Information Technology (B.S.)

The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology includes ten concentrations: Cyber forensics, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Financial Technology, Integrated Digital Media & Game Design, Networking Technologies & Administration, Software Engineering, Web Applications Development, Health Informatics, and Technology Entrepreneurship.

Candidates for the baccalaureate degree in IT must complete all graduation requirements as outlined in the Middle Georgia State University Academic Catalog. A grade of at least a "C" is required in all ITEC courses used to meet the School of Computing's degree requirements. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology must complete the following:

Curriculum for Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

Core IMPACTS (Credit: 42 hours)

It is recommended that students pursuing a degree in information technology follow these recommendations for optimal progression of degree completion. Failure to follow these recommendations will result in having to take additional coursework outside of Core IMPACTS requirements to meet the requirements for the major.

Mathematics & Quantitative Skills:

Any permitted course may be used to satisfy the Mathematics & Quantitative Skills Core IMPACTS requirement. It is suggested that students pursuing a degree in information technology complete MATH 1111 (Algebra) in this area. Not completing the recommended course may require additional credit hour accrual.

Technology, Math, & Science Option:

Any permitted course may be used to satisfy the Technology, Math, & Science Option Core IMPACTS requirement. It is suggested that students pursuing a degree in information technology complete MATH 1401 (Elementary Statistics) in this area. Not completing the recommended course may require additional credit hour accrual.

Arts, Humanities, & Ethics:

Any permitted course may be used to satisfy the Technology, Math, & Science Option Core IMPACTS requirement. It is suggested that students pursuing a degree in information technology complete COMM 1110 (Public Speaking) in this area. This is a preferred course and will have no bearing on the completion of the degree.

See listing of requirements for Core IMPACTS

Field of Study (Credit: 18 hours)

Major Field – take the following:

ITEC 2215Introduction to Information Technology

3

ITEC 2260Introduction to Computer Programming

3

ITEC 2270Application Development

3

ITEC 2320Network Essentials

3

ITEC 2380Web Development

3

MATH 2120Discrete Mathematics

3

*Note: School of Information Technology will accept a passing grade of 50 from the CLEP Exam and” Information Systems and Computer Applications” as credit for ITEC 2215.

Area I: Information Technology upper-level Core Curriculum (Required) (Credit: 21 hours)

ITEC 3155Systems Analysis and Design

3

ITEC 3235Human Computer Interaction

3

ITEC 3245Database Principles

3

ITEC 3300Project Management

3

ITEC 4200Foundations of Information Security

3

ITEC 4205Legal and Ethical Issues

3

ITEC 4750Senior Capstone

3

Area II: Information Technology Upper-Level Courses (Required) (Credit: 15-30 hours)

This area is satisfied by taking an ITEC concentration (see below); or approved ITEC upper-level courses.

Area III: Additional courses (Required) (Credit: 9-24 hours)

These courses may be taken in:

  1. Upper-level ITEC courses in the program;
  2. Informatics courses deemed appropriate for providing students with a strong foundation in IT as well as a deeper understanding of another discipline; or
  3. Approved transfer courses.
 

Information Technology Concentrations

Financial Technology Concentration (Credit: 21 hours)

Financial technology, also known as FinTech, is an economic industry composed of companies that use technology to make financial services more efficient. The AS degree program will expose students to the IT domains that make up the FinTech industry, including industry trends, disruptive technologies, big data, analytics, applications development, entrepreneurship, and cybersecurity.

FTA 4001Foundations of FinTech

3

FTA 4002Financial Technologies

3

FTA 4003Commercial Banking and FinTech

3

FTA 4005Introduction to Financial Data Analytics

3

FTA 4100Introduction to Information Security for FinTech

3

Select Two Classes From the following (Credit: 6 Hours)

FTA 3810Payment Processing

3

FTA 3850Digital Payments Security

3

FTA 3860Emerging Payment Technologies

3

Electives (Credit: 18 hours)

FTA 2xxx/3xxx/4xxx courses. or ITEC 3XXX/4XXX courses;
Approved transfer courses
Transfer courses
Courses from within and/or outside ITEC
PLA Credit

Cyber Forensics Concentration (Credit: 21 hours)

Students will learn the cyber forensics process of acquisition, analysis, and reporting. Learners will carry out the procedures of identification, collection, preservation, examination, analysis, and reporting of evidence for civil and criminal cases. Students will learn about the tools and processes to handle digital evidence. Cyber forensics includes using scientific methods and providing extensive documentation to ensure the preservation and integrity of the investigation. The cyber forensics program is designated as a National Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence (CDFAE) by the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3).

Required (Credit: 15 hours)

ITEC 4321Forensics/Data Recovery

3

ITEC 4322Advanced Digital Forensics

3

ITEC 4341Network Forensics and Incident Response Planning

3

CRJU 3200Criminal Procedure & Evidence

3

CRJU 4310White Collar and Cyber Crime

3

Select two classes from the following (Credit: 6 hours)

ITEC 3328Linux Systems Administration

3

ITEC 4323Mobile Forensics

3

ITEC 4344Ethical Hacking

3

Cybersecurity Concentration (Credit: 27 hours)

The Cybersecurity concentration involves detecting, reporting, and responding to cyber threats, making encryption codes to securely pass information between systems, and taking appropriate measures to ensure the security of valuable information. Students will learn about server and network security, incident response and contingency planning, conducting vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing. Students who complete this new concentration will have the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) designation noted on their academic transcripts.

