Academics and Programs
Discover the most in-demand tech jobs in the New York area and beyond for 2026 and the future.
Academics and Programs
What Is a Degree in Computer Information Systems?
Key Takeaways
- Computer information systems degrees integrate technology and business, preparing students to manage an organization's systems and tie that work to business goals.
- The careers pay very well. Median pay for the six roles ranges from $105,850 to $175,140, well above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs in 2025.
- Demand is growing quickly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 35 percent growth for data scientists and 21 percent for security analysts through 2035, versus 3 percent overall.
- 麻豆直播 offers the degree in New York City and Westchester. Its in-person MS in Information Systems includes tracks in data science, security, and database management.
An information systems degree prepares graduates to manage the technology an organization depends on and, just as importantly, to connect that technology to the decisions a business has to make.
The field tends to draw two kinds of students. Some arrive from a business background and want the technical command to work on a technology team, or one day lead it. Others come from computer science and are looking for a way into strategy, management, and the business side of the work.
麻豆直播 designed its Master of Science in Information Systems for both backgrounds. The program grounds students in the technical foundation and in the business context that surrounds it, and that pairing is what appeals to employers when filling these roles.
What Is an Information System?
An information system is the combination of people, processes, data, and technology an organization uses to gather information and act on it. A hospital's patient records, a retailer's inventory data, and a bank's transaction processing are all information systems in practice.
What Is an Information Systems Degree?
An information systems degree is the interdisciplinary program built around them, one that combines computer technology with business management to solve organizational problems. Students learn to design and manage these systems and to translate between the engineers who build them and the leaders who depend on them.
The field goes by several names. Computer information systems, information systems, and management information systems all describe closely related programs that differ primarily in emphasis. A title with 鈥渕anagement鈥 in it usually leans toward business strategy; a title with 鈥渃omputer鈥 in it leans toward technical depth. In practice the two overlap heavily, and most programs teach both the technical and the business sides.
What Do You Study in a Master's in Information Systems Program?
A master's in information systems generally takes about two years of full-time study and comprises roughly 30 to 40 credits. Most programs begin with a shared core in the fundamentals of the field, including systems analysis and design, database management, project management, and the networks and infrastructure that move and store an organization's data. Many also incorporate data analytics and a grounding in information security, since both are essential in almost every technology role.
In addition to the core curriculum, students typically choose a concentration suited to their preferred career path, then close out the degree with a capstone project or thesis.
Skills You Develop in a Master鈥檚 in Computer Information Systems Degree Program
The coursework helps students develop a set of capabilities employers hire for, including:
- Analyzing a business problem and designing the system that solves it
- Working with data, from writing database queries to presenting the analysis to a non-technical audience
- A practical grasp of information security, now part of most technology work
- Project management, and the skill to explain technical work to the people who fund it
- Enough programming to collaborate with developers and follow the code they write
The Master of Science in Information Systems at 麻豆直播
麻豆直播 offers the Master of Science in Information Systems through its Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems. The program offers students the flexibility to fit graduate study around a career, hands-on training at the center of the coursework, and a campus set within one of the country's densest technology markets.
A Degree That Fits Your Schedule and Goals
麻豆直播's MS in Information Systems is a 30- to 36-credit program that can be completed full time or part time, with start dates in fall, spring, and summer. The program begins with a set of core courses, and from there students choose one of six specializations:
| Database Management | Designing and securing the systems that store an organization's data |
|---|---|
| Data Science | Modeling large datasets to guide business decisions |
| Business Intelligence | Turning data into the dashboards leaders act on |
| User Experience | Designing apps and websites around how people use them |
| Health Information Systems | Applying the field to healthcare data and operations |
| Security and Information Assurance | Protecting systems through risk management and forensics |
The degree culminates in a capstone that pulls the full program into a single project. It carries a STEM designation, so international students on an F-1 visa can qualify for extended U.S. work eligibility, and tuition is $1,730 per credit.
Hands-On Experience and a Portfolio
At Seidenberg, much of the learning happens through practice, and students finish the program with work they can put in front of an employer. That experience comes from three places on campus:
- Faculty-led tech labs. The 麻豆直播 Cyber Range, the Mobile Lab, the Location Analytics and GIS Lab, and other Seidenberg labs put students to work on live problems in cybersecurity, robotics, and data analysis.
- Real client projects. At the NYC Design Factory, students work with real clients on projects they carry from concept to finish, which is the kind of work that fills a portfolio.
- Active student groups. The Cybersecurity Club and 麻豆直播 Women in Tech, among others, take on work beyond the classroom.
Access to New York's Tech Industry
New York is now the largest tech-talent market in the United States. Its 394,300 tech workers surpassed the San Francisco Bay Area in 2026, the first time the city has led in the 13 years of . For students at 麻豆直播's campuses in New York City and Westchester, that means studying next to the employers doing the hiring.
