• WSU has one of the few business programs in the U.S. in which all the business and accounting programs are fully accredited by AACSB International.
• Students can attend the MIS Alumni Event at Safeco field each spring to see a Mariners game, network with over 50 corporate representatives, and learn about the exciting field of MIS.
• The Mu Iota Sigma student professional organization, one of the first of its kind in the U.S., provides valuable leadership and networking opportunities.
• MIS and e-commerce students study in a state-of-the-art $500,000 e-classroom and share a new wireless classroom.
• Learn from top researchers and scholars--WSU business faculty are ranked 12th in the world in research productivity and maintain close relationships with high-tech leaders and businesses.
• Award-winning teaching faculty combine research and real-world experience into a dynamic classroom experience.
• WSU's MIS curriculum is at the international forefront and is the most comprehensive in the northwestern U.S.

Certifying into the major

Students on all campuses must meet the following requirements to qualify for certification into a business major:

• Complete the following certification courses with a GPA of 2.50 or better (EconS 101 and 102, Engl 101, Acctg 230 and 231, B Law 210, MgtOp 215, Math 201 and 202, MIS 250)
• Have a cumulative WSU GPA of at least 2.5
• Have earned at least 60 credits

On the Pullman campus, certifying as a business major is competitive and course enrollments are limited.  Pullman campus students are required to apply online to be considered for certification.  If the applicant meets the minimum requirements above, he or she is then ranked by academic performance.  The top students are then certified based on the number of spots available that semester.

On all campuses, transfer course grades will be used to calculate the certification GPA, but they are not included in the WSU cumulative GPA.

Students desiring to certify their business major on the Online, Tri-Cities, or Vancouver campuses should contact a business advisor on that campus for specifics about certifying their major.

Note: Certification is required for enrollment in all 300- and 400-level business courses.

Signature Courses

An example of the courses management information systems majors generally take:

MIS 171 - Web Technologies & Innovation
MIS 250 - Managing Information Technology
MIS 322 - Enterprise Business Process Analysis
MIS 325 - Enterprise Business Development
MIS 372 - Data Management
MIS 420 - Business Intelligence
MIS 448 - Global IS Project Management

Note: See the WSU Catalog for degree requirements and talk with your academic advisor about planning and scheduling your courses. All students must meet requirements as outlined in the catalog in order to graduate.

MIS students may be eligible for many scholarships through the College of Business. For further information, see the College of Business scholarships Web page.

A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs. Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two. 

Students should complete the Washington State University general scholarship application and the FAFSA to ensure their eligibility for the widest range of scholarships and need-based financial aid.

For information or to apply for financial aid and scholarships from WSU, see the Scholarships and Finances section of the WSU website.

Mu Iota Sigma is an active, student-led professional organization that hosts guest speakers, visits businesses and organizations, and facilitates networking and leadership opportunities for our MIS students.

Consider MIS as a major if you:

• Like working with people
• Are a good communicator
• Enjoy leadership positions
• Are interested in technology
• Enjoy analyzing and solving problems
• Want great job and internship opportunities
• Want an incredibly flexible career in which you can work almost anywhere in a variety of occupations.

As an MIS professional, you can work anywhere in the world for any kind of organization. You can choose from fields such as consulting, public accounting, information technology, aerospace, e-commerce, insurance, energy, and security. Graduates build successful careers as consultants, business analysts, systems analysts, technology and risk assurance auditors, network and systems administrators, project managers, and computer training and support personnel.

The U.S. Department of Labor forecasts that employment of information systems managers is expected to increase 36 percent or more through 2012. America’s CareerInfoNet (www.acinet.org) reports that 7 of the 10 fastest growing occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher are computer related, emphasizing the value of the skills provided by the MIS program at WSU.

Many of WSU's graduates seek positions in the Northwest, although some accept jobs throughout the world.

Employers who have hired graduates from the MIS program include Andersen Consulting, AT&T Wireless, Boeing, Eddie Bauer, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Intel Corp., Itron, Microsoft, Motorola, Principal Financial Group, SAFECO, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Bank, U.S. West, and Weyerhaeuser.

• MIS graduates from WSU earn high starting salaries. Annual starting salaries are now around $50,000 for accomplished students. Many MIS graduates receive signing bonuses and stock options due to the demand for educated high-tech workers in this area.
• Graduates from the M.B.A. program who emphasize MIS can get starting annual salaries between $50,000 to $80,000, depending on their prior work experience.
• Graduates from the Ph.D. program with a concentration in MIS can expect to earn $85,000 to $130,000 per academic year.

The MIS program provides you with many opportunities to build your resume and enhance your placement.

Mu Iota Sigma, our student-run organization, creates an environment where students can expand their knowledge, leadership skills, and awareness of the MIS field.

Our MIS Fellowship program offers our best and brightest undergraduate MIS students hands-on experience in real-world projects. Participants are highly sought after in the job market.

The MIS Department Internship Director, as well as WSU’s Career Services, offer information on the many internship opportunities now available to students in this very high-demand field.