Information technology is a continuously evolving computer engineering field. IT specialists study, plan and construct computer systems and applications that retrieve, store and share data. Information technology is important for many different organizations, whether they are government, schools or businesses. These organizations depend on advances and understanding in IT to protect secure data, sometimes concerning their company information and other times concerning sensitive data about that organization's employees. The ability to protect data is of utmost importance to any company in a competitive economy.
One program that is available in graduate school for information technology is a master's degree in IT. The master's program is an advanced program of training in IT that normally lasts about two years. This program gives students a chance to specialize in some area of information technology. Professors will expect you to know the basics of IT and will teach a different aspect of the field. Some of the common courses that you might take are entrepreneurship, database management, computer architecture, information theory and principles of software engineering. Students can reduce the cost of the master's in IT program by becoming a teaching assistant or a research assistant. To get into the master's program, you need at least a bachelor's degree.
There are multiple job opportunities available for someone who has a master's degree in information technology. Someone with a master's degree in IT could find work as a computer scientist, database administrator, computer programmer, computer software engineer, information system manager and college teacher. A graduate with a master's degree in information technology could earn $33,000 to $100,000 a year. The range reflects the diversity of jobs that someone with a master's degree could hold.
The doctorate in information technology educational training program is the highest program available in graduate school. Applicants normally have at least a master's degree when they enter into the program. The doctorate in IT is a researched-based program in which students participate in IT-related research during their tenure at the school and then complete a thesis paper in order to graduate. The research that the student completes depends on his concentration in IT. For example, if a student is studying the business side of information technology, his thesis might concern some workplace management aspect of IT. However, if the student is concentrating more on computer programming, her thesis might have more of a scientifically technical base. An advantage of being a doctoral student is that you will have an opportunity to be at the front line of IT innovations.
The salary that a doctorate in information technology recipient can command is also very high. A computer scientist with a doctorate could earn up to $93,000. A person with a doctorate could decide to be a university professor, work in information science research and development, network systems specialist or consider many other jobs in both the public and private sector. One of the benefits of having a doctoral degree is that you are considered an expert in information technology.