Information Technology B.S.

Total Semester Credit Hours = 120 

The Information Technology Program prepares students for a wide array of career possibilities. The program provides students with computer skills while offering more flexibility and fewer math requirements.  Along with a challenging core set of IT courses, it allows students to select from a broad array of concentrations including Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Computer Architecture, Programming, Data Management, and Entrepreneurship. The flexibility of the program allows students to tailor their education to their prospective individual needs. Individuals with the IT degree will fit in virtually every type of organization globally.

Student Objectives

Information Technology students at the time of graduation are expected to attain:

1. an ability to solve IT problems;
2. an ability to analyze a IT problem and a set of possible solutions. 
3. an ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal;
4. an understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security and social issues involved in Cyberspace;
5. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
6. a recognition of the need for continued education in the broad range of IT career fields;
7. an understanding of the global reach of IT;
8. an in depth set of “hands-on” IT opportunities;
9. an ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice; and
10. multiple specializations from a flexible set of IT course concentrations.  

Graduation Requirements

Total Credit Hours Required – 120

Suggested University Core for BS in Information Technology (42 Credit Hours)

Communication (6 hours)
The following two courses are recommended:
ENGL 1301 College Composition [TCCN: ENGL 1301]
SPCM 1315 Fundamentals of Speech Communication [TCCN: SPCH 1315]

Mathematics (3 hours)
Select Courses from the approved University Core Curriculum list based on Track Options

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)
Select Courses from the approved University Core Curriculum list.

Language Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)
Select Courses from the approved University Core Curriculum list.

Creative Arts (3 hours)
Select Courses from the approved University Core Curriculum list.

Human Expression (3 hours)
The following course is recommended:
ENGL 1302 College Composition II [TCNN: ENGL 1302]

American History (6 hours)
HIST 1301 United States History I [TCCN: HIST 1301]
HIST 1302 United States History II [TCCN: HIST 1302]

Government/Political Science (6 hours)
POLS 2305 Introductory American Government [TCCN: GOVT 2305]
POLS 2306 Introductory Texas Politics [TCCN: GOVT 2306]

Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)
Select Courses from the approved University Core Curriculum list.

STEM (3 hours)
Select Courses from the approved University Core Curriculum list based on Track Options.

Information Technology Upper/Lower Electives (19 Credit Hours)

All courses must be approved by the University of Texas at Tyler.

Information Technology Major Courses (29 Credit Hours)

All CIS courses require a "C" or better.

Required Core Classes

COSC 1307	Introduction to Information Systems Software [TCCN: BCIS 1305]
COSC 1336	Programming Fundamentals
COSC 1337	Object Oriented Paradigm
COSC 2315	Computer Organization [TCCN: COSC 2325]
COSC 3385	Database Design
MANA 3370	Business Writing and Oral Presentations
COSC 4362	Retail Cyber Security
COSC 3215	Social and Professional Issues in Computing
COSC 4325	Data Communications and Computer Networks
COSC 4309	Design of Modern Information Systems

Information Technology Prescribed Electives (30 Credit Hours)

All CIS Courses require a “C” or better.

Students must take a total of 30 prescribed elective hours. In addition, students must complete at least two tracks and each track must contain at least 9 credit hours.  It is possible to take three tracks. The following are available tracks for the new degree:

Track Option #1 Cybersecurity Courses

COSC 4361	Retail Cyber Security Management
COSC 4363	Contingency Planning
COSC 4364	COSC Cyber Risk Analysis
COSC 4367	Cryptography
COSC 4388	Digital Forensics

Track Option #2 Data Analytics

COSC 4347	Business Intelligence and Analysis
COSC 4342	Sports Data Analytics
MARK 4340	Consumer Insights
MARK 3311	Principles of Marketing

The Data Analytics Track requires MATH 1342 and MATH 1343 and may come out of lower division electives. MARK 3311 is required in this track and is a prerequisite to the other courses.

Track Option #3 Computer Architecture

COSC 2336	Data Structures and Algorithms [TCCN: COSC 2336]
COSC 3345	Computer Architecture
COSC 3355	Operating Systems
COSC 4360	Net-Centric Computing

The Architecture Track requires MATH 2413 and COSC 2336 and may come out of lower division electives.

Track Option #4 Programming

COSC 3325	Algorithm Analysis and Foundations
COSC 4336	Software Development
COSC 4315	Information and Knowledge Management
COSC 3365	Programming with Data, File and Object Structures
COSC 4356	Computer Vision
COSC 4345	Computer Graphics

The Programming track requires MATH 2413, MATH 2330, and COSC 2336 and may come out of lower division electives.

Track Option #5 Data Management

COSC 2336	Data Structures and Algorithms [TCCN: COSC 2336]
COSC 4385	Database Management Concepts
COSC 4352	Data Mining
COSC 4373	Advanced Database Management Concepts

The Data Management track requires MATH 2413 and COSC 2336 and may come out of lower division electives.

Track Option #6 Entrepreneurship

MANA 3311	Fundamentals of Management
MANA 3325	Entrepreneurship
MANA 4320	New Venture Planning

Suggested Four-Year Curriculum for Information Technology

Freshman Year

First Semester (15 hrs.)

COSC 1307	Introduction to Information Systems Software [TCCN: BCIS 1305]
COSC 1336	Programming Fundamentals
ENGL 1301	College Composition I [TCCN: ENGL 1301]
HIST 1301	United States History I [TCCN: HIST 1301]

MATH - Mathematics Core Elective

Second Semester (15 hrs.)

COSC 1337	Object Oriented Paradigm
ENGL 1302	College Composition II [TCCN: ENGL 1302]
HIST 1302	United States History II [TCCN: HIST 1302]
SPCM 1315	Fundamentals of Speech Communication [TCCN: SPCH 1315]

Social and Behavioral Sciences Core Elective (3 hrs.) (ECON 2301 or ECON 2302 preferred)

Sophomore Year

First Semester (16 hrs.)

COSC 2315	Computer Organization [TCCN: COSC 2325]
POLS 2305	Introductory American Government [TCCN: GOVT 2305]

Language, Philosophy, & Culture (3 hrs.)
Creative Arts Elective (3 hrs.)
Life and Physical Sciences (3 hrs.)
Approved Upper/Lower Elective (1 hr.)

Second Semester (15 hrs.)

COSC 3385	Database Design
POLS 2306	Introductory Texas Politics [TCCN: GOVT 2306]

STEM University Core Requirement (3 hrs.)
Life and Physical Sciences (3 hrs.)
COSC Prescribed Track Elective

Junior Year

First Semester (15 hrs.)

MANA 3370	Business Writing and Oral Presentations
COSC 4325	Data Communications and Computer Networks

COSC Prescribed Track Elective
COSC Prescribed Track Elective
COSC Prescribed Track Elective

Second Semester (14 hrs.)

COSC 3215

Social and Professional Issues in Computing

COSC Prescribed Track Elective
COSC Prescribed Track Elective
Approved Upper/Lower Elective (3 hrs.)
Approved Upper/Lower Elective (3 hrs.)

Senior Year

First Semester (15 hrs.)

COSC 4362	Retail Cyber Security
COSC 4309	Design of Modern Information Systems

COSC Prescribed Track Elective
COSC Prescribed Track Elective
Approved Upper/Lower Elective (3 hrs.)

Second Semester (15 hrs.)

COSC Prescribed Track Elective
COSC Prescribed Track Elective
Approved Upper/Lower Elective (3 hrs.)
Approved Upper/Lower Elective (3 hrs.)
Approved Upper/Lower Elective (3 hrs.)