Online Information Technology Degrees: Curriculum & Program Info
Information technology (IT) professionals work in all industries, including:
- Engineering
- Medicine
- Computer software development
- Finance
- Insurance
- Products manufacturing
Technology managers, also known as information technology managers, are at the top of the field with earnings averaging from $110,330 per year to $132,060+ per year. These professionals also held 293,000 positions in 2008. This figure is expected to increase by 17% during the 2008-2018 decade.
Most IT employees begin their journey from student to professional by obtaining an undergraduate degree in computer science, information technology, or related field from an accredited on-campus or online school. Most IT graduates enter the field with a bachelor’s degree and continue their education by enrolling in an online MBA program with a focus in information technology. The convenience of an online MBA program allows students to work in the field while juggling family commitments, other obligations, and schoolwork.
If you are interested in enrolling in an online information technology, computer science, or MBA program, it is important to do your research. Make sure the online program offers a coherent combination of general education courses, electives, and cores. Keep in mind that the on-campus curriculums are still the standard in both the academic and business worlds, so make sure the online program includes many, if not all of the courses required to complete an accredited on-campus degree program.
On-campus and Online Information Technology Degrees Curriculum
The following core curriculum is the standard for accredited online and on-campus information technology degree programs. Core curriculums typically account for 40% of the degree requirement.
- Communication and Networking
- Computer Organization
- Data Mining and Warehousing
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Database Management Systems
- Elements of Computer Programming
- Global Societies Macroeconomics
- Operating Systems
- Organization Theory
- Performance Analysis and Design in IT
- Project Management
- Specialization Elective
- Survey of Information Technology
- Systems Development Technique
General education courses include English composition, natural science, speech, ethics, calculus, American civilization, world literature, statistics, and a foreign language.
Online MBA: Focus in Technology Management Degree Curriculum
An accredited online MBA with a focus in technology management will include many of the following advanced courses, in addition to the standard MBA curriculum for on-campus programs.
- Building Effective Teams
- Competitive Strategy
- Corporate Financial Strategy
- Decision Modeling
- Domestic and International Economic Conditions
- Entrepreneurship
- Ethical Leadership
- Fall Leadership Immersion
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Global Strategy
- Information Technology
- International Business and Cultural Immersion
- Leadership Development
- Leading Across Cultures
- Leading Organizational Change
- Managerial Accounting and Decision Making
- Marketing of Innovations and Digital Media
- Microeconomics
- Negotiations
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Statistical Analysis of Data
- Strategic Management of Technology Innovation
- Strategic Marketing Management
- Technology Commercialization
Finding Online Information Technology Degree Programs
To locate top accredited information technology degree programs, students may explore the offerings at on-campus technical schools, search through comprehensive online directories such as Top Online Colleges, or use well-known search engines such as Bing, Ask or Google. Each online degree program will offer information on accreditation. The accrediting agency must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Tip: 20% of all information technology professionals hold a master’s degree or higher. More than 48% hold a bachelor’s degree. Opportunities for IT management professionals with an advanced degree are expected to be much higher than all other IT workers in the field.
