What is Business Information Systems?
Business information systems (BIS) provide information that organizations can use to manage themselves more efficiently and effectively, typically through the use of computer systems and technology. Hardware, software, data, procedures (design, development, and documentation), and people are the primary components of business information systems.
The worlds of business and technology are inseparable. As technologies grow and change, smart companies adopt them to improve efficiency. Graduates in Business Information Systems offer companies the best of both. They are tech savvy and they understand business practices.
What Courses Are Available?
There are several dedicated degree-level BIS courses. Most of these are four year courses. Each course develops students’ IT skills, but firmly within a business context. Students study business components such as Accounting, Business Management, and Business Economics alongside IT-oriented modules.
Studying Business Information Systems in College
Classroom-based learning and project work make up the bulk of all BIS courses. However, some colleges also offer work placement opportunities. For example, University College Cork provides a six-month paid internship in the third year of their course. Some students complete their placement in Ireland, but many of them opt to find work with companies based in the US or UK. The National College of Ireland also provides a six-month internship, with students often obtaining positions within well-regarded companies such as Microsoft or Vodafone.
In addition to degree courses, there are also a number of BIS and BIS-related courses at PLC level. These provide a solid grounding in business and IT principles. Students who obtain a Level 5 or Level 6 certificate have the option of moving on to study at degree-level.
Career Options
BIS graduates have a huge range of employment opportunities available to them. They can work as software programmers, web developers, financial accountants, business analysts, consultants, project managers, and so on.
Related Jobs
Jobs directly related to your degree include:
- Application analyst
- Cyber security analyst
- Data analyst
- Data scientist
- Database administrator
- Information systems manager
- IT consultant
- IT technical support officer
- Penetration tester
- Software engineer
- Systems analyst
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
- Applications developer
- Border Force officer
- Business analyst
- Estimator
- Forensic computer analyst
- Network engineer
- IT sales professional
- UX researcher
- Web content manager
Further Study
A Masters degree in information systems will help you to hone the skills you’ve gained through your undergraduate degree. There may be opportunities to specialize, such as in health information systems.
PhD programs are available in operations management and information systems, as well as computer science and information systems.
Relevant professional qualifications in IT and business are also available. Regular training in technical products is essential, and it is provided by product suppliers as well as ICT training providers. Taking additional courses, particularly with market leaders, can aid in career advancement.
FAQ
What is the difference between a degree in MIS and Business Analytics and Information Systems?
Businesses today are so reliant on systems and technology, and there are so many applications that information systems and technology enable for the twenty-first century firm. A typical MIS degree prepares students for a wide variety of information systems jobs in businesses. A degree in business analytics and information systems accomplishes this while also providing students with a solid foundation in data and analytics, reflecting the growing trend in which business analytics needs and applications drive the demand for information systems applications.
Where Can I Study Business Information Systems?
Explore your options here.
Did You Know?
- 51% of internet traffic is “non-human”. 31% is made up from hacking programs, spammers and malicious phishing
- A new identification system for the internet launches this week which means there can be trillions of new unique addresses made.
- It would take 1,000,000 human brains to store all of the information that can be found on the internet.
Further Resources
IrelandIP (Ireland’s IP and Technology Law Blog)
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