UNIVERSITY CORNER: UMBC
A: One clear advantage for servicemembers is that when they leave the military they are particularly well positioned to fill the numerous positions within the IT industry that require security clearances. We find that security clearances are one of the most common issues that many employers raise when talking about their IT recruiting needs. Military personnel with relevant IT knowledge and skills may be in the best position for these jobs not only due to the clearance issue, but also due to their background knowledge, which is relevant for government and military contractors who do a significant amount of hiring in this field.
When you consider the level of IT sophistication in the military and federal government, servicemembers often possess a unique, high-end skill set that is attractive to many private sector organizations. Many of UMBC’s [information systems] graduates end up working for defense contractors, such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, as well as federal, state and local government agencies, and private organizations such as AT&T, Verizon and many others.
The IT and IS jobs outlook, despite the economy, appears healthy according to most projections. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook shows six IT and IS jobs rank in the top 20 of positions that are growing faster than the overall national average—this was recently reported by CareerBuilder.com. These occupations are computer software and applications engineers at No. 7, computer systems analysts at No. 10, computer software and systems software engineers at No. 12, network systems and data communications analysts at No. 14, computer support specialists at No. 18, network and computer systems administrators at No. 20. Jobs such as these—with their faster-than-average growth—coupled with strong college credentials and military hands-on experience and problem-solving skills lead me to believe that opportunities are favorable for servicemembers planning on post-military IT careers.
Q: What are the most advanced or sophisticated areas of IT under development by the military right now, and how does that work inform or complement research in the academic world?
A: I believe it’s fair to say that some of the research within UMBC’s information systems department may impact the military. For example, the military has a strong interest in getting information to military personnel when and where they need it regardless of their circumstances. Some of our other research has benefited federal agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, and current research may, in time, assist other federal agencies such as Homeland Security and the Departments of Transportation and Agriculture.
One area of research and study that stands to benefit in-service military personnel can be found in our human-centered computing programs. UMBC offers both master’s and doctoral degrees in this area where the end user is of highest consideration. Some of the areas of specialization include usability engineering, information visualization, collaborative applications and mobile computing. One area of specialization [that] can be particularly important for a variety of military applications and defense contract-oriented technology … is an area of specialization we refer to as situationally induced impairments, where the focus is on IT use when the environment in which an individual is located, or the other activities in which they are engaged, creates significant demands that may hinder the use of standard IT solutions.
Q: Apart from financial considerations, what factors should prospective students consider in choosing a school?
A: Depending on a student’s desired field of study, I always recommend choosing an accredited university that has a notable reputation and a strong curriculum in the preferred discipline. With regard to IT or IS studies, I feel that UMBC’s research activity makes our undergraduate and graduate programs worth serious consideration. Our research faculty is ranked in the nation’s top 10 for scholarly activity, along with other prestigious schools such as Georgia Tech and Carnegie Mellon. Many of our graduate students who are working in the private sector say they apply new skills and methodologies at their jobs well before graduation. This makes them more valuable to their employers and also allows them to put classroom studies into practice. Because UMBC also offers an online master’s in information systems, servicemembers are able to pursue their studies entirely online. This is particularly advantageous for active military personnel who want to get a jump on a master’s education in IS before exiting the military. With UMBC’s online master’s, geography does not prohibit adults from getting a master’s in IS from our university. Military personnel currently enrolled in our online master’s in information systems enjoy knowing that they can continue their studies no matter where TDY or PCS assignments take them.
UMBC continues to be one of the largest producers of information technology students in the country, especially when you look at those institutions that are producing the latest research and infusing the results of these activities into their curriculum. Currently, the IS department alone has more than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in our programs—both on-campus and in our online master’s in information systems. That said, our online program student body continues to grow, becoming more popular among working IT professionals nationally and abroad. ♦