The Associate's in Information Technology is a degree commonly offered at technical colleges. It usually requires two years of in-class coursework with some institutions incorporating on-the-job training or other off-campus projects into the curriculum. Some people who obtain an associate's in IT often enroll in a four-year college to complete the final two years for a bachelor's degree, which often cuts costs as opposed to doing all four years at a larger institution. Many technical colleges also offer certificates in IT for those seeking to refresh and update their skills.
To obtain a degree in IT at a technical college, you must have a high school diploma or GED. There is no official entrance exam for technical college enrollment, though some institutions may have their own. You do not need any prior experience in IT at most technical schools, however some schools may offer course credit if you do have other job or educational experience. Also, many technical colleges require letters of recommendation along with the application.
The curriculum for IT at most technical colleges is equivalent to the first two years of the bachelor's degree at a four-year institution. Courses may cover subjects such as systems management, basic computer programming, web design and business management. Also, many technical colleges offer curricula that are tailored to a specific company or IT specialty, such as Cisco Systems IT or advanced information security.
The Internet also offers several options for those seeking IT degrees through online-based technical colleges, like ITT Technical Institute. Some accredited, online-focused universities, which focus on a wide range of fields, offer two-year IT degrees as well: The University of Phoenix (which grants both undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, education, nursing and the humanities, in addition to information technology), offers associate's degrees in IT.