Doctoral in Information Systems
What does the field of information systems deal with?
Information Technology plays a vital role in our lives today, and is used in everything from the cell phones we use to communicate to the cars we drive and the satellites that provide us with entertainment. It is also central to every business corporation, manufacturing company and government in the world, facilitating communication, sharing of resources and information, financial transactions and countless other functions. The field of information systems was developed to implement software applications and computer systems to the business domain. The resultant was a remarkable interdisciplinary field which has rapidly changed the way business is conducted and helped increase profits to record highs.
What is a doctoral of information systems?
A doctoral degree of information systems is the highest degree awarded in this field, and includes a specially designed four-year program comprising of two years of academic studies followed by two years of research work. Most PhD candidates hold full time jobs, so the degree program is designed in an executive fashion with classes scheduled for the evenings and weekends. Subjects include information system development, database design and management, information systems integration, telecommunication methods and research techniques. Once the doctoral candidates have completed their research, they participate in a public defense where they justify the methods and techniques employed during their research.
What are the future prospects?
The field of information systems is one of the fastest growing in the world. Within the United States, this field is expected to grow exponentially due to the increasing digitalization in various businesses and government agencies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an increase of 17% in employment opportunities with manufacturing companies, financial firms and healthcare services being the leading employers. Average wages in this field currently stand at $110,000 for new PhDs while experienced professionals make almost $200,000 per year.