The Information Technology, BS prepares students to apply IT to support business processes. The degree produces graduates with strong problem-solving, writing, and communication skills who successfully compete for technical employment and are prepared for advanced study. The objectives of the B.S. program in Information Technology relate to the expected abilities of the graduates three to five years after graduation.  

The objectives include: 

  1. Be employed in a position in which they have successfully used their information technology skills as evidenced by achieving improved organizational objectives  
  2. Progress through increasing levels of responsibility in the workplace  
  3. Demonstrate ethical, social and professional responsibility consistent with organizational values  
  4. Work effectively in teams, whether as a participant or as a leader 
  5. Grow through self-study, continuing education and professional development relevant to their profession 

The program can be successfully completed in eight full-time semesters with an average of 15 credits each semester. It is also possible for students to complete the degree on a part-time basis. The 120-credit degree requirement consists of Mason Core requirements, IT foundation and core courses, and courses required for the chosen IT concentration. At least 30 credits toward the BS degree must be earned at Mason, and at least 45 credits must be at or above the 300 level. Upper division courses in the program are taught at the Science and Technology campus, where many Department of Information Sciences and Technology faculty offices are located.

The bachelor's program in Information Technology is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org.

Admissions

Students who meet Mason's general eligibility requirements may apply for admission to the IT major. Admission is based on the appropriateness of the student's academic objectives and the likelihood of the student benefiting from the program. Preference in admission is given to students who have four years of high school mathematics, including precalculus.

Policies

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.

Change of Major

Mason students considering a change of major to Information Technology must have a minimum GPA of 3.00 in completed courses from the following list:IT 102 Discrete Structures or MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core)IT 104 Introduction to Computing (Mason Core) or IT 191 Review of Computing FundamentalsIT 105 IT Architecture FundamentalsIT 106 Introduction to IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming or IT 196 Review of IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming or IT 109 Introduction to Computer Programming or CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core)IT 206 Object Oriented Techniques for IT Problem Solving or IT 209 Introduction to Object Oriented Programming or CS 211 Object-Oriented ProgrammingIT 216 Systems Analysis and DesignIT 207 Applied IT ProgrammingIT 213 Multimedia and Web Design or IT 193 Review of Multimedia and Web DesignIT 214 Database Fundamentals or IT 194 Review of Database Fundamentals, and IT 223 Information Security Fundamentals, and a grade of C or better in IT 106 Introduction to IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming or IT 109 Introduction to Computer Programming or IT 196 Review of IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming or CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core).  

Note: IT courses at the 300 and 400 level are restricted to students who have declared an Information Technology major, minor, or undergraduate certificate, and to students in the BAS or BIS program. IT 293 Applied IT: Junior Transition and IT 343 IT Project Management are restricted to students who have declared the Information Technology, BS major.

Advanced Study

Mason offers students the ability to complete both BS and MS degrees in a shorter time through an Accelerated Masters (MS) program. Choosing to pursue an accelerated MS may affect a student's choice of courses in the BS program. Students should consult with an advisor for assistance.

Grades

Students must have a C or better in any course that satisfies a prerequisite for an IT course.  To graduate with the BS in Information Technology, students must have a GPA of 2.75 or better across the IT foundation, core, capstone, and concentration courses. Additionally, students must have a C or better in their foundation, core, capstone, and concentration courses. Furthermore, students must have a B or better in gateway courses for the respective concentration.

Course Repeat Policy

In addition to the University's Undergraduate Course Repeat Policy, the following courses listed have additional repeat restrictions:

  • A student who has taken IT 106 twice may not take IT 109 for their third attempt, nor will they be permitted to start over with three attempts of IT 109 in lieu of taking IT 106.
  • A student who has taken IT 109 twice may not take IT 106 for their third attempt, nor will they be permitted to start over with three attempts of IT 106 in lieu of taking IT 109.
  • A student who has taken IT 206 twice may not take IT 209 for their third attempt, nor will they be permitted to start over with three attempts of IT 209 in lieu of taking IT 206.
  • A student who has taken IT 209 twice may not take IT 206 for their third attempt, nor will they be permitted to start over with three attempts of IT 206 in lieu of taking IT 209.
  • A student who has taken IT 102 Discrete Structures twice may not take MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) for their third attempt, nor will they be permitted to start over with three attempts of MATH 125 in lieu of taking IT 102.
  • A student who has taken MATH 125 twice may not take IT 102 for their third attempt, nor will they be permitted to start over with three attempts of IT 102 in lieu of taking MATH 125.
  • A student who has taken MATH 108 twice may not take MATH 113 for their third attempt, nor will they be permitted to start over with three attempts of MATH 113 in lieu of taking MATH 108.
  • A student who has taken MATH 113 twice may not take MATH 108 for their third attempt, nor will they be permitted to start over with three attempts of MATH 108 in lieu of taking MATH 113.

