Career Choices for the Information Systems Student

Students who graduate with a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems or Computer Information Systems are prepared for a variety of careers. We list the following types of services to illustrate the wide range of possibilities that exist. Please note that the following are not academic majors; rather, they are career paths that BIS/CIS students may choose to pursue upon graduation.

Business Analyst
A business analyst is a communicator between clients and IT departments to determine computer-related solutions to business problems. They also provide analysis and direction in process and data modeling and work with technical designers during implementation model creation.

Chief Technology Officers
A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is assigned to a leadership team and is a vital go-to person for technology and resolving demands for technical skills and resources. The CTO is responsible for the growth of an enterprise.

The CTO can have the following responsibilities:

  • Be the chief technology decision maker of an enterprise.
  • Act as the master gatekeeper for external technology.
  • Select and conduct long-term research consistent with the vision of the enterprise.
  • Act as the technical conscience of the enterprise.
  • Determine the balance between short-term and long-term programs.
  • Assess programmatic needs to assure a balance of financial resources for the enterprise's technological developments.
  • Design and guide technological audits.
  • Be responsible for technological benchmark studies.
  • Tends to daily information technology issues.
  • Serves as the enterprise's Chief Technology Transfer Officer.
  • Promote internal enterprise technology transfer.
  • Represent the enterprise at technical forums, committees and other appropriate activities.
  • Be responsible for recruitment of both direct and indirect key personnel.
  • Be responsible for and heavily involved in staff assessment, feedback and improvement.
  • Serve as the enterprise's interface for any external technology transfer.
  • Decide how to implement new technologies into the organization.

Computer and Information Systems Managers
Managers need communication skills, coordination skills to be able to work with other organizations and leadership skills to succeed. Managers typically work in an office environment up to 40 hours a week. Overtime may be needed to meet deadlines. Earnings vary by specialty and level of position.

Masters degrees are available in Business Administration or Management Information Systems to further your education and increase salary.

Other responsibilities of computer and information systems managers may also include:

  • Plan, coordinate, and direct research & design computer related activities of firms.
  • Directly work with systems analysts, computer programmers, support specialists, and other computer related workers.
  • Analyze computer and information needs of organization.

Computer Hardware Engineers
Computer hardware engineers research, design and test computer hardware and supervises the manufacturing and installation processes.

Computer Network Architect
Computer network architects design and build networks based on the technical, business and financial specifications of a particular company's requirements.

Consultant
Consultants are independent contractors who assist companies move in the right direction for software, hardware, operating systems, web development, system designs or network designs.

Database Administrator
Database Administrators (DBAs) work closely with application developers to support application development efforts. A DBA's job is to:

  • Install database management system (DBMS) software and upgrades.
  • Design and create a database.
  • Start up and shut down database services.
  • Create user accounts and monitor user activities.
  • Grant database permissions to control data security and data access.
  • Backup and recover a database in the event of system failure.
  • Tune a database to optimize database performance.
  • Manage database network connectivity.
  • Migrate a database to a new version of the DBMS software.

Desktop Publisher
Desktop publishers prepare graphic materials such as: brochures, flyers, calendars, advertisements, newsletters, books, proposals, business cards, forms and the like. Desktop publishers may also service clients in word processing services. They use computers, laser printers and sophisticated software programs to produce high quality graphic materials for their clients. They format and combine text, numerical data, photographs, charts and other visuals. Written skills are very important especially if a desktop publisher needs to write and edit text. A desktop publisher may be asked to create graphics or special effects, convert photographs and drawings into digital images, or manipulate the graphics. Their job may also consist of designing page layouts, developing presentations, typeset and color separation, and translating electronic information onto films. If designing for the web, HTML is very important to know. The knowledge of cameras, scanners and other external hardware should be learned to improve desktop publishing skills.

Game Designer/Developer
There are many elements of a game developer. These consist of:

  • A programmer who is the heart of game development, the one who brings the work of the artist alive.
  • The artist (or animator), the ones who draw and design the figures.
  • The musician who makes the music and sound effects.
  • The producer who oversees game development and sees everything is running smoothly. In some cases, the programmer or artist may be the producer of the fame.
  • The designer is a loose term that can also mean the producer, programmer, or artist working on the game.
  • Play tester (beta tester) who plays the in progress game or working game for errors.

Help Desk Professional
A help desk professional assists with problems dealing with computer systems software, hardware, and network problems. This professional can deal with employee's problems in a corporation or office, or can answer questions from customers for a software development firm. A help desk professional needs great problem solver skills, excellent communication skills because they will be asked to fix a certain problem, people skills and writing skills. Writing documentation when interacting with a user to show the job has been done--from first contact to resolution is another big job a help desk technician does. Other tasks may include: installing and updating software, implementing file backups, and other maintenance performances.

Multimedia Designer
A multimedia designer plans, analyzes, and creates visual solutions to communications problems. Using print, electronic, and film media and technologies, a multimedia designer meets their clients' communication needs. Their job is much like a desktop develop in the sense they design layouts for magazines, newspapers, journals, corporate reports, and the like. The most common job a multimedia designer will have is creating displays and marketing brochures for products, designing logos for products and companies, and creating signs. Designers are creating graphics for websites, computer interfaces, and multimedia projects. They also create the credits that appear before and after movies and T.V. programs. Macromedia Flash, Director, Shockwave, and other such multimedia software are vital in this business.

Network Administrator
Network administrators make sure computer networks are running smoothly and effectively. They must plan and install hardware and software that makes up the network and maintain the printers connected to the network. This can include LAN, WAN, Internet or Intranet systems. Also maintains a central server. These networks Network Administrator's run can be a few computers to several that are all over the world.

Programmers
Programmers write, test, and maintain detailed instructions of programs. They also conceive, design and test logical structures for solving problems by computer. Programmers can specialize in applications or systems.

  • Applications Programmer - writes, designs, constructs, and maintains programs to handle specific jobs. Revise existing packaged software or customize generic applications.
     
  • Systems Programmer - writes programs to maintain and control computer systems software (operating systems, network systems and database systems).

Quality Assurance Software and Systems Testing
A company will sometimes need their software or systems testing to make sure it meets requirements. Quality Assurance (QA) companies will test and debug for you. Some QA companies produce their own QA testing software they sell to large or small companies.

Software Sales Representatives
Salespersons for computer software companies who are motivated, person oriented, ambitious and maintain professionalism. Understanding of IT products is always helpful. You can often find marketing skills to be a part of software sales representatives.

Systems Analyst
Systems Analysts solve computer problems and apply computer technology to meet individual needs of an organization. A person may plan and develop new computer systems - hardware & software. The analyst will use structured analysis, data modeling, information engineering, mathematical model building, sampling and cost accounting to plan systems.

Systems Integrator
Systems Integrators build complete computer systems using off-the-shelf hardware and software from several vendors to meet a company's needs.

Trainer/Educator
Trainers/Educators use appropriate skills in specific areas of IT to teach others. Certifications would be helpful. A trainer will exert talent, patience, and communication/verbal skills.

Web Developer/Web Designer
Web developers or web designers design and develop layouts for small or large business websites. They also apply text and graphics to designed layouts. Knowledge in HTML and other programming languages is helpful. Additional responsibilities can also include:

  • Technical management of web site resources.
  • Monitors speed of site and web traffic.
  • Trains colleagues on how to use software tools and website construction.