The most important quality needed in pursuing a career in technology is passion. You need to have passion for information, how technology works within an organization, and how you can use information and technology in the real world. You also need to have enthusiasm for learning, attention to detail and a desire to use your technical and analytical skills to help you grow in your career.

There are several Information Technology (IT) careers that can be pursued with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, including Engineer, Database Administrator, Network Engineer, and Security Engineer. There are also several paths to obtaining skills in IT fields, including industry certifications, college certificate programs, or degree programs: all of which can be completed on college campuses or online.

Career Opportunities

IT Engineer

An IT Engineer designs, installs, and manages business critical systems to ensure the operation of computer systems 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The IT Engineer maintains existing systems, monitors system performance, designs system architecture, and implements infrastructure upgrades to ensure optimal business operation. An IT Engineer also uses programming skills to automate processes and procedures in large-scale environments.

IT Database Administrator

A database is a tool for collecting and storing large amounts of data and can be accessed securely in various ways. A database administrator (DBA) is an IT professional who is responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining the security of databases in an organization. They also maintain database security, implement upgrades, manage performance, and plan for capacity. The amount of data maintained in a database can be as small as several hundred gigabytes to as large as a petabyte of storage.

IT Network Engineer

An IT Network Engineer designs, installs, and manages switches, routers, and networks to ensure system connectivity. The Network Engineer also maintains existing networks, monitors network traffic performance, and implements infrastructure upgrades to ensure optimal business operation.

IT Security Engineer

Businesses need technology professionals to help protect company assets as well as run secure networks in today’s global business environment. An IT Security Engineer specializes in protecting the organization from security vulnerabilities by designing, installing, and managing secure systems. This protects the business from hackers, security breaches, viruses, and phishing. As an IT Security Engineer you protect company assets and manage compliance with security protocols. It is one of the most important roles in an organization with job growth potential.

Information technology professionals work closely with all departments within an organization. They understand operations, processes, and procedures within all departments and can effectively communicate problems and resolutions. In small to medium-size organizations, an IT professional may take on multiple roles. In larger corporations, an IT professional may have a more focused role in order to manage larger scale systems more effectively.

Paths to Obtaining Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

The next step in pursuing your career is deciding what path you would like to take to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology. As a professional working full-time you have several options, including attending on-campus classes, studying online, or both. Learning IT online makes a lot of sense because you have the opportunity to pursue your career goals and work full-time. While working full-time, you also have the ability to move within an organization to other departments as your education and passion for the job grows.

Whether you are working for a small software development business, a medium-sized healthcare organization, or in a large telecommunications corporation, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology can prepare you for a rewarding job and successful career!

I’m compensated by University of Phoenix for this blog and as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more information about on-time completion rates, the median debt incurred by students who completed this program and other important information, please visit, http://www.phoenix.edu/programs/degree-programs/technology/bachelors/bsit.html.