Science is progressing rapidly, and new inventions are taking place of older ones as we speak. As technology advances and the world becomes a smaller place, the field of information technology seems to have a rosy future. With increasing demand for people in this sector, employers are willing to offer huge pay packets to those having the requisite skill sets and training. Keeping this trend in mind, more and more grad schools are offering master’s courses in IT.

Since the advent of the 21^st century, IT skills have become particularly important even for those who are not pursuing an IT-related career. Simply put, information technology refers to the process and technique of information handling and retrieval by automatic means. This encompasses computers, typewriters, copying machines, or anything else that is machinated.

Admission requirements

Information technology is a science-related field and completing the master’s course would give one an MSc in IT. Most graduate schools simply offer an MSc IT, although there are a few that have specialized programs that focus on a narrower subject in an in-depth manner. Some universities offer courses such as MSc Computing, IT law and management, MSc IT (software systems), MSC IT (e-learning), MSc IT (database systems technology), MSc IT (homeland security management), MSc IT (informatics), MSc IT (information assurance), MSc IT (project management), MSc IT (telecommunications management) and MSc IT (business). Each of these courses provide specific knowledge about a particular industry and are suitable for those who are either completely sure of the field they want to go in or have some form of education in basic IT.

Top grad schools require prospective students to have completed their undergraduate studies in any discipline but IT and secured a minimum first class or honours result. Mid-level grad schools will admit students with second class grades also. IT courses in the US generally consist of 36 credits that students may complete in two years but courses in other countries such as the UK and Australia are mostly for one year. Work experience is an added advantage that grad schools look for in a prospective student’s application but most schools do not place too much emphasis on it.

Specialized courses such as those mentioned above may have different eligibility procedures than the regular MSc IT course. For example, the computing, IT law and management MSc program prefers to take students with a computer science background while certain graduate schools insist that prospective students are well-versed with softwares such as Acrobat Reader, Win Zip, Real Player, Internet Explorer, AVG, MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, FTP, SSH and Personal Firewall.

Students should take the time to research their chosen grad school and specialized program so they do not complete the course feeling cheated by having enrolled for a course that is either too basic or does not focus on their specialized area of study that they were looking for. PhD programs are generally for longer periods of time, i.e. three years or more and have separate eligibility requirements since they involve a lot of research.

Skills to be Acquired

IT is a very technical field of study and students will normally have the feeling of having learnt a great deal from a course, especially if they weren’t very tech-savvy earlier. An IT course will provide students with the much-needed knowledge to work in the IT industry.

An MSc in IT aims to provide students to meet the information needs of users by providing services, instruction, and leadership, and by organizing information in user-centred ways, as well as developing and managing information technologies, including web- based resources and networks. Specialized courses give specific knowledge on particular subjects.

In the MSc in Information Technology for example, management and organisational change is designed to develop students’ intellectual skills to have a critical understanding of social, political and human processes that underlie organizational change, and the MSc IT (software systems) aims to impart the understanding and skills to develop advanced software systems to professional standards. The first course is particularly relevant to students wishing to become business consultants, IT consultants, IT managers, HRM managers, business analysts, project managers, and business managers in non-IT areas.

The IT programs are mostly taught courses and rarely have research modules, as they are more practical than theoretical. It depends on the specializations of the course. The PhD courses, however, do involve a great deal of research, as they are more academic-oriented. As do all masters courses, an IT program gives students the impetus and support to face the IT industry confidently.

 

Post-qualification careers

As the IT industry continues to develop globally, job opportunities continue to increase.  No matter where in the world students want to work, whether it be Europe, the US, Asia or Australia, they are sure to find employment with a graduate qualification and skills behind them.

Those entering the IT arena need to be continually studying new technologies and keeping their computer skills up-to-date. IT graduates would also have better prospects of getting a job with a reputed company f they have participated in programs such as internships or have a related background in an industry that uses information technology such as financial services, banking, or accounting.

As an IT graduate, one can work in areas such as business analysis, database administration, internet design, IT management, networking and communications, operations, PC support, project management, software engineering, system design, system development and programming, and technical support.

Starting salaries can be around $45,000 per annum but if students have good experience and aptitude, the sky is the limit as to what they can earn.

Courtesy - Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) - www.qsnetwork.com
Source - www.topgradschool.com