Corequisites

Corequisites must be completed successfully prior to or at the same time as the course for which it is a corequisite.

  • (MATH 108 or MATH 113 or MATH 124 or HNRT 225) is a corequisite for IT 102. If a student drops or withdraws from MATH 108 or MATH 113 or MATH 124 or HNRT 225, they will also be dropped/withdrawn from IT 102, if the prerequisites are not otherwise met. 
  • (IT 102 or MATH 125) is a corequisite for (IT 106 or IT 109). If a student drops or withdraws from IT 102 or MATH 125, they will also be dropped/withdrawn from IT 106 or IT 109, if the prerequisites are not otherwise met.
  • IT 300 is a corequisite for IT 341. If a student drops or withdraws from IT 300, they will also be dropped/withdrawn from IT 341, if the prerequisites are not otherwise met. 
  • IT 207 is a corequisite forIT 369. If a student drops or withdraws from IT 207, they will also be dropped/withdrawn from IT 369, if the prerequisites are not otherwise met.
  • IT 369 is a corequisite for IT 462. If a student drops or withdraws from IT 369, they will also be dropped/withdrawn from IT 462, if the prerequisites are not otherwise met.

Termination from the Major

No math, science, or College of Engineering and Computing course that is required for the major may be attempted more than three times. Those students who do not successfully complete such a course within three attempts will be terminated from the major. Undeclared students in the College of Engineering and Computing who do not successfully complete a course required for a College of Engineering and Computing major within three attempts will also be terminated. 

In addition, students in the College of Engineering and Computing with evidence of continued failure to make adequate progress toward declaring or completing a College of Engineering and Computing major will be terminated from the school. Adequate progress is determined by the major program. For more information, see AP.5.2.4 Termination from the Major.

Once a student has attempted one of these courses twice unsuccessfully, the third attempt must be no later than the next semester of enrollment, excluding summers. Failure to take the course at that time will result in termination from the major. A third attempt of a College of Engineering and Computing course requires support by the student's major department as well as permission by the department offering the course. This permission is not guaranteed. If the student is unable to take the course when required, the student may request an extension to a future semester; extensions require approval of the student's advisor, their department, and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. The deadline for extension requests is the add deadline for the semester in which the course is required.

Students who have been terminated from a College of Engineering and Computing major may not register for a College of Engineering and Computing course without permission of the department offering the course. This applies to all undergraduate courses offered by the College of Engineering and Computing except IT 104 Introduction to Computing (Mason Core) and STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core).

A student may not declare any major in the College of Engineering and Computing if the student has previously met the termination criteria for that major at any time, regardless of what the student's major was at the time the courses were taken.

Banner Code: EC-BS-INFT

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 120

Foundation Courses

IT 102Discrete Structures3
or MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core)
IT 104Introduction to Computing (Mason Core)3
IT 105IT Architecture Fundamentals3
IT 106Introduction to IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming3
or IT 109 Introduction to Computer Programming
IT 206Object Oriented Techniques for IT Problem Solving3
or IT 209 Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
IT 216Systems Analysis and Design3
STAT 250Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)3
Total Credits21

Core Courses

IT 207Applied IT Programming3
IT 213Multimedia and Web Design3
IT 214Database Fundamentals3
IT 223Information Security Fundamentals3
IT 300Modern Telecommunications3
IT 304IT in the Global Economy3
IT 341Data Communications and Network Principles3
IT 342Operating Systems Fundamentals3
IT 343IT Project Management3
MBUS 300Accounting in a Global Economy3
SYST 469Human Computer Interaction3
Total Credits33

Two-Semester Sequence of Approved Capstone Design Courses

IT 492Senior Design Project I (Mason Core)3
IT 493Senior Design Project II (Mason Core)4
Total Credits7

Information Technology Concentrations

Students choose one of six concentrations from the list below. To be eligible to choose a concentration, a student must have a B or better grade in the concentration's gateway course. Students must satisfy all prerequisites and other requirements in order to take a concentration course, regardless of declared concentration.

