Those who want to study information
technology have educational opportunities at the associate's and
bachelor's degree levels. Once students learn the foundational material,
they'll discover that many opportunities exist for specialization
within this rapidly growing field.
Online Associate of Science in Information Technology programs teach
individuals the foundational knowledge required for entry-level
employment in the information technology (IT) field. Students learn the
basics of personal computers, networks, databases, hardware
troubleshooting and desktop software. Students can choose electives that
concentrate on the area of IT that most interests them, such as
websites or e-commerce, programming, database design or multimedia.
An online associate's degree program in information technology takes
24-26 months to complete on a full-time basis. Students use the school's
course management software to log on to facilitated discussions, online
lectures, exercises and assignments. A high-speed Internet connection
works best when accessing material online. Some IT programs or courses
require that specific software, such as Java, is installed on the
student's computer.
Generally, online IT associate's degree programs that are completely
online also allow students to attend classes on campus. Students who
want to focus on the hardware side of IT may need to attend the
occasional on-campus class or lab. Additionally, students must fulfill
any practicum requirements at the school's designated workplace.
Foundational classes in information technology typically focus on
subjects that will be immediately applicable to students when they
graduate and begin work in the business environment. These subjects can
include business software, operating systems, intra-office networks and
website building. Technical coursework is usually balanced by general
education requirements, such as composition, economics, business and
mathematics.
Database Concepts and Management Course
Students learn the terminology, architecture and concepts of a
database. Other topics may include e-commerce, relational databases and
structured query language (SQL). Students often design and build a
database application as part of the coursework.
Personal Computer and Applications Course
This course provides students with an overview of typical business
software. Spreadsheets, presentation, word processing and database
management are the most common subjects covered.
Programming Course
This introductory level course covers the main concepts of
programming languages. Although the course may use a specific
programming language, such as VB.NET or C, the concepts are applicable
to most programming languages.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects job growth in the IT field to be excellent (
www.bls.gov).
The BLS estimates a 17 percent increase in IT management jobs between
2008-2018. Graduates with an Associate of Science in Information
Technology degree will probably find it easier to get a job offer if
they also have IT work experience.
Online bachelor's degree programs in information technology instruct
students in many of the same subjects as an IT associate's degree
program, including networks and Internet technology. However, a
bachelor's degree program typically places additional emphasis on
business processes and project management. Students can usually take
general and technical electives that reflect their area of interest in
IT.
Bachelor's degree programs in IT are available either fully online or
in a combination of online and on-campus classes. Some programs may
require that students take exams at an approved site. In contrast to
associate's degree programs in IT, students usually have more choices in
both general and IT-specific electives. Students taking a full course
load can expect to complete an IT bachelor's degree program in about
four years.
The subject matter of classes available in IT bachelor's-level degree
programs can vary widely, simply because of the number of specialties
available in the field. These concentrations include research,
programming, support and hardware. Students can focus their studies by
specializing in website development, security or a specific programming
language. Approximately 36-38 credits in general education are required.
Designing and Developing Websites Course
This course encompasses subjects such as HTML, CSS, script
programming, browsers and design. Students practice what they've learned
by creating their own webpages.
This course covers material at the network administration level.
Subjects include client/server configuration, LAN, WAN, communication
protocols, network connectivity and security. Students also learn about
Internet communication protocols such as IP, FTP and HTTP.
Covering a broad area of information, this course discusses how
technology can be used to design and manage systems that support users
at their workplace. Also included is database management, system
concepts, IT ethics, the Internet and security.
Information technology bachelor's degree graduates can often find
employment in the computer or technology field, working for software
firms, network management firms, consulting services and more. IT
professionals may also find work in non-technical industries that rely
on IT services, including government, financial, insurance and
manufacturing sectors. As of May 2008, the median salary for an IT
manager was $112,210, according to BLS data.
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