Nearly every industry today keeps their customer data and financial records in a computer database, requiring computer technicians with database administration degrees to organize and manage all that information. A well-educated database administrator (DBA) can easily find employment with Web search portals and Internet service providers; or doing computer systems design, data-processing, hosting, and other computer data-related services.
Undergraduate degrees or professional certificates in database technology are available in most community colleges, trade schools and technical schools. These courses can take up to two years to complete. Voluntary certification also is available through various organizations associated with computer specialists. Graduate degrees in Database Administration are available from four-year colleges, universities and online schools across the U.S. and Canada.
An associate degree in computer science or a related information technology field will go a long way toward helping you find entry-level work in the field. However, many employers prefer workers who have a bachelor's degree in computer science, information science, or management information systems (MIS). Perhaps the most coveted of all the database technology degrees is the master's degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in information systems.
The curriculum to earn a degree will instruct in how to efficiently store, organize and manage computer data. Future database administrators will become familiar with various software applications as they set up databases and test systems. Students will learn about Information Security and how to plan for security measures, as well as archiving and retrieving critical information.
If you are wondering if degrees really make a difference, just look at the excellent salary a degreed professional can expect: Today's professional DBA will earn between $45,000 and $98,000 per year.
