Experiential Learning in Information Systems Management
At Heinz College, learning doesn’t happen solely in the classroom. Through internships, class projects and research opportunities, you’ll apply your skills to solve real-world problems and build industry connections. Not only do these opportunities crystallize concepts and strategies learned in coursework, they add highly marketable industry experience to your résumé prior to graduation.
What real-world opportunities does heinz college offer?
- Move beyond the classroom and gain tangible skills through work opportunities both on- and off-campus, including research and teaching assistantships alongside our faculty experts.
- Solve a real-world problem for a real-world client in your team-based Capstone Project, collaborating with our top industry and government partners.
- Make meaningful connections through internships and apprenticeships, many of which lead to jobs.
- Apply your newly earned knowledge from class to immersive activities, workshops, events, and student clubs.
experiential learning at heinz college
Capstone Projects
Heinz College Information Systems Management students complete a team-based project, working in close collaboration with a real-world client. These projects fulfill an actual business or operational need for our partners, giving students an opportunity to have a measurable impact while still in school.
A recent group of students created an algorithm that detects anomalies in LiDAR point clouds, which are used to create 3D representations of the surroundings of autonomous vehicles. This system identified blind spots, helping the vehicles adapt and make safer decisions.
Recent Information Systems Capstone clients include:
- Hershey's
- BBC Worldwide
- Uber
- Disney
- PwC
- Deloitte
- IBM
- Sony Music
- Legendary Entertainment
- Thomson Reuters
- Token Dynamics
- Allegheny Health Network
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
- The New York Mets
- Johnson & Johnson
- Tata Consultancy Services
- New Orleans Police Department
- Pittsburgh International Airport
- Headstorm LLC
- GE Transportation
- Proctor & Gamble
- Wounded Warrior Project
- Capital One
- Bipartisan Policy Center
- Harvard Management Company
- Cohen Veterans Network
- Federated Hermes
- PayPal
Most Heinz College master’s students are required to complete an internship during the summer between the first and second years. Internships present you with the chance to apply what you’ve learned in your first year to real-life situations, gain exposure to your future field, build your résumé, and make lasting professional contacts.
From dissecting the intricacies of a Fortune 100 company to crafting strategies that were implemented on the spot, every moment was an amalgamation of challenge, growth and fulfillment.Abhishek Shah | Strategy Intern, Slalom | MISM '23
Recent internships:
- Adobe Systems
- Alibaba Group
- Amazon
- American Airlines
- American Eagle Outfitters
- Ansys
- Apple
- Barclays
- BlackRock
- ByteDance
- Carnegie Mellon University
- comScore
- Credit Suisse
- Deloitte
- Dolby
- DoorDash
- DSW
- Edge AI
- Express Scripts
- EY
- Forest Devices
- Global AI Corporation
- Goldman Sachs
- Half Moon Tech
- The Hershey Company
- Highmark Health
- Honeywell
- Huntington National Bank
- IBM
- Intuit
- Idea Foundry
- KeyBank
- Meta/Facebook
- McKinsey & Company
- Morgan Stanley
- Oracle
- Pandora Media
- PayPal
- PwC
- Ripple
- Salesforce
- Samsung Research America
- Seagate Technology
- Skycision
- Slalom
- Splunk
- Tesla
- TikTok
- Uber
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
- Visa
- Walmart
- Weill Cornell Medical College
- Wounded Warrior Project
Our faculty are more than researchers and instructors. They are innovators and mentors who work to solve major problems facing companies, governments, and society. Most importantly, our faculty are uncommonly accessible and include students in their groundbreaking work.
As a Heinz College student, you have many opportunities to enrich your grad school experience by working closely with world-renowned faculty.
- Collaborate one-on-one with a faculty member on an independent research project
- Contribute to a faculty member’s work as a research assistant
- Get involved with faculty projects through a CMU research center, including the Block Center for Technology and Society, the Digital Transformation and Innovation Center, and CyLab Security & Privacy Institute
project-based CLASSES
Many classes focus on experiential projects, such as Measuring Social (see video), in which students learn to analyze social media data and solve problems for partner organizations from industry, government, and the media.
In Technology Consulting in the Community, students are paired up with community-based non-profits in Pittsburgh, collaborating with their client partners to solve an IT problem for the organization. Students gain real-world IT consulting experience working with clients such as Pittsburgh Community Services, Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and Pittsburgh Women's Alliance.
A Home Run for the Pittsburgh Pirates
A group of Heinz students from Ari Lightman's Measuring Social class collaborated with the Pittsburgh Pirates to help the stalwart MLB franchise find new ways to engage fans on social media.
LEADERSHIP AND THE ARMY WAR COLLEGE
Students participate in a crisis exercise as part of an experiential course taught in collaboration with the U.S. Army War College.
SPEAKER SERIES
Heinz College, our programs, and our student organizations host a wide variety of speakers and guest panels representing all sectors. These speakers provide valuable industry insight and networking opportunities as they lead riveting discussions on current topics, trends, and issues relevant to our students both academically and professionally.