Information Technology Careers You can Land with an Associate Degree

Bryant & Stratton’s information technology degree programs provide students with the foundation to start their career in the growing IT field.

Information technology is embedded into virtually every aspect of modern life, from the way we communicate to the way our personal, business, and financial records are stored and transferred. As such, information technology careers are some of the fastest growing employment sectors worldwide. According to the US Department of Labor, 46 percent of the IT career force is involved in computer systems design services, 43 percent work in custom computer programming services, and 11 percent work in computer facilities management or other IT related services.

Bryant & Stratton College offers two different associate level degrees, each focusing on a different aspect of IT -Networking Technology and Security Technology. Each of these associate degrees can help you land one of the following information technology careers.

All of the projected job growth statistics through 2020 are provided by O*NET Online.

Software Developers, Applications. Software developers for applications work closely with their clients and businesses to create software or utility programs customized to meet the unique needs of a business or organization. Once the software and/or programs are up and running, the applications software developer will continue to tweak systems and programs to correct errors, adapt them to new hardware and equipment, and keep them running as efficiently as possible. Almost 100 percent of employed software developers in applications have some level of college education. The projected job growth is 20% to 28%, which is higher than average.

Network and Systems Administrators. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for installing, configuring, and supporting the local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN) and networks for both small and large businesses. In addition to monitoring the network for inefficiencies or errors, network and systems administrators are also responsible for diagnosing problems and creating solutions to keep the network running efficiently. They often manage a staff of IT support specialists. The projected job growth is higher than average.

Information Security Specialists. It is the responsibility of information security specialists to plan, implement, monitor and upgrade security systems to protect the interests of their employers and, when appropriate, the company’s customer and client base. This can involve safeguarding the IT infrastructure and all digital files, in addition to quickly addressing any security breaches that arise. The large majority of information security specialists have an associate degree or higher. The projected job growth is 20% to 28%. Bryant & Stratton’s security technology associate degree prepares students well for this career.

Computer Support Specialists. In most cases, computer support specialists work under the management of a Network and Systems Administrator, although there are cases where they work freelance or provide the sole IT support for a small company or business. They are on call to handle any computer errors or problems that arise for their customers. In some instances, this work may require a visit in person. In others, problems may be able to be resolved remotely or over the telephone. Computer support specialists must also know how to troubleshoot other IT related issues, including those pertaining to printers, email, word processing programs and computer networks. Approximately 84 percent of computer support specialists have an associate degree or higher. The projected job growth is 10% to 19%.

If you are interested in landing a versatile information technologies career, contact the Admissions Office at Bryant & Stratton College. Our admissions counselors can work with you to determine the best online associate degree program to pursue your future career goals.