Each year, businesses rely increasingly on a chief information officer as they become more and more dependent on technology. Today’s leading technologies to connect with customers, link and motivate employees, and guide the enterprise toward greater efficiency in terms of operations, customer relationship management, inventory, telecommuting, and so much more. This position has gained in notoriety over recent years largely because it has become increasingly intertwined with the face of each corporation around the world. With that said, the CIO position is also one that requires no specific educational degree, no certification, and no general examination in order to ensure candidates have the proper skill set. That can make it pretty hard to narrow down educational pathways, but there are some general rules to follow when seeking to become a corporate CIO.
Start with a Tech-Related Undergraduate Program
Though the CIO title might contain “information” in its name, those considering a shot at this position should keep in mind that the job description is centrally concerned with corporate technology adoption, information privacy, and security policies within the organization. That means the best degree to get is one that’s heavily involved with technology. Among the leading options for today’s undergraduate students:
– Management Information Systems
– Computer Science
– Information Technology
– Information Security
– Intellectual Property Studies
– Computer Programming and Modeling
– Computer Systems Development
Each of these undergraduate majors takes a slightly different view of the high-tech world, but the concepts they have in common include information security, development of computer programs, and deployment of hardware systems. These are the areas that a CIO will be centrally involved as part of their position.
Pursue a Graduate Degree to Maximize Employment Opportunities
Though an undergraduate degree is a great start, and it might be enough for some smaller organization, today’s largest companies generally prefer their CIO candidates to have obtained a master’s degree in a field relate to this important executive position. The potential masters’ degrees are relatively similar to the undergraduate pursuits above. The most frequent programs undertaken by aspiring CIOs include:
– Master’s in Information Management
– Master’s in Information Systems
– Master’s in Information Technology
– Master’s in Computer Science
Like their undergraduate counterparts, these degrees are concerned with the development and deployment of software and information systems. The higher-level education presented at the graduate level will also expose potential CIOs to academic research, more intensive research of privacy and systems design, and other facets that will give them more knowledge and expertise as they deal with new technologies and handle unforeseen privacy concerns.
Related Resource: Information Systems Security Specialist
A Growing Field with Competitive Job Options for Graduates
Becoming a CIO often means studying the right topics at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and then starting in a lower position within a given organization, according to Florida Tech Online. Those with a background in privacy and information systems can expect to start at the mid-level, especially with a Masters’ degree, and quickly work their way up through senior management and entry-level executive positions before they’re offered a full-time role as the CIO in the company.
With a targeted approach to education and an understanding of what it takes to keep the company’s systems secure and its information private, those aspiring to a long-term career as a company’s chief information officer will likely find the field to be fast-growing, rewarding, and exciting over the course of their long careers.
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