Management Computer Systems (MCS)
About the Program
The Management Computer Systems (MCS) major prepares students for careers as information systems developers. Students learn how to work in business settings with management and users to define system requirements, to convert those requirements into design specifications, to create computer programs and databases that meet those specifications, and to test the applications to make sure they meet the stated needs of management and users. The program trains students in the latest technologies and in the best current practices for systems development.
The MCS major is unique in that it is a joint program sponsored by both the College of Business and Economics and the College of Letters and Sciences. Students may earn either a Bachelor’s of Business Administration or a Bachelor’s of Science degree. The core MCS computing courses are the same for both degrees, but the general requirements of the two colleges differ. The BBA degree offers a more complete set of core business courses while the BS degree allows students to emphasize non-business areas of interest.
Accreditation
The College of Business and Economics is fully accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. This accreditation applies to both undergraduate and graduate programs.
Career Opportunities
Businesses and non-profit organizations continue to need well-trained, entry-level information systems developers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor predicts that the demand for systems analysts will be among the highest demand occupations in the coming years.
The most common entry-level position for MCS graduates is that of programmer or programmer/analyst, with most graduates progressing to systems analysis and design responsibilities within two to three years. After graduates have been working for a few years they will have opportunities to become project managers, consultants, or technical specialists.
If they have management abilities and interests they can become managers within the information technology organization or they may move out into areas of business served by information technology. The top management position within information technology is the Chief Information Officer (CIO).
Faculty
The MCS program annually graduates 50-70 students, who are split between the program’s two supporting colleges. The MCS faculty are members of the Math/ Computer Science and Management Departments. This unique arrangement provides the program with a broad spectrum of experience and expertise vital to maintaining professional standards in the wide array of management and technical topics required for the discipline.
Representatives from 25 of the leading regional industrial and business firms serve on the MCS Executive Advisory Board, which meets with faculty semi-annually and assists in maintaining the quality of the program. With the aid of this board, the MCS curriculum undergoes major revision every 2-3 years to keep up with the current state of industrial technology. No classes are taught by teaching assistants.
High School Preparation
A well-rounded college preparatory program in high school is appropriate for a prospective MCS major. Advanced mathematics and computing courses are a plus but are not required. Speaking, writing, communication and leadership skills are extremely important. Program proficiency tests are available for waiver of two freshman -year courses; students may also receive credit for one of the courses by achieving an acceptable score on the Advance Placement Computer Science examination.
Honors and Awards
The Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) and its Education Foundation has ranked UW-Whitewater’s MCS program as the number one undergraduate computing degree program in North America seven times (1984, 1986, 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000 and 2003). This highly coveted industry ranking is largely based on employer’s perceptions of a program’s graduates. MCS has also been designated as a UW Board of Regents Center of Excellence for computer information systems. To earn this status, a program must be nationally recognized as being among the best in its field, make a substantial impact on the economic or cultural development of the state, region and nation and undergo a rigorous internal and external evaluation process.
Internship Opportunities
Many MCS majors choose to participate in the MCS Cooperative Studies program, which has placed more than 400 co-ops since 1980. Students accepted into the program interview for a seven-month co-op position in the information systems area of an approved company. Usually occurring in the senior year, the co-op student is paid and earns three credits that count toward an MCS degree.
Placement
Placement rates and salaries of MCS graduates have historically been among the highest on the UW-Whitewater campus. MCS is highly regarded by college recruiters. In a recent survey of employers who have hired MCS graduates, 75 percent ranked MCS as the top university program from which they recruit, with 100 percent ranking MCS among the top three programs used for recruiting. In comparison, the next highest ranked college program received only 17 percent of the first-place rankings and was ranked in the top three programs for recruiting by 33 percent of the companies.
Student Organizations
The UW-Whitewater student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals promotes interest in and understanding of business information systems through the sponsorship of guest lecturers, seminars and field trips. The group is sponsored by the Milwaukee AITP chapter and has been one of the top-ranked student chapters in the nation almost every year since 1982.
Suggested Course of Study
Suggested program for MCS core technical courses includes:
Freshman Year
- Introduction to Object Oriented Programming in Java
- Introduction to Database and the Web
Sophomore Year
- Information Technology Concepts and Practice
- Concepts of Programming
- Concepts of Data Structures
Junior Year
- Advanced Database Design and Administration
- Web Development 1
- Systems Analysis and Design 1
Senior Year
- Web Development 2
- Systems Analysis and Design 2
- MCS Elective
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