Which WGU IT degree is more valuable / employable?

netmonk

I was recently accepted into WGU and am getting all of my paperwork finalized. I originally wanted to go the Security route, but now I'm wondering about the Network Administration route as well. I'm just curious though, which IT degree (from WGU) will be the most employable? Which degree path has more job openings? I know these variables can change all the time, but I'm just trying to gauge future career opportunities.

I guess it comes down to this: are there more Windows Server admin jobs or more Cisco jobs? Software jobs? Health Informatics??

nhpr

Besides the bioinformatics, all just say "information technology" on the degree, so go with whatever program you think you'll like more/whichever certs you want more.

nicklauscombs

while it definitely helps to have one.... i've never once been asked about my degree when trying to land a job. pick whichever one you are most interested in.

AintRite

I have just switched programs from the Network Design and Management to the Security program for 3 reasons.

1. I really wanted to do Networking and Security but was a little scared of my background. (But with some great advice from the people here I went and changed it.

2. I think getting the CCNA is more marketable than the other certs. (in my area anyways.)

3. I plan to go into the Masters program afterward.

I think after alot of research and headache that the CCNA is just a better cert to get and is more marketable in getting some kind of Networking position. This is from researching the area I will be working in. This is my opinion only but I really don't know crap.

Best thing I know to do is look at the jobs that are available in your area and see what they are looking for. The main thing is, what would you want to do as a job.

silverspot

What is everyone's opinion on the it management business degree? After talking to my CIO, she thinks in the future, you will neither working in the cloud, i.e. Outsourced, or working in business solutions. What are your thoughts?

higherho

silverspot wrote: »

What is everyone's opinion on the it management business degree? After talking to my CIO, she thinks in the future, you will neither working in the cloud, i.e. Outsourced, or working in business solutions. What are your thoughts?

The cloud will not take everything away. The cloud is good for small businesses who cannot afford the investment in there own network but for bigger companies who need more enterprise level devices cannot sustain in a cloud environment only.

I think your CIO does not know much about IT if she is stating those reasons. With all the hacking / security issues now a days you will see a lot less development code / jobs being out sourced. Now what she should have said is that if you want to get into IT management or management in general than a business degree would be more beneficial.

Just remember that most managers are not the brightest tool in the shed when it comes to skills that keeps there company up and running everyday.

netmonk

Yes, I suppose I should have phrased my question/post a little differently. What I was really trying to find out is which career path is more employable and still enjoyable? I know this will probably open up a can of worms, so I apologize, but what field of IT do you guys see having more job openings out there AND people who enjoy the work?

Windows Server?
Cisco?
Programming (Java)?

I work in help desk right now and not really enjoying the customer relations / complaint department side of it. I enjoy the repair work, just not having to apologize everyday mistakes I didn't make. I admit, I like the idea of being able to work alone or possibly even at home, which is why I'm giving programming a second thought. But I'm sure most programming jobs aren't work-at-home, telecommute work...

I guess my REAL question is this: What do you do? Do you like your job? If you could go back, what would you rather do?

What career paths have YOU seen having more job openings available?

Which career path seems to have the most HAPPY people that actually enjoy their jobs?

Thanks and sorry if I'm rambling!

CodeBlox

I had a professor tell me that "Programming jobs" were either likely gotten by the people who were really good at it, or outsourced. :P

white96gt

The main thing you are going to have to do is find out what YOU like to do. No degree is going to automatically get you into a specific job, so pick what interests you. What makes you employable in IT is your knowledge and experience. Read up on the different aspects of IT and see what you can see yourself doing in the future. While you are working in help desk I would see if you could help out with different projects in the company and show that you want to do more than help desk.

PC509

None. A degree doesn't make you employable. YOU are what makes you employable. There are a lot of people out there with art degrees or chemistry degrees or English or whatever that are working in IT and doing a great job. It's what you learn while earning that expensive piece of paper.

What do you want to do? What looks most appealing to you? Pick that and go for it. You'll earn the degree, and have that on your resume. But, from there you can branch off into whatever direction you want. You can start with basic network administration and work up to a security professional or lead programmer... You just have to keep learning and improving yourself.