IST’s baccalaureate (four-year) degree program helps prepare students for leadership positions in the information sciences and was developed in collaboration with industry. This major is structured to provide students with the theoretical frameworks and skill sets necessary to compete and be productive in the information technology-intensive global context that defines the new "Information Age." Specifically, the degree will be focused on a program that will build an understanding of core information technologies and related areas of study; will prepare students for the practical application of various information sciences and related technologies; and engage students in sharpening their abilities to think critically and to work in teams.
All this is done with considerable interdisciplinary integration in order to expose students to the cognitive, social, institutional, and global environments of IST. Team projects in most courses, a required internship, and a senior capstone experience provide additional, focused venues for involving students in the cutting-edge issues and technologies of the field.
Job Titles
Students with a bachelor’s degree in IST are expected to be competitive for a number of career opportunities in government, education, industry, healthcare, and business. Job titles according to IST option include: in Information Systems: Design and Development -- Information Systems Software Designer, Software Design Manager, Database Designer, Information Interface Designer; in Information Technology: Integration and Application -- Systems Analyst, Systems Programmer, Enterprise Resource Manager, Organizational Consultant, Supply Chain Manager; and in Information Context: People, Organizations, and Society -- Policy Analyst, Industry Consultant, Information Services Administrator, E-commerce Specialist, Multimedia Specialist.
Job Outlook
. This will stem primarily from rapid growth among computer-related occupations and the need for high-level leadership.