How to Learn Information Technology Online

1. Consider an online associate degree program in information technology, applicable for students who have never taken college courses in any field. Programs such as the South University degree take approximately two years and cover database design and development, object-oriented program design and modeling, Internet software development and client-server, three-tier development. A high school diploma or GED and SAT or ACT scores are required. Students interested in continuing their education may be able to apply their associate coursework to a four-year bachelor’s program.

2. Enroll in a bachelor’s degree program in information technology. Online colleges such as Western Governors University offer bachelor’s degrees in information technology and information technology specifications, such as databases, software, network administration and security. Bachelor’s degree programs usually take approximately four years to complete and require a high school diploma, GED and testing scores for admission.

3. Set up your home or office computer to comply with the online technical specifications required for your program. Schools such as DeVry University, which offers a variety of information technology bachelor’s programs online, require items such as Microsoft Office, an Internet connection (some schools require a high speed connection), email address, Flash Player, Acrobat, minimum 2 GB RAM, CD and DVD-ROM drive, minimum 160 GB hard drive, graphics and stereo cards, USB 2.0 port and anti-virus software.




4. Participate in class activities online, through web conferencing software, Internet forums and chat rooms, and by submitting assignments over email to your professors. Some programs may require you to be online at a specific time of day; others just assign work and a time frame to complete and submit it.

5. Complete coursework such as introduction to programming, information technology fundamentals, communications foundations, web programming, object oriented design and development, introduction to programming, operating systems, web technologies, networks and technical writing.








Take your education in information technology further by studying online for a master’s degree, such as the master of information technology degree available online from American Intercontinental University.

6. Topics covered include introduction to information security, cryptography concepts, database design and implementation, information systems and object-oriented application development. Applicants to a master’s program require a bachelor’s degree; some schools may require an undergraduate major in information technology, others may just require prior coursework in computer classes, but not an actual major.