Degree in IT from education background?

[Ubuntu_user]

My Dad has been teaching in public education for many years, and he's wondering if it would be very easy for him to switch over to the IT field... He got his bachelors back the early '80s, but he has a total of something like 160-170 credits, so would it be better for him to get into a Masters track, or do another bachelors? Also, will his previous degree transfer in, or count for anything? And one more question, what online college would be the best for what he needs (working full time + studying)?

Thanks everyone for your help!

[irnbru]

This is a slightly different question to those normally asked. Due to the time-limited relavance of IT education, I would strongly recommend that your father looks at completing a new course of study.

A bachelors may take a couple of years, as credit-by-exam options are limited. On the other hand, post graduate distance-learning options are wide open. In the same, or almost-certainly-less amount of time, your father could gain a post postgraduate qualification in an IT subject.

There are several post graduate courses available for a graduate who's first bachelors is not in computer science. This doesn't mean he has to study comp sci and he could do happily do IT, MIS, ergonomics or similar. In addition, as far as I understand, a masters would gain him additional standing as a teacher. He might want to look further abroad at distance learning programmes, including the UK?

Have a look at Home page: Graduate jobs, Postgrad study, Work Experience, Graduate Career Information | Prospects.ac.uk and tick the 'distance learning' check box for options. There is a good chance of finding an affordable UK masters by distance-learning for non-IT graduates.

Good luck to your dad.

[JDM]

What if he leveraged his background in teaching by focusing on either training or educational technology? Something like this: Penn State | Online Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology Integration | Overview.

If he's looking for a more technical track in software development, Harvard Extension has an excellent online graduate certificate in software engineering (new this year). It would be tough without a programming background, though. Software Engineering Certificate | Software Engineering Courses

If he's more interested in networking and operations than he is in the software side, professional certifications are more important than a university credential. I don't know much about that part of the industry, but other people can chime in there.

[Ubuntu_user]

Interesting guys—thanks for the input! Yeah, I think it'd be a better use of his time to go after a graduate level degree. He'd like to run the school district's system, or a hospital's, etc.
I thought that the MBA in IT Management looked interesting from WGU, but he has no background in Computer Science so would the degree even equip him for what he'd need to know?