Information Technology Bachelor’s Degree Online
Is an Information Technology Degree for You?
To ensure efficiency within their companies, employers constantly upgrade technology. This is necessary if they want to stay on top of the competition and evolve to meet the new demands that arise within their fields. Information technology programs prepare students for careers that place them in charge of such innovations. With course work based in software, computing and databases, networking, and Internet security, students enrolled in information technology programs learn to address organizations' technological needs. Information technology students must also hone their communication and presentation skills, as they will often be required to impart some of their knowledge of software and operations to others.
Advice for Earning Your Information Technology Degree Online
An online information technology degree has many of the same challenges as an information technology degree at a brick-and-mortar college. Students are responsible for the same course work, and must complete rigorous assignments, papers, and exams. However, when pursuing online degrees, students must be self-motivated and comfortable with working independently, as they will not have the structure of attending class in a physical classroom. Prior to selecting an online college, it's important for students to thoroughly research each school's credentials. By making sure a school is accredited, students can feel confident that their future employers will likely view their education as credible. To check a college's accreditation, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Database of Postsecondary Accredited Institutions.
Required Courses
A wide range of knowledge and skills come with an information technology degree. Students learn Web development, software development, systems administration and management, information technology fundamentals, organizational behavior, management, databases, and technical writing. Specifically, they take classes such as data communications and networks, foundations of Web systems, database management systems, and foundations of human computer interaction. Depending on the concentrations in which they're interested, they can take additional courses related to system administration, network security, wireless network, network administration, and Web design and development. Students should also be proficient in math, as the discipline complements the major.
Common Career Paths
A bachelor's degree in information technology opens the doors to many different technology-related careers. To enter the field of your choice, it's important to select the right specialization. Several industry-recognized certifications can be earned while pursuing your bachelor's degree, and each one will prove your proficiency in its respective area. Common career paths include (but are not limited to):
- Software Engineer
Simply put, software engineers 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. A software engineer is able to develop numerous types of software, ranging from computer games to business applications. They must 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.
Software engineers start with analyzing a user's needs, and then put together software to meet those needs. For 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, which is a process known as coding. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the median average annual salary of wage-and-salary computer applications software engineers was $85,430.
- Network Administrator
A network administrator is responsible for designing, implementing, and supporting an organization’s computer systems. They work with active network equipment, like routers adaptors and cables, to connect the company's computer to a hub that in turn connects them to the Internet. Network administrators test the reliability and security of the company's network. They also spend time working on issues involving situations where something is broken, but cannot be fixed by a general network technician. At some companies, a network administrator will design and set up the networks as well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the median annual wages of network and computer systems administrators was $66,310.
- Management Analyst
Management analysts work to keep a company or business relevant in the ever-changing market. Sometimes referred to as management consultants, a management analyst examines an organization's structure and productivity, and recommends changes that will increase profits. Management analysts within the information technology field will explore how a company employs technology, and the ways in which they can upgrade and improve upon current software and programs. In doing so, management analysts ensure that companies remain on the cutting edge of technological innovations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008, the median annual wages of wage and salary management analysts was $73,570.