Required (Credit: 27 hours)

ITEC 3325Windows Systems Administration

3

ITEC 3328Linux Systems Administration

3

ITEC 4321Forensics/Data Recovery

3

ITEC 4341Network Forensics and Incident Response Planning

3

ITEC 4344Ethical Hacking

3

ITEC 4361Software Security

3

ITEC 4370Virtual Computing

3

ITEC 4421Network Security

3

MATH 3700Applied Calculus for Information Technology

3

Data Analytics Concentration (Credit: 21 hours)

The Data Analytics concentration provides students with the tools to enhance programming and data mining skills and build the data analysis expertise. This concentration features core classes in applied statistics, programming and data mining techniques. It will help students prepare for job opportunities in a wide variety of fields and sectors from financial industry to programming and software development.

MATH 3440Data Exploration and Visualization

3

MATH 3500Applied Probability

3

MATH 4611Applied Statistics I

3

ITEC 3100Python Scripting

3

ITEC 3351Analytics and Organizational Intelligence

3

ITEC 3355Data Mining

3

ITEC 4244Database Programming

3

Integrated Digital Media and Game Design Concentration (Credit: 21 hours)

The Integrated Digital Media & Game Design concentration prepares students in the design and development of digital media and games for use in a variety of IT applications. Through the various courses, students will develop competencies in evaluating user and product needs and in designing, developing, and implementing digital media products to meet those needs. Students learn a broad range of skills including graphic design and production, interface design, and analysis and design techniques for constructing interactive applications. Graduates will find career opportunities as digital media designers and developers, game developers, multimedia specialists, and trainers.

Required (Credit: 15 hours)

ITEC 3236Interactive Digital Media

3

ITEC 4230Graphic Imaging

3

ITEC 42382D Computer Animation

3

ITEC 42373D Modeling and Animation

3

ITEC 4255Game Design and Development

3

Select two classes from the following (Credit: 6 hours)

ITEC 4250Computational Intelligence

3

ITEC 4284Web Multimedia Delivery

3

NMAC 3108Writing for Digital Media

3

NMAC 3145Introduction to Media Production

3

NMAC 3600Digital Storytelling

3

Networking Technologies and Administration Concentration (Credit: 21 hours)

The Network Technologies & Administration concentration educates students in the use of current concepts and technologies of networking. Students will learn to analyze the needs of organizations, communicate the needs to the users, and then design and build networks to meet those needs. Graduates will be prepared for positions in networking or systems administration.

Required (Credit: 15 hours)

ITEC 3325Windows Systems Administration

3

ITEC 3328Linux Systems Administration

3

ITEC 4329Data Communications

3

ITEC 4370Virtual Computing

3

ITEC 4421Network Security

3

Select two classes from the following (Credit: 6 hours)

ITEC 3220Hardware and Systems Software

3

ITEC 4242Database Administration

3

ITEC 4285Network Services

3

ITEC 4330Routing and Switching

3

ITEC 4332Firewalls and VPNs

3

Software Engineering Concentration (Credit: 30 hours)

Software Engineering (SE) is defined by IEEE as "the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software." SE is the discipline that provides methods and tools for constructing quality software and one of the fastest growing areas in the Information Technology field. The Software Engineering concentration will prepare IT students for careers in the field by exposing them to foundational software engineering knowledge and practical skills.

The Software Engineering concentration consists of the following 10 courses:

ITEC 3250Software Engineering

3 credits

ITEC 3265Operating Systems

3 credits

ITEC 4264Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis

3 credits

 

ITEC 4261Intro to JAVA Programming

3 credits

OR

ITEC 4266C++ Programming

3 credits

 

ITEC 4270Robot Programming

3 credits

ITEC 4361Software Security

3 credits

ITEC 4362Computer Architecture

3 credits

ITEC 4365Software Testing and Quality Assurance

3 credits

ITEC 4367Advanced Software Engineering

3

MATH 3700Applied Calculus for Information Technology

3 credits

Web Applications Development Concentration (Credit: 24 hours)

The Web Applications Development concentration prepares students for the design, development, and implementation of web-based application solutions. Graduates will be prepared for a variety of careers including web development, software or systems developers, web application developers, or database programmers.

ITEC 3280Web Programming

3

ITEC 4244Database Programming

3

ITEC 4261Intro to JAVA Programming

3

ITEC 4264Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis

3

ITEC 4286Web Applications Development

3

ITEC 4361Software Security

3

ITEC 4366Advanced Web Development

3

ITEC 4269Client/Server Systems Programming

3

Health Informatics Concentration (Credit: 15 hours)

Informatics is the bridge that connects Information Technology to other areas of study. An Informatics Concentration provides students with a strong foundation in IT as well as a deeper understanding of another discipline.

All courses in the Informatics Concentration are taken outside the School of Information Technology. These courses cover the foundations, theory, and principles.

Some courses for the Informatics Concentration may not be available online.

Required Courses (Credit: 9 hours)

HLSA 3310American Health Care System

3

HLSA 3320Health Care Management

3

HLSA 4470Design & Management

3

Required Electives (Credit: 6 hours)

Select two courses from the following:

HLSA 3350Public Health & Epidemiology

3

HLSA 3360Quality Management and Improvement

3

HLSA 4410Health Law & Ethics

3

HLSA 4435Managed Care

3

Technology Entrepreneurship Concentration (21 hours)

This concentration emphasizes the fundamentals of technology entrepreneurship topics required for students who would like to launch their own technology-based ventures. In addition, this program prepares students to become intrapreneurs -- a company insider that applies their entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to their position within the company they work for.

Required Courses (15 hours)

ITEC 3400Technology Entrepreneurship

3

ITEC 3405Creativity & Innovation

3

ITEC 3410Startups Financing and Marketing Strategies

3

ITEC 3415Managing & Growing an IT Venture

3

ITEC 4760Business Plan Development

3

Required Electives (6 hours)

Elective (6 hours):

These courses can be approved courses from ITEC and Business courses, approved transfer courses from other accredited higher education institutions and/or PLA Credit.

Total Hours: 120