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How to get an IT degree online

At a glance

  • 聽were enrolled in at least one remote course in fall 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
  • Some online information technology programs still allow students to gain real-world experience through practicum and internship components.
  • There are online degree programs in information technology at the associate, bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree levels.
  • Want to advance your skill set in information technology? Learn more about聽technology degree programs聽at 爱污传媒!

Pursuing a degree in information technology (IT) has become more accessible in recent years, thanks to the growth of online learning. 聽were enrolled in at least one remote course in fall 2020, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. The pandemic and the availability of more online degree programs explain that figure.

Earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in IT online聽can take four years, though some programs may offer accelerated options that allow students to finish in less time. Students will generally take computer programming, networking and database management courses during these degree programs.

While each online program is different, most require students to complete coursework and participate in discussion boards or other forms of asynchronous communication. Some programs also include a practicum or an internship, allowing students to gain real-world experience in the field.

Earning your degree online

Completing your degree in IT online聽is a great way to gain the skills and knowledge you need for a successful career in the field. The right program will offer courses that can be completed from home. It will offer flexible scheduling options that make studying and completing coursework around your other commitments easy.

Another option is聽a certificate program. These programs can give you a more focused education in a specific area of IT and can often be completed in less time than a degree.

Requirements for a bachelor's degree in information technology

Students must complete relevant coursework over a number of credit hours to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in information technology. This may include classes in computer science, programming and mathematics. Additionally, students must take exams to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the field.听

The credit hours it takes to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree in IT vary depending on the institution, but it typically takes four years of full-time study. Students pursuing a degree in IT often have to maintain a rigorous schedule, as the coursework can be demanding.听However, those who are dedicated and put in the effort can find great success in the field of information technology.

Students typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to be admitted into a bachelor鈥檚 degree program in information technology. Some programs also require students to take entrance exams, such as the SAT or ACT. (爱污传媒 does not. Click here for admissions requirements.) In addition, most programs set a minimum GPA requirement for admission.听

To help pay for school, students can apply for scholarships and financial aid within the institution or from independent sources to help pay for their degrees. Many scholarships and financial aid options are available, so students should research carefully to find the best fit for them.

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Popular degree programs

Computer Science

With a bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science, you鈥檒l learn to聽

  • Design a minimum viable product from scratch and present it effectively
  • Analyze complex computing problems involving algorithms and data structures聽
  • Apply principles of computer science such as logic programming, cloud computing and artificial intelligence聽
  • Evaluate software development techniques such as unit testing frameworks for medium complexity projects

Core courses in the聽computer science bachelor鈥檚 degree program听颈苍肠濒耻诲别:

This course teaches all the core concepts of computer science, including computational thinking, information abstraction, computing hardware and data processing.

  • WEB/240: Web Design Fundamentals
    This course introduces tools and techniques for web development. To create websites, you鈥檒l learn basic hypertext markup language (HTML), scripting and presentation technologies for creating websites.
  • PRG/420: Java鈩 Programming I
    This course is an introduction to Java programming. You鈥檒l learn about Java variables, branches and loops, data arrays and more.听

Cybersecurity

With a cybersecurity degree, you鈥檒l learn how to apply mathematics and science in the cyber domain. You will also determine computing requirements needed for solving common technical problems across various industries. Of the information technology programs, this type has an emphasis on cybersecurity careers as well.

Core courses in the聽cybersecurity bachelor鈥檚 degree program听颈苍肠濒耻诲别:

  • CYB/100: Cyber Domain
    In this course, you鈥檒l learn about the discipline of securing computer information and communications systems, networks, infrastructures and assets, and how to protect them against damage, unauthorized use, modification or exploitation.
  • CYB/110: Foundations of Security
    This course aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of how computer and network security threats, such as identity theft or fraud, work. You will also learn about hackers鈥 various social engineering attacks to access personal information.
  • CYB/135: Object-Oriented Security Scripting
    This course covers various topics, including modules, files, searching and sorting algorithms, recursion and plotting. You鈥檒l apply this knowledge as an introduction to basic forensic investigation.

Data Science

A data science degree covers programming, statistical analysis, mathematical modeling, machine learning and probability theory. The analytics-oriented coursework is designed to teach you to analyze large datasets and develop an understanding of how businesses can use this information.

Core courses in the聽data science bachelor鈥檚 degree program听颈苍肠濒耻诲别:

This course provides an introduction to the field of data analytics. You鈥檒l learn foundational principles and practices, including data exploration, modeling and visualization.

This course provides a basic understanding of programming development, including problem-solving skills needed for business information systems. You鈥檒l also learn about functional decomposition, control types, data types and more.

This course teaches the most popular data programming languages: Python, Java and Ruby. You鈥檒l gain high-level knowledge of programming languages and their applicability to database design, development and management.

Information Technology

Information technology programs typically focuses on the study of computer science and mathematics. An information technology degree鈥檚 curriculum often includes programming, networking, cloud computing, data structures and algorithms, operating systems, project management and database management.

