What Is an Information Systems Degree?
Updated March 27, 2024
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Information systems degrees operate at the intersection of business and technology. They teach students to use computer systems and digital assets to help organizations make decisions and solve problems.
You can study information systems at every postsecondary level, from diploma programs to doctorates. This degree guide explains the academic content covered at each level and how information systems fit into modern business contexts. Explore details on this fast-growing field to help decide if it matches your career plans.
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What Are Information Systems?
Information systems combine computer hardware, specialized software, and networking technologies to collect, organize, and manage data. These systems also process data and distribute it to authorized users. The field fuses application programming and information architecture with database management and cybersecurity, among other technical specializations.
Several features differentiate information systems from general computer science. Computer science generalists focus on theoretical concepts and versatile, broadly applicable skills. Meanwhile, information systems degrees emphasize information technology's practical, business-oriented applications.
Information systems specialists excel at using technological and networking tools to help organizations make the most of big data. Beyond private industry, they also apply their specialized knowledge to the benefit of educational, healthcare, and government organizations.
A background in mathematics, business management, and computer science can be helpful for studying information systems at the postsecondary level.
Types of Information Systems Degrees
Some schools offer information systems concentrations in their computer science degrees. Others treat the field as a standalone academic subject. In either case, information systems programs cover career-focused content that becomes increasingly specialized as you advance.
Your chosen degree level should depend on your career plans and what you hope to get from your program. With that in mind, you can start by exploring the level-specific features of information systems degrees.
Information Systems Certificate Programs
Schools offer certificate and diploma programs in information systems through face-to-face and online learning. Introductory programs suit high school graduates seeking to build practical basic skills. They have variable lengths but typically take around one academic year to complete.
An introductory diploma program usually covers the essentials of computer networking, network security, and database management. You can also expect course content on information system design and techniques for managing access authorizations.
Some schools host post-bachelor's information systems programs and certificate paths embedded in other technology degrees. These more advanced options require existing computer science knowledge and may focus on specific applications like IT auditing or business technology administration.
You can access certificate programs through community colleges, junior colleges, universities, and specialized technology education providers.
Associate Degrees in Information Systems
Campus-based and online associate degrees in information systems usually comprise 60 credits. Schools normally structure these programs to cover the first two years of academic content taught in a bachelor's program. Thus, associate degrees allow you to pursue entry-level employment or continue into a four-year program.
Coursework typically offers a survey-style introduction to basic and intermediate topics, including:
- Business and computer systems analysis
- Computer programming
- Database design and management
- Networking and network security
- Operating systems
Graduates who enter the workforce with associate degrees typically occupy junior positions in supporting roles. You can then advance by gaining experience, further education, or both.
Bachelor's Degrees in Information Systems
Employers usually consider a bachelor's degree in information systems the minimum level required for roles with advancement or management potential. Bachelor's programs cover around 120 semester credits across four academic years of full-time study.
Building on academic content covered at the associate level, bachelor's programs delve deeper into specialized technical concepts. Required coursework may include:
- Application development for databases
- Computer hardware and software
- Data and information architecture
- Information system management
- Network design
Supplementary courses and electives usually build knowledge of business operations. As such, you may also take courses in accounting, business administration, economics, or finance.
Master's Degrees in Information Systems
Colleges typically structure their master's degrees in information systems for students to complete them in 1-2 years of full-time study. Campus-based, online, and hybrid formats are all available.
At this level, studies focus on targeted proficiencies. As such, master's programs often prompt learners to declare concentration areas. Examples of these specializations include information system management or security, data analytics, and user experience design. Some schools also feature artificial intelligence and machine learning concentrations.
With an information systems master's degree, career paths also become specialized. Students often pursue master's degrees to build credentials in an area of strong professional interest or gain a competitive advantage in the labor market.
Doctoral Degrees in Information Systems
Information systems doctorates are ideal for highly motivated learners and require 3-5 years of full-time study. Some schools offer these programs online, but face-to-face formats are more common.
Programs typically involve a blend of theory and applied practice at this level. In some cases, students examine industry-specific applications of information technologies or their broader social impacts. In others, learners conduct self-directed research into highly advanced and specialized topics or technical concepts.
Working professionals seeking to reach the pinnacle of the field can pursue a technical-focused doctorate in information systems. However, doctoral credentials more readily translate to careers in academia and research in innovative tech.
Non-Degree Paths for Exploring Information Systems
You do not necessarily need an information systems degree for career access. Some employers value hard skills more than academic credentials. As such, it is possible to self-direct your learning through such vehicles as:
- Computer science bootcamps
- Internship programs
- Massive open online courses
- Self-training through instructional videos, online guides, and learning modules
If you have access, you can also learn by shadowing an established professional while they carry out their job duties.
Non-degree paths typically cost far less than traditional schooling. However, they also pose significant challenges. Without the guided structure of a formal program, it can take much longer to build job-ready skills. The less technical knowledge you have at the outset, the longer your journey will likely take. Fewer networking opportunities can also make finding a job more challenging.
In any case, pairing your self-training with professional certifications can help. Certifications validate your knowledge and skills to employers, which can boost your employability.
Why Choose an Information Systems Program?
In a time when data reigns supreme, information systems degrees offer excellent versatility. Organizations in the public and private sectors have become increasingly reliant on information technology. Graduates of information systems programs can pursue computer science careers in database design and management, web development, IT administration, and cybersecurity, among other areas.
With an information systems degree, careers can offer high pay and an excellent future outlook. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job growth of 15% for information systems managers from 2022-2032. As of May 2022, information systems managers at the 10th percentile of the BLS's earnings scale still made more than $97,000 per year.
Resources for Information Systems Degree Students
Questions About Studying Information Systems
What are examples of information systems?
Search engines are a familiar type of information system that people use every day. Any structured tool for organizing, managing, and delivering data could be classified as an information system. For example, businesses and organizations also use process control systems, data warehouses, and enterprise resource planning systems.
How useful is an information systems degree?
Information systems degrees equip learners with specialized tools for helping organizations access and use data for important strategic applications. Employers have strong demand for specialists in the field, making it a useful and practical subject to study.
Are information systems degrees hard?
Most specialized computer science and technology fields have a reputation for being challenging, including information systems. However, you may find yourself at an academic advantage if you have a strong background in mathematics, programming, and computer science.
Is getting a degree in information systems or computer science better?
It depends on your career goals and interests. Information systems degrees often appeal more to learners interested in business applications of technology. Computer science has a broader, more theoretical focus. Its general nature might make it a better match if you have not yet committed to a career for your information systems degree.
Page last reviewed March 4, 2024.
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