Career and Academic Opportunities
There is a strong demand for degrees in computing. According to Burning Glass, in 2019, the number of national postings for computing professionals exceeded 740,000, which represents a 58% increase over the number of postings in 2010. Of these postings, 26% of them (192,000) required a master's degree. Of the top five occupations in demand, Information Technology is ranked #1 and has grown almost 60% in the last 10 years. The position of Software Developer is ranked 3rd nationwide with a projected growth of more than 30% in the next 10 years. Producing qualified computing professionals is the central mission of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, and in doing so, helps to satisfy the needs of our constituencies, including local, state and national employers. The BS in Cybersecurity program is jointly offered by Information Technology, Information Systems, and Criminal Justice. About 50% of the courses are taught by IT which allow students in BS in Cybersecurity to continue into graduate programs in computing with minimal additional coursework. This accelerated pathway will enable students to obtain a graduate degree within 5 years and give students additional opportunities for leadership roles in industry. Students who enter industry with advanced degrees earn significantly higher salaries than those with only an undergraduate degree. Therefore, the decision to complete a graduate computing degree is a good financial choice. The MSIT program also prepares students who wish to obtain degrees beyond the masters.
Graduate Program Information