Top IT Degrees For Tomorrow’s Job Market

IT professionals face a high learning curve to keep pace with rapid advances in technology. The right IT degree can hit the mark with relevant skills training in a high-demand specialty, as well as a solid education in computing fundamentals. The following IT degrees can give graduates a solid footing for tomorrow’s technology job market.

Top IT Degrees for Tomorrow’s Tech Sector

The leading IT degrees for tomorrow’s job market should focus on skills in networking, business intelligence, and cyber security, say industry analysts. IT professionals can build a forward-looking tech resume with one of these top IT degrees:

1. BS in Computer Security

Computer security takes top honors as the most in-demand IT specialty, according to 2010 reports by Gartner, Nemertes Research, Foote Partners, and Robert Half Technology. Foote’s IT Labor Market Predictions for 2010 claim that IT security is the best place to be for the next few years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts good employment prospects in security.

Evidence of the strength of this sector is its resilience amid layoffs and recession: Unlike other technology job segments, pay and demand for security skills have risen steadily since 2007 and neither budget nor headcount has diminished in economic hard times.

A dearth of qualified security specialists has intensified demand for graduates with up-to-date skills. The Baltimore Sun reports explain the ample amount of opportunity in the world of cyber security, however there is not an equal balance with the amount of skilled and qualified workers to take advantage of these opportunities. Bachelor’s degrees in computer security can prepare specialists to confront tomorrow’s security challenges. Critical areas for next-generation computer security include:

• Activity monitoring
• Disaster recovery
• Custom security programming

Cyber security has one of the highest learning curves in IT, since specialists must continually develop strategies to protect emerging computer technologies from new threats. A computer security degree offers IT training in securing tomorrow’s diffuse networking technologies, such as cloud architecture, social networking, and collaboration tools.

2. MBA in Technology Management

The ability to see the big picture and strategize technology services distinguishes IT managers from specialists and administrators. These multidimensional professionals are in high demand throughout business and technology sectors. Companies are increasingly seeking business-savvy IT professionals who can step up to the challenge of crafting overall organizational strategy.

An MBA in technology management prepares administrators to move into a management role. MBA IT education focuses on leadership and team building, data analysis, decision making and business strategy, encouraging innovation, and more. The MBA in technology management is available online, and may be completed in one or two years.

3. MS in Health Informatics

Health informatics is the next frontier of innovation in health services, as the health industry looks for ways to streamline care through electronic records management. Robert Half identifies health care as one of the four industries with the most active IT hiring in 2010. He claims it an aging population with the need for constant technology upgrades, and where government funding should result in continuing rapid growth for IT in health care. Specifically, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the adoption of e-prescribing, electronic health records, and other IT platforms tools will eventually spark demand for computer systems design services.

The Master of Science in health informatics prepares IT professionals to adapt and develop information management systems for a health services environment. The program combines technical and health management expertise. Students gain insight into the use of patient records and other data in a health care context and learn how information technology can help manage data more effectively. Programs may emphasize either health informatics management or software development.

4. BS in Management Information Systems

The ability to manage information offers a distinct business advantage in today’s economy. A Robert Half report observes that the information companies obtain provides a key source of competitive success. Leveraging this kind of data and investing it strategically is where one company can rise above their competitor. Information systems skills-systems analysis, business intelligence, and database architecture – are in high demand, say analysts. Network systems and data communications analysts rank as the Bureau of Labor Statistics fastest-growing occupation in the U.S., with estimated job growth of 53 percent between 2008 and 2018

A bachelor’s degree in management information systems challenges students to apply business and technology expertise to optimize data communications. Courses cover distributed information systems, database management, decision support systems, and strategic management.

5. BS in Software Engineering

A bachelor’s degree program in software engineering offers versatile IT training in some of technology’s highest-demand specialties. The BS in software engineering builds an understanding of computing fundamentals as well as programming expertise and analytical ability.

Applications and Web development are just the beginning of an engineering graduate’s career options. Graduates can also apply their IT education in these hot specialties:

• Database developer, using SQL
• Enterprise solutions architect, using SAP
• Virtualization engineer

According to Robert Half and Gartner, database architecture, SAP and enterprise solutions, and cloud computing are among the top priorities for IT managers.

IT degrees open a world of career opportunity to graduates. The fast-paced technology sector has an insatiable appetite for professionals with up-to-date IT training and a solid background in computing. IT education in a high-demand specialty can give professionals an edge in tomorrow’s high tech job market.

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Citations: ComputerTrainingSchools.com provides a comprehensive guide to IT certifications, degrees and computer training courses for everyone interested in tech professional careers.