Degree for IT management role

Hi all,

I've been working in IT for 16 years. Of that time, I spent 15 years as a network engineer and sysadmin and the last year as an InfoSec analyst. I've recently passed SSCP and CISSP and have some older IT certs. I'm currently studying for CISM and ITIL qualifications. My plan for the next 10 years is to get in IT/InfoSec management, with the ideal goal of senior IT/InfoSec management (director, CIO) within 10 years. My experience and certs will help me, but without a degree (which I currently do not have), I will find it very hard to achieve my end goal.

So I'm going to enroll in Open University and study for a 6 year bachelor's degree, which I'll undertake in my spare time. However, I'm unsure how to proceed. Logically, I know I should go for a degree in computing. But I'm tired of being technical. I don't want to do the networking, Linux or programming routes - I've been there and done that. That just leaves the computer science route, but this doesn't interest me and I'm not great at math.

What I do love is reading and writing. I've always wished I'd studied for an English language/literature degree when I was younger. So my question is: does it matter what subject I have a degree in, when it comes to getting the management roles? Would the fact I have a degree in English (or law & criminology - that's another area I'm interested in) and not one in computing make a difference in getting hired? Let's face it - for a management role, I need experience (got that), certificates in my area of specialism (got those in abundance) and a degree. Does it really matter what subject the degree is in?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Jon

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Comments

whotime

speaking from a guy who is currently dealing with this also i would say go the business admin route for your degree. You have the technical knowledge and certifications now just add a manager type degree and the sky is the limit IMO.

jonwinterburn

whotime wrote: »

speaking from a guy who is currently dealing with this also i would say go the business admin route for your degree. You have the technical knowledge and certifications now just add a manager type degree and the sky is the limit IMO.

Oh really? That's interesting to hear I'm not alone. Thank you! Okay, so looking at OU, the following degrees are available. Which do you think looks the best?

BA (Honours) Leadership and Management - Q54 - BA (Honours) Leadership and Management - Open University Degree

or:

BA (Honours) Business Management - Q91 - BA (Honours) Business Management - Open University Degree

N2IT

I don't know but a specific degree, you can have CS, BS, Accounting, Engineering, I think what seals the deal is experience and skills and of course soft skills. JMHO

anhtran35

Experience>Certification>........................................Degree.

I have a college degree in Criminal Justice.

I have 10 years IT experience.

Several IT certifications.

My suggestion is for management get a PMP.

Polynomial

anhtran35 wrote: »

My suggestion is for management get a PMP.

Uh, no. Not unless you specifically want to be a project manager.

The shoe in suggestion here is to get some sort of BS then get an MBA or something.

anhtran35

Uh no. Although PMP is specifically design for PM work it is recognize as a certification for Managers.

hurricane1091

Polynomial wrote: »

Uh, no. Not unless you specifically want to be a project manager.

The shoe in suggestion here is to get some sort of BS then get an MBA or something.

He is right. Every manager has at least a BS, many have an MBA.

N2IT

I honestly think you could skimp on the 48 hours for an MBA and go with a MIT which is usually 36 hours. Just an idea.

I think getting the PMP solely for the purpose of being an operational IT manager is strange.

jonwinterburn

So what do you guys think about this degree? Along with my experience and IT/InfoSec certs, would it work well for senior management?

Q91 - BA (Honours) Business Management - Open University Degree

Thanks!