Many WGU students who are interested in information technology may have a difficult time knowing which specific degree is the best fit for them. Particularly when it comes to the Bachelor of Science Business Administration IT Management and Bachelor of Science Information Technology degrees. These two degrees may seem similar, but they are actually very different and can lead to unique career options down the road. It is important for students to understand which degree is truly the best fit for them and their career aspirations. 

Learn more about the BSBA IT Management and BS Information Technology degree programs so you can carefully compare and contrast them, ensuring you pick the degree program that is best suited for you.

The Bachelor of Science Business Administration IT Management degree program is in the College of Business at WGU. This means that the courses and curriculum for this program tend to have a business focus, and you’ll learn important business skills as part of this degree. The overall goal of this program is to prepare students for the business side of IT—ensuring they can be skilled and qualified leaders in the IT realm, equipped to handle the business strategies involved in the information technology field. This degree aims to combine business and IT skills to help students be ready for a career that involves managing and working with IT departments or for an IT company, but focuses on the business practices. 

Some careers for those who graduate with a BSBA IT Management degree include:

• Business systems analyst (or computer systems analyst)
• IT business analyst
• Operations manager
• Project manager
• Program manager
• Information systems manager
• Senior organizational manager

All of these careers heavily involve both business and IT skills. For example, an IT manager may lead the IT department in an organization. Therefore, it’s important for them to have an understanding of computer systems and software programs. But they also need to understand how to create budgets, manage employees, and work with stakeholders. The BSBA IT Management will uniquely equip students to combine an understanding of IT systems and business processes.

Some of the business skills you’ll focus on in your BSBA IT Management degree program include:

• Spreadsheets
• Economics 
• Project management
• Operations and supply chain management
• Quantitative analysis for business
• Human resources
• Employment law

Some of the IT skills you will learn in the BSBA IT Management program include:

• Business of IT applications
• Information systems management
• Network and security foundations
• Data management

These courses work together to prepare students for an exciting career. Nearly every organization today has an IT department that runs their technical support, evaluates their technology needs, implements new software and hardware, and works with executives to determine best practices. The BSBA IT management degree program uniquely prepares students for both the business and technological aspects of these careers, giving them a leg up as they enter this rewarding field.

This degree program is ideal for someone who is interested in both IT and business practices. It is ideal for students who are looking to go into management positions, who may not necessarily want a deep-dive of technological understanding, but rather want to be versed in more of the business practices that make IT departments thrive.

The Bachelor of Science Information Technology degree program is in the College of Information Technology at WGU. The courses and curriculum for this degree program are heavily focused on the technical details of Information Technology, giving students the knowledge and skills to accomplish IT tasks. This degree program specifically focuses on IT networks, systems, and programs. The overall goal of this program is to equip students with specific skills around hardware, security, software, and applications that will prepare them for a hands-on career in information technology. Students with an IT degree will find job opportunities in any industry—now more than ever, every organization needs an IT department to help with the technical aspects of today’s workforce. But an IT degree specifically prepares students to do the technical and detailed work in the IT department.

Some careers for those who graduate with a BS IT degree include:

• Computer systems administrator
• Database analyst 
• Desktop support administrator 
• Information Technology manager
• Network security manager
• Application Developer
• Business systems analyst

All these careers can involve specific skills and detailed work in the technology field. These positions require knowledge about different IT systems, web development, scripting, programming, security and more. Because of the technical nature of these positions, an IT degree that helps students learn these important skills is key to success. These positions involve a deep understanding the underlying technology and how it impacts the organization for overall management or integrating business processes. 

The skills students will learn in the BS Information Technology degree program include:

• Various certification-based courses
• 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 skills you will learn in the BSIT program include:

• Project management
• Communication
• Leadership
• Emerging technology

The BS Information Technology degree is centered on helping students work in IT departments doing the technical work to help computers and systems run well. The courses they take are tailored for hands-on careers in the IT world, giving them knowledge and experience to take into their job.

This degree program is ideal for students who want to be heavily involved in IT, working on devices, programs, and systems, and using their technical skills to improve their organization. This degree can prepare students for management roles, but take a much more technical, hands-on approach to IT.

If you’re considering either of these degree programs, it’s important to do research to truly understand which one is best for your career goals and interests. WGU offers many programs to help you find one that is the perfect fit for where you want to go in your career.

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 BS Information Technology has a direct IT focus.
• The BS Information Technology degree offers multiple IT industry certifications, while the BSBA IT Management offers WGU micro-credentials.
• The BS 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.