Management Information Systems, MS

The Master of Science in management information systems (MIS) degree is designed to give students the skills and background needed to develop and manage an organization's information resources, technology, and infrastructure with a focus on the practical application of these skills. The program prepares graduates to excel in workplaces transformed by machine learning and data analytics. It will serve as a source of added knowledge and experience for MIS graduates and practitioners interested in obtaining an advanced degree. It will also provide career growth opportunities for the non-MIS and non-business degree holders who find that their careers demand graduate level MIS education.

The MS in MIS prepares students for a variety of high-demand positions, including applications and web-site developer, computer network manager, business system analyst/manager, consultant, technology manager, as well as roles in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data analysis. Graduates gain competencies that can be applied in diverse industries including agriculture, healthcare, finance, banking, and retail. MS in MIS alumni have secured internships and positions at leading regional and national organizations, reflecting the program’s robust industry connections and the breadth of career pathways it supports.

The MS in MIS also prepares students for admission to doctoral programs in information systems. A community advisory committee helps keep the program current with the needs of the business community. The MS in MIS program is a STEM designated program (CIP code: 11.0401)

Program Related Information

Program Contact

Emily Wiemers, Graduate Advisor
402.554.3819
ewiemers@unomaha.edu

Prospective Student Admission: advising-cist@unomaha.edu 

Program Website

Fast Track

The Department of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis has developed a Fast Track program for highly qualified and motivated students providing the opportunity to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an accelerated time frame. With Fast Track, students may count up to nine graduate hours toward the completion of their undergraduate program as well as the graduate degree program. Students will work with both undergraduate and graduate advisors to ensure graduate classes selected will count toward both programs, should a student wish to earn a graduate degree in a separate College of Information Science & Technology (CIST) area than their undergraduate degree.

Program Specifics:

• This program is available for undergraduate students pursuing any of the following:
  • Students pursuing a CIST undergraduate degree desiring to pursue an MS in either the same or a related CIST field
  • Students pursuing a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies who wish to pursue the MS in MIS.
• Students must have completed no less than 60 undergraduate hours and within at least 24 undergraduate credits yet to complete.
• Students must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
• Students must complete the Fast Track Approval form, obtain all signatures and submit it to the Office of Graduate Studies prior to first enrollment in a graduate course.
• Students will work with their undergraduate advisor to register for the graduate courses.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required to remain in good standing.
• Students remain undergraduates until they meet all the requirements for the undergraduate degree and are eligible for all rights and privileges granted undergraduate status including financial aid.
• Near the end of the undergraduate program, formal application to the graduate program is required. All applicants will need to meet any other admission requirements established for the MS in selected CIST program. The application fee will be waived if the applicant contacts the Office of Graduate Studies for a fee waiver code prior to submitting the MS application.
  • Admission to Fast Track does NOT guarantee admission to the graduate program. 
  • The admit term must be after the completion term of the undergraduate degree.

International Dual Degree

The College of IS&T, in conjunction with the Management Center Innsbruck (Austria) (MCI) and the Technical University of Braunschweig (Germany) (TUB), offers a small number of interested students the opportunity to receive both the MS in MIS (UNO) degree and the MA in Management, Communications and Information Technology (MCiT) (MCI) or the Masters in MIS (TUB) degree in a two-year, full-time equivalent period. This is implemented as an international dual degree track within the MS in MIS degree with courses that transfer in both directions. The international dual degree track, like the traditional MS in MIS program, requires the equivalent of 36 U.S. credit hours of course work beyond any foundation requirements. Students who wish to pursue this option will work closely with an advisor to develop a detailed plan of study.

Admissions

General Application Requirements and Admission Criteria

Application Deadlines 

• Spring 2027: December 1
• Summer 2027: April 1
• Fall 2027: July 1

Other Requirements

• The minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) requirement for the MS in MIS program is 3.0 or equivalent score on a 4.0 scale. Applicants should have the equivalent of a four year undergraduate degree.
• Entrance Exam: Although not required, submitting GMAT or GRE scores may strengthen your application.
• English Language-Proficiency: Applicants are required to have a command of oral and written English. Those who do not hold a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from the United States, OR a baccalaureate or other advanced degree from a predetermined country on the waiver list, must meet the minimum language proficiency score requirement in order to be considered for admission. 
  • Internet-based TOEFL: 80, IELTS: 6.5, PTE: 53, Duolingo: 110
• Statement of Purpose: Applicants are required to submit a statement of purpose (500-750 words) addressing the following.  The statement  must be written in the applicant's own words, reflecting their goals and aspirations.  Plagiarism in the statement may result in the rejection of the entire application.
  • Motivations for pursuing graduate education
  • Relevant qualifications or work experience that demonstrate potential for success in the graduate program
  • Career goals
  • Why you want to study at UNO
• Resume: Submit a detailed resume indicating your work experience and background. 
• OPTIONAL: One letter of recommendation from a reference who can evaluate your work and/or academic achievements.
• OPTIONAL: Application for Graduate Assistant Position

The MS in MIS program hires departmental graduate assistants (GA) after successful completion of at least a semester in the program. However, a few research positions may be available to incoming students. If you are interested in applying for one of those positions, please submit a letter stating your research area interests and why you feel you would make a good GA. Please note that GA positions will be considered after admission and program admission is not a guarantee of receiving a GA position.

Students interested in taking courses without admission to the MS in MIS degree program may do so with permission of the graduate program committee. Contact mgreiner@unomaha.edu.