Concentration Gateway Courses

Database Technology and Programming (DTP)
IT 206Object Oriented Techniques for IT Problem Solving3
or IT 209 Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
IT 214Database Fundamentals3
or IT 194 Review of Database Fundamentals
Health Information Technology (HIT)
IT 214Database Fundamentals3
or IT 194 Review of Database Fundamentals
Cyber Security (CYBR)
IT 223Information Security Fundamentals3
Networking and Telecommunications (NTEL)
IT 341Data Communications and Network Principles3
Web Application Development (WADV)
IT 213Multimedia and Web Design3
or IT 193 Review of Multimedia and Web Design
Cloud Computing (CCG)
IT 341Data Communications and Network Principles3
Concentration Requirements:

To fulfill the requirements for a concentration, students need 15 credits made up of four courses from their chosen concentration and a fifth course chosen from any of the six concentrations. Students may choose to have two concentrations. To be eligible, the student must have a B or better in the gateway course for each concentration. Students must satisfy all prerequisites and other requirements in order to take a concentration course, regardless of declared concentration.

Dual Concentration Requirements:

If two concentrations are declared, the student must take four courses in each concentration, for a total of eight different concentration courses, and a total of 12 credits per concentration, with no overlap between the two concentrations. 

Concentrations 

Concentration in Database Technology and Programming (DTP)

Required Courses
IT 306Data Structures and Algorithms in Java3
or IT 309 Data Structures and Algorithms in Python
IT 314Database Programming3
Select two courses from the following:6
Mobile Development
Health Data Challenges
Data and Application Security
Rapid Development of Scalable Cloud Applications
Python Web Programming
Web Programming
Database Administration
Machine Learning for Information Sciences
Select one additional course from this or any other concentration within this degree program3
Total Credits15
Dual Concentration Requirements for Data Technology and Programming (DTP)

Students declaring more than one concentration in this major should use the following requirements for their Concentration in Data Technology and Programming:

Required Courses
IT 306Data Structures and Algorithms in Java3
or IT 309 Data Structures and Algorithms in Python
IT 314Database Programming3
Select two courses from the following:6
Mobile Development
Health Data Challenges
Data and Application Security
Rapid Development of Scalable Cloud Applications
Python Web Programming
Web Programming
Database Administration
Machine Learning for Information Sciences
Total Credits12

Concentration in Health Information Technology (HIT)

Select four courses from the following:12
Introduction to Health Information Systems
Health Data Challenges
Health Information Technology Fundamentals
Rapid Development of Scalable Cloud Applications
Introduction to Computer Statistical Packages
Select one additional course from this or any other concentration within this degree program3
Total Credits15
Dual Concentration Requirements for Health Information Technology (HIT)

Students declaring more than one concentration in this major should use the following requirements for their Concentration in Health Information Technology:

Select four courses from the following: 12
Introduction to Health Information Systems
Health Data Challenges
Health Information Technology Fundamentals
Rapid Development of Scalable Cloud Applications
Introduction to Computer Statistical Packages
Total Credits12

Concentration in Cyber Security (CYBR)

Select four courses from the following:12
Security Administration of Linux Systems
Information Defense Technologies
Computer Crime, Forensics, and Auditing
Network Security
Data and Application Security
Election Security
Security Accreditation of Information Systems
Applied Cyber Threat Analysis
Foundations of Cryptography and Security
Network Defense
Select one additional course from this or any other concentration within this degree program3
Total Credits15
Dual Concentration Requirements for Cyber Security (CYBR)

Students declaring more than one concentration in this major should use the following requirements for their Concentration in Cyber Security:

Select four courses from the following:12
Security Administration of Linux Systems
Information Defense Technologies
Computer Crime, Forensics, and Auditing
Network Security
Data and Application Security
Election Security
Security Accreditation of Information Systems
Applied Cyber Threat Analysis
Foundations of Cryptography and Security
Network Defense
Total Credits12

Concentration in Network and Telecommunications (NTEL)

