MBA vs MIS - the Course of Choice?

Master of Business Administration or MBA and Management Information Systems or MIS are two of the most popular master’s programs ruling the world. Both the programs are poles apart in terms of the curriculum, students are planning to study abroad to enhance their careers in one of them. With the progress towards digitization, the demand to earn a degree abroad in MBA and MIS is also rising. The USA boasts top colleges offering Master in Business Administration (MBA). It also ranks top in the much less known but equally coveted Masters in Management Information Systems (MIS). However, there is a dilemma over whether MIS vs MBA is better. Therefore, we are going to discuss a few points to find that which master’s program is the best.

Master of Business Administration

Almost everyone is aware of the Master of Business Administration or MBA. A Master’s degree in Business Administration primarily focuses on improving your general management skills, including a basic understanding of various aspects of a business. The duration of the program is a two-year, MBA is divided into one year of general management studies and another year of specialization. The Salary of MBA graduates from abroad universities is quite high and big guns in the market are the top recruiters.

Let’s check the eligibility criteria, for an MBA in India and MBA Abroad. Students must have a graduate degree in any field with a minimum cut-off, specific to the MBA Colleges in India. If you wish to pursue an MBA abroad, you must also have a qualifying GMAT score. Again, the admission criteria may vary from one university to another, you need to be a graduate – discipline does not matter. With the level of competition and the definitive edge offered by the international MBA courses, Indian students are opening up to the prospect of a degree in management from top MBA universities abroad.

Popular Specializations of MBA

• Finance
• Human Resources
• Marketing
• Entrepreneurship

Management Information Systems

Management Information Systems or MIS has a different focus than MBA. We have covered below the Management Information Systems and more particularly the Master in Management Information Systems. In addition, it is essential to mention that, unlike MBA, MIS is not a generic course and the vocabulary would vary from university to university. Most of the Master's courses in MIS are of 2-year duration but may differ from university to university.

To study the MIS program students must have a degree in Information Technology at a graduate and sometimes even a postgraduate level. The A-list colleges offering the degree often require a work experience of up to 5 years if you are a graduate and 2 – 3 years if you have completed your post-graduation. The course is more about Information Systems, so it requires a GMAT score instead of the GRE and a language course. Some colleges require eligibility only for a language exam but if you were looking for top MIS colleges, GRE would be a definite yes. Pursuing an MIS degree from an abroad university allows you to get a better job opportunity after completing the program.

Popular Specializations of MIS

• Business Analysis
• IT Consultancy
• Database Administration
• Systems Development
• Database Analysis
• Network Administration

MBA vs MIS: Which is better?

While both would offer you prestigious middle-level to high-level management positions, what distinguishes the two courses is the kind of management required. While MBA aims at a more holistic management picture, MIS offers a technical perspective. We can’t define what a better master’s program is. It depends on your interest and strength. Both courses offer a wide range of opportunities, both have great demand. The answer is simple…you would excel in a job you like. So take time to think about what would offer you the best job satisfaction and then decide. All the best!