Information Technology Pathway

Information Technology Career Pathway

Is this the right pathway for me?

Do you enjoy problem-solving and logical thinking?
Are you interested in technology and staying updated and controlling the latest advancements?
Do you thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment?

What is Information Technology?

Information Technology is a field all about computers and technology. People in Information Technology work on various things, like fixing computer issues, creating websites, and designing apps for phones. They also focus on keeping computer systems safe and functional. This pathway is a great fit for those who enjoy using computers, solving problems, and imagining future uses for technology.

Superintendent Brent Jones during Hour of Code with elementary school students

What sort of work would I do

Information Technology is a vast and dynamic field. There are many different exciting jobs that cater to different interests and skills. IT specialists, often known as computer support specialists, help people with their computer problems, ensuring everything runs smoothly. Web developers create and maintain websites, while software developers design applications and programs for various platforms. Network administrators focus on managing and securing computer networks within organizations. Cybersecurity experts work on protecting computer systems from potential threats and ensuring data remains safe. IT project managers oversee the planning and execution of technology projects, ensuring they meet organizational goals. Database administrators handle the storage and organization of data, ensuring efficient access and retrieval.

Leads to these Careers

Software Developer
Network Administrator
Cybersecurity Analyst
Database Administrator
Web Developer
IT Project Manager
Systems Analyst
IT Consultant
Cloud Solutions Architect
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineer

In-Demand Occupations

Typical Education Required	Career Title	Average Annual Salary	Job Outlook in WA State (2020-2030)
High School	Computer User Support Specialist	$66,927	28% increase
Bachelor’s Degree	Computer Network Support Specialist	$106,601	28% increase
Bachelor’s Degree	Information Security Analyst	$128,152	48% increase

Check Career One Stop, Bureau of Labor Statistics for updated career trends

What Courses can I take now?

Check with your school counselor and administrators to find out which classes are available at your school.

AP Computer Science Principles is an introductory computing course that introduces students to the breadth of the field of computer science. Students learn to design and evaluate solutions and to apply computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs. They incorporate abstraction into programs and use data to discover new knowledge. Students also explain how computing innovations and computing systems—including the internet—work, explore their potential impacts, and contribute to a computing culture that is collaborative and ethical.

Course numbers: HCT4014, HCT4105

Credentials: AP Exam Offered

Schools Offering: Seattle World School, Roosevelt HS, West Seattle HS, Cleveland HS, Ballard HS, Nathan Hale HS, Garfield HS, Franklin HS

This is a yearlong course co-delivered by AP and UW. This course This course covers basic concepts for programming-in-the-small, including procedural programming (methods, parameters, return values), basic control structures (sequence, if/else, for loop, while loop), file processing, arrays and an introduction to defining objects. Besides preparing for the AP Computer Science A exam, eligible students have the option to register to earn UW credits through the UW in the High School program.

Course numbers: HCT1296, CSC1296 HCT1297, CSC1297

Credentials: AP Exam, CTE Dual Credit at Seattle Central College available to students who do not take AP Exam

Schools Offering: Roosevelt HS, Cleveland HS, Lincoln HS, Ballard HS, Nathan Hale HS

CSE121 AP Computer Science A1 is the first semester of a yearlong AP/UWHS course introducing the fundamentals of college-level computer science. Students learn to design, write, analyze, and document Java programs that solve problems effectively. The course emphasizes programming methodology, procedural abstraction, algorithms, and fundamental data structures. A prerequisite for enrollment is Algebra 1. Students can earn 0.5 CTE credit for the first semester and may earn 4 University of Washington college credits upon completing the full year and meeting UW requirements.

Credentials: College in High School Credit at University of Washington

Schools Offering: Ingraham HS, Franklin HS, Garfield HS

Exploring Computer Science develops students’ computer science skills including algorithm development, problem solving, and programming. Students will also be introduced to topics such as interface design, limits of computers and societal and ethical issues of software engineering. This course is designed for students interested in computing careers and is a broad introduction to computer science. Students will learn what programmers and computer scientists do and how technologists think.

Course number: HCT2448

School Offering: Chief Sealth HS, West Seattle HS

IB Computer Science involves solving problems using computers. Therefore, a full understanding of logical problem solving is required as well as a detailed knowledge of how computers operate. Students are expected to ac quire knowledge of the specified aspects of Java.

Course numbers: HCT2483, HCT2484

Credentials: IB Test Offered

Schools Offering: Rainier Beach HS, Chief Sealth HS

This course sequence introduces students to high-level computers science concepts and creative design approaches while they learn how to use immersive technologies. Students will learn product design theory, programming concepts and product management skills while using industry-specific software to create small projects. The class culminates with a collaborative team project of the students’ own design using immersive technology such as virtual or augmented reality. 

Course numbers: HCT6078 & HCT6079 or CFA6078 & CFA6079

Credentials: Unity Certified User

Schools Offering: Ingraham HS, Cleveland HS, Ballard HS

In this sequence, students learn sketching and story-boarding in 2D animation and concepts of 3D. They learn skills necessary for a career in the animation and gaming industry. This course is a great preparation for college and career and provides a fantastic opportunity for students to express themselves creatively while learning industry standard technical skills.

Course numbers: WCT5730, WCT5731, WCT5732, WCT5733, WCT5790, WCT5791, WCT5792, WCT5793

Credentials: Unity Certificate

Schools Offering: Seattle Skills Center

Introduction to Programming provides students with the skills and knowledge to understand the technology they use daily and to extrapolate this knowledge to understand and use emerging technologies. This course is modeled on Level 2 objectives from the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) K-12 Computer Science Model Curriculum and will emphasize a project-based integrated format of lessons that emphasize a way of problem solving and thinking as a computer scientist. Content areas include: human interface interaction; problem solving; introduction to programming using Python primarily; and robotics.

Course number: HCT2447

Schools Offering: Chief Sealth HS, Rainier Beach HS, Cleveland HS, Franklin HS, Seattle World School