The Top Information Technology MBA Online Programs

Today, computer systems are an essential part of business operations in organizations of all sizes. Those who can understand and successfully manage these systems are in high demand, particularly in the business world. A campus-based or accredited online Master of Business Administration in Information Technology combines the knowledge and skills gained in standard online MBA programs with a specialization in information technology (IT), providing students a thorough understanding of both subjects.

When pursuing an information technology MBA online, students will master core business topics such as management, finance, accounting, and human resource management, as well as subjects specifically related to IT. These include database administration, information technology project management and network administration. The top online information technology MBA schools as listed in online information technology MBA rankings produce graduates with a solid understanding of business foundations and computer science.

How can I tell if an online MBA information technology degree is right for me?

Students with a passion for technology, mathematicsand engineering should pursue an online Master of Business Administration in Information Technology degree.

Additional common characteristics amongst many online MBA information technology students are:

• A capability for interacting with computers
• An ability for thinking creatively
• A flair for updating and using relevant knowledge
• A desire for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• A proclivity for identifying objects, actions, and events

How long does it take to earn an MBA online information technology degree?

An information technology MBA degree online takes approximately the same time to complete as any other MBA online. This degree typically takes two years of full-time education to finish. However, students are able to earn the program under a timeframe that suits their schedule at some business schools that have part-time or accelerated programs.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA information technology schools online?

A bachelor’s degree is required before students can gain admission to online MBA information technology programs. Some schools that have an MBA information technology online program prefer applicants who have degrees in related fields including business administration, information systems, computer networking, and information science.

Many online MBA in information technology programs also base admission on the following criteria:

• References or Letters of Recommendation
• Essays
• Work experience
• Personal interviews

What courses will I take in information technology MBA programs online?

A typical two-year information technology MBA online degree program consists of core MBA courses in the first year, followed by a computer science component in the second. In the first year of the best online MBA information technology programs, students take a variety of basic business courses, such as operations management, human resources, marketing, accounting, organizational behavior and business law. Together, these courses give students a sound education in businesses operations.

In the second year of an MBA online information technology program, students study core computer science and IT topics and learn how computer systems can best be used by businesses. Typical online MBA in information technology courses include database systems and administration, human computer interaction, e-commerce, IT project management and networks and telecommunications. Unlike a computer science degree, however, an MBA information technology online specialization teaches IT in the context of business operations, rather than focusing on programming or software development alone.

Students enrolled in online information technology MBA programs often complete internships in order to enhance their education. These internships can prove very beneficial. Through them, students get a chance to put their learning into practical use. They also often make good business contacts.

What are the best online MBA in information technology books I should consider reading?

For students wanting to pursue information technology MBA careers, some helpful books are:

1. The Essential Guide to Computing: The Story of Information Technology (E. Garrison Walters) – With its comprehensive perspective, this book gives beginning information technology MBA students both the why and how of leading technologies.

2. IT’s hidden face: Everything you always wanted to know about Information Technology. (Claude Roeltgen) – Written by the Chief Information Officer of a major European bank, this accessible book focuses on how to understand the role and limitations of information technology as it applies to standard business practices.

3. Technical Impact: Making Your Information Technology Effective, And Keeping It That Way (Al Kuebler) – This book was written to help IT professionals and general managers get the best business results from computer technology.

4. IT Savvy: What Top Executives Must Know to Go from Pain to Gain (Peter Weill, Jeanne W. Ross) – Because it is geared towards business professionals without IT experience, this book is a great introduction for beginning IT MBA students.

5. Harvard Business Review on Aligning Technology with Strategy (Harvard Business Review) – This book is full of case studies detailing the use of technology to get the best possible returns in a variety of business and organizational contexts.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue information technology MBA jobs?

Because of the increasing importance of information technology, job prospects for graduates of information technology MBA schools online are quite good. In 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were over half a million computer systems analysts employed in the United States alone. A typical information technology MBA salary depends on the amount of experience and the position, but some average salaries for occupations in the field are listed below:

• Chief Technology Officer – $101,250
• Computer and Information Systems Manager – $115,780
• Network and Computer Systems Administrator – $69,160
• Database Administrator – $73,490

Projected growth rates for IT jobs in the coming decade vary from 18% for computer and information systems managers to 28% for network and computer systems administrators and even 31% for database administrators. Growth in the industry is uniformly positive across IT occupations because even though computers have been around for a while, their use in businesses and organizations is still increasing year by year.

Many employers favor graduates who have earned their degrees from a program that has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB accredited information technology MBA programs are thought to provide students with a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Information Technology MBA degree?

• Western Governors University
• Colorado Technical University
• Florida Tech University Online
• Jones International University
• WGU Indiana