Part-time & Graduate Enrollment Services
Information Technology BS
Program overview
The role of an IT professional, or information technologist, is diverse and multifaceted. To develop and maintain truly effective systems, information technologists need core competencies in four essential areas: Web design/development and interactive media; database, programming, and application development; networking and system administration, which includes the design, deployment, and security of computing infrastructure; and technology integration and deployment in user communities, including needs assessment, user-centered design, technology transfer, and ongoing support.
The fourth competency area is the defining expertise for information technology professionals. To design and develop the best possible systems, IT professionals must see the world through the users’ eyes and learn about what user communities need to contribute to organizational goals and success. This requires skills in information gathering, user-centered design, and effective deployment practices in organizations with differing user environments and cultures, as well as strong communication and people skills.
Accreditation
The BS in information technology is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.
Curriculum
The core competencies provide a foundation for developing greater depth in specialized concentration areas. Students will choose two concentrations from the following: Web development, database technology, interactive multimedia development, network and system administration, learning and performance technology, medical informatics, and advanced application development. In addition, with department permission, students can create a special-topics sequence for one of their two concentrations. Most students select advanced technical courses for developing a deep competency in one or two of the specialization areas. Other students choose a broader path to prepare for general IT practitioner jobs, which are prevalent in virtually every enterprise.
Cooperative education
The program requires students to complete two blocks of cooperative education. Students may begin their co-op requirement after completing all second-year academic requirements.
Information technology, BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| ISTE-120 | Computer Problem Solving: Information Domain I | 4 |
| ISTE-190 | Foundations of Modern Information Processing | 3 |
| MATH-131 | LAS Perspective 7A: Discrete Mathematics | 4 |
| LAS Foundation 1: First Year Seminar | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 2, 3 | 6 | |
| ISTE-121 | Computer Problem Solving: Information Domain II | 4 |
| ISTE-140 | Web I | 3 |
| MATH-161 | LAS Perspective 7B: Applied Calculus | 4 |
| ISTE-110 | Ethics in Computing (WI) | 3 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| ISTE-230 | Introduction to Database and Data Modeling | 3 |
| ISTE-240 | Web II | 3 |
| ISTE-260 | Designing the User Experience | 3 |
| STAT-145 | Introduction to Statistics I | 3 |
| LAS Perspective 4, 6 | 6 | |
| SWEN-383 | Software Design Principles and Patterns | 3 |
| STAT-146 | Introduction to Statistics II | 4 |
| ISTE-340 | Client Programming | 3 |
| NSSA-290 | Networking Essentials for Developers | 3 |
| Cooperative Education (summer) | Co-op | |
| Third Year | ||
| ISTE-341 | Server Programming | 3 |
| ISTE-330 | Database Connectivity and Access | 3 |
| ISTE Concentration Course | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 5† | 4 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| ISTE-270 | Data Exploration & Knowledge Discovery | 3 |
| ISTE-430 | Information Requirements Modeling | 3 |
| ISTE Concentration Course | 3 | |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| Cooperative Education (summer) | Co-op | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| ISTE-500 | Senior Development Project I (WI) | 3 |
| ISTE Concentration Courses | 6 | |
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| LAS Perspective 6 | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| ISTE-501 | Senior Development Project II | 3 |
| LAS Elective | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 126 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
† Students will satisfy this requirement by taking either a 3 or 4 credit hour lab science course. If a science course consists of separate lecture and laboratory sections, students must take both the lecture and the lab portions to fulfill the requirement.
§ Students will satisfy this requirement by selecting one of the following four credit options: General Biology (BIOL-101) and General Biology Lab (BIOL-103); General and Analytical Chemistry (CHMG-141) and General and Analytical Chemistry (CHMG-145); or College Physics (PHYS-111).