Information Technology (Associates)
The online Associate of Applied Business in Information Technology from Kent State provides a strong foundation in IT fundamentals. Covering key areas such as networking, cybersecurity, and software development, this program prepares students for entry-level roles in the fast-evolving tech industry. Graduates emerge with practical skills that are in high demand across diverse business and technology sectors.
Information Technology Associate of Applied Business Degree Program Overview
The Associate of Applied Business in Information Technology provides a core foundation in programming, operating systems and networking, web development, hardware, security fundamentals, project management and collaboration and introductory database concepts. Courses introduce appropriate uses of artificial intelligence (AI) for productivity and learning support, such as code and content assistance, documentation and basic analytics, with an emphasis on ethics and accuracy. The major offers concentrations in Application Development Technology, General Technology, Network Technology (with systems administration) and Web Development.
The degree program articulates to the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree and the certificate in Computer Forensics and Information Security.
The Information Technology major comprises the following concentrations:
- The Application Development technology concentration prepares students to design and build software using industry-standard languages and tools; introduces responsible use of AI for code suggestions, tests and documentation.
- The General Technology concentration allows students to create a broad, multi-domain skill set in hardware, operating systems, networking, web fundamentals, teamwork and customer support, with selective use of AI for troubleshooting and documentation.
- The Network Technology concentration prepares students to install, configure, secure, and troubleshoot networked systems; practice systems administration and identity services; explore AI-assisted monitoring and ticket notes where appropriate.
- The Web Development concentration prepares students to build modern, user-friendly websites and basic web applications with attention to accessibility and data integration; responsibly use AI for wireframes, content drafts and test cases.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Apply core IT concepts and skills in areas such as networking, operating systems, databases and application development to analyze and solve real-world technical problems.
- Communicate and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams, interpreting and presenting technical information clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences using appropriate tools.
- Display professional, ethical, legal, and business-aware practice by evaluating new technologies, using basic project management approaches and supporting organizational goals.
- Exhibit career readiness by assembling a portfolio of representative IT artifacts and reflections that connect academic work to workplace expectations and future study.
Information Technology Associate of Applied Business Degree Program Admissions Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.
For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
Program Courses
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 11004 | SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 11005 | INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 11006 | INTRODUCTION TO WEB SITE TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 11009 | COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION | 3 |
| IT 12000 | INTERMEDIATE OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPS | 3 |
| IT 13000 | APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS | 3 |
| IT 15000 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21002 | NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION | 3 |
| IT 21003 | SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS | 3 |
| IT 21007 | CYBER ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | |
| IT 21004 | INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21009 | SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21015 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Kent Core Composition | 3 | |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Kent Core Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences | 3 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Choose from the following: | 9 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 61 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 20030 | VISUAL AND OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21006 | DATABASE PROGRAMMING | 3 |
| IT 21037 | WEB SCRIPTING | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| Information Technology (IT) Electives | 9 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| Information Technology (IT) Elective | 3 | |
| Concentration Electives, choose from the following: | 6 | |
| IT 21100 | NETWORK TROUBLESHOOTING | |
| IT 21110 | NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING | |
| IT 21200 | ETHICAL HACKING | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 21006 | DATABASE PROGRAMMING | 3 |
| IT 21011 | TECHNIQUES OF MULTIMEDIA WEB DESIGN | 3 |
| IT 21037 | WEB SCRIPTING | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 9 | |
- An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.
- Actual tuition costs will vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. The full cost of attendance consists of tuition and fees, and when applicable, food, housing, books, course materials, supplies and equipment, transportation and personal expenses for the enrolled terms. Other expenses not included in tuition and fees totals can be found on the Kent State University cost of attendance web page.
- For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.
Careers
Computer user support specialists
- -3.7% decline
- 729,500 number of jobs
- $60,340 potential earnings
Computer network support specialists
- 1.8% slower than the average
- 152,700 number of jobs
- $73,340 potential earnings
Web developers
- 7.5% faster than the average
- 86,000 number of jobs
- $90,930 potential earnings
Additional careers
- Database support technician
- IT support specialist
Concentration-specific careers
- Application Development Technology
- Application support analyst
- Junior software developer
- Network Technology
- Network support specialist
- Systems administrator
- Web Development
- Front-end developer
- Web content manager
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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