Technology is a field that encompasses several areas, though students might not be aware of many of them when considering an educational tract in technology. Technology based fields outside of the obvious can be found in educational tracts such as science and mathematics, in addition to more popular tracts such as information technology and computer science.

Nanotechnology is a field with explosive growth potential, yet because far more than a bachelor degree is required for employment within the discipline, few colleges push it as a viable field of study. Unlike database administration, information security, infrastructure maintenance or any of the many fields associated with computer networking, nanotechnology is among the technology based sciences left out in the cold.

Robotics is another field that draws heavily on a math and science background yet also carries the connotation of being a technology based specialization. Without question, robotics is exclusive, yet the field of robotics is beginning to have an effect on the products that shape our daily lives.

By popularizing technology based sciences that are outside the mainstream, educational institutions can help further the disciplines while exposing students to potential growth areas. Indeed, many areas of technology require degree completion at or beyond the master's level, but the very nature of technology suggests that an above average academic record should be necessary.

The problem so many institutions encounter is the perception that information technology is the only technology for which employment opportunities exist. Additionally, career tracks heavy on math and science are not always the easiest sell to students. By focusing more on the technological aspects of specific educational opportunities, colleges and universities can generate excitement and interest in those areas instead of moving students toward already inundated educational tracts in information technology.

Science and technology are intertwined, yet traditional sciences may not appeal to students because of the employment opportunities that arise from them. By focusing a larger portion of admissions and recruitment efforts on cutting edge technology based sciences, academia can further the knowledge base of these fields of study while encouraging students to think outside traditional lines. Many of the best scientists working in advanced areas such as robotics and nanotechnology are either overseas or foreign born. In order to remain competitive in fields such as these, educational institutions have to make U.S. students more aware of their existence.