INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Database developers and administrators help companies extract data by creating the structures, tools, forms and reports necessary to make it all make sense. Work includes needs analysis, database design and modeling, implementation, testing and maintenance. Demands place on a database can be very dynamic and subject to change as the organizations’ needs change. Network design and administration professionals put everything on the line 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These are the enablers of the Internet, intranets and extranets; as well as local and wide area networks, the public switched network and much more. Programmers translate business problems into codes a computer can understand. Customer requirements are specified; programs are written in one of many different programming languages; and the work is all tested to assure that it runs both bug free and solves the problem it was intended to solve. Web developers play a critical role in redefining the competitive landscape of a business, helping firms realize their digital ideas though sites that offer catalog information, advertising, and other forms of content. They are also vital is assisting businesses in electronic procurement and related supply-chain transactions, help desk and other types of consumer support, and intra-company communication and collaboration.

The following occupations represent some career opportunities available. Some will require additional education. For additional information, please contact Student Advisement and Career Planning

Programmer
Software Engineer
System Analyst
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Technical Support Specialist
Database Administrator
Operations Research Analyst
Chief Technology Officer
Systems Engineer
Software Engineer
Web Developer

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAL WEB SITES:

UA Fort Smith College of Applied Science and Technology: Database Management
UA Fort Smith College of Applied Science and Technology: Networking
UA Fort Smith College of Applied Science and Technology: Programming
UA Fort Smith College of Applied Science and Technology: Web Developing
Career Exploration Links: bsu.edu/careers/students/links
Career Strategies: careers.siue.edu/majors
Employment Outlook: infoplease.com/ipa/A0854971.html
O*NET: onetcenter.org
Occupational Outlook Handbook: bls.gov/oco/
Salary Wizard: salary.com
Volunteer Match: volunteermatch.org
Arkansas Labor Market Information: discoverarkansas.net/
American Society for Information Science and Technology: asis.org/
Association of Information Technology Professionals: aitp.org/
Careers in Information Technology & Informatics (Rutgers Univ.): rci.rutgers.edu/~cswebpg/Informatics.htm
Information Technology Association of America: itaa.org
Management Information Systems (Univ. of Wisconsin Oshkosh Career Services): uwosh.edu/career/pages/Management_Infromation_Systems.htm