Information Systems (IS) at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire gives students the professional development they need to be an integral part of the information age in which knowledgeable workers continue to have excellent opportunities for employment and promotion. The IS department offers a comprehensive major in Information Systems with emphases in Business Analysis, System Development, or Enterprise Networking, as well as a minor in Information Systems. The Department also offers a certificate program in Information Systems.
What will I learn from studying IS?
Knowledge:
IS majors learn about computing in business (organizational analysis, systems development, database management, web/network management, electronic business, etc.), as well as management skills for working effectively with people in all of the functional areas of business (accounting, finance, management, marketing). IS majors develop communication, interpersonal, critical thinking and information technology skills that are highly valued by all types of organizations.
Skills:
- Organizational skills
- Managing people, projects, and technology
- Computer skills
- Problem solving
- Critical reasoning
- Troubleshooting
- Analytical skills
What are some of the interests and values related to IS?
- Enjoy people
- Listen and speak well
- Read and write well
- Think Logically
- Enjoy Learning New Things
- Organized
- Enjoy computers/technology
What are related student and professional organizations?
Student:
- Association of Information Technology Professionals
- Beta Upsilon Sigma (BUS)
- Phi Beta Lambda
- Beta Gamma Sigma
Professional:
- Association of Information Technology Professionals
- Association for Computing Machinery
- American Society for Information Science and Technology
- Society for Information Management
What career fields are related to an IS Degree?
Potential Employers:
IS graduates can use their education in a variety of fields. Their positions closely relate to their personal career interests, work values, and transferable skills. Employers of IS graduates include: consulting firms, computer manufactures, financial institutions, government agencies, Information/ telecommunication firms, and software development firms.
Potential Job Titles:
- Business Analyst
- Project Manager
- Application Programmer
- Database Developer
- Help Desk Staff
- Network Designer
- Web Developer
- LAN Site Manager
- Client Server Support Analyst
What are some entry-level jobs held by UW – Eau Claire IS graduates?
- IS Project Manager, Ecolab, Minneapolis, MN
- IT System Analyst, Cargill, Minnetonka, MN
- Software Developer, CUNA Mutual, Madison, WI
- Database Administrator, Menards, Eau Claire, WI
- Web Developer, Northwestern Mutual
- Visual Basic Programmer, Lorman Education Services, Eau Claire, WI
How can I learn more about IS?
Department
- Contact someone in UW – Eau Claire’s Dept. of Information Systems
- Schneider Hall 401, 836-4320
Career Services:
- Meet with a career counselor
- Take interest inventories and self assessment tests
- Ask An Alum & Friends, a database of UW-Eau Claire Alumni & Friends available for informational interviewing
Career Discovery Center
- Careers in Business, Lila B. Stair
- Careers in Computers, Lila Stair, Leslie Stair
- Careers for Computer Buffs & Other Technological Types, Marjorie Eberts, Margaret Gisler
- Careers in High Tech, Nick Basta
- Career Opportunities in Computers & Cyberspace, Harry Henderson
- Opportunities in Computer Systems Careers, Julie Kling Burns
- 100 Jobs in Technology, Macmillan
Internet:
- America’s Career Infonet
- Information Professional’s Career Page
- Computer Software/ Systems Jobs Page
- National Science Foundation
- HTML Writer’s Guild
- Computer & Information System Managers
- IS Careers and Degrees
What are some opportunities for experiential learning in IS?
Internship
Internships are a way to gain hands-on experience in a position that interests you as a potential career. To find an internship in IS that suites your interests, visit Career Services (Schofield 230) and speak with a Career Associate about the many available internships.
Contact your advisor or the Information Systems department chair about enrolling in IS 420 to obtain academic credit for your internship.
Directed Studies or Independent Study Class
By participating in an Independent or Directed Studies course, students will be able to research an area that they find particularly interesting. Contact your advisor about enrolling in IS 399 or 499.