Core courses in the聽information technology bachelor鈥檚 degree program听颈苍肠濒耻诲别:

  • CYB/205: Infrastructure Administration
    This course compares and analyzes security administration for traditional physical infrastructures and evolving cloud infrastructures.
  • NTC/362: Fundamentals of Networking
    This course teaches the fundamentals of telecommunications and networking technologies directly relevant to telecommunications.
  • DAT/305: Data Structures for Problem Solving
    In this course, you鈥檒l learn about the different data structures used in business intelligence and how they鈥檙e implemented. You will also develop skills to identify what kind of structure is stored on deployed enterprise information systems to allow more efficient access.

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Types of information technology degrees

Students can pursue a few different information technology degrees, each with its own benefits and career paths.

Associate of Arts

础苍听associate degree program聽can help build foundational skills within a specific discipline. Though they do not go into the same detail as a bachelor鈥檚 degree or master鈥檚 degree program, associate degree programs can generally be completed faster and at a lower cost. This makes them an attractive option for those looking to get essential information technology skills quickly before joining the workforce.

Bachelor of Science

One of the most common types of IT degrees is the聽Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, which provides students with a broad overview of the field. This degree can lead to a career in various IT-related fields, such as systems administration, network engineering or software development.

Master of Science

Finally, there is the聽Master of Information Systems (MIS) program,聽which is one of the more advanced information technology programs. It can help build the skills necessary for a career in management or directorship, such as project management. With a master鈥檚 degree, you can use your knowledge of programming languages and software applications to design, develop and manage information systems.

What is online learning like?

Though an increasingly popular method of study, online learning may be unfamiliar for many used to traditional, in-person learning. The virtual distance between the teacher and other classmates, as well as the flexible schedule, can be difficult to adapt to.

That being said, the many positives of online learning can make it the perfect choice as an educational path. Here are some important things to keep in mind so that you can succeed in your online bachelor鈥檚 program (or any other online program for that matter).

Benefits of online learning

There are a few benefits that students enjoy when they decide on an online course of study.

First of all, there鈥檚 flexibility. Many students have to balance their family and work lives while pursuing their degree. Students in traditional, in-person classroom settings can find it difficult to fit their education into an already busy schedule. Class times are generally set and mandatory, which can cause conflict with other parts of a student鈥檚 life.

Online learning, on the other hand, offers a more flexible education. Students can often choose when and how they study, allowing them to build their education into their lives with minimal disruption. In addition, the time saved by eliminating the commute to a physical campus leaves more time for other activities, such as taking care of the family or pursuing a career.

On top of this flexibility, there is the accessibility of online learning. Instead of expensive physical textbooks, students can access their course materials online with only an internet connection. Students can reach out to their instructors online with questions and find mutually convenient times to dive deeper into class questions or crack a difficult problem.

How to succeed in online learning

There are a few ways you can better prepare yourself to succeed in online learning so that you can develop important skills to carry into your career.

1.听聽聽聽 Eliminate distractions

One of the greatest strengths of online learning is that it can be done at home. That fact makes it also one of online learning鈥檚 potential weaknesses. It鈥檚 important for online learners to create space in their home or office without the noise, video games and socializing that can make it difficult to focus on the task at hand.

2.听聽聽聽 Stay organized

When you learn at home, there are not as many forces to keep you accountable to study hard and consistently. You won鈥檛 have a teacher watching over your shoulder to make sure you are focusing on your work. It will be up to you to stay on task. Two ways to do that are keeping a calendar or using a project management tool.

3.听聽聽聽 Communicate

You鈥檙e not alone in your online education. Though they may be halfway across the country, your instructors, tutors and counselors are there for your benefit. If you鈥檙e feeling confused or overwhelmed in class it can be prudent to reach out to your support network for help. It may be just the thing to push you past a challenging subject and toward successfully completing your degree.

4.听聽聽聽 Stay motivated

Without the in-person interactions of a traditional degree program, it鈥檚 easy to feel you鈥檙e on your own. When setbacks happen, it can be difficult to stay motivated and push through until the end.

Sharing your experience with family and friends can be a great way to stay motivated and get people cheering you on as you complete your degree. Another great way to stay motivated is to keep a journal. Listing out what you鈥檝e learned in your degree program can provide a day-by-day report of your progress.

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In Search Of: IT skills

Earn a technology degree online from 爱污传媒

爱污传媒 (UOPX) offers 19 technology degrees that align to 63 occupations and certificate options that allow students to specialize their education in the areas of cybersecurity, software development and cyber network defense. Want to learn more about聽technology degree programs聽from UOPX? Here are some available bachelor鈥檚 degree options:

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science听鈥撀Students develop the foundational knowledge of IT that can prepare them for roles as application developers, computer consultants and more.
  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity听鈥聽Develop your skills to protect business technology from outside intrusion. Students learn risk assessment and computer infrastructure skills to work as IT systems security analysts and other cybersecurity roles.
  • Bachelor of Science in Data Science听鈥撀Data is a valuable resource for businesses in a number of industries, and students in this degree program learn many powerful methods of utilizing it. From database analyst to research scientist, the roles this degree can prepare you for can have a big impact.
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Students will learn how to take their experience and education in IT further with new skills in systems analysis, business processes, cybersecurity and more.听

The University also offers associate degrees and master鈥檚 degrees. For more information, visit聽phoenix.edu/online-information-technology-degrees.html.听

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