| Whether you plan to enter a master's program right | | | | -Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) |
| after college or you plan to return to school after | | | | -Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) |
| years in the industry, choosing a technology | | | | You may also look for accreditation by a regional |
| management MBA program is the first step in | | | | accrediting agencies. The following are recognized by |
| securing your financial future. In addition to | | | | the U.S. Department of Education as well: |
| competitive salaries, this career field promises to | | | | -Western Association of Schools and Colleges |
| offer stability, growth, and versatility. | | | | -Southern Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Technology managers hold roughly 293,000 positions | | | | -Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
| in the technology industry. During the next eight | | | | -North Central Association of Colleges and Schools |
| years, the workforce is expected to grow by 17%. | | | | -New England Association of Schools and Colleges |
| This means technology management MBA graduates | | | | -Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| will have an opportunity to compete for more than | | | | In addition to accreditation, you should examine the |
| 50,000 positions in the coming years. | | | | technology management curriculum carefully. In |
| According to JIST Works, earnings growth potential | | | | addition to technology and information systems, the |
| is expected to be "medium" and salaries will vary by | | | | curriculum should include advanced courses in |
| industry. For example, technology managers in | | | | economics, finance, accounting, business strategy, |
| scientific & technical consulting services average | | | | marketing management, human resources, statistics, |
| $124,100 per year, while research & | | | | manufacturing and production, and operations |
| development professionals average $120,070 per | | | | management. Major courses should include: |
| year. | | | | -Analyzing the Corporate Financial Environment of |
| To start a career in technology management, you | | | | Technology-Driven-Companies |
| should enroll in an accredited technology management | | | | -Data and Information Quality for the Information |
| MBA program. You can earn your MBA in a traditional | | | | Executive |
| or online environment. Most MBA students work in | | | | -Decision Making Tools for the Technology Manager |
| the field, full-time. The flexibility and convenience of | | | | -Enterprise Information Modeling |
| an online program allows students to keep their | | | | -Global Aspects of Technology Management |
| full-time jobs while earning a degree at night, on | | | | -Information Systems Policy |
| weekends, or just about anytime. | | | | -Leadership and Organizational Behavior |
| A large number of traditional colleges offer all or part | | | | -Managing Organizational Change |
| of the MBA degree program online. All you have to | | | | -Managing Technology Projects and Operations |
| do is check the school's online division or check with | | | | -Marketing Foundations for Technology Managers |
| the distance learning department. There are also a | | | | -Strategic Technology Management |
| number of non-traditional colleges and universities that | | | | -Systems and Information Concepts in Organizations |
| operate (for the most part) in an online environment. | | | | When it comes to admissions, getting past the front |
| For the aspiring technology manager, online business | | | | door at top colleges is tough. |
| schools, as well as traditional schools offer MBA | | | | Admissions requirements for top universities include |
| programs with concentrations in operations | | | | transcripts from all institutions attended, a B average |
| management, human resources, labor relations, | | | | or better, high scores on the graduate record |
| finance, and more. Information about where to find | | | | examination (GRE), and recommendation letters. The |
| online business schools can be found at the end of | | | | school should also require a statement of purpose or |
| this article. | | | | essay and other supporting materials that |
| Whichever format you choose, there are a number | | | | demonstrate leadership ability and the desire to |
| of things to look for in a quality technology | | | | succeed. It is important to note that competition for |
| management MBA program. First, the program must | | | | MBA programs is intense. Average GRE scores for |
| be accredited. The accrediting agency must be | | | | top MBA programs range from 529-626 (verbal) and |
| recognized by the U.S. Department of Education | | | | 700-773 (quantitative), |
| (Ed.gov). The top accrediting agencies for business | | | | When you are ready to begin your search for a |
| schools include: | | | | online MBA program or campus-based program, visit |
| -Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of | | | | Princeton Review online to browse rankings and |
| Business (AACSB) | | | | ratings. You may also use Bing, Ask or Google if you |
| -Association of Collegiate Business Schools and | | | | have time to review dozens (if not hundreds) of |
| Programs (ACBSP) | | | | results. Good luck! |