USF 2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalog - Pages 173 - 174

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

Course Descriptions

The Mission of the Information Technology Program is to provide high quality educational opportunities for students interested in pursuing careers in the broad range of fields that support our computer/information-based society and economy. Additionally to utilize the resources of the program to provide service to society; and to emphasize to students the need for lifelong learning, ethical conduct and an understanding of the diverse social context in which Information Technology is practiced. The program is offered through the Lakeland Campus.

Specifically the program aspires to:

1. Lead to the advancement of Information Technology through nationally recognized education at the undergraduate level, as well as technology transfer to regional industries and businesses;
2. Prepare students for full and ethical participation in a diverse society and encourage lifelong learning;
3. Educate undergraduates in the best practices of the field as well as integrate the latest research and practices into the curriculum;
4. Emphasize the development of problem solving and communication skills as an integral component of the educational process and the later practice of the discipline;
5. Provide quality learning experiences through highly interactive techniques of course delivery that will include the use of electronic support equipment as well as newly developing distance learning technologies.

Objectives

The Information Technology program graduates will:

1. Have the requisite education and skills to be immediately employable as professionals in our computer/information-based society
2. Be prepared to enter into graduate studies in a number of related graduate programs
3. Be ethical and responsible members of their profession and society as a whole
4. Be well founded in the variety of sub-disciplines that comprise Information Technology which include basic principles of computation, mathematics, science and engineering.

The Information Technology (IT) program is designed to bridge the gap between computer science and management information systems. The emphasis of the program is on knowledge-based computer and information technology, traditional computer science concepts, as well as more practical topics including programming, applications, and networking, systems administration and the management of a variety of computing environments (in an era of rapidly changing technology). IT students will take coursework in computer organization, human-computer interface, data structures, operating systems, networking, databases, and software engineering. Electives can include such application areas as: advanced database, advanced networking, web page design and administration, and e-commerce as well as a variety of other related areas. Through a broad based set of electives, IT students will be able to tailor their program to satisfy individual preferences and strengths.

Students completing the IT program will qualify for a broad range of positions in computer-intensive businesses and industry such as: programmer analyst, systems analyst, database administrator, network administrator, computer resource manager, systems development manager, and information technology management, to name a few.

In addition to the University's graduation requirements, the program has the following policies:

1. Mandatory academic advising of each student each term,
2. Exit interviews as a graduation requirement for all students, and
3. Only grades of C and above in IT courses can be used to fulfill graduation requirements.

Four-Year Curriculum in Information Technology

Please send questions or comments to:
Karen M. Hall - webCat@ugs.usf.edu
Effective Date: Semester I, 2002

http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0203/bsit.htm