Career Information for a Degree or Certification in Computer and Information Support Services
Individuals who hold a degree or certification in computer and information support services can initially find work providing support to both a business's customers as well as its employees. With time and experience, these workers can advance into more challenging management and technical roles.
Careers
Help Desk Technician
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), help desk technicians assist a company's customers with problems they are having with the computer hardware or software (www.bls.gov). This assistance is typically provided over the phone or via e-mail. The BLS also notes that many people begin their careers in computer support by working as a help desk technician.
Technical Support Specialist
Technical support specialists provide computer support services within a business or organization, according to the BLS. A technical support specialist responds to reports of employee problems with computer hardware and software, trains employees in the use of office technology and may even compose manuals and other training materials for the organization.
Salary and Job Prospects
The BLS classifies both help desk technicians and technical support specialists as computer support specialists. The median annual salary for computer support specialists as of May 2010 was $46,260. The BLS also projected good job prospects for those wishing to enter the field between 2008 and 2018, noting that employment should increase by 14% during this time.
Computer Programmer
The BLS states that employees of computer companies or within IT departments can advance rapidly into positions that offer more responsibility and higher pay. Individuals who excel in support positions may eventually become computer programmers. According to the BLS, programmers translate the directions provided by software and systems engineers into instructions that can be understood by a computer. A programmer may also maintain existing programs by making appropriate repairs and updates.
Salary and Job Prospects
The BLS expected the employment of computer programmers to decline by three percent between 2008 and 2018, due to the ability of many computer users to create their own programs as well as international outsourcing. It also notes that there will still be a demand for well-trained programmers to replace workers that leave the profession. The median salary for computer programmers as of May 2010 was $71,380.
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27 Popular Schools
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School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arizona (3 campuses)
- California (16)
- Colorado (3)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (4)
- Illinois (8)
- Indiana (2)
- Kentucky (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (2)
- North Carolina (2)
- New Jersey (3)
- Nevada (1)
- New York (2)
- Ohio (4)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (5)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (7)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (3)
- Washington (3)
- Wisconsin (2)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
- Associate
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Non-Degree
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- Certificate - Network and Communications Management
- Graduate Certificate - Information Security
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Master
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Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
- Bachelor
- Associate
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- All programs require applicants to have graduated high school in 2008 or earlier
- Must be 22 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Master
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Bachelor
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- BS in Information Systems - IT Project Management
- BS in Information Technology - Cyber Security Technology
- BS in Information Technology - Networking Technology
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- BS in Information Technology - Digital Forensics Technology
- BS in Information Systems - Cyber Security Management
- BS in Information Systems - Computer Forensics Management
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Associate
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- AA in Information Technology
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Doctorate
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Master
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must have either two or more years of college or active military status if you are under 24 years of age
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
- Currently not accepting applicants from Minnesota or Tennessee
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Master
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- MPA in Public Administration - Information Technology
- MS in Information Systems and Technology
- MS in Information Systems and Technology - Information Architecture and Design
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Bachelor
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- BS in Information Technology
- BS in Information Technology - Database Development and Administration
- BS in IT - General Information Technology
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- BS in Information Technology - Information Systems Security
- BS in Information Technology - Network Administration and Management
- BS in IT - Database Administration
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- Associate
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Alabama (1 campus)
- Arkansas (1)
- Arizona (6)
- California (26)
- Colorado (3)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Florida (6)
- Georgia (4)
- Hawaii (2)
- Idaho (1)
- Illinois (2)
- Indiana (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Louisiana (2)
- Massachusetts (1)
- Maryland (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (1)
- Mississippi (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- New Jersey (1)
- New Mexico (2)
- Nevada (2)
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (1)
- South Carolina (1)
- Tennessee (2)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (3)
- Virginia (2)
- Washington (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
- Doctorate
- Master
- Bachelor
- Associate
- Non-Degree
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Applicants must have some prior college credit.
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Bachelor
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- BS - Information Technology
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