Department of Information Technology
Chair: Dr. Neil Rigole
The Department of Information Technology is a unit of School of Computing. The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology with ten concentrations: Cyber Forensics, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Financial Technology, Integrated Digital Media and Game Design, Networking Technologies and Administration, Software Engineering, Web Applications Development, Health Informatics, and Technology Entrepreneurship. Students may also elect to graduate with a generalist BSIT degree.
The department has minors available in Information Technology or Web Design and Instructional Technology. The department also offers an Associate of Science degree in Financial Technology as well as a certificate in Financial Technology.
The Department of Information Technology offers a Master of Science in Information Technology with six concentrations in:
Cyber Security & Forensics, Software Development, Health Informatics, Homeland Security, Social Media, and Data Science. Students may also elect to graduate with a generalist MSIT degree.
The Department of Information Technology offers the Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Information Technology program as well. The D.Sc. program is cohort-based with admission to the program occurring once per year in the Summer semester.
Acceptance into the Information Technology Programs
The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology admission requires any transfer student to have at least a 2.0 GPA. Students must not have any Learning Support (LS) requirements to be eligible for admission to the program.
The Master of Science in Information Technology admission requires applicants to have earned a bachelor's degree in IT, MIS, CS, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 2.75 OR a 2.5 GPA with significant work experience in Information Technology as documented by a resume and other appropriate documents.
The Doctor of Science in Information Technology admission requires applicants to have earned a master’s degree in IT or a related field from an accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 3.0. Priority admission applications should be submitted by the first week of March.
Information Technology Program Educational Objectives
The IT program provides students with knowledge in the core information technologies and builds on that knowledge to create professionals who meet the business and economic needs of Central Georgia. The program is designed to produce graduates with a diversified set of skills, roles, and experiences including knowledge in network administration, cyber security, cyber forensics, digital media, game design, web applications development, financial technology, and software engineering. The knowledge areas prepare graduates for careers in a range of organizations.
The core knowledge in the Bachelor of Science in IT degree includes programming, web design, systems analysis and design, human computer interaction, database principles, project management, legal and ethical issues in information technology, and information assurance. In the Senior Capstone course students work in teams to analyze, design, develop, implement, and assess an information system based on their accumulated knowledge throughout the IT program.
The courses in the program emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making, interpersonal, and communication skills. Career success through lifelong learning and professional development is emphasized at throughout the curriculum.
The department anticipates that a few years after graduation, graduates will:
1. Assume productive roles in IT-related positions, such as network administrator, software developer, web developer, systems analyst, cyber security analyst/officer, cyber forensics investigator, multimedia designer, and database administrator; and
2. Pursue life-long learning enabling them to adapt and grow as organizational responsibilities change.
Information Technology Student Outcomes
Upon completion of the baccalaureate program in IT, students should be able to:
1. Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
2. Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
3. Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
4. Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
5. Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
6. Identify and analyze user needs and to take them into account in the selection, creation, integration, evaluation, and administration of computing-based systems.