About the MIS Program

MIS faculty, staff, and PhD students. Front Row: Seth Li, Karim Jetha, Chris Maurer, Janine Aronson, Jeff Howells, Craig Piercy, Zubin Dowlaty. Second Row: Maric Boudreau, Dennis Calbos, Robert Bostrom, Dustin Baker, Elena Karahanna, Meredith Dewald. Third Row:Dale Goodhue, Ron Swift, Hugh Watson, Joe Rubleske, Amrit Tiwana, Daniel Everett, Nicholas Berente. Not Pictured: Rick Watson, Mark Huber, Dave Chatterjee, Ken Park, Jennifer Claggett, Ashley Weeks.

Introduction to MIS @ UGA

In addition to technical topics, the program emphasizes the management of information systems so that its graduates can ultimately assume managerial positions. In some companies, information systems are of such strategic importance that managers with an MIS background are becoming chief executive officers.

The Department of Management Information Systems offers an interdisciplinary undergraduate program built both on a broad core of studies and special training to develop professionals with a balance of technical skills and business acumen who can take the lead in their field of choice. The curriculum is realized through a variety of instructional techniques to maximize the students’ exposure to learning methods they will employ in future training, group projects, and demonstrations as professionals in the marketplace.

The program is interdisciplinary in nature with specialized training in information systems, management, and information technology. It builds on the Terry College’s common core, which includes course work in accounting, economics, business law, mathematics, statistics, computer programming, finance, marketing, production, and management. Often, the common core is completed before taking course work in the MIS program. For your planning purposes, refer to a projected four-year plan (PDF | 182 KB) for the MIS major. Many factors will affect the actual course scheduling, but this will provide a general plan of study.

The programs’ educational objectives are realized through a variety of instructional methods, including:

• “hands-on” computer experience
• class lecture and discussion
• textbook and article study
• class assignments, laboratory projects, and applied (team) projects in the business community
• case studies
• demonstrations
• field trips
• presentations by practitioners from the MIS community

This excellence in applied research and scholarship is the emphasis for developing candidates in the PhD program to become scholars and teachers who will shine at major universities. Doctoral candidates not only gain in-depth understanding of MIS theories, techniques, and technologies, but also study a field of application for their applied technical knowledge such as strategic management, artificial intelligence, and production and operations management. This combination of course work and research prepares PhD candidates to succeed at major universities or as researchers with prominent agencies and corporations.

View course descriptions for MIS classes »

Admissions Process

1. Students must first be admitted to UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences as a pre-business major. The UGA Office of Admissions can provide information and application procedures for applying to the university.
2. As a pre-business major, students will begin their business core curriculum. During the semester when they will complete the core requirements, a student may apply to Terry as an MIS major.
3. Once admitted to the MIS major, students will be advised within the MIS department. For specific information on degree requirements, refer to the projected four-year plan (PDF | 182 KB) for MIS.