Information technology can be described as a branch of computer engineering that is concerned with the collection, management, and releasing of information through the use of various computer systems and applications. This is the job of IT specialists, whose duty it is to study and create information systems that are both manageable and secure. Information technology impacts multiple areas of society, whether they are businesses, non-profit organizations, government-related or even schools. Constant technical advances require that IT employees need to be vigilant in protecting company information.
A certification in IT or an associate's degree in IT is for those who wish to quickly enter into employment after learning the basics of information technology. Although the certification is one of the lowest forms of higher educational training that you can have, it is still useful because most IT employers want their employees to have earned some type of qualification. A certification in information technology will mostly likely not be the precursor to a large salary, but it will give you the computer skills that you need to do the most basic of information technology centered jobs. An associate's degree in IT is also considered a basic skills program because is a lower level specialization program that you can enter in directly after high school. A successful associate's in IT student will have strong computer and math skills. The typical courses in the associate's program are computer design, user interfaces and computer programming.
A bachelor's degree in IT is for those who want to experience a more general curriculum in information technology. This program lasts around four years and offers students the necessary information technology classes, but also offers multiple general skills classes in order to produce a more well-rounded student. For example, students will continue to take courses such as Introduction to Linux, Introduction to the Development of Intranets, Data Structures, Information Security and Web Authoring. However, students will also be required to courses like Learning and Behavior, General Psychology, Disabilities Studies, Economics and Marketing. The typical successful bachelor's in IT student is good at analytical thinking, riddles, brainstorming and mathematics.
A master's degree in information technology is the first possible program that you could take in graduate school. Like a certification and associate's degree, it is also a specialization program for professionals who have most likely have already earned a bachelor's degree. The master's in IT program gives students a chance to study some aspect of information technology intensively. Professors expect you to already understand the fundamentals of the field when you enter graduate school. Their job is to give you instruction you in a specific area that you are interested in. Some of the courses that you might take are Database Management, Advanced Algorithms, Software Entrepreneurship, Principles of Software Engineering, Information Theory and Computer Architecture.
Receiving a Ph.D. in IT is the highest educational training program that you could complete in information technology. This professional program is for those who wish to be at the frontline of the industry's research and innovation. This program is very competitive and normally expensive. Students usually try to offset the costs by becoming a teaching assistant or a research assistant. The Ph.D. in information technology curriculum takes an indeterminate amount of time to complete because it is very research-based. Students spend their time researching an area of IT of their choice and formulate a thesis at the end of the program in order to graduate. Ph.D. recipients are seen as experts in the field of information technology and can therefore usually command a high salary after graduating.