Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will begin offering an associate degree this fall in a growing field: Internet technology.
“Demand for specialists in the Internet field is growing exponentially,” said Ann Hovey, associate vice president of administrative services.
“Businesses and industries conduct an increasing bulk of business online, advertising to prospective customers through their own Web pages, purchasing supplies and contacting vendors online, and conducting research online.”
Openings for Internet-related positions in Rowan and Cabarrus counties will double by 2003, the college’s research has shown. In a survey two months ago, major employers in the two counties said they had an immediate need for 27 people in Internet technology and would need 53 more within two years.
“Employment opportunities in this area abound, while the available supply of these specialists lags far behind,” Hovey said.
The college’s board of trustees learned of the new degree Monday afternoon.
More than a hundred high school students and residents have indicated an interest in the new associate of applied science degree. With nine new courses starting this fall, the new program will run four semesters and one summer term. The college will offer some courses at its Salisbury and Kannapolis campuses and some online.
Rowan-Cabarrus began offering computer programming courses in 1970.Since the term Internet was assigned to a connected set of networks in 1982, the Internet has grown to include hundreds of millions of servers scattered around the world.
Rowan-Cabarrus already offers similar degrees in computer programming, office systems technology, information systems and network administration and support. Those not wishing to seek a full degree — who simply want to learn how to use a particular software application — can take continuing education courses.
“I just think it’s amazing,” trustee Paul Woodson said. “This whole field didn’t even exist 10 years ago.”
“There’s no change in change except the pace of change,” said Jeanie Moore, associate vice president of continuing education.
Instructor Anne Curlee noted that online courses aren’t for all students. Written comprehension is critical, because students communicate with instructors through e-mail.
“Students need to be self-motivated,” Curlee said. “You have to have writing skills because that’s how you communicate with the instructor.”
But online classes serve well students who work swing shifts or unusual hours.
“Increasingly people are having to go to school while they’re having to work full time,” Hovey said. “So anything you can do to make classes more accessible to them, that’s going to help.”
“Most of our students are not completely online or on campus,” Hovey said. “Most of them are doing some combination.”
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