Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology covers a variety of professional disciplines, including software development, systems administration and analysis, network support, web development, cybersecurity, and computer and information research science. A professional with an information technology degree might design and build data communication networks, write and test code for applications and software programs, provide support to users and organizations, or implement security measures to protect computer networks and systems.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts job openings in information technology to grow much faster than most occupations, as much as 12 percent by 2028, much faster than the average for all other careers. As IT solutions continue to expand, professionals are needed in nearly every business sector. They may find careers in information security, software development, platform technologies, network and system administration, Web system development, and IT project management.
The undergraduate program in information technology is offered online through the KU Edwards Campus.
The B.S. in Information Technology follows university admission requirements for transfer students. In addition to the university GPA requirements, students applying to the B.S. in Information Technology must also have eared a C (2.0 GPA) or better in College Algebra or higher.
First-year students apply for admission through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
This program offers flexible pathways for students to complete their degree. Students can take foundational courses at community colleges or the KU Lawrence Campus, and complete upper-level coursework through the School of Professional Studies.
Upper-level courses requirements for the major are available online.
The School of Professional Studies strongly encourages students to contact an academic advisor prior to applying for admission to develop a personalized degree completion plan. To schedule an appointment, please call 913-897-8539.
Transfer students with an associate’s degree or equivalent:
- Students with an associate's degree or equivalent, after meeting with an advisor and developing a degree completion plan, can typically begin taking junior and senior-level courses in their major.
Transfer students with 24-59 credit hours:
- Students with 24-59 credits, after meeting with an advisor and developing their plan, may still need to complete prerequisite and lower-level courses.
- Please note that online lower-level courses are limited, and no lower-level courses are offered at the Edwards Campus.
- Students may find more lower-level course availability in-person at the Lawrence Campus or at a community college.
- Schedule an appointment with an advisor and create a personalized plan, contact 913-897-8539.
First-year students:
Incoming first-year students wanting to pursue this major apply through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. An academic advisor will guide you through lower-level course selections and help you declare Information Technology as your academic major when you are ready to begin junior and senior level courses.
First-year students should select the following options on the KU admission application:
Program: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Plan: Deciding
Subplan: Science and Technology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core 34 General Education | 34 | |
| Foundational Quantitative Core | ||
| MATH 101 | College Algebra: _____ | 3-5 |
| or MATH 104 | Precalculus Mathematics | |
| or MATH 115 | Calculus I | |
| or MATH 125 | Calculus I | |
| MATH 365 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| or BSAN 202 | Statistics | |
| or EECS 461 | Probability and Statistics | |
| or MATH 107 | Introductory Statistics | |
| or MATH 526 | Applied Mathematical Statistics I | |
| or MATH 628 | Mathematical Theory of Statistics | |
| or PSYC 210 | Statistics in Psychological Research | |
| ITEC 303 | Discrete Math for Information Technology Professionals | 3 |
| or EECS 210 | Discrete Structures | |
| Professional Studies Core | ||
| PFS 301 | Communication in the Workplace | 3 |
| or ENGL 362 | Foundations of Technical Writing | |
| PFS 302 | Leadership in Practice | 3 |
| or ABSC 150 | Community Leadership | |
| or BBA 303 | Survey of Management and Leadership | |
| or BBA 305 | Operations and Supply Chain Management | |
| or COMS 342 | Problem Solving in Teams and Groups | |
| or MGMT 305 | Survey of Management and Leadership | |
| or MGMT 310 | Principles of Management | |
| or PUAD 441 | Public Service Leadership | |
| or SCM 310 | Management Science and Operations Management | |
| Information Technology Core | ||
