Capella Learning and Career Outcomes

Outcome goals and graduates' proficiency levels

These results show recent Capella graduates' proficiency levels in the expected learning outcomes for 5 of the 7 Master of Science in Information Technology specializations. Faculty make this assessment in the capstone course—the final course in which Capella students demonstrate what they've learned.

Specializations

Please select a specialization of interest to you

• Enterprise Software Architecture Specialization
• General Information Technology Specialization
• Information Assurance and Security Specialization
• Network Architecture Specialization
• Project Management Specialization
• Health Information Management Specialization
• Business Analysis Specialization

Enterprise Software Architecture Specialization

In this specialization, you will analyze IT problems in distributed enterprises and refine your ability to design, propose, implement, and manage solutions using technologies such as service-oriented architecture (SOA), distributed databases, and Web services.

People who choose this specialization are often working IT professionals who want to pursue careers as systems architects, technical officers, or software engineers.

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General Information Technology Specialization

Design a master's degree in information technology that meets your professional interests and provides the business knowledge and IT skills needed to make significant, far-reaching contributions to your organization.

Choose a broad range of IT electives or focus your study in such areas as information security, networking, project management, health informatics, or enterprise architecture. People who choose this specialization are often working IT professionals who want to advance to supervisory or management positions or people with bachelor's degrees in related fields interested in pursuing senior-level or management careers in information technology.

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Information Assurance and Security Specialization

This specialization is designed around the domains of knowledge in the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP®) certification.

The curriculum addresses core information assurance and security topics, including enterprise security and security risk management, as well as such emerging areas as wireless security and computer forensics. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing information security management or consulting positions in business, health care, government, and the military.

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Network Architecture Specialization

This specialization focuses on Internet, intranet, and extranet design, emerging network technologies, and the integration of divergent and disparate networks.

You will have the opportunity to acquire skills in designing, planning, and maintaining local and wide-area networks (LANs and WANs), and developing and implementing information security and disaster recovery plans. People who choose this specialization are often pursuing senior management or team leader roles in network management and administration, or network architecture and design.

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Project Management Specialization

With today's smaller budgets and tighter deadlines, IT project managers who can deliver the desired results, on time and on budget, are a valuable business resource, especially those with the advanced skills needed to oversee multiple projects spanning a range of geographic locations.

This online Project Management master's specialization is mapped to "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge" (PMBOK) from the Project Management Institute (PMI®). People who choose this specialization are often pursuing management, director-level, or consulting positions overseeing and managing technology projects and teams.

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Health Information Management Specialization

Electronic recordkeeping and patient privacy mandates have created an increased demand for IT professionals in health care settings.

This master's specialization offers health care-focused course work on information systems, databases, system security, data analysis, decision support, and strategic management, along with overviews of important IT and business topics. The curriculum follows the model curriculum of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and was developed to align with the criteria of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Information and Information Management (CAHIIM). It is designed to help you use information management and security to support efficient, accurate health care delivery and management.

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Business Analysis Specialization

Outcome goals and graduates' proficiency levels

We have not yet collected enough information to publish learning outcome data for this program.

Strengthen your credentials in the fast-growing field of business analysis, which demands a combination of strong business and IT skills.

The curriculum covers such topics as eliciting and analyzing business needs; determining, developing, and communicating IT project requirements; and implementing and monitoring IT solutions that meet business goals. Capella's Business Analysis specialization provides a unique opportunity to develop these skills online. People who choose this specialization are often interested in pursuing staff or consulting positions as business or computer system analysts.

*No learning outcomes data are available for this specialization at this time.

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Quality and Professional Relevance

• The PMI® Global Accreditation Center for Project Management (GAC) has accredited Capella's BS-IT and MS-IT Project Management specializations, making Capella one of fewer than two dozen institutions worldwide to offer university-level programs with this accreditation.
• Our MS, MBA, and BS project management curriculum is designed around A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide).
• Capella is designated a National Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
• Capella's MS Information Assurance and Security specialization offers the option to take course sequences that meet national standards 4011 and 4013, as certified by the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS). Learn more about CNSS at www.cnss.gov.
• Industry certifications, such as the PMP®, CISSP, or SSCP, and prior work experience may help shorten the time to graduation through Capella's competency-based Prior Learning Assessment¹.

¹Residents of Washington state may receive credit through our prior learning assessment only in the BS and MBA programs.

School of Business and Technology Master's Degree Graduates

Data from graduates across all Business and Technology masters programs have been combined for these Career Outcomes results.

Our School of Business and Technology master's graduates report satisfaction with tasks and responsibilities and salary and benefits. The majority of graduates work in higher education, government/public sector, healthcare, information technology, aerospace, or consulting.

Percentage of respondents who answered "satisfied" or "very satisfied"
Source: Responses to the Alumni Outcomes Survey one year after graduation. The data were collected during Q4 2009 - Q3 2010.

Many master's degree graduates from the School of Business and Technology report advancing in their careers and receiving a salary increase, leadership role or promotion. They also say their Capella degrees garner recognition from employers.

Percentage of respondents who indicated they had accomplished each item
Source: Responses to the Alumni Outcomes Survey one year after graduation. The data were collected during Q4 2009 - Q3 2010

School of Business and Technology Master's Degree Graduates

Data from graduates across all Business and Technology masters programs have been combined for these Student Experience results.

Most graduates of the School of Business and Technology master's degree programs report that earning a master's degree has helped them meet program and career goals. They are likely to recommend Capella to friends and family.

Percentage of respondents who answered affirmatively
Source: Responses to the Alumni Outcomes Survey one year after graduation. The data were collected during Q4 2009 - Q3 2010.

Business & Technology master's degree graduates say that they gained valuable skills and abilities which are applicable in a range of professional settings.

Percentage of respondents who rated themselves as "proficient" or "distinguished" on ability to demonstrate the skill or ability on the job.
Source: Responses to the Alumni Outcomes Survey one year after graduation. The data were collected during Q4 2009 - Q3 2010.