Many freshmen students start out college undeclared; they aren’t sure what they want to major in and hope to use their first year to find something they want to study. Unfortunately, many students take up to 2 years to decide on a major, and they may even switch majors several times up into their junior year. This wastes a lot of time and money, and can significantly delay graduation.
If you have no idea what you want to major in, one option you might consider is taking time off from college. If taking a break isn’t an option for you, doing your research and finding a major you can be passionate about should be your number one priority. The sooner you declare a major that you want to stick with, the more you can focus on taking the classes you need to graduate, allowing you to stay on track to graduate on time.
This Information Technology feature is one in a continuing series of “Undeclared” posts. Other majors that have been explored include social work, healthcare administration, business management, cybersecurity, education, linguistics, data sciences, communications, and accounting.
A Degree in Information Technology
Pursuing a degree in information technology (IT) is a commitment to both logic and creativity. Your academic path can range from an associate and bachelor of science in IT (BSIT) degree — where you’ll explore the architecture and operation of software, databases, and networking — to a more research-focused Ph.D. An IT degree is generally not as mathematically and theoretically oriented as a Computer Science degree. It leans into more of the practical frameworks of programming and systems analysis.
You’ll also find that an IT degree may not be a necessity for many positions. Information technology has become a lucrative and significant industry, and with it is a generation of self-taught contributors. As tech progresses, entirely new fields of work have emerged, making IT in high demand.
This wealth of opportunities can be challenging. We don’t always know which jobs will continue to be useful or be replaced as technology evolves. Considering the wide scope of roles IT encompasses across all salary ranges, it is vital to develop knowledge and experience that is in demand across multiple positions. You should look into specializing in an area interesting to you in which you can make an impact.
We’re going to take a look at IT positions in demand today, what is expected of candidates, and what approach to training could be most appropriate. It’s an exciting landscape filled with possibility.
Software Engineering
This career path is a linchpin of the entire digital landscape. Without efficient, functional software, it would be difficult to interact with advanced hardware. It is a point in which computer science and information technology cross, combining the technological aspects of a system’s architecture with the skill of understanding how software being built can be used easily and effectively.
You’ll be expected to apply engineering principles such as analysis and testing to ensure the long-term integrity of the software you’re building. Engineers are in demand from e-commerce to video game creation to mobile app development. As of March 2020, the average base salary for these positions was $107,932. Software engineering doesn’t necessarily require formal training. Many candidates are self-taught and acquire jobs by demonstrating that they have the skills required, often by building their own software. There are degree programs available, however, which help students hone their skills in the direction and coding languages they wish to utilize.
Cyber Security
Large corporations often employ in-house security architects to design, build, and maintain security. This requires you to understand the unique IT challenges of a specific company. You must be able to design agile solutions and the follow-through to implement and continually test the strategies. Architects have responsibility toward the company’s disaster recovery plan that ensures that in the event of a breach, the company is protected and has protocols in place to react swiftly and efficiently The average annual salary for this role is $118,681.
For those who enjoy variety, IT professionals are turning toward cybersecurity consultancy. This requires technicians to be flexible and knowledgeable across a wide range of systems. Alongside technical skills including vulnerability testing, systems analysis, and coding, consultants need to communicate and function alongside workers across many fields.
For many roles in cybersecurity, the required training includes a bachelor’s degree in computer science or IT. Some universities offer cybersecurity degree programs. There are additional certifications in ethical hacking and cybersecurity analysis.
Web Development
Businesses that fail to have an engaging online presence may as well not exist, which is why the role of web developer is in high demand. The job is far more in-depth than creating an attractive page for a business. Front-end development involves using coding languages to create graphics-rich, customer-facing elements of the site. There is also back-end development, where specialized languages are used to build and maintain the servers, applications, and databases that keep the website running and functional.
While it’s possible to specialize in one area, there is the option of being a full-stack developer; who operates in both front and back end. Formal qualifications are not always necessary; you can gain the requisite skills by building your own websites and maintaining your own servers. “Coding camps” are also valuable sources of education, and many employers recognize their value. Whichever route you choose, it is important to build a portfolio of websites to demonstrate your abilities.
Education
As IT careers become more popular, there is opportunity for those with in-depth knowledge and experience to become educators. You can choose between providing a generalized IT education in elementary and high schools or a more specialized education in universities and community colleges.
It’s important to be skilled not just in the technical knowledge of your subject, but also in other communication, organizational, and cultural skills. You must build and maintain a curriculum around your subject and make it engaging. Most teaching positions in the U.S. require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and the teacher training required by your state. When aiming to teach a specialized IT subject, vocational experience in the area is often desirable, particularly for degree programs.
The technical education landscape is constantly changing. There is a great demand for less formal IT teaching to meet the different needs of students. Some students prefer a more hands-on method of learning or have difficulty in structured environments. Those with experience in IT with entrepreneurial skills can develop their own bootcamps; coding camps are popular. To design and operate these camps, you must have administrative and business knowledge so completing a business studies course or degree program can be advantageous.
This selection of IT careers represent merely the tip of the iceberg. Many of the roles represent doorways into much more specialized and fascinating prospects. Whether you choose to pursue a formal degree or follow your curiosity with self-guided learning, it’s important to understand how your choice of skills can lead you toward certain job opportunities in the IT sector.
