DIB
AUG
DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN
2017
Career Series: Information Technology Pathways In this issue: Information Technology
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Counselors Tools and Resources
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Hot News: Programs Updates
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Troops To Teachers Highlight
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Contact Information
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DANTES Information Bulletin
DANTES Programs Support IT Careers Taheesha Quarells, Communications Division, DANTES
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or the last couple of months, the DIB has highlighted how DANTES programs can support specific “Bright Outlook” careers. Previous issues focused on careers in Business Administration and Management, as well as Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics. This month’s issue focuses on building pathways in Information Technology (IT) occupations for entry level, technical and professional careers. Many are related to the design, development, support and management of hardware, software, multimedia and systems integration services. Vol 481
The Department of Labor considers various IT-related occupations “Bright Outlook” careers because they are either expected to grow rapidly in the next several years, will have large numbers of job openings, or are new and emerging occupations. This article will describe the IT career cluster, discuss career pathways, and provide an overview of how DANTESsponsored education programs support education opportunities in the IT field.
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Information Technology IT Career Cluster Pathways areers in the IT career cluster involve working with computer hardware, software and network systems. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 3.5 million jobs in this cluster. The median annual wages for occupations in the IT cluster can range from $46,620 for computeruser support specialists to $101,214 for systems software developers.
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When choosing where to start with career planning, using career clusters can help organize options. Career clusters are a way to group common features of occupations. The Department of Labor recognizes 16 IT career clusters. Career pathways are small groups of occupations within a career cluster. Occupations within a pathway share common skills, knowledge and interests. Occupations Assigned to the Information Technology Cluster that are Projected to Have the Most Job Openings, 2012-2022
Sources: National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (Career Cluster); Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (Projected Job Openings)
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Information Technology
Information Support and Services The information support and services pathway includes occupations related to information technology deployment, including implementing computer systems and software, database management, providing technical assistance, and managing information systems. Network Systems The network systems pathway includes occupations related to network analysis, planning and implementation. This includes design, installation, maintenance and management of network systems. Programming and Software Development The programming and software development pathway involves the design, development, implementation and maintenance of computer systems and software. It requires knowledge of computer operating systems, programming languages and software development. Web and Digital Communication The web and digital communication pathway involves creating, designing and producing of interactive multimedia products and services. This includes the development of digitally-generated or computer-enhanced media used in business, training, entertainment, communications and marketing. Select the picture below for a detailed view of each pathway:
Information Support and Services DANTES Information Bulletin
Network Systems Vol 481
Programming and Software Development
Web and Digital Communication
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Information Technology Identifying IT Pathways with Kuder Journey The June 2017 DIB explained how the Holland Codes within the Kuder Journey system can help enable students to explore career clusters by their interests. Read the June 2017 DIB, “Career Series: Bright Outlook Business Pathways” available at http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dib.html for a review of Kuder Journey, an explanation of the Holland Codes and icons within the system, how to find Bright Outlook Careers, and options for occupation exploration. Once a student takes the three career assessments within Kuder Journey, voluntary education personnel can use the Holland Codes to identify personality types that are mapped to related career pathways. R (Realistic) and I (Investigative) Holland Codes may signal that students are well suited for IT-related careers. Obtaining IT Education SOC Career and Technical IT Certificates The SOC Career and Technical Education (SOC CTE) program serves as a pathway to help service members transition from a military career into the civilian labor market by earning short, stackable certificates. Read the November 2016 issue of the
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DIB titled, “Military Skills Lead to Career Certificates” available at http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dib. html for a detailed description of the CTE program benefits, features and support resources. The SOC CTE Information Technology career cluster offers certificates that can apply towards associate and bachelor’s degree requirements in the following areas: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Information Technology Specialist Computer Information Systems Networking (i.e. Design and System Support, Network+, Wireless, Server and Cloud Administration, etc.) Programming (i.e. Visual Basic, PHP, JAVA, etc.) Software Development Database Management Computer Maintenance Computer Forensics Mobile Applications Open Source Cybersecurity Enterprise Computing Computer Support IBM i Application Development Geographic Information Systems Virtualization
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Information Technology
SOC Career and Technical IT Certificates (cont) SOC CTE Information Technology certificates prepare students for various career responsibilities such as organizing, installing and supporting computer and data systems, storing and organizing data, making data available to users, and developing applications for specific tasks or control networks. Certificates in this cluster can lead to occupations as a software developer, database administrator, systems analyst, application developer, computer and information systems manager, information technology analyst, systems architect, and more. Go to the CTE certificate search tool available at http://www.soc.aascu.org/career-and-technical-education/certificates for a list of approved CTE institutions offering more than 70 certificates in Information Technology.
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SOC Degree Network System IT Degrees The SOC Degree Network System (SOC DNS) is a Defense educational institution partnership that delivers associate and bachelor’s degree programs that have been vetted to help address some of the challenges military students face. Read the May 2017 issue of the DIB titled, “Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges” available at http://www. dantes.doded.mil/dib.html for a detailed description of the SOC DNS program benefits, features, and support resources. IT-related degrees offered within the SOC DNS include 26 computer studies degrees at the associate level. The DNS also includes seven information systems management and 19 computer studies degrees at the bachelor’s level. Use the SOC DNS search tool available at http://www.soc.aascu. org/degree-network-system/soc-dns-searchtool to find available degree programs through member institutions.
