Qualifications
Are you a lion with Linux? Uber with Ubuntu? Wacky for web servers? You can certainly pick up all the leet skillz of a highly proficient IT manager without earning a bachelor's degree in a technical field, but some employers can be real sticklers about an undergraduate education.
If you dream of being an IT manager, your best bet is to go for a degree in something like computer or information science or computer engineering. Now, be aware going in that these degrees are...difficult. As a computer science student, for example, you'll find yourself immersed in coursework designed to break your mind, destroy your soul, and turn your body into a weak and pasty shell.
You'll spend your days studying computer programming, software development, and really, really, really difficult math. You'll watch other students engage in fun activities like dating and road-tripping and wonder why you didn't major in philosophy or political science, and then you'll remember that you want to actually be employed when you graduate.
Besides that bachelor's degree in computer whatever, you can also look into pursuing various certifications to show your mastery of Microsoft or smashing of Server+. The amount of time, money, and energy you'll need to invest here depends on what certification you want to earn and, ultimately, on what company you want to work for, because a certification will give you a distinct competitive advantage with some employers (although not with others).
However you choose to prep for a career in IT management, there are certain skills you should acquire along with your education:
- Computer skills. Of course. You'll need to understand servers, desktop and mobile technologies, network security, etc.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills. You'll be seeking out and destroying problems on a regular basis, so you'd better know how to, you know, seek and destroy.
- Communication skills. How many IT managers does it take to explain to the VP of Finance how to log into a computer? One—and you're it, sucker.
- Multitasking skills. You may be required to put out multiple "fires" simultaneously.