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I currently have a Bachelors Degree in MIS. I want to take the next step in my career and feel the need to learn more. I would like to break into Management as I have been a SysAdmin for about 12 years. Should I go get a MBA since my MIS degree is under Business Administration or get a more focused Masters in MIS? If it is the later, is there online masters programs for MIS? Please recommend some if possible. Thank you for all of your help!!!

4 Spice ups
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MBA is better in the long run. However most schools offer a combination of both MIS and MBA.

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I chose an MBA in IT management. I am currently finishing up @ Western Governors. I too have been a sysadmin, however, my reason for the MBA was to fully grasp the fundamentals of business and how I can best support their IT needs. I would recommend that you fully explore what it is that you are passionate about, it may not be middle management. Most IT managers are just that nothing more. Are you wanting to reach CIO or CTO levels? I am a technologists and at the end of the day I still love the thrill of resolving an issue quickly and following best practices.
I also like the idea of knowing I progressed in my field, hence the degree.

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High school diploma here… Been working out for me so far. I make more money than anyone in my immediate circle of friends and family including several with masters degrees. I guess it depends on whether you want status or money, the former means very little to me.

2 Spice ups
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Not an MBA here by any means but I’ve been in management (Director of IT and Business Technology) for many years and it’s been working out for me. I’m debating myself if it’s worth it for me to get an MBA now but seems to start to sound like just paper. However, I am planning to enroll next year just to prove myself.

I would go with MBA if I was wearing your shoes. By the time I enroll to get into MBA, I would probably reach CIO or VP by then. =)

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Apparently you never considered that there are benefits to schooling that go far beyond just status or money. Also, and no I’m not going to Google for supporting links, your anecdote (look that word up if you didn’t learn it on the job), while awesome for you is not the norm. Whether people want to believe it or not, advanced degrees still do correlate strongly with higher lifetime income. I’ve had this debate on several Spiceworks threads, and man, can it get ugly. So, I’ll try to get back to the OP’s question.

If I were you, I’d take the course that most interests you. I’m personally looking at moving into management when my boss retires in a few years, so I’m looking at the MS in Information Technology Management (sort of a technically based management program with some flavors of MBA). That being said, all I really need to do, I think, is check the box that says “Do you have a Master’s Degree,” so I’m not stopped in my tracks at the application process. So, I’ve started to look into an MS in Cyber Security because it interests me more (and I believe there may be better options for consulting on the side and/or after retirement) and I still get to “check the box.” Things to consider maybe.

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An MBA has more flexibility, as it can take you outside of the IT world if thing go completely to poop. :slight_smile:

My own MS program in MIS right now has been essentially all technology electives, although several of my classes were taken as the tech electives by other MBA candidates in my school. I haven’t really learned much that I can translate to the professional world that I didn’t know already, except high level concepts in privacy, intellectual property, some PM, & data analytics but for someone whose focus isn’t technology, I can see where the material could be beneficial.

Other business-oriented courses like finance, econ, and HRM were part of my undergrad, so for me, the master’s is more for the checkbox to tick on the application as well as where I’d like to end up within my particular industry (which places a lot of value on advanced degrees, even if it doesn’t directly correlate to MOAR MONEYS right away). This was also why I didn’t go for the MBA, as I’d have been repeating courses in finance and econ, and they were not my best subjects! :slight_smile:

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If you’re looking at definitely staying in IT with the ultimate goal of becoming an IT Director or C-level IT position (CIO, CTO), the MIS degree might be a better option. If you think you might get out of IT at some point, an MBA is the better option.

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I appreciate your input. Seems like you understand my situation. I am not doing this strictly for the money. Although, more money is always nice. I just want to get to a position where I can control my own destiny. I have managed people in previous jobs. However, I feel like I need to have the qualifications to ‘check the box’ for some of the management positions I seek. I don’t want to completely get out of technical aspect of IT but I would like to contribute from a higher level. If I may ask, where are you finding these MS in Information Technology Management?

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The program I mentioned (Master of Science Information Technology Management) is here:

However, there is also an MBA program with an emphasis on IT (MBA Information Technology Management) – maybe just what you’re looking for:

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MBA is the ONLY one to consider if you want to be a manager.

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I am in the WGU IT MBA program (about to start the Capstone); again it is business heavy and two classes are IT based. It all depends on what you are looking for. I wanted a more business heavy program. The classes of Human Resource Management, and Data Driven Decision Making were new and a challenge to me. Explore and continue to research programs, I am happy with my decision. Also, consider Harvard Extension School:

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Warning: A bull has been released in the China shop. Clean up on aisle 9.

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Not sure who you were replying to, but I’ll answer anyway! :slight_smile:

Mine is through the same university from where I graduated with my undergrad. It’s a blended program with double-counted electives so it was a no-brainer for me to continue (only required 8 classes instead of the typical 10-12 that other masters’ programs in my area required). It’s not on-line, though.

There are some other schools in my locale that offered similar programs, and depending on the school, it was either more business-oriented or tech-oriented. That also weighed into my selection process.