Computer work has a reputation for offering career paths where one does not really need formal education but can get by on talent alone—the famous example being Bill Gates, who dropped out of Harvard University to establish Microsoft. It’s still not uncommon to find programmers, Web masters, and others who learned their art through tinkering on the screen rather than lingering in the classroom, but entry and advancement tends to be much easier for those who can document their knowledge with degrees and professional certifications in addition to hands-on experience. Today most information technology-related positions require some type of formal credential, and in an increasing number of areas graduate study is the standard.

Professional Certification

Especially in the case of information technology support positions, employers often request proof of one’s knowledge through completion of one or more certifications recognized in the industry. Such certifications typically do not have specific educational prerequisites but often ask for several prior years of work experience related to the area of certification. They always (in the case of well-recognized certifications) require in-depth knowledge of the topics covered in certification exams, with certification needing to be renewed every year or every few years as technology changes. Certifications typically focus on hands-on skills and knowledge of particular systems and processes rather than a broad or theory-based knowledge of information technology, and, while sufficient in themselves for many entry-level positions, are often a complement to degree education rather than a substitute.

Vocational School and Two-Year College Credentials

Two-year community and technical colleges offer a variety of information technology-related programs, including one- or two-year associate of science (A.S.) or associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degrees in such areas as computer programming, data processing, computer science, computer service technology, and electronics engineering technology as well as certificate and diploma programs typically lasting between six months and one year and providing training for direct entry to careers in such areas as computer maintenance, data entry, or computer operations.

While the A.A.S. is a vocational credential that does not typically transfer credit on to higher education, study within an A.S. is often comparable to the first two years of a bachelor’s degree program and credits may be transferred to four-year colleges. Students interested in A.S. programs should check what agreements with four-year institutions exist and what support the two-year institution can provide to make transfer of such credits easier and more likely.

Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Bachelor’s degree programs in IT areas are designed to provide students with a broad base of knowledge and technical skills, allowing them a choice in whether to pursue graduate education or enter professional careers immediately after program completion. Most programs take four years to complete. Programs in computer engineering typically take longer because of the range of requirements.

Specialization is quite uncommon for IT-area majors at the bachelor’s degree level (and is in fact discouraged by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the professional accreditation body for computer science programs). Students begin by combining a core curriculum of courses in areas outside their major (social sciences, humanities, and the arts) with courses in linear algebra, discrete mathematics, and probability and statistics as well as study of programming languages and introductory courses in other IT areas such as computer architecture, artificial intelligence, and operating systems. Business-oriented information systems programs emphasize the organizational application of computer science, often including requirements in such areas as economics, business statistics, and marketing. During their third and fourth year, IT students choose from advanced level electives in such areas as artificial intelligence, informatics, robotics, or software engineering.

IT fields tend to be highly competitive. Students can significantly improve their chances of quickly finding a job after graduation by getting hands-on experience in the career while still in school, supplementing academic course work with on-the-job training obtained through internships or cooperative education programs. Some universities may offer part-time research or lab assistance opportunities to exceptionally qualified undergraduates. Another way to improve employment chances is by taking elective courses in other fields that may be particularly useful in the workplace. In addition to foreign language fluency and intercultural skills (advantages most international students already possess), employers often favor students who have taken classes in accounting, marketing, and management.

Graduate Study

For students wishing to pursue advanced study in IT areas, U.S. institutions offer master’s degree programs (most commonly leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) degree and taking one or two years to complete), and doctoral programs that typically involve three to five years of additional study beyond the master’s level and award the Ph.D.

Students examining IT-related graduate programs should verify that specializations offered and faculty research interests match their own goals. It is important to note, however, that the course work leading to a specialized graduate degree may not differ significantly from the same course work offered as a specialization within a broader study area. For example, two different programs may involve essentially the same course work, even though one awards a degreee in artificial intelligence and the other a degree in computer science. (The same rule holds true at the undergraduate program level, where specialized degree titles less commonly exist.)

Applicants for master’s degree programs in computer science areas should have a strong base of mathematics course work and computer experience; they need not, however, hold an undergraduate degree in an IT area. Individuals with undergraduate degrees in engineering and mathematics are regularly accepted into IT graduate programs, while those with social science or humanities backgrounds may also be accepted if they can demonstrate exceptional computer knowledge and mathematical ability.

The GRE is required for admission to most graduate IT-area programs, with the quantitative section of the test being of particular importance. The GMAT may instead be required for entry to information systems and other business-oriented computer programs. International applicants must also have excellent English language skills as demonstrated by high TOEFL or other standardized test scores. Testing of spoken English will also often be required for those seeking teaching assistantship positions.

Financial aid is sometimes available at the graduate level, especially as computer science departments are often subsidized by research grants. Teaching and research assistants may receive tuition remission as well as a stipend.

Ph.D. programs in IT areas prepare graduates for university faculty positions and high-level research or consulting careers. Ph.D. candidates take advanced computer courses beyond those required in master’s programs and are required to prepare a doctoral dissertation that demonstrates independent research in a specialized subject area.