Print
Email
Share
- Del.icio.us
- Digg
- Facebook
- MySpace
- Reddit
- StumbleUpon
- Google Reader
- Plaxo
- Posterous
- Tumblr
- Twitter

IT Program Outcomes and Employment

IT professionals are in demand. Gain the skills that can help you stand out among your peers and increase your marketability to employers. Our IT degree programs will teach you the latest knowledge that employers are looking for and prepare you for multiple career paths.

Earning your IT degree in the College of Information Systems and Technology may give you a competitive edge over others without college degrees. By teaching you the latest skills that are in demand, we offer you a relevant education that meets the current needs of the growing IT industry.

We give you the knowledge, training and real-world skills that translate directly to the workplace.

Gain the Skills Employers Are Looking For

At University of Phoenix, we don’t just give you IT skills that look good on paper. You’ll gain hands-on training and business intelligence that you can put to use right away because you’ve already practiced it. Our rigorous curriculum, digital learning tools and real-world application offer you IT aptitude that’s useful whether you’re just starting your technology career or looking to advance.

ComputerWorld published a list of the nine hottest IT skills for 2009 that employers are looking for. These are the same skills you’ll learn in our degree programs and areas of concentration. In addition, companies are also looking for employees with professional skills who can thrive in a business environment.

Our collaborative learning team approach gives you the experience of working with other people. You’ll learn how to think critically, communicate effectively, utilize information and solve problems.

Specialize in an IT Area that’s in Demand

We live in a high-tech world that’s constantly changing. Lucky for you, it’s creating an ongoing demand for skilled IT professionals. The rapid spread of technology across all industries has generated a need for highly trained information technology professionals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).¹

In fact, several IT jobs are projected to be among the nation's fastest-growing occupations over the next several years.² Find out that career opportunities are available and the employment outlook in various areas of the IT industry.

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Computer Systems Analysts, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos287.htm.
² Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational employment projections to 2016, published in the November 2007 Monthly Labor Review, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/emp/emptab21.htm.

More About the College

Technology Award

Concentrations

Technology FAQs

About the College

Computer Systems Design and Related Services

Most organizations rely on computers to conduct their business and look for specialists to help meet their unique IT needs and keep up with the changes in technology. Computer systems design and related services is one of the 20 fastest-growing industries in the nation, according to the BLS.

Wage and salary employment is expected to grow 38% by the year 2016, compared to only 11% growth for the entire economy.³ Careers in this area include programmers, engineers, scientists, systems analysts and technical support specialists.

Find out how you can gain these in-demand skills with our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology concentration areas including Information Technology Support, Business Systems Analysis and Database Administration.

³Bureau of Labor Statistics, Career Guide to Industries, 2006-07 Edition, Computer Systems Design and Related Services, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs033.htm.
Networks and Telecommunications

The ongoing convergence of voice, e-mail, video, instant messaging, mobile technologies and other communications has made networking and telecommunications two of the hottest IT skills for 2009. Employment of network and computer systems administrators is expected to increase by 27% by the year 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.⁴

Gain the networking skills to be in demand with our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/Networks and Telecommunications program.

⁴Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos268.htm.
Information Systems Security

As one of the hottest IT skills for 2009, security specialists are in demand as companies continue to invest heavily in protecting vital computer networks and electronic infrastructures, despite economic challenges. The information security field is expected to generate many opportunities over the next decade as firms across all industries place a high priority on safeguarding their data and systems, according to the BLS.⁴

Secure your skills in the advanced principles of risk management and enterprise security with our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/Information Systems Security program.

⁴Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos268.htm.
Multimedia and Web Development

The growth of electronic commerce and the explosion of social networking sites are leading more companies to turn to the Internet to reach their customers. The BLS reports that “growth translates into a need for information technology specialists who can help organizations use technology to communicate with employees, clients, and customers.”⁴

Gain the skills companies need to communicate through various digital media platforms in our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/Multimedia and Visual Communication program. You can even specialize in the high-demand areas of Web design and development with our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/Web Development program.

⁴Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos268.htm.
Software Engineering

Computer software engineers are projected to be among the fastest-growing occupations through the year 2016. According to the BLS, “rapid employment growth in the computer systems design and related services industry, which employs the greatest number of computer software engineers, should result in very good opportunities for those college graduates with at least a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or computer science and practical experience working with computers.”⁵

Earn the degree plus the practical training you need with our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology/Software Engineering program.

⁵Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Computer Software Engineers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos267.htm.
Information Systems

The increasing use of technology in the workplace is projected to lead to faster than average growth in the IS career field, according to the BLS. Job opportunities will be best for applicants with computer-related work experience, a master’s degree in business administration with technology as a core component or a management information systems degree, and strong communication and administrative skills.⁶

Get the advanced skills employers desire with our Master of Information Systems program.

⁶Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Computer and Information Systems Managers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos258.htm.

2006 National Employment Matrix Code and Title	Employment Number (in thousands) 2006 \| 2016	Change in Employment Number (in thousands)	Change in Percent	Quartile Rank by 2006 Median Annual Earnings¹	Most Significant Postsecondary Education or Training²
15-1081 Network systems and data communications analysts	262\| 402	140	53.4	VH	Bachelor's degree
15-1031 Computer software engineers, applications	507 \| 733	226	44.6	VH	Bachelor's degree
15-1032 Computer software engineers, systems software	350 \| 449	99	28.2	VH	Bachelor's degree
15-1061 Database administrators	119 \| 154	34	28.6	VH	Bachelor's degree
15-1051 Computer systems analysts	504 \| 650	146	29.0	VH	Bachelor's degree

¹The quartile rankings of Occupational Employment Statistics Survey annual earnings data are presented in the following categories: VH=very high ($43,605 and over), H=high ($28,590 to $43,604), L=low ($20,185 to $28,589), and VL=very low (up to $20,184). The rankings were based on quartiles using one-fourth of total employment to define each quartile. Earnings are for wage and salary workers.

²An occupation is placed into one of 11 categories that best describes the postsecondary education or training needed by most workers to become fully qualified. For more information about the categories, see Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2004-05 edition, Bulletin 2572 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2004) and Occupational Projections and Training Data, 2006-07 edition, Bulletin 2602.