Students who choose the IT program are interested in a challenging and rewarding career in an area relevant to many different domains of society. The Information Technology degree has been designed to offer both broad organizational problem-solving skills and in-depth knowledge in current in-demand technical skills. Using technology to leverage organizational resources and address organizational challenges are at the forefront of the program. The program includes required and optional courses in cybersecurity, databases, computer programming, project management, security and risk analysis, networking, web design and development, application development, and systems analysis. This broad base of skills is ideally suited for entry-level positions in all the above content areas.
Skills for the Real World
With a B.S. degree in Information Technology (IT), students will develop an understanding of core information technologies and prepare for the practical application of IT. The combination of a strong technical foundation, well-developed communication and collaborative skills, business core competencies, and specialization in an area of choice produces graduates who are well-qualified to enter the IT workforce in a position that meets their interests and abilities as well as the needs of employers.
Concentrations or Academic Tracks
Learn more about the Academic Tracks, or view the Suggested Academic Plans for each.
- Application Development
- Business Applications
- Cybersecurity
- Security and Risk Analysis
- Custom
Internship Opportunities
All Information Sciences and Technology students are required to complete an internship in a field related to their major. Internships can be part-time or full-time and paid or unpaid. Internships enable students to apply what was learned in the classroom to a dynamic, real-world technical situation. To receive credit for the internship, students complete the 1-credit IST 495 course and must complete at least 300 hours of supervised employment.
Graduates from this degree program have completed internships at:
- Deloitte
- Lockheed Martin
- Pfizer
- US Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- Vanguard Group
Research Opportunities
IT students have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty members. Working one-on-one with a faculty member or as part of a supervised research team, students investigate important issues related to their academic interests. Students gain valuable experience to include on their resumes or graduate school applications, make professional contacts, and have even earned co-authorship on scholarly publications and conference presentations.
Graduates from this degree program have conducted research in:
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial Intelligence
- IT and Cybersecurity Education
Double Majors
Students can pair the following programs with this degree program for a double major:
Minors
Students can pair the following minors with this degree program:
After Graduation
IT graduates are in high demand by top companies and government agencies. Their technical expertise combined with interpersonal skills and business savvy means they have the versatility employers want. Many jobs in the technology sector have higher than average growth and salary rates, with flexibility and high levels of job satisfaction.
Our IT graduates are employed in positions such as application developer, IT consultant and project manager, data analyst, information security specialist, cloud data engineer, security operations center analyst, systems engineer, IT systems analyst, and service desk analyst.
Graduates from this degree program have gotten jobs at:
- Lockheed Martin
- Pfizer
- Textron Systems
- U.S. Government
- Volvo Group
Although IT graduates do not need additional education to begin their careers, our graduates may decide to continue their education in graduate programs that further enhance their knowledge and skills. Some programs that students have continued their study in include Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Business, and Management.
IT graduates also pursue technical certifications such as Microsoft, Amazon, CompTIA, Cisco, and CISSP.
Graduates from this degree program have gone on to graduate school at:
- Penn State
- Johns Hopkins
