Bachelor of Science in InformationSciences and Technology (ISTBS)

The bachelor of science in Information Sciences and Technology (ISTBS) degree integrates skills connected with people, information, and technology. The program helps students prepare for careers connected with the ways people create, modify, and use information technologies and how those technologies affect individuals, organizations, and society.

The broad curriculum of the ISTBS program prepares you to hit the ground running in the working world, use information technology to solve real-life problems, and keep your skill set sharp as technology continues to evolve. The program covers topics from software development, to social media, to business applications for technology. The curriculum also prepares you to go on to graduate school in a variety of fields.

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College of Information Sciences and Technology

Degree Options

The ISTBS program offers three options around which you can focus your studies:

Information Systems: Design and Development You’ll design software applications and integrate information technologies to meet a specific need, and work on projects like developing applications for iPhones. If you enjoy working with unfamiliar software and computer languages, troubleshooting problems when they don’t work, and thinking logically to solve complex problems, you’ll want to check out this option.

Information Technology: Integration and Application This option examines how information technology can enable and support processes within and between businesses. You’ll analyze the needs of an organization, formulate and implement technology-based solutions, and evaluate the outcomes, working on projects like designing a software application to store genetic info used by researchers.

Information Context: People, Organizations, and SocietyYou’ll study how businesses and other organizations use information technologies—such as how Starbucks uses Twitter and other social media to promote its brand. You are encouraged to think creatively and pursue opportunities that will allow you to see firsthand how people, information, and technology interact.

Entrance-To-Major Requirements

College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) students officially declare an academic major and option during the second semester of their sophomore year. In order to enter the ISTBS program, you must earn a grade of “C” or better in the following courses:

IST 110: Information, People, and Technology From buying music online to posting photos on Facebook, you use technology every day to communicate. This is the world we live in—the information environment. This course introduces you to the landscape of IST—where information, people, and technology intersect. It addresses major questions such as: How can technology help people and organizations adapt rapidly and creatively? How do people perceive technology and those who work in the information technology field?

IST 210: Organization of Data Where would you go to buy textbooks online from other students? How does a company keep track of its inventory? This course introduces you to the storage, retrieval, manipulation, analysis, and display of information. You’ll learn to use commercial database systems such as Oracle, DB2, and SQLServer and work on projects like developing websites for carpools and football ticket sales.

IST 220: Networking and Telecommunications Whether in a coffee shop, library, or in your own home, chances are you’ve used Wireless Internet somewhere. How do these networks stay up and running? In this course, you’ll learn about digital networking and telecommunications and their applications in information systems.

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