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If you are interested in joining the thriving information technology field, but are unable to put in the commitment needed to attend graduate school, you should consider the various IT careers available with a bachelor’s degree. Even as the rest of the job market remains less than stellar, the good news is the IT field is continuing to show remarkable signs of recovery with promising job prospects across nearly every industry. In fact, the Gartner Worldwide IT Spending Forecast predicts that corporations around the globe will continue to increase their IT spending by around 3% each year to nearly $4.5 million by 2018. In order to take advantage of these expanding career opportunities without pursuing an advanced degree, read on to learn about IT careers available to candidates with only a bachelor’s degree.
Computer Programmer
With an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer programmers are responsible for turning the designs created by software engineers into instructions that computer systems can follow by writing code. In addition to writing programs in various programming languages to create new programs, computer programmers must test their software programs to evaluate their results and check the code for any errors. Computer programmers must have the technical expertise needed to utilize Computer-Assisted Software Engineering (CASE) tools to simplify the writing of some code.
Database Administrator
Through their understanding of database languages earned with a bachelor’s degree related to information technology, database administrators are responsible for storing, organizing, and securing with specialized computer software. In an effort to ensure all data is available to system users and kept secure from corrupt access, database administrators test modifications to data structures to guarantee the database is operating without errors. Often referred to as DBAs, database administrators must identify user needs, update permissions, merge old databases, backup data, and prevent data loss.
Information Security Analyst
As one of the most in-demand professions available with a bachelor’s degree in IT with employment growth expected at the rapid rate of 37% before 2022, information security analysts plan security measures to protect organization’s computer systems from hackers. Since the number of cyber attacks continue to steadily climb, information security analysts are responsible for monitoring for security breaches, installing security software, conducting penetration testing, simulating attacks for finding vulnerabilities, and researching new security trends. Information security analysts usually report directly to upper-level executives in computer systems design services, financial companies, private businesses, and consulting firms.
Software Developer
Highly regarded for being the creative minds behind computer programs, software developers are responsible for developing the various applications that enable users to do specific tasks on their computers and/or mobile devices. Software developers analyze users’ needs, develop software upgrades, design system applications, instruct programmers to write code, conduct software maintenance through testing, and collaborate with other computer specialists. In most cases, software developers have a bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, software engineering, mathematics, or a similar field.
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Although most fields require earning an advanced degree for obtaining a high salary potential, the same cannot be said information technology. Professionals within the IT field are well compensated for their hard work with the third highest annual mean salary among all occupations available at $77,230 each year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With these IT careers available with a bachelor’s degree, you can get on the fast track toward a lucrative and fascinating profession without the need to attend graduate school.