• Networks: Network engineers and administrators design, build, and maintain different types of computer networks, including LANs, WANs, intranets, and other systems of computer communications.
• Databases: Database administrators design ways to store, secure, and retrieve vast amounts of information in computer databases.
• Security: As more and more sensitive information is stored in computer systems and databases, security specialists are needed to protect that information from breaches and cyber attacks.
• Web Development: These IT specialists use programming skills to build functional websites.
• Programming: Computer programmers use software languages to construct the software applications that allow computers to function.

• Associate Degree: 2 years to complete
• Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
• Master's Degree: 1.5-3 years to complete
• Doctoral Degree: 4-5 years to complete

Many associate degrees are available in areas of IT support and computer science; some present a general introduction to several areas of the field, while others let students specialize in a particular area, such as networks or databases. An associate degree can prepare graduates for careers as computer support specialists. With certification and professional experience, students may be able to move up to careers as systems administrators or other advanced positions. A bachelor's degree in computer science, management information systems, or information science is the usual educational requirement for entry-level information technology and computer science positions. These four-year degrees can train students for jobs as software programmers, computer and information systems managers, and network, systems, and database administrators. Master's degrees in these fields will help students hone their skills in a more specialized computer science area, and can help graduates advance in their career. Students hoping to work as computer scientists involved in the development and research of new technologies will likely need a doctoral degree in computer science. Doctoral degrees in computer science can prepare students for research careers in academia or industry.

There are no mandatory certification requirements for positions in information technology and computer science. There are many voluntary industry certifications, however, offered by trade organizations and private companies that produce computer products. Some employers require or prefer applicants with industry certification, as it acts as an objective measure of an individual's competence. Certification generally requires passing two or more exams covering a variety of information technology topics. CompTIA is an IT trade group that offers over 10 vendor-neutral certifications in various areas of information technology, including its general A+ certification for entry-level computer support specialists. Cisco and Microsoft are two producers of computer products that offer certifications for many different experience levels and IT specializations. Software producer Adobe also certifies individuals in each of its popular software suites.

Most IT and computer science degrees are designed to give graduates a breadth of knowledge in the most important IT areas today. Coursework usually includes one to two courses on the basic IT fundamentals, along with courses in software programming, networks, databases, and Web design. The foundational IT course in the certificate program, usually titled Introduction to Information Systems, provides a broad overview of how hardware and software systems are used. The control, implementation, and life cycle of information systems are discussed.

Courses like C++ and Java Programming introduce students to programming fundamentals in some of the most widely used programming languages. Students learn about object-oriented programming, and the operators and functions used to construct programs out of these languages. Other courses, like LAN/WAN Technologies, cover the basics of setting up networks. Issues of data communication and network administration are discussed. Classes in databases, like Relational Database Concepts, explore the programming structures used to store large amounts of data, as well as the design, architecture, and administration of databases. A class in Multimedia or Web Design teaches students the skills necessary to make attractive webpages and interactive online media.

Computer science scholarships are among the most frequently encountered and ubiquitous of any type of official aid for higher education. Unfortunately, this abundance can sometimes lead to confusion as to the best and most worthwhile scholarships to apply to. It takes research and scrutiny to discern the absolute best programs in computer science. We've applied these qualities to our own scholarship search, the results of which are here for you to enjoy.

• The Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship. This $10,000 award is given to a woman entering her senior year in college as a computer science major. Applicants must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA. The deadline is February 12.
• Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange. This scholarship program is awarded to computer science majors, as well as those in other fields, interested in German culture. The deadline is December 1.
• Xerox Minority Scholarship. This $1,000-$10,000 award is given to minority applicants who are pursuing graduate or undergraduate degrees in technical fields such as computer science. The deadline is September 29.
• The Generation Google Scholarship. This $10,000 award is given to an undergraduate computer science major. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. The deadline is February 20.
• Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship. This substantial award is given to declared computer science majors who maintain a 3.0 GPA minimum. Applicants must be active members of the AITP. The deadline is May 31.
• The Gates Millennium Scholars Program. This good-through-graduation scholarship is awarded to minority applicants focused on computer science and other fields. The deadline is January 11.
• John A. Wickham Scholarship. This $2,000 award is given to college sophomores and juniors majoring in computer science or a related field. Students must submit two letters of recommendation. The deadline is May 1.
• AACE International Competitive Scholarship. This substantial award is given to college sophomores and juniors (and seniors enrolled in graduate study) who major in computer sciences or a related field. The deadline is October 15.
• Oregon NASA Space Grant. This $3,000 award is given to college students at certain Oregon universities who major in computer science or a related field. The deadline is November 1.
• Wayne V. Black Memorial Scholarship. This $5,000 award is given to undergraduates pursuing a degree in computer science or a related field. The deadline is March 15.
• The GEM Ph.D. in Science Fellowship. This $16,000 award is given to a minority undergraduate who intends to pursue a doctoral degree in computer science or a related field. The deadline varies annually.
• EDSF Document Management and Graphic Communication Scholarships. This $5,000 award is given to students focused on disciplines related to document management, including computer science. The deadline is May 1.
• TELACU Scholarship. This sizable financial award is given to low-income, first-generation college students interested in computer science or related fields. The deadline is March 17.
• Symantec Research Labs Graduate Fellowship. This $25,000 award is given to graduate students in computer science. Applicants with a passion for industrial lab research will be favored. The deadline is January 9.
• Minnesota Space Grant Consortium. This sizable monetary award is given to students focused on computer science or aerospace who attend specified Minnesota colleges. The deadline varies annually.
• The HENAAC Scholars Program. This significant monetary award is given to college students in computer science and related fields. The deadline is April 30.
• Microsoft University Careers Scholarship. This sizable financial award is given to computer science majors who maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. The deadline is February 3.
• William E. Weisel Scholarship. This $1,000 award is given to computer science majors with a focus on robotics. Applicants must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA. The deadline is February 1.
• SHPE Foundation Scholarship. This $3,000 award is given to an applicant of Hispanic descent who is strongly motivated in computer science. The deadline is April 1.
• Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. This sizable scholarship is awarded to computer science majors (juniors or seniors) who have been nominated by faculty members of affiliated universities. The deadline varies each year.

Usually not. Unsurprisingly, most IT and computer science courses discuss techniques involving the use of the computer; consequently, course projects and instruction are easily adapted to online learning.

There are several degrees which contain aspects of information technology. The degree in business administration, for example, may incorporate courses that discuss utilizing particular software suites or setting up networks. Likewise, a degree in office administration covers some aspects of maintaining computer systems and troubleshooting advanced IT systems. Like the degree in IT and computer science, a degree in health information management discusses interacting with computers and dealing with information, but in a healthcare setting. Courses for this degree have titles like medical software for billing and coding, electronic health records, and health information management concepts.

Focusing less on software and more on hardware, the degree in electrical engineering technology teaches students the electrical concepts necessary to build microprocessors and the other components of computers. For those interested in a shorter educational route, there are many certificates available from traditional colleges, vocational schools, and community colleges in different IT topics. These certificates generally take around a year to complete, and specialize in one area like security, network administration, or database administration.