Best Information Technology PhD Programs

Ph.D programs are optimized for students with a strong, in-depth understanding of subject matter relevant to IT. Candidates with master's degrees demonstrating knowledge in computer science disciplines are generally considered strong candidates. It is important to bear in mind that admission requirements are determined at both the institutional and departmental levels. For a candidate to qualify for a program, they have to submit a suite of application material required by both the school and specific department where they are applying to do the IT Ph.D. program. In addition to meeting overall requirements for the institution, programs may also require GMAT or GRE test scores to show comprehension and competency. Applicants are expected to have a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and a resume.

Typically, prospective IT Ph.D. students need to hold master's degrees in various subjects. This could include software engineering, mathematics or computer science. Students with a bachelor's degree in IT or other related fields may also be admitted to programs. These students would have to meet the qualifying test scores in either the GMAT or GRE. Applicants are furthermore expected to have a base understanding of software, hardware and information architecture systems.

While there are no official professional prerequisites for a Ph.D in IT, students are encouraged to have work experience in IT-related fields. This can be demonstrated through submitting a resume.

Accreditation acts as a way of assessing the quality of higher education institutions, faculty and programs. Accreditation is a way for institutions and programs to show that the education they provide is of the required quality and standard. Accreditation agencies provide the necessary evaluation and monitoring. The United States Secretary of Education recognizes agencies that are considered reliable and credible evaluators of higher education through the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs or (DAPID).

When considering a program, an applicant should consider if the school is recognized by a reliable accreditor. Additionally, programs themselves may be accredited in addition to the institution. Applicants can consult with the U.S. Department of Education's database of accredited institutions or check the institution's website for their accreditation information.

Earning a Ph.D. in IT will typically take about five years. Students can expect to take 60 or more credits in the five year period, with nine credits per semester considered a full-time commitment. Additionally, students admitted to a Ph.D. program who have not obtained a master's degree can expect to complete more credits than those who have obtained a master's. Should students have to complete retakes of courses because they haven't met course requirements, this will slow down the time taken to complete their doctorate.

Students have the option to accelerate their degree completion time through heavier course loads or taking summer courses Some programs do, however, limit the number of accelerated courses a student can take and may reduce available funding for exceeding the basic course requirements.

Each program has different course options and concentrations. Institutions will set their own course requirements. Despite this, there are some common elements irrespective of where you may complete a doctoral degree. In general, students are required to take general courses to ensure they gain a broad understanding of the degree field. This followed by specialized courses, a research component, as well as qualifying exams.

Ph.D. programs typically aim to set students up for success in research and academic settings upon degree completion. To do so, programs are structured to aid students to gain in-depth knowledge of their chosen research topic. Courses vary depending on programs, however, students may expect to complete courses such as:

• Cybersecurity Research
• Artificial Intelligence
• Algorithms
• Organizational Theory
• Software Development
• Technical Foundations

Students also can expect to take research methods courses, statistics and approved electives. These electives can range from courses linked to the IT discipline or can be located outside your program area, provided they are approved by the Ph.D. committee in the department. Students can expect to have some flexibility to choose courses within the concentration to explore topics that interest them specifically, in accordance with approval from the Ph.D. committee. Despite choosing a concentration, students may have overlapping courses with other concentrations such as strategy and statistics. Students who are offered teaching assistantship are generally required to take a teaching course in order to learn about the institutional standards and processes for teaching.

Preparing Your Information Technology Dissertation

In order to advance to candidacy, students must demonstrate their knowledge and completion of the required courses. Students select their advisor and committee within the first two years of their program. Once a student has passed certain courses and selected their Ph.D. committee, they can proceed to take a qualifying exam. Once a student passes their qualifying exam, they are moved into candidacy. This typically occurs during the third and fourth years of the program.

After entering candidacy, students work with their advisor to develop their dissertation proposal. This proposal must be presented and defended at a PhD committee. If the dissertation is approved the candidate is allowed to continue with researching and writing their dissertation. Certain research topics require students to complete lab or fieldwork where students have to collect different types of data. Students work closely with their advisor and will devise a clear research plan to help them complete the work required to finish their dissertation.

Concentrations allow for more specialized research and help students learn more about their dissertation topic. Information technology programs tend to offer a wide variety of opportunities for research and concentrations. Common concentrations include branches in the technical world such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity research tracks. Students may also opt for concentrations within economic branches including mathematical projections for economists and statistics. IT students can also specialize in operations and managerial aspects of the IT field. This concentration typically includes strategy and organizational or database management.

