Information -- its production, publication, storage, retrieval, analysis and synthesis -- has become central to the survival of most contemporary institutions. MIS graduates have a wide variety of careers open to them, with new forms of specialization opening up almost daily in response to new challenges to society. In almost every sector of our economy, one finds people grappling with problems of information management, making your knowledge and skills increasingly valuable. Career opportunities are varied and interesting; and, life long learning is valued.
The school has identified a set of basic skills and concepts that an MIS student must master irrespective of the type of job pursued upon graduation. In addition to the specific skills, students will learn in MIS courses, most IS employers also seek these abilities:
Due to the diversity of jobs open to MIS graduates, you may also wish to acquire some of the following additional skills, depending on the career you are pursuing:
Given the diversity of IS careers, the potential subject matter involved in the products and services with which MIS graduates will be working is limitless and no simple list can be provided here.
Many but not all of these skills may be acquired through SLIS courses, practica or internships. For those skills or subjects not offered at SLIS, students may take advantage of the rich array of high-quality courses offered by other programs of Indiana University.
IS skills are needed by many types of organizations, including:
In addition, some information entrepreneurs choose to be self-employed as consultants, or marketing information products and services.
Because specialized subject knowledge is frequently needed for information careers, you will often make use of earlier education and training -- whether from the humanities, sciences, or applied disciplines -- in building a career as an information professional.
SLIS students represent remarkably diverse backgrounds, entering the program as photographers, artists, musicians, lawyers, chemists, engineers, nurses, psychologists, linguists, educators, physicists, computer programmers, journalists, small business owners and corporate managers.
SLIS students may combine their existing skills and knowledge with those of an information specialist in order to prepare for careers as database designers, curators of virtual museums and archives, corporate information managers, community computer network executives, medical information specialists, computer game authors or marketers, Internet trainers, business information specialists, information analysts, technical online searchers, technical writers, information officers, computer consultants, or information brokers for targeted knowledge domains, client bases, or particular settings.
SLIS faculty and staff work with you to find the optimal package of skills and expertise that will enable you to market yourself successfully.
Computerworld conducts an annual salary survey that includes the types of positions held by MIS graduates.
The results are divided: Senior Management, Middle Management, and Staff/Entry-Level. MIS alumni have gone into all levels upon graduation. This survey includes job titles and descriptions. Salary ranges are influenced by location, type of organization, size of organization, benefits, and bonuses. Examples (9/3/01 article):
SLIS also helps to arrange internships which will give on-the-job
experience in the type of professional setting relevant to student employment
objectives.
Internships
Many MIS courses entail practical professional projects such as designing Web sites, building databases, evaluating information systems, conducting user needs analyses, and building digital libraries. These undertakings offer the opportunity to carry out portfolio projects which will assist MIS graduates in securing employment.
