The modern use of technology spans the globe. High tech is found everywhere we look; from our phones to watches, classrooms to cars, things once produced in analog form and made to function independently now comes with the ability to sync, tether, and connect to everything else. With the current use of wireless connectivity only increasing, people are now able to stay connected always virtually anywhere in the world. With so much of the world's population using and relying on the latest in technology, positions in Information and Technology are sure to remain in high demand and with the benefits of high compensation as well. With a faster-than-the-average rate of growth, the U.S. Labor Department foresees jobs within the IT realm to grow at a pace of 12% within the next decade. The three expanding areas of wireless connectivity, big data collection, and cloud storage will result in the addition of nearly 500,000 jobs requiring trained professionals in this area. With that in mind, we have listed two of the top positions in the field of Information and Technology and some of the very best online MBA programs which offer specializations in IT.
One of the most popular professions in Information and Technology is the IT Manager. Information and Technology Managers "are the guides who help organizations navigate the always-changing labyrinth that is modern technology. These all-important employees deliver short- and long-term visions for the company's technology needs and goals. Even though most IT managers have the technical chops to execute the various jobs of the workers they supervise, they are more likely to be caught in a meeting room than a server room." IT Managers not only need to have a working knowledge of an organization's technical and communication equipment/network, they must also be able to communicate and cooperate with the leaders and employees of an organization in order to streamline processes throughout. Some organizations in constant need of quality IT Managers are finance and insurance companies, manufacturing firms, and governments at all levels. With a median pay of just over $130,000, an unemployment rate of less than two percent, and over 53,300 jobs currently in this field, a position in IT Management is a great one to consider.
With an incredible job market presence and with future growth as a certainty, the position as a Computer Systems Analyst tops many lists as the best job in technology. Computer System Analysts enjoy a median salary of $85,800, an unemployment rate of 2.4%, and list an impressive nearly 120,000 number of jobs currently. This profession includes the ability to mesh information technology with the ability to design better computing systems and processes for clients. While many Computer System Analysts will have a bachelor's degree in information sciences as a foundation, some of the most successful in this field will also pursue an MBA in IT or Information Systems.
One of the nation's best, and most affordable, online MBA programs in Information & Technology can be found at Oklahoma State University's Spears School of Business. This 52-credit hour online MBA program with a concentration in Information Assurance is divided between 34 credit hours of core classes and Information Assurance-specific courses like Applied Information Systems Security, Advanced System Certification and Accreditation, Legal and Ethical Issues in Information Technology, Information Technology Forensics, and The Upper Layers of Telecommunications Systems. Students without the ability to travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma will appreciate that 100% of this degree featuring a total tuition rate of just $10,904 can be completed 100% online.
