| As technology continues to make the business | | | | engineers might work designing, planning and |
| practices of many companies more efficient, several | | | | maintaining local and wide area networks (LANs and |
| positions have become obsolete. Because the | | | | WANs) where computers within close proximities to |
| recession has made the job market additionally difficult, | | | | each other or within a geographic range are |
| individuals who are searching for a new career may | | | | connected through a network that they can all access. |
| want to consider enrolling in a technology-related | | | | Many businesses within a single building and those that |
| college degree program. Already, the number of adults | | | | operate out of several locations rely on LANs and |
| returning to colleges, universities and technical schools | | | | WANs for communications and accessing work. |
| is said to be contributing to enrollment increases | | | | Westwood College provides an online degree program |
| throughout the country. | | | | at the undergraduate level in computer network |
| In order to face the financial challenges posed by the | | | | engineering. Online courses that are part of the |
| turbulent economy, many businesses are looking for | | | | program include hands-on projects, as well as case |
| ways to cut costs wherever possible. As a result, | | | | studies. Capella University, like Westwood College, only |
| several organizations are adopting new technologies | | | | offers degrees online, and its information technology |
| that can do the work of several employees. While this | | | | master's degree online includes a network architecture |
| trend may mean that some jobs are being eliminated, | | | | specialization where students are provided hands-on |
| the growing demand for technology could increase the | | | | experiences through a Virtual Lab Environment. |
| need for skilled workers who can use these tools or | | | | In addition to hands-on experiences, many online |
| engineers who can develop them. | | | | courses and online degree programs include instruction |
| The technology needs of the healthcare industry - | | | | that's provided in multimedia formats such as |
| which might include digital medical records, patient | | | | webcasts, podcasts and video. Online college, |
| monitoring and more - are expected as well to | | | | university and technical students might interact with |
| contribute to a growth in technology employment, | | | | instructors and classmates via message boards, as |
| according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bellevue | | | | well as e-mail. Online college and university courses are |
| College in Washington State, through a $3.3 million | | | | particularly popular because of their flexibility, which |
| federal government grant, is to work with community | | | | allows students to schedule studies when the |
| colleges to expand healthcare information technology | | | | demands of family and work subside. |
| training in several states over the next two years, | | | | Students who obtain degrees in network engineering |
| according to the Center of Excellence for Information | | | | and architecture might improve their prospects through |
| and Computer Technology. There are also campus | | | | certification in "cloud services," such as creating plug |
| and online degree programs that might train students | | | | and play web apps and software that would be |
| for specific technology occupations that are expected | | | | exclusive to companies, a recent article suggests. This |
| to experience some of the fastest employment | | | | is also only a sampling of technology degrees from |
| growth. | | | | which students in campus or online degree programs |
| One of the occupations that is expected to | | | | might choose, however. Technology also is considered |
| experience growth is that of the network architect, or | | | | among the STEM (science, technology, engineering |
| network engineer, Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts | | | | and math) subject areas, where scholarships are |
| for 2008 to 2018 show. Network architects and | | | | available to encourage studies in the field. |