offers a combined
B.S./M.S. degree intended for academically superior
juniors who wish to apply to the M.S. program after
graduation. If admitted to the B.S./M.S. program,
they will take, in their Senior year, three graduate-level
courses which will be applied to the M.S.
-->Special Opportunities for Information
Systems Students
UMBC has the largest cooperative
education program in Maryland. Information Systems
students participate in this program in greater numbers
than any other major on campus. The department encourages
all students to participate in co-op or internship
programs. Students have found the experience invaluable
in helping them understand class concepts and in
getting a job after graduation. All co-op and many internship programs
are paid positions. Many may also be used toward
college credits.
Due to the IS Department’s vast initiatives
in human-computing research—including a Master’s
program in Human Centered Computing (HCC), IS undergraduates
enjoy a number of faculty-mentored research opportunities
that IS programs at other colleges cannot provide.
As an IS undergraduate at UMBC, students get to apply
their education to “real” research that
can lead to actual everyday technology applications.
-->
