Choosing Between Computer Science and Management Information System
Students are often perplexed about choosing between majoring in computer science (CS) or management information system (MIS) as the right career pathway for studying MS in abroad. To assist you in making an informed decision, let us consider the prospects for each of the courses.
Computer Science
- Computer science is a more competitive domain as compared to MIS making your prospects of securing admission into top schools very marginal. For instance, University X may be an ambitious choice for CS but quite achievable for MIS.
- Computer science is a highly in-demand profession, thus commanding more jobs and salaries as compared to MIS.
- If coding is your passion, then computer science is the right direction for you.
- With a couple of years of experience, a CS student always has the flexibility to move to make a career switch to an MIS role.
Management Information System
- MIS is a relatively less competitive domain, making it easier for you to secure admission to the top schools for MIS.
- MIS graduates, however, may have the disadvantage of fewer job prospects and less professional salary packages compared to CS graduates.
- If you are not skilled in coding, then MIS is a viable choice for you. You can opt to pursue your career in the IT domain, as the IT field does provide comparatively more job prospects.
- With an academic background in MIS, it is not easy to switch to a CS-related job role. You may be eligible only if you have done a technically intensive MIS course and have opted for software engineering-related roles.
Let us evaluate the two streams based on the key decision-making parameters: Brand Name vs. Salary vs. Jobs.
Students often opt for MIS because they can get into a university with a reputed brand name. Unlike in India, where the university brand name has a significant implication on professional salary packages, for instance, a student from IIT Bombay gets better pay than one from Delhi University or Chennai University; the same is not true for the students pursuing MS in USA. Computer science graduates in the USA have more job prospects and are better paid than those from other domains like MIS, Analytics, etc., as companies like Google, Apple, Amazon, etc. pay their employees well. A Tier 2 university student with an MS in CS is likely to earn a higher salary than a student from a Tier 1 university with an MS in MIS.
To conclude, your decision to study MS abroad for CS or MIS, in addition to your course preference, would depend on your weightage to university brand name, making MIS your viable option, or to jobs and salary, making CS your preferred pathway.
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