This certificate is designed primarily for those students who have earned a bachelor's degree or current undergraduate students who desire deeper knowledge than what can be accomplished through the IT minor. It allows students to augment the knowledge gained through their major-related courses with a foundation of information technology (IT) topics and their application within organizations to achieve organizational objectives. Completing this undergraduate certificate provides students with the necessary skills to improve their attractiveness to employers in our technology-driven society. The certificate requires a minimum of 24 credits, including 15 credits of core courses. Beyond these requirements, students must select three additional IT courses (9 credits, at least 3 upper division credits). Students pursuing the IT undergraduate certificate should consult with an advisor to select their additional courses.
Students pursuing only the undergraduate certificate in information technology will not maintain full-time status which requires a minimum of 12 credits per semester.
Policies
The Information Technology certificate may be pursued on a part-time basis only.
For policies governing all undergraduate certificates, see AP.5.3.5 Undergraduate Certificates.
Certificate Requirements
Total credits: 24-28
This certificate may be pursued on a part-time basis only.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| IT 102 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| or MATH 125 | Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) | |
| IT 104 | Introduction to Computing (Mason Core) | 3 |
| IT 105 | IT Architecture Fundamentals | 3 |
| IT 106 | Introduction to IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming | 3 |
| or IT 109 | Introduction to Computer Programming | |
| Select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Object Oriented Techniques for IT Problem Solving | ||
or IT 209 | Introduction to Object Oriented Programming | |
| Applied IT Programming | ||
| Multimedia and Web Design | ||
| Database Fundamentals | ||
| Information Security Fundamentals | ||
| Total Credits | 15 | |
Technical Focus Courses
Students must satisfy all prerequisites and other requirements in order to take any of the courses listed below. Courses chosen for the technical focus must be chosen with a coordinator in the Information Sciences and Technology department. Not all courses are offered each semester.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 9 credits from the approved list of technical focus courses; at least 3 of those credits must be at the upper division level. | 9 | |
| Object Oriented Techniques for IT Problem Solving | ||
or IT 209 | Introduction to Object Oriented Programming | |
| Applied IT Programming | ||
| Multimedia and Web Design | ||
| Database Fundamentals | ||
| Information Security Fundamentals | ||
| Modern Telecommunications | ||
| IT in the Global Economy | ||
| Data Structures and Algorithms in Java | ||
or IT 309 | Data Structures and Algorithms in Python | |
| Database Programming | ||
| Mobile Development | ||
| Health Data Challenges | ||
| Health Information Technology Fundamentals | ||
| Front-End Web Development | ||
| Web Server Administration | ||
| Web Development using Content Management Systems | ||
| Data Communications and Network Principles | ||
| Operating Systems Fundamentals | ||
| Security Administration of Linux Systems | ||
| Information Defense Technologies | ||
| Computer Crime, Forensics, and Auditing | ||
| Network Security | ||
| Rapid Development of Scalable Cloud Applications | ||
| Python Web Programming | ||
or IT 410 | Web Programming | |
| Database Administration | ||
| Information Visualization | ||
| Machine Learning for Information Sciences | ||
| Election Security | ||
| Security Accreditation of Information Systems | ||
| Advanced Web Development | ||
| Cloud Infrastructure | ||
| Advanced Networking Principles | ||
| Cloud Services Management | ||
| Wireless Communications and Networking | ||
| Application Development in Cloud | ||
| Applied Cyber Threat Analysis | ||
| Foundations of Cryptography and Security | ||
| Network Defense | ||
| Big Data on Cloud Systems | ||
| Cloud Security | ||
| Voice Communications Technologies | ||
| Fundamentals of Satellite Communications | ||
| Total Credits | 9 | |