Master of Science in Management Information Systems

The UIC Business Master of Science in Management Information Systems Program prepares you to use technology to improve business practices.

The Master of Science in Management Information Systems program is STEM designated* and provides you with the opportunity to design, implement and manage systems in ways that have a direct impact on strategy and operational decisions *(CIP Code 11.0501).

Managing information is critical to the success of an organization with key drivers including business intelligence, data mining, supply chain management, and mass customization. These systems all require the effective management of large volumes of information using the latest technology. Taught by leading research and clinical faculty, the program is designed to prepare project managers, technology leaders and future CIOs.

GMAT/GRE Waivers Heading link

For fall 2024 applicants, the MS in Management Information Systems offers GMAT/GRE waivers for the following:

  • Graduates of U.S. colleges and universities with a 3.0+ cumulative GPA and 3+ years of post-bachelor’s professional work experience by the start of the program.
  • Current students and recent alums of the U of I system who qualify through Guaranteed Admissions

Please complete the GMAT/GRE waiver request form to find out if you qualify. Please note that competitive GMAT/GRE scores may help your chances of admission and being awarded merit aid.

Curriculum Heading link

The UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School MS in MIS is an advanced degree in the application of information technology to solve business problems.

Cutting-Edge Curriculum

Fast-paced and flexible: The MS in MIS is a 32-credit hour degree program that can be completed in one year of full-time study, or more than one year of part-time study. Students may be assigned additional prerequisite coursework depending upon their academic and professional background.*

The core: The main components of the curriculum consist of core knowledge in enterprise applications and infrastructure, database management and information systems management. Each student must complete the capstone experience as either a design project with an external company or organization or an independent research project.

Prerequisites: Students must meet both the business and technical background requirements. Each prerequisite course may be waived based on equivalent prior coursework or appropriate work experience in the functional area. These courses are prerequisites and will not count towards the minimum degree requirement of 32 hours. Applicants who have not taken all of the prerequisite courses may be admitted on a provisional basis (i.e., with limited rather than full status) and must complete the prerequisites within their first year of enrollment to retain their status in the program.

Areas of specialization: A student in the program may specialize in technical, managerial or a combination of the two areas. MIS courses are organized around three disciplines: Service Operations and Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Information Technology and Technology Project Management, and Data Mining focused on the finance and marketing sectors..

More Information

Program Outcomes

The MIS Program allows you to customize your education to suit your career goals. You may specialize in technical or managerial aspects pertaining to enterprise IT and technology project management, e-business and supply chain management, data management and business intelligence. You will learn problem-solving skills that will help you to frame, analyze and communicate, ensuring a competitive edge when you enter the job market.

Career outcomes: 87% of Class of 2023 graduates were employed within six months of graduation with an average starting salary of $87,000.

Explore Degree Requirements

Classroom to Corporate Series Heading link

MIS 507 students, instructors, and guest speakers smiling

Adjunct Lecturer Naveen Ganne invited three industry representatives to speak with IDS and MIS 507 students as part of his Classroom to Corporate Series.

The purpose of the series was to enable UIC Business students to succeed when they enter job market by: increasing their awareness of current market trends, acquainting them with leaders in their relevant field to help them with their career path, and introducing them to mentoring opportunities.

The series guest speakers were as follows:

  • Chandra Pachaiyappan, Principal/Engagement Delivery Executive, Capgemini
  • Terence Dundi, SVP of Technology/BCG Alum, Westfield Specialty
  • Prakash Upadhyayula, Global CIO, Amanda Beck, HR Business Partner Director, Nicole Bossert, VP Global Workplace Technology, Wolters Kluwer

Joint Degrees Heading link

Program Faculty Heading link

In Their Own Words Heading link

Swati Iyer, MIS '14

“The most unexpected and probably the most valuable gain from my master’s program has been the strong professional network that I’ve developed through my internship and course projects. It’s given me the opportunity to keep current with industry trends by talking to experienced professionals in the context—and in the places—of their work.”

Swati Iyer, Ernst & Young  |  MIS '14

Featured Courses Heading link

IDS 594 Innovation and Technology Change

A case study course on successful innovations in technology, their components, strategies and financial structure.

IDS 517 Enterprise Application Design

This course explores building an enterprise application covering applications design and development, methodologies and technologies.

IDS 589 MIS Co-op Experience

This course provides an opportunity for students to apply their learning in a practical real-world setting by working on a MIS project in a business or a nonprofit setting.

INFORMS Graduate Student Organization

INFORMS UIC student chapter provides an extension of our national chapter mission by enabling a supportive network of fellow students and concerned faculty. The goal of INFORMS is to help students learn more about their field and also to prepare them for their careers. The organization offers weekly meetings with corporate speakers discussing the current trends in our diverse field and career opportunities offered at their companies. These meetings provide an opportunity to get information, while ultimately allowing students to network with possible future employers.

GAMIS Program

Outstanding UIC and UIUC undergraduate students who have an overall GPA of 3.0 in their undergraduate degree and meet 3.0 GPA requirements in selected IDS-related courses can be admitted into the MIS program without having to submit the GMAT or GRE. UIC/UIUC alumni may apply for GAMIS for up to five years after graduation.

Frequently Asked Questions Heading link

The Master of Science in Management Information Systems Program focuses on information technology, software and systems, and prepares students for jobs as developers, business analysts, project managers, and technology consultants.

The Master of Science in Business Analytics Program trains students to work in data-rich environments. It enables students to solve real business problems through organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. This course prepares students for jobs as data analysts, data scientists and domain analysts (e.g., financial analyst, healthcare analyst or risk analyst).

Students must meet both the business and technical background requirements. Those with degrees in fields outside of business will be required to take prerequisites that do not count toward the 32-credit minimum. Each prerequisite course may be waived based on equivalent prior coursework or appropriate work experience in the functional area. Applicants who have not taken all of the prerequisite courses may be admitted on a provisional basis (i.e., with limited rather than full status) and must complete the prerequisites within their first year of enrollment to retain their status in the program. Accepting limited status is binding on the time to satisfy these requirements.

Technical Prerequisites (0-12 credit hours)

  • IDS 401 Data Structures and Operating Systems (4)
  • IDS 405 Business Systems Analysis and Design (4)
  • IDS 410 Business Database Systems (4)

Business Prerequisites (0-8 credit hours)

Two introductory courses in any two functional areas of business:

  • IDS 355 (or 532) Operations Management
  • ACTG 110, 111 (or 500) Accounting
  • FIN 300 Finance
  • MKTG 360 (or 500) Marketing
  • MGMT 340 (or 541) Management

Please note: Students will only be allowed to take 500-level courses as prerequisites if they enroll as limited status MS-MIS students and with the consent of an adviser.

Other Prerequisites (0-12 credit hours)

  • MATH 205 Advanced Mathematics for Business
  • IDS 570 Statistics for Management
  • BA 200 Managerial Communications

Joint degree applicants are required to apply separately to both programs, making sure to follow the application procedures/requirements for each program. We strongly encourage applicants to apply to one program at a time. We recommend applicants apply to their second program upon gaining admission and enrolling in their first program.

When applying to the second degree program, applicants are also required to submit the Change of Graduate Program form, with Section I completed.

We recommend that joint degree applicants work closely with academic advisors in both programs to insure proper sequencing of coursework and to assist in transferring application documents to the second application to avoid double submission of application documents.

Under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, international students who graduate from colleges and universities in the United States are able to remain in the country and receive training through work experience for up to 12 months. Students who graduate from a designated STEM degree program can remain for an additional 17 months on an OPT STEM extension.