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Studies & Degrees in Information Technology Systems

Information technology systems is the study of the computer systems that organisations depend on: how they are chosen, built, connected, secured and managed, and how they serve the people who use them. It is closer to practice than computer science. Students learn programming and databases, and also networks, system administration, project management and the way a business uses information.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups the jobs in this field as occupations whose workers create or support computer applications, systems and networks. Universities teach the subject under several names: information systems, information technology, information sciences and technology, informatics, or computer engineering with an information systems track.

What students learn

Programmes differ in how much weight they give to technology, to business and to people. Three universities in the SpainExchange list show the range:

  • Carnegie Mellon University describes its Information Systems programme as one that combines aspects of computer science, information technology and business management with an education based on the humanities and social sciences.
  • The College of Information Sciences and Technology of The Pennsylvania State University offers several bachelor of science majors. One of them, Information Sciences and Technology, covers core information technologies, their practical applications and their impact; another, Enterprise Technology Integration, connects IT, artificial intelligence, cloud, databases and business intelligence.
  • The Information School of the University of Washington defines informatics as the study, design and development of information technology for the good of people, organisations and society. Its major draws on computer science, information science, sociology, psychology, design and information management.

At vocational level the content is more hands-on. The Spanish higher-level cycle in network systems administration teaches students to administer server operating systems, network services and databases, according to TodoFP, the vocational training portal of the Spanish Ministry of Education.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. In the United States the usual route is a bachelor of science degree. In Spain the subject is part of the Grado en Ingeniería Informática, an official bachelor's degree of 240 ECTS credits and four years. The Universidad Europea de Madrid teaches it on campus in Villaviciosa de Odón with classes in Spanish or in English; the Universidad de La Laguna teaches it face to face in Tenerife.
  • Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. In the United States, the BLS notes that some employers require or prefer a graduate degree for IT management posts.
  • Vocational training (FP) in Spain. The official title Técnico Superior en Administración de Sistemas Informáticos en Red is a higher-level cycle (grado superior) of 2,000 hours in the professional family of computing and communications.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 46 active schools for information technology systems. Twenty are in the United States, seven in Spain and three in the United Kingdom; other countries, among them Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Sweden, have one each.

In the United States the list includes Carnegie Mellon University, The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Washington, Rutgers and Temple University. In Spain it includes the Universidad Europea de Madrid, the Universidad de La Laguna, the Universidad de Navarra and ENAE Business School in Murcia. Elsewhere in Europe it includes the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, VIA University College in Denmark and the University of Liverpool, which teaches online. In Latin America it includes the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María in Valparaíso, the Escuela Politécnica Nacional in Quito and the Universidade Estadual de Maringá in Brazil.

Teaching is in English in the United States and the United Kingdom, and in Spanish at most Spanish schools, with some degrees also offered in English. Check the language of each programme before applying.

Careers

Graduates work as systems and network administrators, database administrators, support specialists, analysts, IT project managers and, with experience, IT managers. TodoFP lists systems administration technician, head of IT, database administration technician and network technician among the jobs for holders of the Spanish vocational title.

The BLS projects overall employment in computer and information technology occupations in the United States to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2025 to 2035, with about 280,000 openings each year. The outlook differs by job. Employment of computer and information systems managers, who plan, coordinate and direct the computer-related activities of an organisation, is projected to grow 16 percent over that period. Employment of network and computer systems administrators is projected to decline 4 percent, although about 13,400 openings a year are still expected as workers leave the occupation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between information technology systems and computer science?

Computer science concentrates on the theory and construction of software. Information technology systems concentrates on putting computer systems to work in organisations: networks, administration, databases, security and management. Many degrees cover both.

How long does a degree in this field take in Spain?

The Grado en Ingeniería Informática is an official degree of 240 ECTS credits and four years. The vocational alternative, the higher-level cycle in network systems administration, has 2,000 hours.

Can I study it in English in Spain?

At some schools. The Universidad Europea de Madrid, for example, offers its Grado en Ingeniería Informática with classes in Spanish or in English.

Do IT managers need a master's degree?

Not necessarily. According to the BLS, they typically need a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology and related work experience; some employers require or prefer a graduate degree.