Information on Master of Science (MS) Degree Program in Communications Technology
Majors Overview June 27, 2015This article talks about Master of Science (M.S.) degree programs in Communications Technology and their education requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and continuing education choices.
Master of Science (M.S.) Programs in Communications Technology
Students enrolled in a master’s degree in information and communications technology expand their skills in the creation, planning and development of communication systems for businesses. Students learn about integrating the latest technology in multimedia, the Web, and telecommunication systems; the enrollees may perform research in the field. Over the duration of the program, they participate in hands-on technical learning and building of a working portfolio that highlights their skills to potential employers. Specializations such as information technology, project management, technology administration, website design or visual communications are available at some schools. Students have to complete 30-48 semester hours of coursework.
Education Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school, in addition to submitting transcripts related to previous college coursework. Letters of recommendation and resumes showing relevant work experience may also be requirements for incoming students.
Coursework
Coursework often orientates itself toward business professionals, and students can complete it in on-campus and online formats. Core coursework may cover topic areas such as:
•Enterprise systems
•Learning technology
•Trends in technology
•Research design
•Industry concepts
•Organizational Communications
Career Choices
Program graduates can seek careers with small businesses, the government, or large corporations. They can pursue opportunities in the information technology departments of various industries. They may choose from possible job positions such as:
•Network Architect
•Data specialist
•Technology analyst
•Database administrator
•Systems Engineer
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, a job growth rate of 15% has been predicted for both computer network architects and database administrators (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, database administrators brought in an average annual wage of $77,080. During the same period, computer network architects earned $91,000, per annum, on average (BLS).
Continuing Education Choices
Program graduates can advance their careers through continued education by earning graduate certificates in areas of communications technology. They can choose from certificate areas such as software design, website development, systems security, and database administration. Some program graduates may also pursue Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) or Ph.D. programs in related fields such as communications media or information systems communications.