When it comes to choosing an online information technology program, there are options available beyond just the standard degree.
There are nanodegrees, a relatively new type of IT online credential that provides skills for specific job tracks, like data analyst or iOS developer. Or, an online boot camp could prepare you for one of the several types of IT certification exams, which many IT companies require employees to pass before they start working.
Across the IT industry, what employers are looking for in terms of credentials varies, says Tina Burton, associate dean of Kaplan University’s School of Business and Information Technology. Still, experts say degrees and industry certifications are often at the top of the list.
Burton says the credential students choose to pursue depends on the job they are trying to get and where they are in their career. That’s why it’s important to explore your options before making a final decision about which IT program is right for you.
Land a spot in a [top online graduate info tech program.]
Degree Programs
Earning a degree — as opposed to an IT industry certification, for instance — can be beneficial to your long-term career, says David Leasure, provost and chief academic officer at Western Governors University, an online university.
“You can secure that lifetime of work rather than just securing that next job,” Leasure says.
Some degree programs, like the one at Western Governors University, also incorporate preparation for some IT certification exams into their curricula.
In general, experts say, it takes longer to earn an online IT degree than it does an online certificate — not to be confused with the industry certifications. In addition to IT courses, degree programs typically include general education requirements and emphasize critical thinking and writing, says Alan Carswell, vice dean of the cybersecurity and information assurance department at the University of Maryland University College.
In contrast, certificate and nanodegree programs usually focus on developing a particular skill, especially one needed for a job.
Nathan York, a 36-year-old network engineer from Georgetown, Kentucky, is pursuing an online undergraduate IT degree from Western Kentucky University. Online learning was a natural choice for him, he says, especially as he has a full-time job and a family. He can work from home, and for many classes on his own time at his own pace.
“If something comes up,” he says, “I can push my class time to later in the day.”
Certificate Programs
IT online certificates require fewer classes than degrees do and focus on the field or a more specific topic within it. At many schools, certificates can serve as a subset to a larger degree program, meaning students can apply the credits they earned in a certificate program to a degree later on.
Decide between an [online graduate certificate and online degree.]
Boston University’s Metropolitan College offers an online graduate certificate in information technology requiring four IT courses. Credits can be transferred to a master’s degree in computer science, computer information systems or telecommunication. At Kaplan University, students can earn a certificate online in subjects such as computer forensics or information security.
IT Training and Boot Camps
The emergence of online education has led to additional types of online IT classes as well, specifically training programs and boot camps.
For example, Maryland’s SANS Institute, offers a variety of online training courses in information security. These range from vLive, a live, evening program with classes that last five or six weeks and meet twice a week, to OnDemand, a self-paced program. Students sign up for individual courses, which can range from $1,150 to $5,350.
At the SANS Institute, some online courses prep students for the industry certification exams, similarly to other online training options.
At the Intense School, which offers IT training both in-person and online, students can enroll in the CCNA Quad Certification Boot Camp, an online program that readies students for different exams in information security.
Burton says most boot camp programs are offered face to face, but they are starting to appear online as well.
Nanodegrees and MOOCs
Udacity, a company aiming to offer affordable programming and technology online courses, developed the nanodegree in conjunction with companies such as AT&T and Google. Udacity works with IT employers to create project-based, self-paced programs, which typically require about five to seven courses that build on each other as you progress and include support from a coach, says Clarissa Shen, vice president of business development at Udacity.
Convince your employer [to pay for an online degree.]
Students first take a readiness exam to determine for themselves whether they have the foundational skills for a given class.
Nanodegree programs cost $200 per month. For a student working a full-time job, they typically take about six months to complete, though the time can vary depending on a person’s familiarity with a subject, Shen says.
While there are some massive open online courses, or MOOCs, related to IT, Kaplan’s Burton says online learners probably wouldn’t enroll in one with a particular career goal in mind.
“MOOCs are a way to go out and learn stuff if you are so inclined, without any cost or commitment,” she says.
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