Technical Concentration

Technical concentrations are designed for students to learn and research topics in greater depth. These topics may include perspectives and classes on programming, AI, cybersecurity and machine learning. Students pursuing the technical concentration should anticipate taking courses that focus on programming topics such as algorithms, software development and data mining. These concentrations also encourage research in AI and machine learning.

Economic Concentration

The economics concentration within IT programs set students up to work with mathematicians and economists through utilizing various IT techniques and skills. Students interested in examining topics such as econometrics, game theory, mathematical projections, and models for economic purposes are well suited for this concentration. Generally, this concentration will feature an assortment of interdisciplinary courses from other graduate departments such as economics and business, mathematics and general sciences. As with all concentrations, the economic track allows students to explore topics that interest them through elective courses approved by the Ph.D. committee.

Managerial and Organization Concentration

A common third concentration within Ph.D. programs for IT is the managerial and organizational specialization. This concentration highlights courses such as statistics, strategy and organizational and cognitive management. Similar to the economics concentration, the managerial concentration typically overlaps with other disciplines. These disciplines may include Psychology, Law, Education and Sociology.

Students taking a managerial concentration can expect to work on projects that focus on the role of IT within social and organizational settings. This concentration may also touch on topics concerning social media marketing, data analysis and business uses of IT. Students who are interested in focusing on the management of data, analytics and their social impacts and uses may find the managerial and organizational tracks a great complement to their research.

Information technology is a broad subject that can be taught under numerous names and degree levels. Prospective students should consider degrees that don't specifically include IT in their title but are closely related; for example information systems or cybersecurity. There are distinct differences in information technology and information systems despite these terms oftentimes being used interchangeably. Information system doctoral programs are typically available through online options or the more traditional on-campus degree route.

For doctoral study in the area of information security management there are some exciting choices, or prospective students can consider the current topical area of cybersecurity either via online programs or specific programs that will cater to students who prefer an on-campus experience. A Ph.D. offering in these areas will cover topics related to enhancing computer security systems and researching ways to reduce cyberattacks. It will also include the more common information technology study areas of software development and statistics. Another expanding area of study and research at the Ph.D. level is that are health information technologies (HIT). This is an established professional area in IT and those interested in pursuing advanced study in this area should be aware of the educational requirements and useful career information linked to this field.

A Ph.D. in IT is the highest degree level available within the university system. There are, however, programs at other levels for those seeking a degree or certificate in information technology.

Information Technology Associate Degrees

Associate degrees offer opportunities for students to gain a basic level of knowledge of IT. This degree works for students who just need an entry-level degree so they can pursue a career in IT and who might want to transfer to a bachelor's degree at a later stage. Courses offer a broad understanding of technical skills such as software engineering, network management and databases. Some programs may allow students to concentrate on specific tracks. These tracks can range from general IT to software development to networking and analytics.

Information Technology Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor's degrees in information technology are ideal for anyone looking to complete a more comprehensive study program. This degree type allows students to learn foundational knowledge of the subject areas through lectures and hands-on lab courses. Because the degree typically takes four years and requires students to complete at least 120 credits, students will dive into more complex topics. Some programs may allow students to specialize in a topic of their choice.

Information Technology Master's Degrees

Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree in IT or a related field may find that a Master of Science in Information Technology provides a way to extend their advanced studies in IT. It is also the stepping stone to completing a doctoral degree in this subject area. Master's programs offer research opportunities within concentrations such as cybersecurity and information management. A master's degree takes approximately two years on the full time track. Students can expect to take courses in software engineering, security risk analysis and cyber law. The online catalog of courses at the University of Texas San Antonio provide some good examples of the different master's programs in IT on offer. Master's graduates can go on to roles such as information technology managers, software engineers and computer support specialists.

Information Technology Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificates are a good option for students who want to explore topics in IT without committing to a full degree. Typically, graduate certificates are 12 credit hours and provide opportunities to gain knowledge in IT-related courses such as technology management, cybersecurity and software engineering. Certificates are particularly beneficial for those who don't want to invest extended periods of time or money to gain a degree but want to gain key baseline knowledge and skill to enter the job market. It is also an excellent option for those with a foundational degree but who want to supplement their knowledge and skill in specific hot-topic areas. Gaining a certificate can also boost career prospects and make you more marketable when job hunting.

After completing Ph.D. in IT, graduates typically pursue careers as academics, professors, researchers or technology specialist. Some of the employment opportunities in the broad field of information technology include government work, technology or IT firms, aerospace and robotic organizations. IT graduates with Ph.Ds. also work in medical fields, software development, and managerial roles such as directors, chief information, and chief technical officers. Some of the specific career options for those with a particular interest in the management side of IT would include such roles as computer systems analysts, network administrators and systems managers.

