MIS Master’s Program and Career Development: Perspectives from Students and Graduates

The purpose of this study is to examine in detail the motivations, expectations, and experiences, knowledge, and skills acquired during the educational process by individuals enrolled in a Management Information Systems (MIS) Master\\\'s program. Furthermore, the study aims to reveal the program\\\'s impact on career development and access to sectoral opportunities. The research also seeks to investigate the similarities and differences between current students and graduates of the program. The findings indicate that both graduates and current students enrolled in the program achieved significant gains in terms of both technical and managerial competencies throughout the program. Among the common motivational factors for both groups, the acquisition of technical knowledge, coding skills, and specialization in the field stand out. Graduates emphasize practical and career-oriented gains, particularly in areas such as project management, professional advancement, business process analysis, and promotion opportunities. Students, however, prioritize academic and employment-focused acquisitions, such as gaining technical knowledge and skills, analytical thinking, problem-solving, and job finding potential. The program is evaluated by both groups as a comprehensive learning process that fosters personal development, self-confidence, adaptation, and sectoral awareness. These findings demonstrate that the MIS Master\\\'s program contributes to the personal and professional growth and career advancement of its participants by developing their technical, analytical, and managerial skills.