| ITEC 302 | Python, Algorithms, and Data Structures | 3 |
| or EECS 268 | Programming II | |
| ITEC 310 | Computer Organization and Platform Technologies | 3 |
| ITEC 316 | Database Applications | 3 |
| or ITEC 414 | Database Design | |
| ITEC 320 | System and Network Administration | 3 |
| ITEC 330 | Web Systems and Technologies | 3 |
| ITEC 340 | Computer and Information Security | 3 |
| ITEC 342 | Information Security Management | 3 |
| ITEC 380 | Managing IT Projects | 3 |
| ITEC 410 | Software Engineering and Management | 3 |
| ITEC 416 | System Integration and Architecture | 3 |
| ITEC 420 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| ITEC 422 | Computer Networks | 3 |
| ITEC 430 | Human-Computer Interaction | 3 |
| ITEC 450 | Social and Professional Issues | 3 |
| Information Technology Elective Courses | 3 | |
| Choose one 300-400 level ITEC courses not already included in the degree plan. See list below: | ||
| Survey of Information Systems | ||
| Emerging Technologies in Cybersecurity | ||
| Fundamentals of Applied Data Analytics | ||
| Database Applications | ||
| Fundamentals of Data Visualization | ||
| Data Mining and Intelligence | ||
| Predictive Analytics and Forecasting | ||
| Database Design | ||
| Network Security | ||
| Cyber Defense and Countermeasures | ||
| Testing and Vulnerability Analysis | ||
| Digital Forensics | ||
| Cloud Computing | ||
| Special Topics in ITEC: _____ | ||
| Information Security Law and Policy | ||
| Capstone: 3-6 credit hours (this requirement can be completed in one or two semesters) | ||
| ITEC 490 | ITEC Capstone | 3 |
| Overall Elective Hours | 21 | |
| Total Hours | 118-120 | |
While completing all required courses, students must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Total Hours: Satisfied by a minimum of 120 total hours.
Junior/Senior Hours: Satisfied by a minimum of 45 junior/senior hours (300+) hours.
Graduation GPA: Satisfied with a minimum 2.0 KU GPA and a minimum of a "C" in all Professional Studies Core, Information Technology Core, Information Technology Electives, and Capstone requirements.
Information Technology 4-Year Graduation Plan
The undergraduate program in Information Technology is offered online through the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park, KS 66213. This program is designed for students who have earned an associate’s degree or equivalent hours and wish to complete the upper-level courses necessary for a bachelor’s degree. Students planning to attain the degree will need to transfer key credits from other academic institutions as not all required courses are available through KU.
Students considering this degree option should contact the Information Technology academic success coach on the Edwards Campus (913-897-8539) for advising on the first two years of study. An academic success coach will help develop a personalized program plan of study for degree completion.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | Semester 2 | Hours |
| MATH 101 (Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE)*)030 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4 |
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SGE)050 | 3 | Elective | 2 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | Hours | Semester 2 | Hours |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SGE)050 | 3 | MATH 365 or 107* | 3 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective1 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 60 | |||
Third and Fourth Year Online through the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park
| Year 3 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | Semester 2 | Hours |
| PFS 301 | 3 | ITEC 310 | 3 |
| PFS 302 | 3 | ITEC 320 | 3 |
| ITEC 302 | 3 | ITEC 330 | 3 |
| ITEC 303 | 3 | ITEC 340 | 3 |
| ITEC 380 | 3 | ITEC 422 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Semester 1 | Hours | Semester 2 | Hours |
| ITEC 316 or 414 | 3 | ITEC 416 | 3 |
| ITEC 342 | 3 | ITEC 430 | 3 |
| ITEC 410 | 3 | ITEC 450 | 3 |
| ITEC 420 | 3 | ITEC 490 (Capstone) | 3 |
| Elective1 | 3 | Information Technology Elective Course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 60 | |||
- 1
Total elective credit hours for the bachelor's degree depends on which math and science courses were taken. Consult with an academic advisor.
Notes:
* This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
- Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program's discipline.
- Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
- Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program's discipline.
- Identify and analyze user needs and to take them into account in the selection, creation, integration, evaluation, and administration of computing-based systems.