How to Get a Master's Degree in Information Technology
Information technology has several things to recommend it as a career field. It has been, and is expected to remain, a relatively fast-growing segment of the job market. It is a broad enough field to offer a variety of job functions and responsibilities, and it is ubiquitous enough to offer a wide range of employment environments. Intellectually, it can be a challenging and stimulating field, and financially it can be highly rewarding.
If any or all of the above appeals to you, then you may want to consider earning a master's in information technology. This guide can help you with the process of making decisions about your master's in information technology, including each of the following steps:
- Considering the value of a master's in information technology: There are a great many information technology jobs you can get with a bachelor's degree, so why take the extra step of earning a master's? This guide will look at some of the subject areas a master's in information technology may focus on, and how these might benefit you in the workplace.
- Compiling information on graduate information technology programs: You may already be familiar with some local or high-profile information technology programs, but how do you make sure you've conducted a thorough search? This guide will suggest some information sources that should be helpful in your search for the right graduate information technology program.
- Evaluating programs offering an MS in Information Technology: Once you've identified programs offering an MS in Information Technology or similar degree, you can narrow down the list by comparing those master's programs to a list of selection criteria based on your preferences and priorities. This guide will review several possible criteria you could use as the basis for your decision.
- Applying to graduate schools in information technology: Once you've zeroed in on the programs you'd be interested in attending, you need to make sure you meet the application requirements of those schools thoroughly and on time. This guide can help you prepare for this process by giving you some ideas about what to expect.
- Building a career with your MS in Information Technology: If you are pursuing your master's in information technology as a means of improving your career prospects, then you may be interested in the other career-building tips you'll find at the end of this guide.
The process starts by considering the value you could get out of a master's in information technology.
Considering the Value of a Master's in Information Technology
People often support the idea of earning an advanced degree by pointing out its effect on earning potential, and while there is a valid point to be made there, it is perhaps a more fundamental expression of value to look at the knowledge potential of an advanced degree. After all, knowledge is valued by the marketplace, so there is the opportunity to translate increased knowledge into increased earnings, but that knowledge also has other benefits. From satisfying your intellectual curiosity to winning the respect of your peers to increasing your satisfaction in a job well done, there are ways beyond increased income that you can benefit from increasing your knowledge base.
Taking specifically the case of information technology, consider all the areas of knowledge you can explore as part of a master's program. Some prominent components of information technology include:
- Database systems
- Management information systems
- Internet science
- Software design
- User interactivity
- Networking
- Information systems engineering
- Information security
Each of the above is complex enough to stand alone as a specialty worthy of intensive study in the course of earning your MS in Information Technology, or else you could use the opportunity to gain a broad knowledge of these topics and how they interact in an organization's use of information technology. In fact, a broad base of knowledge is especially valuable given the rapidly changing nature of how computer systems are structured and how resources are accessed.
What could you do with your expanded knowledge of information technology? The choices have never been broader or more plentiful. For instance, even looking at computing in the traditional sense, with users typically replacing their equipment and peripherals every three years or so, there is an always-replenishing demand for new expertise. That expertise is needed by individual consumers and by large organizations with systems serving thousands of users, and by every type of entity in between.
Beyond traditional computing though, the big change in the 21st century as been the extent to which computing has become the basis for communication and entertainment. This not only adds to the number of jobs in computing, but crucially, it adds to the variety of occupations available. With a master's in information technology, you could not only enhance your ability to compete for the opportunities created by this changing landscape, but you could become better able to contribute to that change.
Compiling Information on Graduate Information Technology Programs
If you are intrigued by the possibilities associated with an MS in Information Technology, then you may want to begin compiling information on graduate programs offering that degree. You shouldn't lack for choices, and in fact, another example of the increased role of information technology in modern life is the ability to earn a master's degree online, which may open up a whole new batch of educational options for you.
To identify some of those options--including both on campus and online master's degree programs--as well as to learn about other topics related to continuing your education, you should explore the following information sources:
- Online college guides. WorldWideLearn.com is an example of an online resource offering information on topics relating to applying to master's programs, such as financial aid and standardized test preparation, as well as details on specific schools. WorldWideLearn.com is not just a resource for people who intend to earn a master's degree online, since they also list a number of on-campus programs.
- Magazines and other publications. US News & World Report and Kiplingers regularly run extensive features on America's college programs. In addition, publications dedicated to information technology, such as Computerworld, periodically run features on college degree programs in the field.
- The US Department of Education. From pages on accreditation to links for applying for federal financial aid, the Department of Education's Web site is a valuable resource for anybody considering attending college or graduate school.