Select four courses from the following:12
Digital Electronics
Network Security
Cloud Infrastructure
Advanced Networking Principles
Wireless Communications and Networking
Voice Communications Technologies
Fundamentals of Satellite Communications
Select one additional course from this or any other concentration3
Total Credits15
Dual Concentration Requirements for Network and Telecommunications (NTEL)

Students declaring more than one concentration in this major should use the following requirements for their Concentration in Network and Telecommunications:

Select four courses from the following:12
Digital Electronics
Network Security
Cloud Infrastructure
Advanced Networking Principles
Wireless Communications and Networking
Voice Communications Technologies
Fundamentals of Satellite Communications
Total Credits12

Concentration in Web Application Development (WADV)

Select four courses from the following:12
Mobile Development
Web I: Web Development
Web Server Administration
Web Development using Content Management Systems
Rapid Development of Scalable Cloud Applications
Information Visualization
Web II: Advanced Web Development
Digital Media and Web Design Capstone
Select one additional course from this or any other concentration3
Total Credits15
Dual Concentration Requirements for Web Application Development (WADV)

Students declaring more than one concentration in this major should use the following requirements for their Concentration in Web Application Development:

Select four courses from the following:12
Mobile Development
Web I: Web Development
Web Server Administration
Web Development using Content Management Systems
Rapid Development of Scalable Cloud Applications
Information Visualization
Web II: Advanced Web Development
Digital Media and Web Design Capstone
Total Credits12

Concentration in Cloud Computing (CCG)

Select four courses from the following:12
Cloud Infrastructure
Cloud Services Management
Application Development in Cloud
Big Data on Cloud Systems
Cloud Security
Select one additional course from this or any other concentration within this degree program3
Total Credits15
Dual Concentration Requirements for Cloud Computing (CCG)

Students declaring more than one concentration in this major should use the following requirements for their Concentration in Cloud Computing:

Select four courses from the following:12
Cloud Infrastructure
Cloud Services Management
Application Development in Cloud
Big Data on Cloud Systems
Cloud Security
Total Credits12

Other Major Requirements

Select 7 credits of natural science, including at least one 4-credit course with lab 17
COMM 100Public Speaking (Mason Core)3
or COMM 101 Fundamentals of Communication (Mason Core)
IT 293Applied IT: Junior Transition1
Select one of the following
Introductory Calculus with Business Applications (Mason Core)
Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core)
Applied Calculus
Total Credits11
1

Students should choose these from the list of courses approved for Mason Core (these credits can also apply toward Mason Core requirements).

Additional Mason Core

Students must complete all Mason Core requirements not fulfilled by major requirements. All students must complete at least 24 credits of social science and humanities coursework, which is normally satisfied by the 24 credits of Mason Core social science and humanities courses listed here, including COMM 100 Public Speaking (Mason Core) or COMM 101 Fundamentals of Communication (Mason Core).

Written Communication6
Literature3
Arts3
Global History3
Social and Behavioral Sciences3
Global Understanding3
Total Credits21

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university writing-intensive requirement is satisfied by IT 343 IT Project Management.

Electives

Select additional coursework to bring the total number of credits to 1208-9
Total Credits8-9

Bachelors of Science in Information Technology Sample Plan of Study 

Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at https://advising.gmu.edu/current-student/majors-at-mason/.

Information Technology, BS/Information Systems, Accelerated MS

Overview

Highly-qualified students in the Information Technology, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Information Systems, MS.

For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Admission Requirements

Students in the Information Technology, BS program may apply to this option if they have earned 60 undergraduate credits and take graduate level courses after completion of 75 credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Criteria for admission are identical to the criteria for admission to the Information Systems, MS program.

Accelerated Option Requirements

Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for the BS and MS programs, with a minimum of 3 credits (maximum 6 credits) overlapping from the following courses:

CS 550Database Systems (satisfies IT 414 requirement in the BS INFT program)3
SWE 619Object-Oriented Software Specification and Construction (satisfies as one DTP concentration course in the BS INFT program)3

Note:

Students must complete MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) as their discrete math requirement and IT 306 Data Structures and Algorithms in Java or IT 309 Data Structures and Algorithms in Python as part of their concentration requirements in the BS program.

Students must also satisfy all the CS foundation requirements prior to admission: https://cs.gmu.edu/current-students/ms-students/foundation-courses/.

