🚀 go-pugleaf

I am writing to this group in search of some advice concerning graduate
programs in IS/MIS/CIS (whatever the difference is between those programs I'm
still not sure).

Currently I'm a senior at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester,
Mass.) doing a double major in computer science and management (bachelor's
of science).  I am looking to pursue a master's of science in IS.  I
recently subscribed to this group and noticed that many of you are
professionals in the field or are in the academics, and this seems to be the
right place to get my questions answered.  I would like some advice as to
which schools have strong programs in IS.  I am looking for programs that
would give a good balance between the technical and non-technical material
covered in their curriculum or have enough flexibility to allow me to
"design" my own curriculum which would still meet the institution's
requirements.  I tend to lean a little more on the technical side, which is
why I am not looking at MBA programs with concentrations in MIS.  

One other thing that I noticed as I looked though graduate school guides
(ie. the Peterson's guide), the bulk of the IS programs are listed under the
institution's graduate school of management.  However, there were a few that
were listed under institution XXX's school of computer and information
science or school of information studies.  From the point of view of the
industry/employers which would be better - getting an MS in IS from XXX's
graduate school of management or YYY's school of computer and information
science? 

In terms of career paths for budding IS professionals, what is the trend? 
What will be the demand of people of these skills, what are the job 
opportunities in the next 5 years like?  If you were to advise a student on 
preparing for a career in this field, what would you tell him or her such 
that by the time they have completed their degree they would be very 
"marketable."

I hope that by posing my questions on this newsgroup I will be able to get
the point of views from both the academics and the professionals in the
industry.  I am looking at pursuing a career in this field after graduate
school.

FYI:
My areas of interest include system design/analysis/implementation, software
engineering, applied expert systems, decision support systems,
human-computer interface (user interface point of view) and object-oriented
design (I have no prior experience in this what so ever, but would like to
find out and learn these new design concepts).

Please reply to me directly at tai@wpi.wpi.edu.  Any useful suggestions and
advice would be very appreciated.


Thank you very much.

Sincerely,
Lisa Taikitsadaporn