Online Master’s Degree in Telecommunications

A quality online Master’s Degree in Telecommunications can be used to advance into managerial and leadership roles in the dynamic field of telecommunications. The flexibility and convenience of the online format allows the student to network with other telecommunications professionals from the comfort of home.

Online Master’s Degrees in Telecommunications Requirements

Telecommunications students gain the skills necessary to effectively work with computer and communications equipment. Technology is an ever-changing field, and telecommunications specialists need to be able to move quickly within this environment. Students should be organized and detail-oriented. They should be able to work with situations that call for research and analysis of operating systems. Students entering into a online master degree in telecommunications from a good online school are entering a growing field in the computer industry.

A bachelor’s degree is typically required prior to entrance to an online master’s degree program in telecommunications. Some bachelor’s degrees that would transfer include:

• Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
• Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology
• Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications Management

Professionals who pursue an online master’s degree program in telecommunications from a quality online school can seek professional positions in a fast growing field with good pay. Students will take part in asynchronous discussions, reading, writing master’s level papers and workplace-oriented assignments based on technological advances in the telecommunications field. Hands-on courses may be required.

Online Telecommunications Master’s Degree Education

Good online master’s degree programs in telecommunications require about 36 credit hours, and typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of telecommunications degrees offered by the best master’s programs online include:

• Telecommunications Management
• Organizational Management and Telecommunications

Information on Telecommunications Courses

An accredited online masters degree in telecommunications focuses on organizational theory, telecommunications concepts, project management, and managerial accounting and business information networks. Some core courses in a good online masters degree in telecommunications could include the following:

• Communication Technologies
  This course identifies general trends and topics in computer communication theory, and provides a foundation for analysis, design, implementation, and management of communication systems in a computer.
• Decision Support System
  Students review the concepts and methods of decision making in the technology field with an emphasis on design, implementation, and evaluation of the Decision Support System. Students receive hands-on experience with this system.
• Information Systems for Decision-Making
  Information requirements of an organization are studied in this course as students discuss different kinds of information needed at operational, administrative, strategic, and organizational levels. Students discuss planning and implementing an information system and analyzing effectiveness.
• Advanced Current Topics in Computer Information Systems
  Students review current advanced topics in computer information systems. This course changes with current topic, and students may take it more than once with different topics.
• Software Engineering
  This course presents an integrated approach to developing and documenting software driven systems. It distinguishes between the needs of the end-use and behavior specification, and analyzes software development issues.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because telecommunications is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online master’s students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Telecommunications Management
• Information Systems

Careers in Telecommunications

The best online masters programs in telecommunications qualify students to seek employment or advancement in the following areas:

• Information Technology Manager
  Information technology managers are responsible for managing, implementing, and maintaining policies and goals that support an organization’s information technology needs. They ensure proper function of the information processing system, and oversee upgrades. Information technology managers ensure proper functioning of computer equipment, hardware, and software, including regular necessary updates. Information technology managers make an average yearly salary between $91,166 and $124,834. Growth is projected to be moderate at 10% by the year 2014.
• Telecommunications Specialist
  Telecommunications specialists design, develop, monitor, coordinate, and conduct technical evaluations on voice communications systems, data communications systems, and other technology systems. They make recommendations for using new and advanced equipment and techniques based on projected performance and cost. Telecommunications specialists make an average yearly salary between $71,000 and $85,000, and can look at good projected growth through the year 2018 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Network Operations Manager
  Network operations managers are responsible the daily performance and availability of the organization’s network. They analyze the network and recommend changes, assess current and future network needs, and oversee the network staff and issues. Network operations managers can make an annual salary of between $83,784 and $107,752.
• Telecommunications Manager
  Telecommunications managers develop, maintain, and monitor all local area networks and wide area networks for an organization. They are involved in network administration, including serves, desktop systems, communications hardware and software, and office systems.
  Telecommunications managers can make an average annual salary of around $85,000
• Network Engineering Manager
  Network engineering managers plan, configure, install, and coordinate local area networks, and wide area networks. They ensure an efficient infrastructure within budgetary demands, and provide the technological tools necessary to run operations. Network engineering managers can make an average annual salary of around $112,723.

An accredited online master’s degree program in telecommunications provides the opportunity for great advancement in a growing, challenging field. Professionals in computer fields are highly sought after and enjoy strong, stable salaries.