MBA/MS-MIS Candidate Profile
From Information Systems at Pitt Business
This document describes what the admissions committee will be looking for when they evaluate applications to the MS-MIS Degree and MBA/MS-MIS Dual Degree programs.
Contents |
[edit] Candidate Characteristics
The goal of the evaluation process is to identify the candidates who have have the background, experience, and exposure that will allow them to succeed in the MS-MIS Degree and MBA/MS-MIS Dual Degree programs and, more importantly, in the jobs and careers that these programs are designed to prepare them for.
- Applicants who have IS Credentials and/or formal IS Work Experience (e.g. IS related position) are good candidates and should be admitted.
- Applicants who have other IS exposure should also have evidence of some prior IS coursework (e.g. 1 2 courses in the context of another degree).
- Applicants without IS coursework, IS credentials, or formal IS experience should be asked in the interview or a supplemental information request to explain how their prior background, experience, or coursework prepares them to succeed in an IS related career (e.g. describe a time when you have worked with a new technology to solve a problem.). It is important that these applicants be “gently challenged” in order to determine if they are really interested in doing (and aware of) what it will take for them to succeed in the MBA/MS-MIS and MS-MIS programs and the related career paths.
[edit] Alerts and Issues
The presence of the following issues in an application should trigger closer review of the materials and additional discussions with the candidate to ensure that the program that they have select is the best one for their career goals and interests.
- Applicants who have no formal IS experience, little or no prior IS coursework, specify two non-MIS concentrations on their application, and focus their essays on non-IS areas/issues
- Applicants who do have no prior [[#IS Coursework | IS coursework or credentials and do not describe any specific projects, problems or issues they have personally worked with in their resume or background essay. (General statements about the importance of IS within descriptions of what they have done should be noted, but these are usally only weak indicators of interest and suitablity for the MS-MIS or MBA/MS-MIS programs.)
Otherwise prominsing applicants to the MS-MIS or MBA/MS-MIS Dual Degree programs who have these characteristics should be contact to determine whether these programs are the best fit, or whether they would be better served by one of the other MBA programs available at Katz.
[edit] Key definitions
The following sections outline the the meaning of key terms that are used in the applicant evaluation criteria.
[edit] IS Credentials
Relevant IS credentials include degrees, minors, and/or concentration such as:
- Computer Science,
- Information Systems,
- Computer Engineering,
- Informatics or Information Science
- Networking/Telecommunications,
- Electrical Engineering,
- Software Engineering
It can also include professional certifications such as those related to software development, network administraton, IS security, IS auditing, or IS project management.
[edit] IS Coursework
IS coursework includes courses in:
- Programming,
- Database or Data management
- Information Systems Management
- Information Systems
- Systems Analysis and Design
- Telecommunications and/or Networking
- Human Computer Interaction or Interface Design
- IS project planning or management
Basic courses such as Introduction to Computer or Microcomputer Fundamentals or skills courses in office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc.) should not be considered to be relevant IS coursework because of their focus on hands-on use of personal productivity tools.
[edit] Formal IS Work Experience
Jobs with IS titles and substantial IS related responsibilities such as:
- Programmer
- Programmer Analyst
- Help Desk Analyst
- Systems Administrator
- Network Administrator
- Database Administrator (or DBA)
- IT/IS Consultant
- Systems Developer
- Systems Analyst
- Business Process Analyst
- IS Project Manager
- IS Manager/Director
Many Business Analyst positions also have a significant IS related responsibilities.
[edit] Other IS Experience
Other IS experience can include both work-related and non-work activities.
Work related IS experience includes involvement with projects related to the implementation, development, or management of information systems/web sites/databases/networks/etc. The activities may be associated with any job or position (especially in small and mid-size organizations).
It also includes formal roles in projects such as business unit/IS liason, client representative, or user representative.
Experience using a system to do a job (i.e. normal responsibilities) is not a strong form of Other IS [Use of systems is not a good substitute]
Non-work IS experience includes any project (hobbies, volunteer work, etc.) which involves the implementation, development, or management of information systems/web sites/databases/networks. These will typically be described in the essay or interview.
