Sandburg IT Programs Prepare Students in Emerging Industry

  Aaron Frey
  Thursday, April 22, 2021 1:33 PM
  Campus News

Galesburg, IL

Each time you log in to check your email, view the latest posts on Instagram or see what’s trending on Twitter, it’s easy to forget the internet can still be a place where your personal information is vulnerable.

“When we go online, we take a lot of risk, but we don't pay any attention to other bad things happening in cyberspace,” said Dr. Suvineetha Herath, information and communication technology instructor at Carl Sandburg College. “If we don't put security measures in, cyber security is not a product.”

Sandburg is doing its part to help alleviate that risk by preparing students through two information technology program pathways. The College offers an IT & cyber security Associate in Applied Science (AAS) program for students interested in immediately joining the workforce after graduating. It also offers an Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in information & communication technology for those interested in continuing toward their bachelor’s degree at a four-year school.

“Our IT certificate programs are a great entry point for graduates in this field, but completing their associate degree really enhances the employment prospects that may be available to them.” Herath said. “To go to the next level in this field, many employers require a bachelor’s degree. We wanted to give our students an opportunity to do that, and this Associate in Arts program helps students easily transfer their credits to a four-year college or university.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computer and IT occupations is projected to grow 11 percent from 2019-29, adding more than 500,000 new jobs nationwide. The median annual wage for occupations in the field as of May 2020 was $91,250, more than double the median annual wage for all occupations. In this area, employees with jobs related to these programs typically make more than $24 per hour.

One of the most attractive parts of working in this field, Herath said, is that many employees have the ability to work remotely or even from home. As the world becomes more globalized, IT professionals often aren’t limited to working in the same area as their employer.

“Until recently, cyber security or IT jobs basically focused on that specific area,” Herath said. “But now students can graduate, work from home and do work anywhere, in any state.”

An added bonus for students in Sandburg’s IT & cyber security AAS program is that they can earn four certificates from the College as they work toward their degree. Stackable certificates include computer support, computer technician, network security and Cisco networking, allowing students to earn industry-based certifications while pursuing their AAS. Herath said that component is important because it helps students gain knowledge in several different areas of IT — such as policies and risk management — that go beyond just technology.

“If you think about this field, it's kind of like an orchestra or music concert where there are many different types of instruments working together. It's a multidisciplinary field,” Herath said. “In this program, we want students to learn and master all the concepts they need to succeed in the field.”

Herath stressed that these programs are not just for those who already have a love of computers. The IT and cybersecurity world has a need for employees with talents in other areas as well, like writers, artists and graphic designers.

“In the early days of computing, this field was only for computer scientists,” Herath said. “But right now people wear many hats in this area. They just need to have an interest in the field.”

To learn more about information technology & cyber security programs at Sandburg, contact the Carl Sandburg College Welcome Center at 309.345.3500 or welcomecenter@sandburg.edu.

In this 2019 photo, Carl Sandburg College information and communication technology instructor Dr. Suvineetha Herath assists students examining hardware on a computer. Sandburg offers an IT & cyber security Associate in Applied Science (AAS) program and an Associate in Arts degree with a concentration in information & communication technology.