Become a Professor

One of the most common careers pursued by Ph.D. graduates in IT is in the postsecondary education sector. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows an anticipated growth in postsecondary computer science instructors of 3% from 2019-2029. The average median salary for postsecondary educators in the computer science field is $85,540 as of May 2020.

This career offers graduates opportunities to become professors and faculty within higher education institutions. Pursuing this career may also lead to opportunities to conduct research and publish articles and texts. While completing an IT Ph.D., students often have to teach. Therefore, taking up a teaching position at a university or college will not be unfamiliar to most PhD graduates.

A primary benefit of following a college or university career is the possibility of a tenure position. A tenured position gives professors' job security and provides the freedom to continue research and publishing activities.

Become a System Architect

Systems architects are responsible for creating, maintaining and upgrading computer architecture. This includes working on communication networks such as local area networks (LANs) and wide-area networks (WANs). To do this, architects work with cloud-based systems, database management and computer system administration to anticipate needs and manage existing networks.

According to the BLS, the average median salary, since May 2020, for a systems architect is $116,780. Demand for this occupation is growing steadily with a projected 5% growth from 2019 to 2029.

System architects are primarily office jobs, with some server room work from time to time. Work environments include in-house for a corporation or for a firm that is contracted out to smaller organizations. Both career paths have benefits, depending on a graduate's preferences for their specific career goals.

Become a Research Scientist

A growing career area in the wider IT field is that of research. Research Scientists can expect to develop new coding languages, new technologies or AI systems. Research scientists may also work to improve existing technologies like hardware and networks and computing languages. An inviting benefit of this career track is the potential for working with interdisciplinary groups such as Electrical Engineers.

The BLS projects 15% growth in this career between 2019 and 2029. The average median salaries are $126,830 as of May 2020.

Research scientists can work in federal government departments as well as for software publishers and universities. They can work on areas that are more business orientated or in medicine and science. Research scientists are often required to publish their research. Graduates keen to continue doing research after their PhD might find this career option an ideal choice.

There is an assortment of professional organizations for IT graduates to join. The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) services various technology fields. CompTIA also offers student memberships, career tools, networking opportunities with other professionals and access to certifications.

Another well-recognized organization is the IEEE Computer Society. The IEEE Computer Society allows members to connect with professionals worldwide. Their site also provides helpful resources on how professionals can get their research published, find conferences or gain access to journals, articles and videos.

There are other specialized organizations that IT professionals can join. Some examples include:

• The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
• User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA)
• Association for Computing Machinery

There are also other professional organizations that cater for those working in specialists IT fields, such as, user experience, networks, cybersecurity and education-focused technologies. Many organizations require annual dues to join and maintain memberships. Some do, however, offer student subscriptions for current students at lower rates than professional members. Students may also have access to scholarship opportunities through professional organizations as well as networking opportunities to grow their portfolio and find careers and internships.

How Much Does a Doctorate in Information Technology Cost?

Tuition can cost around $9000 per semester. An example of the average cost of attendance is outlined by the University of Texas San Antonio takes into account tuition, books, cost of living and other various expenses. These costs will vary depending on whether the students attend an in-state or out-of-state university. Apart from tuition, living expenses, such as accommodation and food and books should also be included when calculating the cost of your doctorate studies.

Funding is a crucial way of financing your PhD studies and many programs offer funding opportunities that cover the cost of tuition as well as a living stipend. Students may need to take on teaching or research work through a research and teaching assistantship offered by their program to qualify for funding. Some departments may also offer to fund students who work as administrative aids. Many schools also offer reduced tuition for qualifying students. This includes those with military, employer or alumni benefits. For example, the University of Texas San Antonio provides a list of students who qualify for tuition exemption or reduced charges. It is, therefore, a good idea to see what funding opportunities are available at the school or university you are interested in attending.

For those students completing a PhD where this type of funding isn't available, they can apply for financial aid, scholarships or student loans provided by their university or college. Students will need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA determines a student's eligibility for financial aid. In addition to standard financial aid, FAFSA also serves as a resource to find grants, loans, work-study jobs and scholarships. One common option for graduate students is the Graduate PLUS loan. These loans are created for graduate and professional students specifically.

There are also scholarships, fellowships and grants awarded through other government agencies and foundations. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a government agency that award grants for several fields and research areas within Information Technology. The NSF Scholarship in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Programs (S-STEM) is an example of such a grant. The NSF website provides a wealth of information about the different scholarships they award.