Requirements

Foundation Requirement

All students admitted to the MS in management information systems (MIS) program must demonstrate prerequisite knowledge in web development, software development, and relational databases before beginning graduate coursework. This requirement is met through a set of zero-credit, online, asynchronous Readiness Modules. The modules provide essential foundational skills that support success in the program.

Students may satisfy individual module requirements through prior coursework or by passing a test-out assessment. Students who do not test out must complete the corresponding modules by the end of the first week of classes.

Readiness Modules do not carry academic credit and cannot be applied toward the 30 credit hours required for the degree.

Degree Requirements

Exit Requirements

Thesis Option

• ISQA 8060 must be completed prior to registering for thesis hours
• ISQA 8990 - 6 hours
• All candidates should carefully review the Graduate College requirements for forming the supervisory committee, Thesis/Thesis Equivalent Proposal Approval forms, and final approval and submission of the thesis.

Project Option

• ISQA 8960 - 6 hours

Capstone Option

• ISQA 8950 - 6 hours 

Concentrations

The ISQA faculty has developed a set of concentrations to assist students as they work to complete the MS in MIS program. Concentrations consist of a set of elective courses that are related to a particular subject area. Students may choose to take courses that make up a concentration, or not, as they see fit. Concentrations are not minors in the traditional sense, but rather reflect areas in demand in the community. If you have any questions regarding these concentrations, please contact the MS in MIS graduate advisor.

Internship, Independent Studies, Seminar in MIS, Thesis, Project, Special Topics, and other electives related to the concentration topic may be counted towards a concentration with approval by the GPC. Only three hours of the required hours of thesis or project credit may be applied to a concentration.

Analytics for Business and Decision Making Concentration

Data analytics for business and decision making focuses on applying analytical, statistical, and computational techniques to transform data into actionable insights that support organizational decisions. This concentration prepares students to analyze complex data, identify patterns and trends, and communicate results effectively to business and technical stakeholders. Data analytics has broad applicability in customer behavior analysis, fraud detection, scientific inquiry, process improvement, financial analysis, trend analysis, forecasting, and decision support. Techniques may include statistical methods, data mining, modeling and simulation, and data visualization. The analytics concentration prepares students for work in data analytics, business analytics, and decision support.

Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Concentration

The applied artificial intelligence and machine learning concentration prepares students with the technical and managerial skills required to develop, deploy, and manage intelligent systems within organizational environments. The concentration emphasizes the practical use of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and advanced analytics to support data-driven decision making and business processes. Graduates are prepared for roles involving applied AI and ML, predictive analytics, and intelligent decision support in business and organizational contexts.

Data Engineering and Management Concentration

The effective management of data is foundational to modern organizations and an AI-driven digital economy. This concentration prepares students to design, build, operate, and govern robust data architectures that transform raw data into reliable, high-value information assets across the full data lifecycle. Emphasis is placed on building scalable, reliable data pipelines and ensuring data integrity, accessibility, and stewardship in organizational environments. The curriculum integrates theoretical foundations with hands-on experience in data engineering and enterprise data management, including database design and administration, data quality management, business intelligence, data integration, and data governance. Students gain exposure to transaction processing systems, data warehouses, and modern data platforms, including relational, NoSQL, and semi-structured data stores, as well as cloud-based data architectures. Students may also gain experience managing geospatial data. Graduates of this concentration are prepared for roles that bridge business and technology, including data engineering, analytics engineering, enterprise data management, and data governance.

Information Security Management Concentration

The information security management concentration focuses on understanding security governance, risk management, privacy, and compliance and the managerial aspects of security that are priorities within an organization. Students interested in information security management are encouraged to declare a formal concentration by contacting the graduate advisor.

Project and Product Management Concentration

This concentration is designed for professionals seeking advanced, practice-oriented preparation in project management and leadership. Through applied coursework, students develop competencies in requirements analysis, system design, agile techniques, team collaboration, and project execution, while strengthening their ability to communicate across technical and non-technical audiences. The certificate is well suited for graduate students and working professionals in information systems, business, and related fields who seek to enhance their project management capabilities, support career advancement, or prepare for industry-recognized credentials.

Quality of Work Standards

The Graduate College’s Quality of Work standards shall be applied to foundation courses as well as courses taken as part of the degree program. In particular, the Graduate Program Chair (GPC) will recommend to the Graduate College that any

1. Student receiving a grade of “C-” or below in any foundation courses will be automatically dismissed from the program or, in the case of non-degree students, be automatically denied admission.
2. Student receiving a grade of “C+” or “C” in any foundation course will be placed on probation or dismissed from the program.
3. Student not maintaining a “B” (3.0 on 4.0 scale) average in foundation courses will be placed on probation or dismissed from the program.

Students who have been dismissed from a MIS graduate program may request reinstatement by following the process outlined below:.

Step 1: Students must submit a written petition for reinstatement to the GPC. The petition needs to include a 1–2 paragraph letter explaining the circumstances that led to the student's academic difficulties, the specific challenges they faced during the semester, and their plan for improvement to ensure these issues do not recur.

Step 2: The petition will be shared with the graduate program committee. The committee will review the petition and decide the student’s eligibility for reinstatement.

Step 3: If reinstated, the student will be placed on probation for the following semester of enrollment. The graduate program committee will determine the conditions of this probation. Please note that students who are on probation cannot hold a graduate assistantship or internship and are ineligible for an independent study.

Students are encouraged to take proactive steps to address any challenges that may impact their academic success. For any questions about this process, please contact the GPC.