| e in information science can prepare you for a career | | | | -Distance Education Training Council (DETC) |
| in information systems, user-centered design, and | | | | -Council on Occupational Education (COE) |
| networks and security. Information systems | | | | -Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and |
| professionals use object-oriented design tools to | | | | Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT) |
| design, build, implement, and test visual and | | | | Some business schools offer a information science |
| human-computer interaction skills to design and build | | | | focus. Top accrediting agencies for business schools |
| prototypes of information systems interfaces. They | | | | include: |
| also perform usability testing of these systems. | | | | -The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of |
| Networks and security specialists design, build, and test | | | | Business (AACSB) |
| LANS, WANS, Wireless, Internet, and Web-based | | | | -The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and |
| networks. Graduates in all specializations can expect | | | | Programs (ACBSP) |
| 30 to 34 percent employment growth in this field for | | | | The top regional accrediting agencies include: |
| the 2008-2018 decade. In addition, IS graduates will | | | | -Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| enjoy top salaries ranging from $66,950 per year up to | | | | -New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
| $110,920 depending on experience, specialization, and | | | | -North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| education. | | | | -Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| If a career in information science sounds appealing to | | | | -Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
| you, you can begin training by enrolling in an accredited | | | | -Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| information science degree program. Just about every | | | | In addition to admissions requirements and |
| large technical school, or traditional college or university | | | | accreditation, you should review the curriculum. The |
| has a technology department. Technical schools offer | | | | traditional information science program curriculum is the |
| IS degree programs as well. Some schools offer part | | | | standard in the academic world. Courses to look for |
| of the degree program online, while others might offer | | | | include: application development for mobile devices, |
| the entire degree program online. To find out which | | | | applications of network, computer networking |
| schools offer the learning format that best suite your | | | | laboratory, computer security, database management |
| lifestyle, visit the official website for the school you are | | | | systems, geographic information systems, graphics, |
| interested in and look for the distance learning | | | | human factors in system design, and human |
| department tab or simply visit the school of industrial | | | | information processing. Courses such as information |
| design. Either page will discuss whether or not the | | | | systems analysis, information systems design, and |
| program (or part of it) is available online. | | | | introduction to information systems are required as |
| If you plan to enroll in an online program (or school) that | | | | well as introduction to programming for information |
| is not part of a traditional college or design school, you | | | | science students, introduction to telecom and networks, |
| will have to do your homework. You should check | | | | and introduction to wireless networks. |
| accreditation status, curriculum, and admissions | | | | Information science students will learn about network |
| requirements for all online programs before applying. | | | | security, object-oriented programming for information |
| Accredited online schools, require test scores, | | | | science, physical layer of communications, |
| transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of | | | | user-centered design, and web programming. When |
| purpose, and an application fee. Online schools must be | | | | you are ready to begin looking for an on-campus or |
| accredited by an agency that is recognized by the U.S. | | | | online program, try searching through directories and |
| Department of Education. Below is a partial list of | | | | college review sites such as or You may also use |
| recognized accrediting agencies. For the complete list, | | | | popular search engines such as Bing, Ask, or Google. |
| visit the U.S. Department of Education website at | | | | Search engines are definitely useful, but it is important |
| Ed.gov. | | | | to keep in mind that college review sites and |
| -Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) | | | | directories have already done most of the searching |
| -Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and | | | | for you. Good luck! |
| Schools (ACICS) | | | | |