The curriculum for information technology management is intended to help students develop a broad skill set, one which may provide them with the theoretical understanding to perform a number of different core business functions, including: programmer analyst, systems analyst, database analyst, information systems analyst, security analyst, security risk assessor/manager, project manager, computer resource manager, and information technology manager.
- Critical Thinking - Able to use logic and reason to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a problem.
- Problem-Solving - Ability to identify and solve complex problems.
- Organization Skills - Ability to listen, think clearly, and organize thoughts quickly.
- Detail Oriented - Being able to pay special attention to detail to help solve complex problems.
- Analytical Skills - Quickly determining how processes and systems work, interpreting data, analyzing data, and solving problems.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding and having the ability to read complex sentences in work related documents.
- Active Listening - Understanding the points of others and listening to help solve problems.
To identify what education or training is typical for careers within the IT Management field, use the O*Net hyperlinks below and click on "Job Zone."
As with all majors, the education you receive serves as a foundation of knowledge that prepares you for what you may face in the professional world. The career field you chose may require additional education or experience.
- Business Intelligence Analyst
- Computer and Information Systems Manager
- Computer Hardware Engineer
- Computer Network Architect
- Computer Network Support Specialist
- Computer Occupations
- Computer System Engineer/Architect
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer User Support Specialist
- Data Warehousing Specialist
- Database Administrator
- Database Architect
- Document Management Specialist
- Information Research Scientist
- Information Security Analyst
- Information Technology Project Managers
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator
- Software Developer
- Software Developer, Applications
- Software Developer, Systems Software
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts
- Telecommunications Engineering Specialist
- Training and Development Specialist
- Web Administrator
Gaining real life experience is an ideal way to start a new career. The job board within CareerLink has an extensive list of internships. Browse through the internships organized by interest, location, or organization. Students with open elective credit in many programs can participate in an internship course for elective credit. To learn more about this option, log-in to CareerLink and search Internship in the resources section.
There are government-organized internship programs, many of which require students to maintain either a half-time or full-time student status. The best ways to identify potential opportunities such as these is to contact branch offices directly, to search USAJobs.gov, or to look at the agencies' career portals. Keep in mind that these positions are not always posted online, so direct contact with the agency is key.
Pathways
The Pathways Program is a federal initiative that offers internship programs for current students and training and career development opportunities for recent graduates. Recent graduates must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans, due to their military service obligation, will have up to six years to apply).The internship program for current students replaces the former Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP).
The Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF)
PMF is designed to attract to federal service outstanding men and women from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a graduate student completing or expected to complete, during the current academic year, an advanced degree from a qualifying college or university.
The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
WRP is coordinated by the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, and aims to provide summer work experience, and in some cases full-time employment, to college students with disabilities. The program develops partnerships with other federal agencies, each of whom makes a commitment to provide summer jobs and a staff recruiter. Each year, recruiters interview about 1,500 students with disabilities at college and university campuses across the nation, and develop a database listing the qualifications of each student.
There are several government agencies and organizations that seek candidates with degrees in information technology management. The list below provides a few places one might find employment specific to this degree.
While many of the major job search engines will have positions in several fields to choose from, the list below is specific to the information technology field.
Involvement in professional organizations is a great way to stay up-to-date on new technology, tools, and best practices in your field. Professional organizations are also a great networking opportunity. Below are a few professional organizations you may be interested in as an information technology management major.
- American Society for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T)
- Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)
- CompTIA
- Global Information Technology Management Association (GITMA)
- Information Technology Management Association (ITMA)
- Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
- International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS)
- International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR)
- International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
- International Information Management Association (IIMA)
- International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2
- Project Management Institute (PMI)