Accelerate your career with a graduate degree in information systems from these 4 leading US schools

Industries worldwide now demand cutting-edge skills in information systems, and it’s easy to understand why. In simple terms, information systems have revolutionised the way businesses operate. From Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and data warehouses – it’s safe to say that businesses cannot exist today and expect a competitive edge without adequate information technology systems to bolster their processes.

It’s even more apparent in 2024 that companies need information system experts. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the information systems job market is set to grow 15% from 2021 to 2031 ― much faster than the average profession. Data is now a strategic asset to corporations for decision-making processes, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence are an integral part of today’s business operations.

Companies are eager to hire those with the technical acumen to manage these systems, monitor metrics, and execute essential improvements when needed. If you’re eager to join the ranks, check out these four business schools in the US that offer the degrees you need.

The Indiana University Kelley School of Business is home to over 14,000 students today, spanning 30 programs in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and online worldwide. Source: Indiana University Kelley School of Business

Indiana University Kelley School of Business

Since 1916, the Indiana University Kelley School of Business has offered top-tier business education. Here, talent turns into skill. Students become graduates set to advance their careers and lives, all while in the face of challenges.

The results are in the books. The Kelley School of Business received the prestigious US Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Model Entrepreneurship Programme Award in 2023, granted only to institutions with the most comprehensive, high-quality educational programmes. Whether you wish to upskill for the challenges of today or explore a career change, Kelley offers a range of comprehensive full-time graduate business degrees, flexible online programmes, executive education courses, and a top-ranked online MBA.

One such graduate degree taking tech or business career ambitions to the next level is the MS in Information Systems (MSIS). The programme is expanding to help students deploy the tremendous value of artificial intelligence to businesses. Previously, the MSIS offered an AI course, but now AI is a core course required to complete the degree and two concentration options. The first is AI Technology Design, Deployment, which explores responsible use of AI in various sectors, while the second is Enterprise Process Intelligence, teaching students to fuse AI capabilities into business processes. Students will work alongside industry experts and leaders such as award-winning Professor Alan Dennis who’s behind new research into digital humans. It’s the latest of a career spanning 150 research papers with more than 30,000 citations and four books, including Systems Analysis and Design and Network Architecture.

While the AI focus may be new, what’s always built confidence and a secure future is the MSIS’s Experiential Learning opportunities. These include the Core Project, Capstone Project, case competitions, HOPE Digital Project, and workshops. With a solid technical foundation and real-world learning experiences, 2023 graduates have recorded a base salary range of US$60,000 to US$171,000, with signing bonuses between US$2,000 to US$20,000. As these stats show, whatever happens, you’ll be ready with Kelley’s MSIS. Apply today, GRE/GMAT waiver available.

The Goizueta Business School at Emory University has served as a training ground for business leaders for over 100 years. Source: Emory University Goizueta Business School

Emory University Goizueta Business School

Since its inception, Emory University’s identity has always revolved around hands-on business education. The university’s Goizueta Business School hones in on that, setting the stage for a unique, community-oriented environment paired with the academic prestige and rigour of a major research institution. You’ll create innovative solutions for real-world clients and learn from some of the world’s best business minds.

The school provides a range of programmes, including specialised master’s degrees, that equip students with the knowledge, skills, and connections necessary for success in their chosen fields. One such programme is the MS in Business Analytics, a 10-month programme for those who seek to be at the nexus of business, data, and technology. Regardless if you have little or no professional experience, the STEM-designated programme will provide the foundation you need to succeed in this industry by bringing together knowledge from fields such as management, information systems, and applied statistics. Opt between four tracks – AI In Business, Business Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics.

Want a finer approach? Emory’s doctoral programme in Information Systems & Operations Management offers two tracks for those wishing to specialise in certain areas. The Information Systems track focuses on processes that transmit, translate, and transform information between businesses, while the Operations Management track covers the effective management of developing new products and services across various fields. It is a small, but intellectually challenging PhD programme that balances collaboration with competitiveness, and challenge with support.

The UC Berkeley School of Information is home to around 120 graduate students, with 1,100 more dialing in from across the world. Source: School of Information, University of California Berkeley

School of Information, University of California Berkeley

A community of scholars, practitioners, and students. Four degree programmes, two on campus and two online. Academic excellence combined with intimacy and camaraderie. A multi-disciplinary faculty that includes world-class scholars, plus experienced professionals from leading Bay Area companies. An alumni network that connects students to policymakers, businesses, and nonprofit organisations. These features define the UC Berkeley School of Information.

At this graduate research and education community, students and staff are working towards expanding access to information, making it more usable, reliable and credible while preserving security and privacy. They collaborate with scholars from diverse fields — information and computer science, design, social sciences, management, law, and policy.

The I School offers three professional master’s degrees: Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS), Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) and Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS). MIMS is ideal for those seeking careers as information professionals and emphasises small classes and project-based learning. The online MIDS fits those who aspire to become data scientists. The online MICS trains future cybersecurity leaders with the technical skills and contextual knowledge necessary to develop solutions for complex cybersecurity challenges.

As MIDS graduate Zachary Beaver – now a Senior Data Scientist at Google working on building and deploying computer vision models on mobile devices – puts it, “Being excited about Data Science and wanting to work for companies at the field’s bleeding edge, I was looking for a programme that had its finger on the pulse of the skills employers were seeking, along with a history of producing graduates who excelled in industry. Berkeley (and the I School, in particular) were a perfect match.”

Regardless of place, age, or stage, any aspiring business executive will become problem solvers and industry leaders at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati Lindner. Source: Carl H. Lindner College of Business

Carl H. Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati Lindner

Choosing the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business means embarking on a transformative journey that prepares students for their careers. With a 98% job placement rate upon graduation and an average starting salary of US$103,000, Lindner stands out as a premier institution for aspiring business leaders.

The Master of Science in Information Systems fuses core business principles with specialised technical courses and practical experience. It’s a full-time programme that spans 18 to 24 months, with flexible options to accommodate working professionals and part-time students. It’s a rigorous course led by faculty proficient in leading-edge research, who all possess extensive experience in both industry and academia. The course also features a paid industry practicum and weekly on-campus employer seminars.

But that’s not all. Students also benefit from a unique experiential learning environment that puts them two steps ahead of the competition. They get to work with the likes of Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Kroger, Cintas, Western & Southern Financial Group, and GE Aerospace to solve real-world business problems, gain hands-on experience, and build valuable industry connections. Full-time students must complete a six-month internship before graduation, but will reap significant rewards – recent graduates have garnered an average starting salary in excess of US$100,000.

To further equip students with industry-leading skills, the college launched a new Artificial Intelligence certificate that can be completed with most graduate programmes and is accepting applications for the spring 2025 and fall 2025 semesters. Learn more about the school’s programmes.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International