The MIS major at WSU is designed to produce students who combine knowledge of business processes with practical hands-on knowledge of building and maintaining information systems. Graduates of this program should be able to successfully pursue any of the following career paths:

1. Start or join a computer computing company specializing in providing turnkey business systems to small business or organization units in large companies.

2. Join MIS departments of large organizations serving any of the following roles:
System Analyst Telecommunication Analyst Information Center Consultant
Database Administrator Departmental MIS Manager Application Programmer
Maintenance Programmer Functional Area MIS Liaison Network Administrator
Web Database Developer Database Designer

3. Continue graduate studies in MIS or business.

Knowledge & Skill Set: What you will take to your employers!

Business knowledge

Information Systems (IS) is devoted to the application of computers and related technologies to organizational and business problems. IS professionals apply their knowledge of hardware, software, business processes and procedures to help organizations improve performance and meet tactical and strategic goals. Such knowledge can be applied to different business functions in an organization (e.g. accounting, finance, human resources management, marketing, logistics, production/operation, etc.)

Systems Development Knowledge

MIS Master Planning
Systems Development Methodologies
Business Process/Workflow Analysis & Redesign
Process Modeling, Database Design, Event Modeling
Information Systems Acquisition Cost/Benefit Analysis
Executive Information Systems Development Methodologies
Expert Systems, Decision Supports Systems, Data Warehousing

Fundamental Computing Knowledge

Computer Hardware Organization
Computer Operating Systems
Computer Programming
Computer Networking
PC Networking

Programming Language Skills Data Communications/ Networking Skills

Data Communications/ Networking Skills

Electronic Commerce
Remote Access to LANs
Web Server Administration
Web Database Integration
Windows NT Network Administration
Electronic Data Interchange Mapping
Web Page Design
Client/Server Programming
Wireless Networking

Systems Development Skills

Obtaining user information requirements, business application systems specification development & documentation, feasibility study preparation & presentation, team development, project management, software quality assurance, working with computer assisted software & system engineering tools, organizational change management & successful introduction of information technology.