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B.S. IT vs. BSBA IT Management
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Get started on a bachelor's program of your choice from WGU.
Ready To Get a Bachelor's Degree in IT?
When comparing your IT degree options, it’s important to look at a variety of factors to help you decide which is the best fit for you, particularly when it comes to the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration–IT Management and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degrees. While these two degrees may seem similar, they’re actually very different and can lead to distinct career options down the road.
This guide compares WGU's BSBA IT Management and B.S. Information Technology to help you make an informed decision when picking the right program for you.
Business
IT Management – B.S. Business Administration
IT managers are needed in nearly every organization:...
IT managers are needed in nearly every organization:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 19 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program include:
- Team Leadership
- Operations Management
- Communication
- Agile Project Management
- Analytical Techniques
- Information Technology
Key competencies of these online courses align with industry needs: management and leadership, networks and security, and information systems management.
Technology
Information Technology – B.S.
Award-winning coursework and value-add certifications make this online...
Award-winning coursework and value-add certifications make this online program a top choice.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 39 months.
- Tuition: $3,625 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no additional cost:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner
- ITIL®*^ Foundation Certification
- LPI Linux Essentials
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Scripting and programming
- Networking and security
- Systems and services
- Data management
- Business of IT
Which Degree Is Right For Me?
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration–IT Management (BSBA IT Management)
The overall goal of this program is to prepare you for the business side of IT—ensuring you’ll be a qualified leader in the IT realm. You’ll learn business and IT concepts that will equip you to meet the needs of today’s organizations, helping them to overcome issues such as software delays, technical issues, and system failures that can dramatically impact their bottom line. Because this program is more directly focused on the business side of IT, it sits within WGU’s business college.
Who Should Earn a BSBA IT Management Degree at WGU?
This degree program is best suited for someone who’s interested in both the IT and business worlds. It's ideal if you prefer not to take a deep-dive into technological concepts and would rather be versed in the business practices that make IT departments thrive, giving you the opportunity to pursue management positions. This is a great position for someone who wants to work doing business for an IT company or IT department.
What Will I Learn in the BSBA IT Management Program?
Some of the business skills you’ll focus on in your BSBA IT Management degree program include:
- Economics
- Project management
- Operations and supply chain management
- Quantitative analysis for business
- Human resources
- Employment law
- Spreadsheets
These skills will be vital in helping you mesh important business and IT strategies to help organizations thoughtfully utilize technology.
Some of the IT skills you’ll learn in the BSBA IT Management program include:
- Business of IT applications
- Information systems management
- Network and security foundations
- Data management
"I chose WGU because of its ease, price, and the possibility of gaining IT certifications along with my degree. Now that I've graduated, I have four years of IT experience, a bachelor's degree, and five IT certifications that help show that my skills are valuable. That's a really good jumpstart for a career. After I graduated from WGU I quickly got a much better job and nearly doubled my salary."
Eric Gardner
B.S. Information Technology
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (B.S. in IT)
Every organization needs an IT department to help with the technical aspects of today’s workforce, and an IT degree can prepare you for that work. With a B.S. in IT, you’ll be equipped with specific skills in coding, hardware, security, software, and applications that will set you up for a hands-on career in IT.
Who Should Earn a B.S. in Information Technology at WGU?
If you want to be heavily involved in IT, working on devices, programs, and systems, and use your technical skills to improve organizations, this degree path is for you. It will prepare you for management roles but take a much more technical, hands-on approach to IT. A B.S. in IT is ideal for someone who wants to work in any variety of industries, specifically on the information technology side in the IT department. It could also be a great fit for someone who wants to specifically work for a software or IT company.
What Will I Learn in the B.S. IT Program?
The courses and curriculum for this degree program are heavily focused on the technical details of IT, giving you the knowledge and skills to accomplish IT tasks.
Some of the hard skills you’ll learn in the B.S. IT degree program include:
- Information systems management
- Scripting and programming foundations
- Data management
- Networks (troubleshooting, configuring, and managing)
- Security analysis
- Cloud, Linux, and other networks and systems
- Web development
- User interface design
Additional soft skills you’ll learn in the B.S. IT program include:
- Project management
- Communication
- Leadership
- Emerging technology
BSBA IT Management Career Options
With a BSBA in IT Management, you’ll be prepared for the following careers:
B.S. in IT Career Options
If you earn your B.S. in IT, there are many career paths open to you, including:
What Are the Differences Between These Programs?
There are several important differences between these two degree programs that can help guide your decision. The main differences include:
- The BSBA IT Management degree has a much stronger business focus, while the B.S. Information Technology has a direct IT focus.
- The B.S. Information Technology degree offers multiple IT industry certifications, while the BSBA IT Management offers WGU certificates.
- The B.S. Information Technology degree focuses more on hands-on IT skills, giving you specific coding and system training, while the BSBA IT Management focuses more on the business side of IT with budgeting, management, strategy, and more.
If you’re considering either of these online degree programs, it’s important to do your research to truly understand which one is best for your career aspirations and interests. WGU offers many programs to help you find one that’s the perfect fit for where you want to go in the IT world.
Why WGU?
Be Career Ready
Designed with input from healthcare leaders, our accredited programs give you the skills and credentials today’s employers need. That’s why 97% of employers said they’d hire another WGU grad.1
1: 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU grads.
Get and Keep the Job You Want to Have
85% of WGU graduates are employed in their degree fields—and 87% are employed full-time.2
2: 2023 Harris Poll of 1,655 WGU grads.
Save Money
With flat-rate tuition that is 48% lower than the national average3 and generous need-based scholarships, our degrees are an excellent investment that you can afford.
3: National rates reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System in 2022. WGU average rate does not include rates for WGU Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Prelicensure program.
Work as You Need While Going to School
At WGU, you can complete courses, take tests, and graduate on your schedule. In fact, many of our healthcare students work full-time while earning their life-changing bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
COST & TIME
An Affordable Bachelor's Degree
By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.
100% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