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Counselor Tools & Resources
DANTES4MILITARY STUDENT BLOG The DANTES4Military blog encompasses a wide variety of information that touches on many areas of post-secondary education, helping service members, veterans and family members achieve their education and career goals. Visit the DANTES4Military Blog at http://www. dantes4military.education/ DANTES PULSE BLOG The DANTES Pulse blog is part of the DoDLive Blogroll. The Pulse is a blog created to build awareness and share information about DANTES-sponsored education programs with the general population. It is the “pulse” of DANTES education efforts with updated articles highlighting education programs, resources and tools. Visit the DANTES Pulse Blog at http://dantespulse.dodlive.mil/
Social Media Outreach messages and images are shared on DANTES Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages. These posts can be shared to support awareness of DANTES-sponsored programs and educational opportunities.
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Program Updates
Hot News
August: 50 Percent Off CLEP Exam Re-Test
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ollege Board is offering a special discount to students who register to re-test on CLEP exams during the month of August. Service members who test in August can get 50 percent off the cost of the exam. Military students must take one CLEP exam during the month of August to be eligible. If they fail the exam, members will receive 50 percent off when they sign up to re-test on the same exam test title. Students will need to enter the code ‘CLEP50’ when they check out to purchase their repeat CLEP exam. The code can only be applied to one CLEP exam and can only be used one time per customer. CLEP registration tickets are valid for six months from the time of purchase. MyVolEdPath Mobile App
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he MyVolEdPath mobile app is a tool aimed at increasing service member awareness of voluntary education programs and benefits. A key feature of the mobile app is the discovery tool designed to quickly assess and generate recommended programs. Students can “Create
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a New VolEdPath” by answering a few short questions about their career and education goals. Based on their responses, app users are presented with program cards that introduce them to programs that can help them reach their goals. Once selections are made, the user will receive a personally generated education pathway to follow. The “My Pathway” section of the app provides the user with a customized checklist to support the pursuit of their education goals. Another great feature on the mobile App is an option for service members to “Find a Counselor” and explore “Recommended Programs”. This feature provides users with connections to DANTES support resources. A member can either chat live with a DANTES representative via instant messenger or send a message for an email response. Education professionals have access to a variety of tools and resources to learn more and inform service members on the benefits and use of the mobile app. Download the mobile app today. Visit www. MyVolEdPath.com or the Apple App and Google Play Stores by searching for “My VolEdPath.” Email dantes_outreach@navy.mil for additional information. http://www.dantes.doded.mil
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Troops to Teachers Highlight
By Erin Roberts, Communications Division, DANTES nformation Technology (IT) careers are considered can lead to higher earnings right out of school. Bright Outlook occupations according to the Career academies combine a career and technical Department of Labor. (https://www.onetonline. curriculum with a career theme, such as health, law org/find/) . These types of jobs match at least one enforcement, business, or information technology, of the following criteria: to name a few. These academies clearly vary in • Projected to grow much faster than average types of instruction and are generally smaller learnthrough 2024 ing communities within larger traditional schools. • Projected to have 100,000 or more job openings Military members are a great fit for this type of during 2014-2024 teaching, because many members have years of • New and emerging occupation in a high growth hands-on experience in a specific career field. They industry have leadership and communication skills, know how to work on a team to accomplish a variety of Military members who have experience with IT tasks, and can use their experience to bring classmay choose to pursue a career in this field. Experiroom subjects to life. Some even have training ence can include, but is not limited to: information experience in a classroom as well. systems, computer networking, software development and applications, network and computer Troops to Teachers administration, web administration, working with The Troops to Teachers (TTT) program was created databases, and other IT-related duties. But, these to help transitioning military members meet the military members may also be qualified to teach requirements necessary to become teachers in K-12 the fundamentals of IT as well. Transitioning military schools. The program provides counseling services members often are the perfect fit to serve as teach- to help members maneuver through different state ers and role models to help motivate and inspire certification requirements and ultimately helps America’s youth. Even better, transitioning military members find employment as a teacher when eligimembers can do this while preparing middle and ble. Transitioning from the military is challenging, high school students for their own IT careers. Not all but there are options when it comes to a second teachers teach math and English. Career academies career. Military members should consider teaching in middle and high schools across the nation are in their area is expertise. It can be a win-win for the becoming more and more popular. military member, their new living and employment community, and the next generation. Visit the TTT Career Academies website and social media pages for more informaCareer academies offer non-traditional methods tion, www.proudtoserveagain.com , https://www. of learning that help to prepare middle and high facebook.com/TTT.DANTES/ and https://twitter. school graduates for both college and careers that com/TTT_DANTES
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DANTES Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support
DANTES OCONUS European Advisor (Contingency Operation Support)
6490 Saufley Field Road, Pensacola, FL 32509 (850) 452-1901
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DANTES INFORMATION BULLETIN
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DANTES Information Bulletin The DANTES Information Bulletin is published monthly to inform education personnel about DANTES programs and to help promote more efficient customer service to service members. Email all inquiries to DANTES_Outreach@navy.mil. Reproduction in whole or in part is permitted for any purpose of the United States Government, except that copyrighted materials cannot be reproduced without written permission from the copyright owner. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by DANTES of the linked websites, or the information, products, or services contained therein.
Jeff Allen, Director Michelle Alexander, Editor DANTES Information Bulletin
The Secretary of the Navy has determined this publication necessary in the transaction of business required by law of the Dept of the Navy.
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