Information Technology

All businesses are always upgrading the technology they use to run their businesses. Those who graduate from the information technology discipline are persistently in demand because of their exceptional skills. For those who revel in this degree the most are naturally interested in technology and hope to take on some management responsibilities in their careers. In this program you will learn about software, computing and database. Each student is expected to become instinctive of the needs of a business or organization along with its employees, and in many cases, this is acquired through hands-on study during your time studying at either college or university.

Common Career Paths:

Software Engineer

Simply put, software engineers design and develop software. They use the concepts and principles of computer science along with mathematical analysis to generate, test, and assess the software applications and systems that make computers work. The work performed by these individuals changes quickly – which is ironic as it reflects changes in technology and new areas of specialization. A software engineer is able to develop numerous types of software – for example, computer games and business applications. Being able to perform this task requires them to be extremely familiar with the theory of computing systems, the structure of software, and the nature and boundaries of hardware to make certain that the fundamental systems will function properly. A software engineer starts with analyzing a user's needs, and then designs, tests, and puts together software to meet those needs. Through this process, they will draw up flowcharts, diagrams, and may be construct algorithms that would specifically tell the computer how to function. Sometimes a software engineer will have to convert the instructions they develop into a computer language – this is a process referred to as programming or coding. When it comes to software engineers, there are typically two areas of focus – applications and systems. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the median average annual salary of wage-and-salary computer applications software engineers were $85,430. The middle fifty percent earned between $67,790 and $104,870. The lowest ten percent earned less than $53,720, and the highest ten percent earned more than $128,870. The industries employing the largest numbers of computer applications software engineers were professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers.

Network Administrator

A network administrator is responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting an organization’s computer systems. They are always working with active network equipment. In some cases this career can lead you into the profession of focusing on network security. But for this career, a network administrator hardly ever is in involved with user support. Instead, they ponder on the overall reliability of the network, and its security – making certain that the network connectivity within a company's local area networks and wide area networks is on par with technical recommendations of a company's hierarchy. Usually a network administrator spends most of their time working on issues involving situations where something is broken and or needs fixing. These instances have to be something that could not have been solved by a general network technician or someone at a helpdesk. In some companies, a network administrator will be looked to for designing and setting up networks. Each organization may need the talents of a network administrator to fill a range of roles, but the general activities they are expected to address are dealing with network addresses, routing protocols, and authentication. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the median annual wages of network and computer systems administrators were $66,310. The middle fifty percent earned between $51,690 and $84,110, the lowest ten percent less than $41,000, and the highest ten percent more than $104,070. The industry that offers the largest median annual salary for network and computer systems administrators is management of companies and enterprises.

Management Analyst

With the business world become more and more complex, companies are constantly looking to not fall behind. To help them stay afloat, they bring in a management analyst. This individual works to keep a company or business relevant in an ever-changing market. Sometimes referred to as management consultants, a management analyst looks at and proposes ways to enhance an organization's structure and productivity, which in turn has the potential to increase profits. For a smaller company that is growing at a fast rate, a management analyst can greatly help control all of the madness and not let any area feel overwhelmed. For example, they can insert a strong inventory-control system. Another situation where a management analyst may be needed is for a large organization that may have added a new division and is looking for someone to assist in the reorganizing of the company's corporate structure and estimate how many positions are no longer going to be needed. This specialty career allows you to assist multiple parties and can give you the opportunity to achieve a large list of wealthy clients. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 the median annual wages of wage and salary management analysts were $73,570. The middle fifty percent earned between $54,890 and $99,700 a year. The lowest ten percent earned less than $41,910, and the highest ten percent earned more than $133,850. The industry that offers the largest median annual salary for management analysts is computer systems and design related services.