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But as mentioned previously, most information
technology workers who have a degree do not have one in a computer
field.
Some, like Maria, studied subjects completely
unrelated to information technology and gained computer knowledge
through other
coursework and related experience. Associate,
bachelor's, and graduate degree programs have different focuses
in training workers
for information technology jobs.
Associate degrees.
The associate degree is an increasingly
attractive option for information technology workers.
Most community colleges and many independent
technical institutes offer a degree in computer science or related
information
technology fields. Because many of these
programs are designed to meet the needs of local businesses,
they are more
occupation-specific than are those of a
4-year degree. Some jobs may be better suited to the level of
training these programs
offer. Many students who earn an associate
degree seek employment as computer support specialists or as
computer
programmers.
There has been a steady rise in the number
of associate degrees granted in the computer and information
sciences over the last
decade, from fewer than 8,000 in 1990 to
more than 20,000 in 2000. (See chart 3.) Furthermore, the number
of associate degrees
conferred in the business information and
data processing services doubled from about 7,000 in 1991 to
nearly 14,000 in 2000.
Bachelor's degrees.
As previously indicated, most information
technology workers have at least a bachelor's degree. In his
report
for the National Research Center for Career
and Techni- cal Education, "The Perceived Influence of Industry-Sponsored
Credentials," Kenneth Bartlett points out
that employ- ers still prefer a 4-year college degree as preparation
for information
technology jobs. And in a tight job market,
prefer- ence for a bachelor's degree rises as employers attempt
to differentiate among
potential jobseekers. But the degree concentration
and relevant experience required may vary by occupation.
For computer software engineers, most employers
prefer that applicants have at least a bachelor's degree and
broad knowledge
and experience with computer systems and
technologies. The usual degree concentrations for applica- tions
software engineers are
computer science and software engineering;
for systems software engineers, usual concentrations are computer
science and
computer information systems.
There is no universally accepted way to
prepare for a job as a systems analyst or database administrator,
network administrator,
or network systems and data communications
analyst. However, most employers place a premium on some formal
college
education; a bachelor's degree is a prerequisite
for many jobs. Some workers in these occupations have a degree
in either computer
science, mathematics, or information systems.
The number of bachelor's degrees awarded
in computer science rose between 1990 and 2000. However, an
increasing number of
people in the information technology workforce
had a non-computer-related degree. Chart 4 shows that for bachelor's
degree
holders in computer-related occupations
in 1999, more than half the workers had studied something other
than the computer and
information sciences. Large numbers of workers
did have degrees in related fields, such as engineering and
math. According to the
National Center for Education Statistics,
for example, the
Acquiring IT skills quickly is important
to employers and workers.
The lack of emphasis on computer- related
bachelor's degrees in information technology occupations points
up an important
trend for prospective information technology
workers. Employers still demand technical skills, but "soft"
skills-including the
ability to communicate effectively, both
orally and in writing-also are important for these jobseekers
to have. Knowing how
to write a computer program or adminis-
ter a database is critical, but ability to interact with other
computer specialists, clients,
customers, and users continues
to gain importance.
The need for multidimensional workers in
information technology means that employers prefer workers who
have business
skills and acumen, along with relevant and
up-to-date technical expertise. Thus, it is not surprising that
increasing numbers of
information technology workers do not have
computer-related degrees. National Science Foundation data illustrate
this point: in
1995, roughly 18 percent of computer scientists
either had a nonscience or nonengineering degree or had a degree
in the life,
physical, social, and related sciences.
But by 1999, the number of computer scientists with a degree
in those concentrations had
nearly doubled, growing to 35 percent.
Graduate degrees.
Graduate degrees are preferred for some
of the more complex jobs in software engineering and database
administration. According to the National
Center for Education Statistics, the number of master's degrees
conferred in computer
and information sciences rose sharply between
1990 and 2000, while the number of doctoral degrees in computer
science grew
slightly.
Many computer and information systems mangers
have a master's degree in business administration (MBA) with
technology as
a core component. This
so-called techno-MBA degree differs from
a traditional MBA because of its heavy emphasis on information
technol- ogy in
addition to the standard business curriculum.
And because computer and information systems managers make not
only technology
decisions but also business decisions for
their organiza- tions, techno-MBA programs are becoming increasingly
popular.
Information technology workers interested
in becoming a computer or information scientist usually need
a doctoral degree in
computer science or computer engineering
because of the highly innovative and technical nature of the
work. Some computer and
information systems managers may have a
doctoral degree in a computer-related field, demonstrating thorough
technical
knowledge.
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