Online Technical Management Degrees: Curriculum & Program Info
Information technology (IT) managers coordinate and manage information technology teams in industries such as computer software development, engineering, finance, insurance, medicine, products manufacturing, and more.
Aspiring technology managers can expect above average employment growth for the 2008-2018 decade. In 2008, technology managers held 293,000 positions. By 2018, this figure is expected to increase by 17%, adding nearly 50,000 professionals to the talent pool in the coming years.
IT Manager Annual Salaries
Technology or technical managers earn some of the highest salaries in the working world overall.
- Computer and IS managers in scientific & technical services: $110,330
- Computer and IS managers in research & development in engineering services: $120,070
- Operations managers in scientific & technical consulting services: $124,100
- Operations managers in scientific research and development services: $132,060
To started on a career in technical/technology management, you should enroll in an undergraduate degree program in computer science, information technology, or related field. Because most employers prefer to hire *MBA graduates for top positions, IT graduates work in the field while earning an MBA with a focus in technology management online. Currently, 22% of all technical or technology management professionals hold a master’s degree of higher, while 35% hold a bachelor’s degree.
You can pursue a technology degree through most on-campus schools, many of which also offer their degree programs online. Additionally, there are hundreds of online technical schools and colleges that now offer computer science and information technology degrees through innovative distance learning formats. Aspiring technical managers interested in flexibility and convenience usually choose the online option.
When searching for a suitable technical management degree program, it is important to pay close attention to accreditation, admission requirements, and curriculum. Accredited schools will require test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose to apply.
The information in the next section can be used as a valuable tool to compare accredited program curriculums to other schools' curriculums.
On-Campus and Online Technical Management Degrees Curriculum
Accredited online and on-campus technical management programs will offer a well-rounded curriculum consisting of general education courses, technology management, and business management courses.
The following curriculum is the standard for most master’s or MBA programs with a technology management focus. Core curriculums typically account for 40% of the degree requirement.
- Accounting
- Business Strategy
- Economics
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Marketing Management
- Manufacturing and Production
- Operations Management
- Statistics
- Technology and Information Systems
Other courses include financial accounting, marketing strategy, managerial economics, leadership development, managerial statistics, operations strategy, financial planning and analysis, strategy structure and incentives, global economic environment, and social networks and social capital.
*Online MBA: Focus in Technical Management or Technology Management Degree Curriculum
An accredited online MBA with a focus in technical or technology management will include many of the following advanced courses, in addition to the standard MBA curriculum for traditional 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
After examining the core curriculum and focus area requirements, check the online school’s accreditation status. The following agencies are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education:
- The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
- The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
- The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)
The following recognized accrediting agencies offer regional accreditation:
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Finding Online Technical Management Degree Programs
To locate top accredited online technical management degree programs, students may explore offerings at on-campus colleges and technical schools, search through comprehensive online directories such as Top Online Colleges or utilize well-known search engines such as Bing, Ask or Google. Each online degree program will offer information on accreditation. If the school list’s an accrediting agency outside of the agencies mentioned above, check the U.S. Department of Education website to make sure it is a recognized accredited agency.
Tip: Technical managers living in the states of New Jersey ($119,040 annually), New York ($117,990), Virginia ($117,920), California ($114,460), and DC ($113,890), have the highest median wages for all states.