Degree Conferral

Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student’s final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form. At the completion of MS requirements, a master’s degree is conferred.

Information Technology, BS/Software Engineering, Accelerated MS

Overview

Highly-qualified students in the Information Technology, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Software Engineering, MS.

For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Admission Requirements

Students in the Information Technology, BS program may apply to this option if they have earned 60 undergraduate credits and take graduate level courses after completion of 75 credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Software Engineering, MS Program.

Accelerated Option Requirements

Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for the BS and MS programs, with a minimum of 3 credits (maximum 6 credits) overlapping from the following courses:

CS 550Database Systems (satisfies IT 414 requirement in the BS INFT program)3
SWE 619Object-Oriented Software Specification and Construction (satisfies as one DTP concentration course in the BS INFT program)3

Note:

Students must complete MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) as their discrete math requirement and IT 306 Data Structures and Algorithms in Java or IT 309 Data Structures and Algorithms in Python as part of their concentration requirements in the BS program.

Students must also satisfy all the CS foundation requirements prior to admission: https://cs.gmu.edu/current-students/ms-students/foundation-courses/.

Degree Conferral

Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student’s final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form. At the completion of MS requirements, a master’s degree is conferred.

Information Technology, BS/Digital Forensics, Accelerated MS

Overview

Highly-qualified students in the Information Technology, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Digital Forensics, MS.

For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Admission Requirements

Students in the Information Technology, BS program may apply for this option if they have earned 60 undergraduate credits and take graduate level courses after completion of 75 credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.25. Criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Digital Forensics, MS program.

Accelerated Option Requirements

Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for the BS and MS programs, with a minimum of 3 credits (maximum 9 credits) overlapping from the following courses:

DFOR 510Digital Forensics Analysis3
DFOR 660Network Forensics3
DFOR 663Operations of Intrusion Detection for Forensics3

Degree Conferral

Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student’s final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form. At the completion of MS requirements, a master’s degree is conferred.

Information Technology, BS/Telecommunications, Accelerated MS

Overview

Highly-qualified students in the Information Technology, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Telecommunications, MS.

For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Admission Requirements

Students in the Information Technology, BS program may apply for this option if they have earned 60 undergraduate credits and take graduate level courses after completion of 75 credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.00. Criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Telecommunications, MS program.

Accelerated Option Requirements

Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for the BS and MS programs, with a minimum of 3 credits (maximum 9 credits) overlapping from the following courses:

Select nine credits from the following:9
Modern Telecommunications (To satisfy the IT 300 BS, INFT requirement)
Internet Protocol Routing: Lecture and Laboratory Course (satisfies as one NTEL concentration course in the BS INFT program)
Voice Over IP (To satisfy the IT 484 BS, INFT requirement.)
Total Credits9

Degree Conferral

Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student’s final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form. At the completion of MS requirements, a master’s degree is conferred.

Information Technology, BS/Applied Information Technology, Accelerated MS

Overview

Highly-qualified students in the Information Technology, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Applied Information Technology, MS.

For more detailed information, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degrees. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Admission Requirements

Students in the Information Technology, BS program may apply to this option if they have earned 60 undergraduate credits and take graduate level courses after completion with an overall GPA of 75 credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.30. Criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Applied Information Technology, MS program.

Accelerated Option Requirements

Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for the BS and MS programs, with a minimum of 3 credits (maximum 12 credits) overlapping from the following courses:

AIT 512Algorithms and Data Structures Essentials (satisfies the IT 306 requirement in the BS INFT program)3
AIT 524Database Management Systems (satisfies the IT 314 requirement in the BS INFT program)3
AIT 542Fundamentals of Computing Platforms (satisfies the IT 342 requirement in the BS INFT program)3
AIT 580Analytics: Big Data to Information (satisfies the IT 322 requirement in the BS INFT program)3
AIT 664Information: Representation, Processing and Visualization (satisfies the IT 415 requirement in the BS INFT program)3
AIT 682Network and Systems Security (satisfies the IT 366 requirement in the BS INFT program)3

Students also have the option to take up to 6 additional credits of graduate coursework on reserve, which can be used for the MS degree only. See AP.1.4.4 Graduate Course Enrollment by Undergraduates.

Degree Conferral

Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student’s final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the VSE Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master’s degree is conferred.