Information Technology


About This Cluster

Information Technology is the use of electronic devices, such as computers and smartphones, and the internet to create, store, retrieve, and transmit data. Information Technology helps improve business productivity, making tasks easier and providing quick access to information through the use of computers, networking systems, and the Internet. The field of Information Technology offers many different career paths. A background in math and science is helpful, as well as a love of computers. IT jobs are often ‘virtual,’ meaning you can work from anywhere – even from home – by remotely logging into a computer or network system. You can design and troubleshoot software or websites remotely, as well.   Information technology is constantly changing, evolving, and growing – many of the jobs that will be available 10 years from now don’t even exist today!

Learn more about career paths in this cluster!

Skills and Interests

  1. Communications– Use oral and written communication skills in creating, expressing and interpreting information and ideas including technical terminology and information.  Develop positive customer relations to build and maintain a customer base in the IT industry.  Perform scheduling functions to meet customer needs.
  2. Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Use product/service design processes and guidelines to produce a quality IT product/service.  Implement problem-solving processes to evaluate and verify the nature of problems in the IT industry.  Employ organization and design principles to sort and group information used in the IT industry.
  3. Systems– Analyze and summarize the use of IT in business to enhance effectiveness.  Implement cross-functional teams to achieve IT project goals.  Employ project management knowledge to oversee IT projects.
  4. Ethics and Legal Responsibilities– Know and understand the importance of professional ethics and legal responsibilities.  Apply standard practices and behaviors that meet legal and ethical responsibilities and exhibit positive cyber-citizenry to understand legal issues faced by IT professionals.
  5. Technical Skills– Demonstrate knowledge of the hardware components associated with information systems.  Compare classes of software associated with the development and maintain computer systems.Identify and compare new IT trends and technologies to build an understanding of their potential influence on IT practices.
  6. Time Management — Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Northern New York Community Foundation Scholarships

Applications for academic year 2021-2022 Freshman Scholarships 

Since 1980, the Northern New York Community Foundation has awarded more than $18 million in scholarships to students from Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties.

The Community Foundation annually awards scholarships to:

  • High school seniors for their freshman year in college or technical school. Full-time enrollment is required for a one-year award.
  • High school juniors in St. Lawrence County who will plan to pursue careers in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are encouraged to apply for a one-year award.
  • Nontraditional students for any year of college or vocational, trade and technical school are also available. Part-time or full-time enrollment is required, and applicants must live in Jefferson, Lewis or St. Lawrence county. Applicants may reapply each year.

Scholarships, which can average up to $2,000, are available from three programs the Community Foundation administers:

  • Northern New York Community Foundation Scholarships — Awarded to students in liberal arts.
  • Herring College Memorial Scholarships — Awarded to students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and related fields.
  • Visiting Nurse Association Scholarships — Awarded to students in nursing and health-related fields.

The Community Foundation also stewards more than 300 restricted scholarships through funds that individual donors have established.

Education

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “most occupations in this cluster typically require a bachelor’s degree for entry. However, specific designations range from some college but no degree and moderate-term on-the-job training for computer user support specialists to a bachelor’s degree and 5 or more years of work experience in a related occupation for computer network architects.”

BOCES Programs:

Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida BOCES:

St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES:

Local College / University Majors: 

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Search colleges by location and interest here.

Earnings

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “median annual wages for these occupations ranged from $46,620 for computer user support specialists to $101,410 for systems software developers.

Additional Links 

Extended Interviews

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