Three Reasons to Become a Paralegal Associate's Degrees: The Fast Track to Returning to the Workforce The Two Biggest Reasons to Become a College Administrator Three Hot Jobs in Education Administration With an Education Degree, the World is Your Classroom

How to Take Advantage of IT Outsourcing

By Clare Kaufman
Learning & Life Columnist

Last year, an estimated $350 billion worth of technical support work was outsourced by U.S. companies alone--but information technology is still one of the fastest-growing industries within the U.S. as well. The beneficiaries of the exported jobs are international workers with training in IT support and other key business roles. Graduates of online information technology programs have the technical training to land lucrative computer support jobs anywhere in the world, from India to Indiana, USA.

Online information technology degrees level the playing field for international students, affording access to state-of-the-art technology and expert instruction. Information technology is a versatile field that can include help-desk support, network administration, database management, Web design, business applications, computer information systems, basic programming and much more. IT training may be basic or advanced, from specialized certificates to associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees.

Requirements for International Students

Prerequisites for online information technology degrees depend on the level of degree you seek:

Certificates: These short, focused seminars may not specify a prerequisite, but many are designed for working professionals who need to develop expertise in a particular field or program. Unless the program announces itself as an 'Introduction' or 'Basics' course, it may not be suitable for an entry-level student.

Associate's and Bachelor's Degrees: A high school GED or equivalent is required for college degrees. Some schools might ask international students to supplement their secondary education with language or other general education courses. TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, is also a standard requirement.

Master's Degrees: The two-year graduate degree requires a bachelor-level qualification, as well as the language prerequisites specified above.

IT and computer information systems personnel play crucial roles in contemporary business: they are responsible for keeping the communications and data infrastructure running smoothly. It's no wonder companies worldwide are willing to pay a premium for qualified IT staff.

Sources

• Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Computer Systems Analysts"
• MSNBC, "How to ride the global outsourcing wave"

About the Author
Clare Kaufman is a freelance writer specializing in education and career advice. She has a graduate degree in English.

More Online Learning Articles

Add to My Favorites

	Location: --- All Locations --- Online ------------------------ Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico ------------------------ Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Territory London Degree: --- All Degrees --- Associate Bachelor Master Doctoral Diploma Certificate Coursework Subject: --- All Subjects --- Architecture Arts and Design Beauty and Cosmetology Business Communication and Media Computer Culinary Education Engineering Health and Clinical Legal and Law Enforcement Liberal Arts and Humanities Other Science Social Services Travel and Hospitality Vocational/Technician Program: --- Select a Subject ---

	AA in Accounting AA in Communications More Programs Associate's (AABA) - Criminal Justice Administration Associate's (AABA) - Healthcare Administration More Programs Game Art & Design Graphic Design More Programs

	Earn a degree in your own time. Discover your online degree options.