Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Online IT Degrees On The Rise

In a world where computers play a primary focus in our
lives, it is no wonder that online schools are becoming
increasingly popular. We do everything else online, from
writing letters to paying bills to playing games. Computers
are everywhere - from running equipment in the factory, to
at the checkouts at the mall, and even at the local fast
food joint. Children are taught to use computers from the
time they enter school, and sometimes even earlier. With
the whole world going cyber, Information Technology degrees
in particular are booming, being consistently ranked in the
top 10 in popularity polls for online courses.

Students are falling in love with online degrees. Online
degrees can be done anytime and anywhere. All they need is
a computer and some basic knowledge on how to run it and
access to the Internet. You do not even need an advanced
technical degree to get started, just the basic functions of
a computer, Internet, and email.

No longer do students have to schedule life around classes,
now they can schedule classes around life. With the
internet open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, they can take
classes before work, after work, on the weekends, even at 3
in the morning. The student can take classes when it is
convenient for them.

Computers are also becoming more and more portable, so
location is not as important either - they can take classes
from the comfort of their bed or the closest Starbucks
instead of going to a regular classroom. The introduction
of laptop computers makes education extremely mobile.

With distance learning, students can continue to earn an
income while going to school. Some employers will even
offer tuition reimbursement or allow for study time on the
job. Their current job does not have to be sacrificed for
schoolwork; instead courses can be completed before or after
work or on off days. This can lead to new jobs or
promotions a lot faster.

Online degrees are often quicker to complete than those at a
traditional school. An Information Technology degree can
often be completed in less than three years, and even less
if the student has had some prior college experience that is
transferable. Since students can work on them anytime and
anywhere, they are only limited by the time in which they
personally can work. Since they are not tied down to a
lecture hall, they can go through material at their own
pace. Faster completion of degrees means a shorter
turnaround time until they are ready to enter the work
force. With the face of information technology constantly
changing, knowing the current information gives them a step
up from the competition when looking for jobs or promotions.

Taking courses online is also often cheaper than attending
traditional school. Some online universities will waive
application fees and other costs. Plus there is no commute
or parking fees for attending class. Students can live at
home instead of paying for a dorm. Some schools will even
give discounts when you are taking courses through your
employer. Financial aid, scholarships, and loans are also
readily available for those who qualify the same, as they
would be with a traditional college.

Online universities are also starting to focus their study
more. They are becoming more credible, recognized, and
accepted in the workplace. Instead of being just a broad
overview in a field, they are offering more specific
courses, making online graduates just as competitive as
their traditional counterparts. Courses are available in
database administration, network administration, and web
management.

Information Technology courses give them skills that they
can use in the real world. It trains students in computer
programming, write computer code, perform forensic
techniques for computer security, and how to use a variety
of programs. By the end of the courses they know their
computers inside and out.

An Information Technology degree also opens the door to a
variety of new job opportunities. Information Technology
graduates can work as Internet security specialist, network
administrators, computer repair specialists, technical
support specialists, or much more. Since computers are
becoming more and more commonplace, Information Technology
graduates also have a higher chance of being employable in
other fields compared to non-graduates.

With computer technology booming, you just might find that a
degree in Information Technology is for you.

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