Information Technology Program Educational Objectives

Within two to five years of graduation, graduates of the information technology program will:

1. Practice the discipline of Information Technology in industry or graduate school by employing aspects of their broad knowledge of the field in problem solving and use of technical skills.
2. Conduct themselves in a professional, ethical and responsible manner with respect and awareness for security, social issues and responsibilities inherent in the field.

At the time of graduation, the students in the Information Technology major have attained:

1. An ability to analyze a problem, and to identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution.
2. An ability to design, implement and evaluate a computer-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the discipline.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences about technical information.
4. An ability to make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
5. An ability to function effectively on teams to establish goals, plan tasks, meet deadlines, manage risk and produce deliverables.
6. An ability to identify and analyze user needs and to take them into account in the selection, integration, evaluation and administration of computer-based systems.

Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Information Technology

Major Requirements (59-60 credits):
The student must complete the requirements listed in the following categories:

1) CIS Core Courses (40-41 credits):
CS 102 Fundamentals of IT and Computing* - 3-4 credits
CS 109 Introduction to Visual Basic Programming - 3 credits
CS 110 C++ Programming I - 3 credits
CS 111 C++ Programming II - 3 credits
CS 170 Discrete Structures I - 3 credits
CS 225 Cybersecurity - 3 credits
CS 265 Information Systems Management - 3 credits
CS 321 Data Communications and Network Security - 3 credits
CS 322 Advanced Networking - 3 credits
CS 330 Computer Architecture and Operating Systems - 3 credits
CS 350 Database Concepts and Information Structures - 3 credits
CS 351 Information Systems Analysis and Design - 3 credits
CS 357 Computing Science Project I - 2 credits
CS 358 Computing Science Project II - 2 credits

2) CIS Electives (9 credits):
Any CIS department courses numbered 200 or above may be included. One approved computer course from another department may be included, subject to the approval of the CIS department chairperson.

3) CIS Mathematics Requirement (4 credits):
MA 111 Calculus I - 4 credits
or
MA 109 Calculus I - 4 credits
These four credits can be used to fulfill the core curriculum mathematics requirement.

*All students will take one course designated as a First-Year Seminar which will satisfy a core curriculum requirement.

4) Required Social Science Courses (6 credits):
This concentration also requires 6 credits chosen from business and/or economics. These credits can be included under the core curriculum social science requirement. 

Requirements for an Information Technology Minor (18 Credits)

Information Technology Minor (18 credits):
CS 102 Fundamentals of IT and Computing - 3 credits
CS 110 C++ Programming I - 3 credits 
or
CS 109 Introduction to Visual Basic Programming - 3 credits
CS 265 Information Systems Management - 3 credits
CS 321 Data Communications and Network Security - 3 credits
CS 350 Database Concepts and Information Structures - 3 credits

Three additional credits in CIS courses at the 200 level or above are required. One computer-focused course from another department may be included, subject to the approval of the CIS department chairperson. Students should consult with the CIS faculty for assistance in planning the courses for the Information Technology minor.

Unique features of the Information Technology degree:

• Project driven courses from Freshman Seminar through Senior Project
• Hands on experience with equipment from leading hardware manufacturers
• Experience with cloud and virtualization technologies
• The CIS Department manages its own subnetwork and servers. This allows the department faculty considerable flexibility in determining the software utilized in course projects. 
• The CIS Department has two additional labs for use by students.  The IT Projects Lab provides CIS students with the opportunity to combine research with practice in areas such as computer networking, computer systems and cybersecurity. The Software Projects Lab enables students to work with multiple operating systems to develop mobile applications or to work collaboratively on software development projects.
• Graduates from the Computer and Information Systems department have obtained employment in both large and small companies such as

• NSA
• BNY Mellon
• UPMC
• PNC
• Bechtel

      CIS graduates have been accepted into masters and doctoral programs at

• Carnegie Mellon University
• University of Pittsburgh
• College of William and Mary
• Ohio State University

Typical First-Year Schedule

(Actual schedule may vary based on a student’s major, needs and interests.)

Fall Semester
CS 102 Fundamentals of IT and Computing (F.Yr. Seminar*) - 4 credits
CS 110 C++ Programming - 3 credits
EL 102 Language and Rhetoric - 3 credits
MA 109 Calculus I - 4 credits
Core Curriculum Course - 3 credits
*All students will take one course designated as a First-Year Seminar which will satisfy a core curriculum requirement.

Spring Semester
CS 111 C++ Programming II - 3 credits
CS 109 Introduction to Visual Basic - 3 credits
TH 119 First Theology - 3 credits
Core Curriculum or CS Course - 3 credits
Core Curriculum Course - 3 credits
Core Curriculum Course - 3 credits

Student and Faculty News

• Majors in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity Now Being Offered:  http://www.stvincent.edu/community-events/newsroom/2017/01/27/majors-in-computer-science-information-technology-cybersecurity-now-being-offered
• Computer Science Major Researching Security of Discarded Phones: http://www.stvincent.edu/community-events/newsroom/2017/02/06/computer-science-major-researching-security-of-discarded-phones