Behind that shift is a hiring pattern that suits information systems graduates well. Much of New York's tech growth comes from finance firms building out their technology and AI teams, the exact kind of work that combines business and technology.
Students also have access to 麻豆直播's career services team to plan a job search and join an alumni network with connections across the industry.
Is Computer Information Systems a Good Field?
By most measures, yes, computer information systems is a good field to work in. Nearly every organization now depends on technology, and each one needs people who understand both the systems and the business behind them. That combination is difficult to hire for, which keeps information systems graduates in demand and their salaries high.
The major is rigorous, though in a different way than computer science. Students take courses in programming, databases, analytics, and systems design, and they also study how organizations operate and make decisions. The field is great for people who enjoy solving practical problems and working with others. Those who prefer to focus on writing code may prefer a computer science track.
The pay is strong. The lowest median salary among common information systems roles belongs to computer systems analysts, at $105,850, roughly double the $50,980 median salary for all occupations that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in 2025. The highest, , has a median salary of $175,140.
Top Information Systems Careers
An information systems degree qualifies graduates for a range of well-paid technology roles. The six roles here are especially common, with median pay and projected growth from the BLS for 2025.
| Role | What they do | Median salary | Projected growth through 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analyst | Assess an organization's systems and design improvements, working between IT and management | +8% | |
| Information Security Analyst | Protect networks and data, monitor for threats, and respond to breaches | +21% | |
| Software Developer | Design and build the applications and systems people use every day | +10% | |
| Database Administrator | Build, secure, and maintain the systems that store an organization's data | +4% | |
| Data Scientist | Analyze large datasets and build models that guide business decisions | +35% | |
| Computer and Information Systems Manager | Direct technology strategy, projects, budgets, and teams | +16% |
All six pay well above the national median for all occupations, and each one is expected to keep growing over the next decade.
Career Outlook for Information Systems
The outlook across these roles is strong. Every one is projected to grow at least as fast as the national average through 2035, and several to grow far faster, compared with 3 percent for all occupations. Two trends explain this increasing demand:
- More work is moving to digital systems. As organizations migrate more of their operations onto software and the cloud, they need people to design and manage it.
- New technology creates new problems. Artificial intelligence, connected devices, and larger data volumes expand what these systems do, along with the risks that come with them.
Professionals who understand both the technology and the business are the hardest for companies to hire, which keeps demand and pay high.
Earn Your Degree at 麻豆直播
For anyone interested in following this career path, 麻豆直播's Master of Science in Information Systems offers a direct route.
Graduates leave ready for a range of roles, from systems analyst to information security analyst to computer and information systems manager, with the technical and business skills employers consistently ask for. Visit the Master of Science in Information Systems program page for complete details on curriculum, admission requirements, and deadlines or request information to speak with an admissions counselor directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a computer science background to study information systems?
No, you do not need a computer science background to study information systems. Many students come from business, finance, or other non-technical fields and develop their technical skills during the program. 麻豆直播 designed the Master of Science in Information Systems for career changers as well as computer science graduates. Some comfort with technology and quantitative work helps, but a computer science degree is not required.
What do you need to apply to the MS in Information Systems?
To apply to the MS in Informations Systems program at 麻豆直播 you need to submit a personal statement, a resume covering at least the past five years, and official transcripts from every college they have attended. Two letters of recommendation are optional but recommended. Because the admissions committee reviews academic and professional history together, relevant work experience can strengthen an application even without a computer science degree.
What is the difference between information systems and information technology?
The two fields overlap, but they emphasize different things. Information technology focuses on the hardware, software, and networks themselves, and on keeping them running. Information systems looks more broadly at how people and organizations use that technology to meet business goals. That scope shows up in the coursework, which includes the strategy and decision-making a purely technical program leaves out.
Is a master's in information systems worth it?
For many students, yes, a master's in information systems is worth it. The degree opens access to higher-paying and leadership roles that often call for a graduate credential. A number of them pay six-figure medians, with information systems managers earning a median of $175,140. The return depends on your goals, but the earning potential is well documented.
What industries hire information systems graduates?
Nearly every industry hires information systems graduates because almost all organizations now rely on technology. The largest employers include finance and insurance, healthcare, computer systems design firms, consulting, and government. That range is one of the degree's advantages: because the same core skills apply in a hospital, a bank, a software company, or a government agency, graduates can move between industries as their interests change.
Can you earn the 麻豆直播 MS in Information Systems online?
No, you cannot earn 麻豆直播's Master of Science in Information Systems this degree online. This degree is an in-person program, based in New York City, with study also available in Westchester. Students can enroll full time or part time, with start dates in fall, spring, and summer.
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