Career Opportunities and Work Life

Skills You'll Need

Salary Ranges

The Classroom Experience

Certificate & Degree Options

Career Opportunities and Work Life - Computer Information Systems

As computer technology continues to expand, highly skilled computer specialists are in demand. Job duties evolve quickly with each new advance in hardware and software.

Information Technology
Database administrators work with databases management system software, determine ways to organize and store data, set up computer databases, and maintain the database system.

Computer support specialists provide technical assistance, support, and advice to users and customers. They troubleshoot problems and provide technical support for hardware, software, and systems.

Networking
Network administrators and system administrators design, install, and support an organization's local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), network segments, Internet, and Internet systems. They also maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure system availability.

Programming
Computer programmers write, test, and maintain the detailed programs and software that computers must follow to perform their functions. They also develop, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer.

Web Option
Web administrators oversee the web site quality and performance. It is their job to update links and web information.

Web developers analyze, design, implement and support web applications.

Web programmers support the company's Internet strategy. They analyze and design web-related applications.

Webmasters maintain the company's web site. They will also create and help others create web pages.

Digital Animation and Game Design
Students wishing to transfer to Davenport University or other four-year schools that offer Animation and Game design course will complete many of the basic requirements for that transfer. Graduates can expect to have carreers in the medical imaging, Real Estate, Engineering Drawing, CAD, Legal renderings and Game industry.

Work Environment
Computer specialists are needed in almost every industry. From healthcare to public schools, from fortune 500 companies to government agencies, computerized technology is used and demands highly skilled employees to help in the implementation, development, maintenance and testing of computer applications.

Computer professionals typically work in an office setting. Long hours may be required beyond the Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. workweek. Working under pressure is part of this industry.

Employment Outlook
As organizations' reliance on computer technology grows, the demand for computer professionals will continue to increase. Strong growth is expected for computer fields through 2012. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau Statistics is expecting a 39 percent employment increase for computer systems analysts, a 44 percent increase for database administrators and web administrators are expecting an employment increase of 37 percent.

Career Advancement
An associate's degree in a computer related field will prepare you for most entry-level positions. Promotions come from experience and continued education. Many companies are requiring a bachelor degree for those looking into a career as a systems analyst, programmer, or database administrator.