What Are the Top Specialties in Technology Training?

In spite of all the talk about outsourcing American jobs, the fact is that there are plenty of jobs out there for computer technology specialists. In fact, the growing emphasis on company networks and web-based communication with customers is creating more tech jobs rapidly.

There are a few key specialties you can obtain a computer technology degree in. Each of them will tend to put you on a slightly different career path. Here’s an overview of the five key types of degrees to consider in software and information technology.

Information Systems
IS programs teach students how to work on all business applications involving the uses of information – a very broad specialty that includes database training. Where students in this specialty once dealt with basic payroll and accounting functions, they are now key players in all the areas where companies create and use information. This can cut across a broad world of customer relationship management, database usage and web-based infrastructure. In a world where businesses increasingly depend on information, information systems degree holders have become very valuable.

Online Computer Science Degrees
Though it's a computer degree online science or "CS" is a highly mathematical type of degree, which prepares you to create new ways to use computers or find solutions to the most complex computing problems that already exist. Because this type of degree has been around for many years, you’ll find lots of senior managers at who will appreciate the fact that you have an online computer science bachelor degree, because it's something they are familiar with. Common career applications will be in very entrepreneurial technology startups or in a school or company research lab.Training in computer science is considered highly flexible – and an online computer science masters degree can be a platform that leads you into many different areas.

Computer Engineering
Computer hardware engineers develop and test the physical aspects of computers – the chips, circuit boards, keyboards and even printers. The course of study is a bit closer to electrical engineering than to software design. The research, development and testing jobs that focus on computer hardware are usually open only to computer engineers, and not to any other type of technology specialist.

Information Technology & Computer Security Professional Training
Computer networks are the backbone of many companies today, and information technology experts are the people who create them, keep them running and handle the many questions and problems that arise with corporate users of the network. The “IT guy” is generally the one who comes to an individual’s desk to solve their computer problem, but is also the one who also must have computer network security training and other specialized knowledge to do upgrades to keep the network running smoothly.

Software Engineering
Software engineers are the specialists who develop the most complex software systems and products from the ground up. Traditionally, many of the people who specialize in this area have taken a computer science masters degree online or at a traditional school. But the intense emphasis on new building and improving software applications has created a need for pure software engineering specialists. With software now being considered a key corporate asset and many startup companies being built entirely on the strength of one software product, training in software engineering can put you in key positions in both large and small company environments.

BE The Teacher
If you prefer to work at a college or university, an educational technology degree will help you understand the issues in running school networks and managing the programs that have grown so much with the advent of online education. Want to go even a step further? You can get an online masters degree in technology education, and get involved in teaching others how to become IT professionals.