Technology continues to influence how businesses operate, protect information, analyze data, and develop digital products. As organizations invest in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data analytics, students are increasingly interested in educational programs that prepare them for technical careers.
For students considering higher education in the United States, selecting a course requires more than looking at a popular subject or an impressive university name. It is important to understand what the program teaches, which qualifications are required, how much it costs, and whether the curriculum aligns with a student’s career goals.
The good news is that several established US universities offer degree programs focused on these areas, including online options for eligible students.
This guide examines five technology study options, identifies real university programs, and explains the employment outlook using official US government data. Program availability, tuition, admission requirements, and course offerings should always be confirmed on the university’s official website before applying.
Why Technology Courses Are Receiving Attention
Businesses across healthcare, finance, retail, manufacturing, education, and government rely on digital systems. These systems create demand for people who can develop software, interpret data, secure computer networks, and build or maintain modern computing infrastructure.
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment of data scientists will grow by 33.5% between 2024 and 2034. Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow by approximately 28.5% over the same period. Software developer employment is projected to grow by 15.8%.
These are national employment projections, not guarantees that every graduate will find a job. Outcomes depend on qualifications, experience, location, work authorization, and employer requirements.
Official source: “US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Employment Projections” (https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/artificial-intelligence-information-technology-and-employment-2024-34.htm)
1. Data Science: Learning to Turn Data Into Decisions
Data science combines statistics, programming, mathematics, and analytical methods to extract useful information from large datasets.
Organizations use data science to understand customer behavior, identify business trends, improve forecasting, detect unusual transactions, and support decisions. Depending on the role, professionals may work with programming languages, statistical models, databases, visualization tools, and machine learning techniques.
Real university program: The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin offers an online Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS).
Official program website: https://cdso.utexas.edu/msds
The university describes the program as a 30-credit-hour graduate degree consisting of ten semester-length courses. Its curriculum integrates statistics and computer science.
Topics include:
– Principles of Data Science.
– Probability and simulation.
– Regression analysis.
– Data visualization.
– Machine learning.
– Data structures and optimization.
The program includes required courses and electives. Prospective students should review the current curriculum and admissions information to determine whether their previous education meets the prerequisites.
Potential career paths
Graduates with suitable skills and qualifications may pursue positions such as data analyst, business intelligence analyst, analytics specialist, or data scientist. The exact roles available depend on the student’s experience and technical preparation.
According to the BLS, data scientist employment is projected to increase by 33.5% from 2024 to 2034. The agency projects approximately 82,500 additional jobs during that period.
Official career information: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/data-scientists.htm
Who should consider this course?
Data science may suit students who enjoy mathematics, problem-solving, statistics, and programming. Before choosing a graduate program, applicants should check whether they have the necessary mathematical and computing background.
2. Cybersecurity: Protecting Digital Systems and Information
Cybersecurity focuses on protecting computers, networks, applications, and data against unauthorized access, disruption, and other digital threats.
Businesses depend on secure systems to protect customer records, financial transactions, employee information, and business operations. Cybersecurity professionals may monitor security events, investigate incidents, assess vulnerabilities, implement security controls, and help organizations manage risk.
Real university program: Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Cybersecurity.
Official program website: https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/undergraduate/bs-information-technology-cybersecurity/
The published program information identifies a 120-credit-hour degree with 40 classes. The curriculum covers subjects related to cloud architecture, cloud security and operations, security analysis, network forensics, and security compliance.
Applicants should confirm current tuition, admission requirements, course availability, and the next available start date directly with the university.
Potential career paths
Depending on training and experience, relevant career paths include:
– Information security analyst.
– Security operations center analyst.
– Digital forensics analyst.
– Cloud security administrator.
– Network security specialist.
Some positions require prior IT experience, professional certifications, or specialized technical knowledge. Completing a degree alone does not automatically qualify someone for every cybersecurity role.
What does the employment outlook show?
The BLS projects information security analyst employment to grow by 28.5% between 2024 and 2034. Its occupational information also reports a median annual wage of $124,910 for this occupation in May 2024.
That wage is a historical national median for workers in the occupation, not an expected starting salary or a guaranteed salary for graduates.
Official source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm
Who should consider cybersecurity?
This field may suit students who enjoy troubleshooting, computer networks, system administration, and investigating technical problems. A foundation in networking, operating systems, and basic scripting can be useful when preparing for advanced cybersecurity study.
3. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence (AI) involves developing computer systems that perform tasks such as recognizing patterns, processing language, making predictions, or supporting decisions. Machine learning is an area of AI in which systems learn patterns from data.
AI-related knowledge is increasingly relevant to software development, research, automation, data analysis, and product engineering. However, AI programs can be mathematically demanding, and many advanced positions require strong programming and computer science foundations.
Real university program: Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Tech offers the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS), with specializations including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.
Official program website: https://omscs.gatech.edu/
The official AI specialization curriculum includes courses such as:
– Artificial Intelligence.
– Machine Learning.
– Deep Learning.
– Computer Vision.
– Natural Language.
– Knowledge-Based Artificial Intelligence.
Course availability and specialization requirements should be checked against the current online curriculum.
Georgia Tech’s OMSCS is a graduate degree rather than a short introductory AI certificate. Prospective applicants should review the academic prerequisites, application requirements, workload, and current tuition before applying.
Potential career paths
Relevant career paths may include machine learning engineer, AI software developer, applied AI specialist, and research-oriented technical positions. Some roles require graduate-level mathematics, advanced programming, or substantial research experience.
A useful preparation plan includes learning a programming language such as Python, studying statistics and linear algebra, and completing projects that demonstrate how models are trained, evaluated, and used responsibly.
Employment outlook
The BLS projects growth in several occupations connected with AI and computing. For example, computer and information research scientist employment is projected to grow by 19.7% from 2024 to 2034.
This occupation is distinct from entry-level AI development, and research positions may require advanced qualifications. The projection should therefore not be interpreted as a direct forecast for every AI job title.
Official source: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2026/artificial-intelligence-information-technology-and-employment-2024-34.htm
4. Computer Science and Software Development
Computer science provides a broad foundation in programming, algorithms, software design, databases, operating systems, and computer systems.
Unlike a narrowly focused course, a computer science degree can support several career directions. Students may later specialize in software engineering, AI, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, mobile applications, or other technical fields.
Real university program: Georgia Tech OMSCS
Georgia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Computer Science allows eligible graduate students to select a specialization and study through online courses.
Official degree requirements: https://omscs.gatech.edu/degree-requirements
The degree requires 30 credit hours, equivalent to ten courses. Specialization requirements differ, and students must complete the program’s required coursework and academic standards.
Relevant courses offered through the program include subjects such as:
– Software Development Process.
– Database Systems Concepts and Design.
– Computer Networks.
– Introduction to Operating Systems.
– Software Architecture and Design.
– Distributed Computing.
Applicants should note that this is a master’s program. It is not designed as a substitute for an undergraduate computer science foundation, and admission is not guaranteed.
Potential career paths
Graduates with appropriate skills may pursue positions such as software developer, application engineer, backend developer, systems software engineer, or software quality assurance specialist.
Software developers create and maintain applications and systems. Their responsibilities may include gathering requirements, designing solutions, writing code, testing software, fixing defects, and collaborating with other technical professionals.
Employment and salary information
The BLS projects software developer employment to grow by 15.8% from 2024 to 2034, with approximately 267,700 additional jobs projected.
The BLS also reported a median annual wage of $133,080 for software developers in May 2024. This is an occupational median across the United States, not a promise of earnings for new graduates.
Official source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm
Who should consider computer science?
Computer science may be appropriate for students who want a broad technical foundation and are willing to develop programming, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Building projects and gaining practical experience can complement formal education.
5. Information Technology and Cloud Infrastructure
Information technology (IT) focuses on the systems organizations use to operate their digital services. It may include computer networks, databases, infrastructure, operating systems, cloud platforms, technical support, and security.
Cloud computing allows organizations to access computing resources such as storage, processing capacity, and software services over a network. IT professionals may help configure, maintain, secure, and troubleshoot these systems.
Real university program: Arizona State University
Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.
Official program website: https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-programs/undergraduate/bachelor-science-information-technology/
The university describes the program as an ABET-accredited degree covering areas including software development, networking, cybersecurity, and data management. The published program information identifies 120 credit hours and 40 classes.
Students interested in cloud careers should review the current course plan to understand how networking, system administration, security, and infrastructure topics fit into the degree.
Potential career paths
Depending on the student’s skills and experience, potential roles include IT support specialist, systems administrator, network administrator, cloud support associate, and infrastructure engineer.
Some cloud engineering positions require practical experience with specific platforms, scripting, automation, and security. Vendor certifications may help demonstrate knowledge, but their value depends on the employer and the role.
