Systems administrators, IT professionals, network managers and other technology managers are found in a variety of industries and offices, including engineering, health care, business, government organizations and more. To prepare for a college or professional training program in technology management, or to learn new skills to remain competitive in a technology-driven workforce, students can take classes online through open courseware. Technology management classes are offered for free from schools like MIT, The Open University, Dixie State College of Utah, and the University of California – Berkeley, among others. Classes can be found within the college’s technology, IT, business, engineering or computer science departments, as long as the school has an open courseware program and the student has an Internet connection. Because all course materials are accessed from the school’s website and aren’t offered for credit, students can complete their courses whenever they want.

For an example of the different types of technology management classes available through open courseware, turn to this list below. Classes like Practical Information Technology Management; Operations, Technology, and Stakeholder Value; Systems Design and Administration I; and Technology and Intellectual Property in Law tackle the various issues and concepts a technology manager must be able to understand. Students can learn the basics of managing an information system or database, how people interact with IT systems, the legal issues surrounding online intellectual property, using software tools, and maximizing technology to produce profitable business operations.

• Practical Information Technology Management [MIT] – Learn the basics of IT architecture, IT systems, work behavior, project management and corporate strategy in this class.
• Information Technology I [MIT] – Get an introduction to information technology systems in this class.
• Operations, Technology, and Stakeholder Value [The Open University] – Learn how technology management and business operations are intertwined in this class.
• Systems Design and Administration I [Dixie State College of Utah] – Technology managers and administrators learn about setting up network services, software tools and other technology systems.
• Technology and Intellectual Property in Law [UC - Berkeley] – Understand U.S. copyright law and its relation to technology issues like databases, webcasts, computer software and the Internet.