# Online Information Systems Master's Degree (Competency Based)

[Apply now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info?programcode=MIS-CB)
## Master of Information Systems (Competency Based)

### Complete in less than 12 months and for under $11,000

Solving complex IT problems is your passion. So why stop there? From systems analysis and development to IT security and ethics, our Master of Information Systems (Competency-Based) is designed to equip you with 36 key skills needed to solve even bigger problems — and influence the way businesses use IT.

### What is compentency-based learning (CB)?

### What's unique about CB programs?

You’re scheduled in 4 courses concurrently over a span of 16 weeks. CB programs encourage individual learning and provide an opportunity to engage with fellow students. You’ll also receive support and guidance from faculty in your courses and a dedicated faculty mentor in your program.

### How does CB work?

1. Start your group of courses with the support of a faculty mentor.
2. Take 3 to 4 courses at your own pace every 16-week period. Spend less time on material you know and more time on new subject matter.
3. Once ready, faculty can unlock competency assessments so you can demonstrate what you know and how to apply it.

## Stand out with an in-demand business degree

×  
00:57 fact many are programmatically 00:59 accredited and courses are taught by 01:01 accomplished professionals in business 01:03 enrolling is easy there's no application 01:06 fee no sat or gmat test requirements and 01:10 no out-of-pocket costs for transcripts 01:12 we request them for you if you have 01:14 eligible transfer credits we'll work 01:16 with you to get the credit you deserve 01:18 this means you could save up to 75 on 01:21 your bachelor's degree to help you 01:22 graduate in as little as a year plus 01:25 with up to 18 opportunities to start you 01:27 can begin your degree when you're ready 01:29 stay competitive now and in the future 01:32 with an online business degree 01:35 [Music] 01:42 you
### Is CB a good fit for you?

Exit quiz
This quiz is for informative purposes only and does not determine individual student outcomes for a program. When selecting a program, please review all details before enrolling or[contact an enrollment representative](tel:18449378679)for further assistance with your selection.

Questions? Request a follow-up call.

| TRADITIONAL | COMPETENCY-BASED |
|---|---|
| 16 months (MBA) 17 months (MHA/MIS) 16 months (MBA) 17 months (MHA/MIS) | 16 months (MBA) 17 months (MHA/MIS) Less than a year |
| 6-week course at a time 6-week course at a time | 6-week course at a time More intensive timeline to complete 4 courses, which can be taken one at a time |
| Traditional classroom led by instructors Traditional classroom led by instructors | Traditional classroom led by instructors Self-paced, flexible learnings with limited faculty guidance |
| Bachelor’s degree with 2.5 GPA Bachelor’s degree with 2.5 GPA | Bachelor’s degree with 2.5 GPA Bachelor’s degree with 2.5 GPA and relevant work experience |
| $698 per credit $698 per credit | $698 per credit $300 per credit (no additional fees) |

| COMPETENCY-BASED | TRADITIONAL |
|---|---|
| Less than a year Less than a year | Less than a year 16 months (MBA) 17 months (MHA/MIS) |
| More intensive timeline to complete 4 courses, which can be taken one at a time More intensive timeline to complete 4 courses, which can be taken one at a time | More intensive timeline to complete 4 courses, which can be taken one at a time 6-week course at a time |
| Self-paced, flexible learnings with limited faculty guidance Self-paced, flexible learnings with limited faculty guidance | Self-paced, flexible learnings with limited faculty guidance Traditional classroom led by instructors |
| Bachelor’s degree with 2.5 GPA and relevant work experience Bachelor’s degree with 2.5 GPA and relevant work experience | Bachelor’s degree with 2.5 GPA and relevant work experience Bachelor’s degree with 2.5 GPA |
| $300 per credit (no additional fees) $300 per credit (no additional fees) | $300 per credit (no additional fees) $698 per credit |

### Compare programs in detail See less

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[Request info](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information)[Apply now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info)
Courses

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## Browse courses for your online MIS degree

Education should hold practical value. That’s why our courses meet rigorous academic standards and provide you with skills and knowledge immediately applicable to your career.

Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.

### Core Courses

### General Education Courses

### Electives

## Requirements: 36 credits

In a competency-based program, you earn credit by demonstrating your knowledge of a core skill, or competency. Since there are 36 credits in this program, one competency equals one credit.

This program has additional requirements:

- An undergraduate degree, or higher, in business, computer science, information technology, or a related field (cybersecurity, engineering, etc.).
- A cumulative GPA of 2.5
- Three years of experience within the past 10 years in an IT/business environment

> 
12 Core Courses

Here’s where you’ll pick up the bulk of your program-specific knowledge. By the time you finish these courses, you should have the confidence and skills needed in this field.  
 

