What can I do with an IT degree?

Information technology (IT) is a vital piece of today’s world. Imagine businesses without their computer systems — they’d struggle to function efficiently, provide customer service and deliver products, so they’d ultimately fail. Businesses need information technology and computer systems to work efficiently and effectively. That’s where IT professionals come in, working behind the scenes to make sure everything tech-related runs smoothly.

The field of information technology is in high demand and expected to continue to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in information technology occupations is projected to grow 11% from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations. On top of the growth, IT is also a high-paying career. IT professionals in the U.S. earned a median salary of $97,430 in May 2021. That’s more than double the average salary for all occupations.

One of the biggest advantages to earning a degree in information technology is the wide range of opportunities and paths available to you. Nearly every industry requires IT-related talent, including healthcare, government, education, marketing and advertising, and, of course, tech industry. Recent employers that have hired University of Cincinnati IT grads include General Electric (GE), Worldpay, Kroger, Ford Motor Company and General Mills, among many others.

The role of IT professionals in securing digital infrastructure becomes increasingly pivotal as organizations around the world grapple with the escalating threat of cyber-attacks. Pursuing a career in cybersecurity, one of the fastest growing fields, offers a diverse range of opportunities, from ethical hacking and penetration testing to risk analysis and security consulting. As a cybersecurity professional, one might be tasked with implementing robust defense mechanisms, investigating security incidents, and devising strategies to safeguard sensitive data. Potential job titles include security engineer, cybersecurity analyst, information security analyst, digital forensics analyst and more.

As all organizations increasingly recognize the value of the data available to us, IT skills are required to harness the vast amounts of information to pinpoint meaningful insights and drive more informed decision-making across all businesses. IT professionals are responsible for creating and maintaining integrated data infrastructure, ensuring the security and accuracy of that data, and implementing analytics solutions to make sense of the data. Potential job titles include data engineer, database administrator, business intelligence analyst and more.

Just as IT specialists manage datasets to gain insights, they also help create algorithms and models to predict future business performance, fueling machine learning processes. This requires a profound understanding of IT principles, programming languages and complex AI and ML applications. Potential job titles include AI engineer, machine learning engineer, natural language processing developer and computer vision engineer.

Think about your favorite apps on your phone that you use every day. Information technology contributes to the entire lifecycle of those apps, from coding and testing to deploying and maintenance. IT professionals work closely with user experience (UX) designers to ensure that software applications meet functional requirements but also deliver seamless and intuitive experiences for the user. Potential job titles include software developer, full stack developer, UX/UI designer and DevOps engineer.

In the world of digital marketing and e-commerce, IT professionals play a key role in optimizing user experiences across platforms, from phone to web to app, ensuring a seamless connection across online platforms. From creating websites and mobile apps to implementing data analytics to capture data and sales, these roles demand a combination of technical skills and an understanding of digital trends and user behavior. Potential job titles include web developer, e-commerce specialist, digital marketing technologist and SEO analyst.