The field of information technology is constantly growing and expanding as the need for professionals who are skilled at working with computer software continues to increase. As one of the most in-demand fields in 2012, IT continues to attract more students to it every day. And while the field certainly gets you high paying jobs, that can’t be the only reason for you to want to pursue an education in it.
What is Information Technology?
Information technology concerns itself with design, development, implementation and improvement of computer technologies. These technologies support business, research, communications, etc.
What do IT related degrees cover?
An information technology degree will teach you how to apply logic to various computing methods, be knowledgeable about computer capabilities, effectively use computers and other information systems to achieve different objectives etc.
Depending on the specialization; almost every such degree will cover a few basic courses. These are:
· Computer fundamentals
· Networking concepts
· Web design
· Programming fundamentals
· Web programming
· General operating systems
· Human-computer interaction
Which industries can you work in?
With a degree in information technology, a student can find employment in a variety of industries. The job greatly depends upon the educational background with specialization, level of expertise and technical knowledge of an individual. Some of the industries where a degree in IT would come in handy are:
· IT consulting firms
· Internet service providers
· Banks and financial institutions
· Computer companies
· Telecommunication companies
· Hospitals and healthcare organizations
· Hardware and software manufacturers
Is a degree in Information technology right for me?
Education costs time and money. The decision about what you study is likely to affect every aspect of your life in the long run, so this decision would best be made after taking into consideration a few things.
· Make sure that what interests you to IT is working with computers and the field itself and NOT the high salaries that people are most attracted to. Like any other job, you will start out at a basic, entry-level job with a lower salary and you will have to work your way up the professional ladder.
· Information technology requires quantitative and analytical skills. If your Math skills aren’t strong you might have difficulty while creating algorithms and understanding programming languages.
· Information technology is a never-ending, continuously evolving field. Those who wish to study information technology should be prepared to face changes in computer languages to stay ahead of the game.
