Computer science plays a growing role in our daily lives—from our favorite gadgets to the cars we drive to even the website at which you're reading this article.
As technology continues to weave its way into different aspects of our daily routine, the need for skilled computer information technology professionals will continue to grow. But the current demand for computer whizzes far outweighs the supply, according to a December 2011 article on Inc.com.
With talent in short supply, companies will be fighting to add the best developers, designers, and product managers to their payrolls in 2012, writes Keith Cline, longtime headhunter and founder of the recruiting firm Dissero.
To tackle the task of training the next batch of technology specialists, some schools are turning to the Web, offering online degrees in computer information technology (CIT). U.S. News highlights the schools leading this effort in its ranking of Top Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs.
[See all of the programs ranked in U.S. News's 2012 Top Online Education Programs ranking.]
Out of 220 schools offering master's degrees in computer science or computer engineering that completed a survey by U.S. News, 26 reported offering online CIT degree programs during the 2010-2011 academic year. Online degree programs considered for the rankings have at least 80 percent of their course content available online. Those programs are ranked in four distinct areas: admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, student engagement and accreditation, and student services and technology.
[See the methodology behind the Top Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Program rankings.]
Top-ranked programs include North Carolina State University—Raleigh (admissions selectivity); Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Ga., (student engagement and accreditation); Pennsylvania State University—University Park (faculty credentials and training), and Johns Hopkins University's Whiting School of Engineering in Baltimore (student services and technology).
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