About the Program
The Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology (IT) provides students with the theoretical framework and skills necessary to compete and be a leader in the emerging digital global economy. Information technology is a discipline that explores how we can strengthen the power of information and technology and use it to increase human potential. This includes focusing on creating innovative systems and technological solutions that benefit businesses, organizations, and individuals, and understanding the role of technology in how we live our lives.
Degree Overview
The IT program focuses on building an understanding of core information technologies and related areas of study; preparing students for the practical application of various information sciences and related technologies; and engaging students in sharpening their abilities to think critically and to work in teams.
Students can choose from three different options within the major.
Information Context: People, Organizations, and Society Option
This option focuses on how information technology affects social change and the delivery of information to the consumer. This includes the human-machine interface; organization and retrieval of information; digital libraries; information and telecommunications services; information and media industry structures; software services and intermediaries; telecommunications and information law and policy; sociological aspects of technology change; multimedia; and art, design, and aesthetics.
Information Systems: Design & Development Option
This option is focused on expanding the skills needed to develop advanced information technology systems using state-of-the-art tools and techniques. The emphasis is on providing the student with both knowledge in the design, implementation, testing and evolution of complex software systems as well as a set of project-oriented, team-programming experiences.
Information Technology: Integration & Application Option
This option is designed to prepare students to use information technology to realize a variety of system-based goals (e.g., reliability, accessibility, efficiency, etc.). It is focused on developing a theoretical foundation and the skill set needed for integrating information technology into different systems in order to enhance system performance. The emphasis is on providing the student with both the theoretical frameworks needed to use information technology as a system attribute as well as a set of application-oriented experiences and skills.
An Education that fits your life
Adult learners account for 25 percent of the IT program cohort, allowing you the opportunity to work with other professionals as well as traditional age students. Adult leaners are a key component to this program so classes rotate through day, evening, and online offerings, allowing you to complete the degree when convenient for you. By taking three core degree courses per semester, you can complete these core credits in three years. General education credits and additional requirements can also be taken during the day, evening or online to complete your degree.
Associate in Information Sciences and Technology
The associate degree in Information Sciences and Technology (2IST) prepares students to become professionals such as applications programmers, network managers, or web designers. Students may also use the associate degree in IST to build toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Sciences and Technology. Options include: Generalized Business, Baccalaureate, and Individualized.
Information Sciences and Technology Certificate
The Information Sciences and Technology Certificate provides introductory curriculum focused on creating innovative systems and technological solutions that benefit businesses, organizations, and individuals, and understanding the role of technology in how we live our lives. The 12 required credits can be used towards earning your B.S. in Information Technology if you should decide to continue your studies.
Security and Risk Analysis Certificate
The Security and Risk Analysis (SRA) certificate provides introductory curriculum that covers information systems, information assurance (both digital and physical security) and intelligence analysis. The 15 required credits can be used towards earning your B.S. in Information Technology if you should decide to continue your studies.
Introduction to ERP and Business Processes Badge
The Introduction to ERP and Business Processes badge can be earned through the completion of one course, MIS 404 – Introduction to ERP and Business Processes. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are a tool that gives businesses their competitive edge. This course can benefit students in two ways: (1) It gives students a solid foundation of knowledge regarding how businesses operate and their key business processes, as well as, (2) hands on experience with ERP software to understand the software, in this case, the SAP® ERP system. The three required credits can be used towards earning your B.S. in Information Technology if you should decide to continue your studies.
Sample Curriculum
IST 140 (three credits) - Introduction to Application Development
This is a first course in application development. Applications are computer programs developed to support human activity in enterprise and other social contexts. Currently, Python is the language used to meet the course objectives.
Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to:
- Write, compile, and run basic procedural programs at the command-line and with an integrated development environment (IDE).
- Understand, define, and use fundamental programming concepts, elementary data structures, basic problem-solving approaches for application development, use basic methods to test and debug programs.
- Understand and define basic computer organization, architecture, and operating systems principles at the application user/programmer level.
IST 240 (three credits) – Introduction to Computer Languages
The primary goal of the course is to study the foundations underlying the design, specification and use of a wide variety of language paradigms used to interact with computers. Although it is not expected that a student will become proficient in any one language at the end of this course; they will gain an introductory skill level in a scripting language, a markup language, and an object-oriented programming language (current languages include: HTML, JavaScript, PHP, Java, and MySQL).
Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to:
- Describe the role of different computer languages in the information systems development context.
- Identify and describe some of the basic problems that arise when constructing computer-based abstractions and representations of concepts in the "real world".
- Determine the appropriate language for implementation given constraints of program efficiency, computing platform, programming time and effort or other business or technical constraints.
IST 440 (3 credits) – Information Sciences and Technology Integration and Problem Solving
Problem-based approach to technology integration by focusing on real-life problems faced by an organization.
Upon completion of this course, each student should be able to:
- Given a significant, real-world, information technology problem or issue, propose and/or design a solution in which information technology plays an integral role
- Analyze, evaluate, and test alternative solutions and to weigh their advantages and disadvantages for the organization
- Manage an information technology project effectively
- Communicate project results clearly to a variety of audiences within an organization.
Career Potential
Throughout Reading, Pennsylvania, 85 percent of information technology related positions throughout require a bachelor’s degree, and 11 percent require an associate’s degree. Most of the positions are within professional, scientific, technical services and manufacturing companies with positions in software development, network and systems engineering, IT managers and database specialists.
Looking to add an edge to your resume? Some of the highest requested skills include SQL, JavaScript, Project Management, and SAP®. Top certifications include IT Infrastructure Library Certification (ITIL) and Project Management Certification.
Source: Burning Glass Technologies’ Labor Insight™ Real-time Labor Market Information tool.
Meet the Program Coordinator
Professor Tricia Clark is the program coordinator and an instructor for Information Sciences and Technology and Security and Risk Analysis. Clark coordinates the IT, IST and SRA degree programs, including advising, scheduling, recruiting, and assessment activities. She currently teaches courses in programming, information security, and management information systems.
