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Careers in the field of information technology and information systems are booming, much like the industry itself. This growth makes perfect sense–as technology infiltrates every aspect of our lives and becomes even more specialized and advanced, society will need to keep up. That’s where the IT specialists come in, making sure that the work chain doesn’t break down when there are little glitches in the matrix. Because of the necessity of keeping things running smoothly technologically, this is a field of employment that is often unaffected by dips in the job market, and salaries can run attractively quite high. Understandably, these reasons and more make careers in IT very appealing, and to get the edge over others entering the field, a master’s degree gives professionals a strong advantage over their peers. For those of you who don’t have an advanced degree in IT, have no fear–there’s good reason that the Master of Information Technology is one of the most popular online master’s degrees available. Rigorous and up-to-the-minute coursework and experienced faculty with the added benefits of flexibility and convenience make this degree both cutting edge and accessible.
For the technologically-challenged (full disclosure, I am not a tech-savvy human being), information technology could be a catch-all phrase for anything having to do with computers, information systems, or technology. But the nuances abound and the particular careers can be quite different based on the education you receive. Jobs that are opening up now may not have even been conceived of a decade ago. And the jobs that are available now are seeing tremendous job growth (much faster than average according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) and require a master’s degree. Read on to learn what the different avenues in information can mean for you.
Information Technology
Information technology (IT) is all about maintaining the system. Professionals in this particular field have learned to design and implement computer-based information systems in order to keep the hardware, software, databases, and networks running smoothly. Additionally, IT professionals learn how to communicate effectively to workers the best ways to utilize their computer and keep it functioning.
Information Systems
Information Systems focuses not just on the technology of information, but the entire information set. A term that includes IT under its umbrella, Information Systems contains not just computer-based technology, but any manner of information system. It is true that for most people an “information system” means a computer-based system, but that does not always have to be the case.
These very simplistic definitions of IT and Information Systems may help to guide you in your quest for an advanced degree. Depending on whether you want a broader-based degree that allows you to function within an umbrella of information, or a degree that focuses on the technology subset of exclusively computer-based systems, the choice is yours. Either degree will lead to a career in a rapidly growing field, and you really can’t go wrong with that. To help you do you research, here’s a list of the 35 Best Online Master of Information Technology Degree Programs.