Is IT a good starting point?
IT can be a useful starting point for students who want to learn how computing systems work before moving into a more specialized area. It may also provide a foundation for further training in cybersecurity, cloud engineering, or network architecture.
Students should compare degree requirements, technical lab opportunities, internship access, and total costs rather than selecting a program based on its title alone.
Comparing These Five Study Options
Field| Example of a real university program| Useful strengths to develop
Data science| University of Texas at Austin — MSDS| Statistics, Python, analytical thinking
Cybersecurity| Arizona State University — BS in IT, Cybersecurity| Networking, operating systems, security
Artificial intelligence| Georgia Tech — OMSCS, AI specialization| Programming, mathematics, machine learning
Computer science| Georgia Tech — OMSCS| Algorithms, software design, systems
Information technology| Arizona State University — BS in IT| Networking, infrastructure, databases
The programs in this table have different entry requirements and academic levels. The UT Austin and Georgia Tech examples are graduate programs, while the Arizona State examples are bachelor’s degrees.
They should not be treated as interchangeable. The right choice depends on previous education, career objectives, financial circumstances, and the student’s preferred method of learning.
How to Choose a University Course in 2026
Before applying to a US university, follow these steps.
1. Confirm the Academic Level
Check whether the program is a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, certificate, or short course. Graduate programs typically have different admission requirements from undergraduate programs.
2. Review Admission Requirements
Look for required previous degrees, prerequisite subjects, minimum academic performance, English-language requirements where applicable, application deadlines, and supporting documents.
International applicants should check whether additional documentation is needed.
3. Calculate the Full Cost
Do not compare universities using tuition alone. Review the complete program cost, mandatory fees, learning materials, technology requirements, and any additional expenses.
Online tuition may differ by residency, program, or enrollment status. Confirm the current price directly with the institution.
4. Verify Online Study and Location Requirements
An online program may still have eligibility restrictions or particular participation requirements. International students considering online study should distinguish between studying remotely from their home country and traveling to the United States to study in person.
Degree enrollment does not automatically provide US immigration status, work authorization, or permission to work for a US employer.
5. Research Employment Outcomes
Review official occupational information, internship opportunities, career services, and the types of jobs graduates pursue. A growing occupation does not guarantee a position, and employers may expect practical skills beyond academic coursework.
6. Compare the Actual Curriculum
Read the course descriptions and identify what you will learn. For example, a student interested in cybersecurity should check whether a program includes networking, security operations, risk management, and hands-on labs.
A student interested in data science should review statistics, programming, data visualization, and machine learning requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which technology course has the strongest projected job growth?
Among the occupations discussed here, data scientists have a projected employment growth rate of 33.5% between 2024 and 2034, according to the BLS. Information security analysts are projected to grow by 28.5%.
These figures describe occupations, not entire university courses, and do not guarantee employment for graduates.
Can international students apply to these universities?
International applicants may be eligible for many US university programs, but eligibility varies by institution and degree. Applicants should review the official admissions requirements and contact the university if their previous qualifications were earned outside the United States.
Are online university degrees legitimate?
Online degrees can be legitimate academic qualifications when awarded by recognized institutions under appropriate accreditation and authorization arrangements. Students should verify the institution, specific program, and any relevant accreditation directly with official sources.
Do I need coding experience to study AI or data science?
Requirements vary by program. Advanced AI and data science degrees often expect mathematical, analytical, or programming preparation. Review the curriculum and admissions prerequisites before applying.
Does a university degree guarantee a high-paying job?
No. Employment and salary depend on factors including experience, technical ability, location, employer requirements, and work authorization. Published national wage statistics describe workers in an occupation, not guaranteed salaries for individual graduates.
Conclusion
Data science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, computer science, and information technology offer different ways to prepare for technical careers in the United States.
Real programs at the University of Texas at Austin, Georgia Tech, and Arizona State University provide examples of how students can study these fields through established university curricula. Official employment projections also show strong expected growth in several related occupations over the 2024–2034 period.
Before selecting a course, compare the curriculum, academic prerequisites, total cost, and career requirements. Verify all program details on the university’s official website, since tuition, admissions rules, and available courses can change.
A carefully selected program, combined with practical projects and ongoing learning, can help students build relevant skills for a changing technology job market.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only. Program details and employment projections can change. Confirm admission requirements, tuition, accreditation, and course availability with the relevant university and official government sources. Employment projections are estimates, not guarantees of a job or salary.
