News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Vol State ranks number one for its online Computer Information Technology program according to tech website ZD Net.
Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Eric Melcher said the online courses focus on cyber defense, networking and programming.
“What’s cool about it is a lot of these classes can include industry certifications that students can work for,” Melcher said. “Those are very important to employers, so we try to combine all that into an educational package that will make them ready to go out in the field in a whole number of positions.”
Melcher said the degree prepares students to strategically solve issues with software and applications. Each program includes five core computer courses and 11 concentration-specific classes.
“They are all just red hot job fields,” Melcher said. “I think when people think computer information technology and they think you have to be putting together computers. Back in the day computer science might have been very different, but today, it’s a lot more based in software and applications that you use anyways.”
The associate degree program is available for all Vol State students with some in-person classes at the Cookeville and Livingston campus. Melcher said the program has been popular among students.
“But, we can certainly fit in more students,” Melcher said. “I think that some people did get scared away by the computer information technology side of things. Thinking they are going to get plugged in to a specific job, but really it allows you to be considered for all sorts of jobs.”