- Individual college Web sites. As you start to consider specific schools, make a point of visiting their web sites, and focus in particular on pages dedicated to information technology programs. These can not only be sources of valuable information about things like cost, admissions standards, and accreditation, but they can also give you a feel for how technologically-oriented a school is--an important consideration when looking at information technology programs.
You can think of the information-gathering stage as building a database. Next, you will need to apply some analytics to that data to guide you to the right choices.
Evaluating Programs Offering an MS in Information Technology
Everyone has different preferences about what they want out of a graduate school, and what complicates the decision is having to weigh multiple factors in choosing the right program. However, you can make this an orderly process if you create a list of selection criteria, prioritize that list, and then evaluate different master's programs according to that list.
The following are some suggestions for selection criteria that might be important in your choice of a graduate information technology program:
- Accreditation status: Be sure to check a school's accreditation status, because this can determine how seriously your degree is taken in the job market or by other schools, if you plan to continue your education beyond your master's degree. Just having a program accredited isn't enough, since not all accrediting agencies meet the standards of the Department of Education, so be sure you choose a program which is accredited by an organization which meets those standards.
- Cost: Graduate school can be expensive, so cost may be an important influence on your choice of master's programs. You may be able to limit the cost if you earn a master's degree online, and you should also be sure to factor in financial aid when making decisions about the affordability of different programs.
- Location: If you are lucky enough to have attractive master's programs nearby, location won't be much of a problem, but if you face the possibility of having to travel and live away from home to attend graduate school, this can add substantially to your expenses. Alternatively, you could earn a master's degree online to neutralize any location issues.
- Scheduling flexibility: If you have to juggle home and work obligations with your graduate school schedule, you'll want to look for programs with night or weekend courses. Online master's degree programs can also help you fit your studies around your other obligations.
- Computer resources: Both the technological sophistication and the availability to students of a program's computer resources may be very important to your pursuit of a master's in information technology.
- Faculty: There are both quantitative and qualitative issues to consider with respect to faculty--quantitative issues such as the student/teacher ratio within the information technology master's program--and qualitative issues such as the education and experience of that program's teachers.
- Admissions standards: It isn't practical to set your sights on a program that is highly unlikely to accept you, so make a realistic assessment of how your credentials compare with each school's standards before you start sending out applications.
- Placement record: A program's placement record--how many graduates got jobs, what was the average starting salary, etc.--is a function of a school's reputation, the quality of the students it attracts, and the relevance of the education it provides. All of these should be important to you, so placement statistics can give you some hard-and-fast metrics on these characteristics.
- Campus environment: This won't be an issue if you earn a master's degree online, but otherwise, you should visit a campus while school is in session to make sure it is an environment where you could study effectively.
As you can see, there are several factors to consider in choosing a graduate program, but making such a thorough evaluation of your choices should help you narrow down the list of possibilities enough that you'll be able to focus closely on the application processes for those schools.
Applying to Graduate Schools in Information Technology
Applying to graduate schools is essentially a time-management exercise involving the following elements:
- College application forms
- Financial aid application forms
- Standardized test results
- Undergraduate transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
There can be a substantial lead time involved in preparing some of the above items--scheduling tests, requesting letters of recommendation, arranging for transcripts to be sent, etc.--so the key to the application process is leaving nothing for the last minute. Start by making a schedule of deadlines, and then work toward getting each item completed with plenty of time to spare.
Building a Career with Your MS in Information Technology
Earning a master's degree is a sign that you are serious about your career. Here are some other things you can do that demonstrate your commitment to the field of information technology:
- Read technology journals. Education should not stop once you leave college, and this is especially true when you are in a field which is evolving as quickly as information technology. There are several publications devoted to computer and information technology, so use graduate school as an opportunity to check them out and decide on which favorites you'll continue to read after graduation.
- Gain relevant experience. Everything you learn in the classroom becomes more relevant when you add the perspective of practical experience. Also, prior work experience is a sign to potential employers that you have the professional discipline to apply your skills in a structured environment. Especially if you are going straight from undergraduate to graduate school, try to pick up some relevant experience along the way via part-time jobs or internships.
- Join an information technology association. Whether it is a local or a national organization, an information technology association can be a valuable source of real-world tips and networking contacts.
Information technology is squarely at the center of modern life, and this creates opportunities for people who have the education and dedication to develop expertise in that field.
Sources
- Association of Information Technology Professionals
- Computerworld
- New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US Department of Education
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