**4**courses at a time

**16** weeks per course

**12** courses per year

## Schedule

Attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night because our online classroom is available 24/7/365. Your academic counselor will help schedule your courses for a Master of Information Systems (Competency-Based).

[Apply now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info?programcode=MIS-CB)[Request info](/request/request-information)
## Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.

Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every course.

We’ve worked with the labor market researcher Lightcast to identify in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

[Learn about skills](/online-degrees/skills-aligned-learning.html)
## Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.

Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every course.

We’ve worked with the labor market researcher Lightcast to identify in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

[Learn about skills](/online-degrees/skills-aligned-learning.html)
Tuition

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## Paying for school

Tuition is based on a calculation of number of credits multiplied by the per credit cost.

[Learn about cost of attendance](/tuition-financial-aid/cost-of-attendance.html#masters-credit-based-cbe)
### MIS-CB estimated program cost

$10,800 / program

**Tuition Guarantee**

With our Tuition Guarantee, you pay one flat, affordable tuition rate from the moment you enroll to the day you graduate from your program.

[Request info](/request-info.html)[Apply now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info)
---

[Learn about cost of attendance](/tuition-financial-aid/cost-of-attendance.html#masters-credit-based-cbe)
Budget & borrow

## How to pay for college

Paying for school can be intimidating, but we’re here to help you make sense of it. Our finance advisors can walk you through your options like federal financial aid and savings opportunities to minimize your debt. Plus, we can help you figure out your financial plan.

[Explore federal financial aid](/tuition-financial-aid/federal-financial-aid.html)
Careers & Outcomes

---

## What can you do with an online information systems degree?

Discover where your degree might take you and make informed choices about your future.

**An MIS can prepare you to be a:**

- Information systems director
- Information systems manager

**Top skills learned in this program:**

- 
Communication

- 
Information Technology

- 
Management

- 
Operations

- 
Strategic Planning

## Ready to get started?

Start your application for free or request additional information.

[Apply now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info)[Request info](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information)
## What you’ll learn

When you earn your Master of Information Systems (Competency-Based), you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job. You’ll learn how to:

- Develop an information system plan that addresses the needs of an organization and considers emerging technologies.       
- Explain best practices for an IT project plan required for key roles, resources, operational metrics, and risk responses needed to implement and maintain information systems within an organization
- Develop methods and tools for communication to drive innovation and change management to support growth within an organization.
- Create the vision, direction and strategic purpose of an information systems project that supports the needs of an organization.
- Construct a plan to meet the regulatory, compliance and security issues within an organization

15%Growth

According to the [Bureau of Labor Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm), job growth for computer and information systems managers is projected to be**much faster than average**between ((edu.BLSyears)).

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Admissions

---

## Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.

Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.

- No cost to request prior transcripts
- No GMAT  

- No essay required
[Explore admission requirements](/admissions.html)×  

How to enroll at University of Phoenix

## Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students.[1] Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)

**Call or chat with us 7 days a week.**

[Request info](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information)[Apply now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info)
Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep

## Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 85% of our surveyed students.[1]

[1] Transactional Survey, September 2022-August 2023 (23,739 respondents)

Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

**Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.**

[Request info](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information)[Apply now](https://www.phoenix.edu/application/quick-app/personal-info)
Student Experience

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## An education that fits your busy life

### Balancing family, work and school

Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.

[Learn about our flexibility](/life-as-a-phoenix/time-management.html)
### Online learning

Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.

[Read about online classes](/student-resources/going-to-class.html)
### Around-the-clock support and resources

You have a support team available up to 14 hours a day, 5 days a week. 

[See student resources](/student-resources.html)
### Computer requirements for courses

Many course assignments will require you to use a computer to complete and submit your assignment. 

[More on technology recommendations](/student-resources/computer-requirements.html)
Faculty Spotlight

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## Learn from professionals working in IT

As a university built for working adults, we believe you should be taught by faculty who practice what they teach. The IT curriculum they teach today is designed to help you make an impact in your day-to-day work tomorrow, bridging the gap between academics and industry knowledge.

### Charity Jennings, EdD, MIS, MAE

Associate Faculty

[Learn more](/about/faculty/charity-jennings.html)
Accreditation

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## Accredited for 45+ years

Since 1978, University of Phoenix has maintained institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC),[hlcommission.org](https://www.hlcommission.org/). Learn more about the value of University of Phoenix accreditation and how it benefits our students.

[Learn more](/about/accreditation.html)
## Information systems articles

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- [Information Technology Skills and Specialties](/articles/it/information-technology-skills-and-specialties) — Online Degrees | August 28, 2025 • 7 minutes
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