Information Technology (Bachelor's)
Kent State’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology is a comprehensive program that prepares students for dynamic careers in the IT field. With courses in data management, programming, and cybersecurity, students gain both technical expertise and problem-solving skills. This online degree offers pathways in application development, cybersecurity, and networking, equipping graduates to adapt and thrive in a variety of technology roles.
Information Technology Bachelor’s Degree Program Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree in Information Technology provides students with an applied approach that focuses on supporting end-users in a variety of workplace settings by utilizing a range of computing technologies. The degree program gives students the tools to support computing and network infrastructures and the needs of individuals and organizations; write programs necessary to help them render their tasks more efficiently on their desktop or mobile devices; utilize databases and write the web-based interfaces to pull the data; and code and deploy applications across the cloud.
Graduates are qualified to work in a wide range of computer and network infrastructures in small- to large-sized enterprises in such positions as web or software developer; hardware, network, cloud, virtualization technician or engineer; IT support specialist or consultant; help desk, network or IT project manager; security or forensic analyst; and systems, network or database administrator in all sectors of business, education, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit and government.
The Information Technology major comprises the following concentrations:
- The Application Development concentration provides students with the ability to program in languages typically utilized in contemporary business environments. Students code in applications such as Visual Basic, C++, Java, C# and other industry-standard applications to develop programs employing event-driven and object-oriented techniques.
- The Cloud and Virtualization Technologies concentration gives students hands-on practice and competency in virtualization and cloud computing. In addition to gaining core IT skills, students focus on cloud technologies, virtual computer hardware platforms, networking, storage devices, security, scripting, emerging technologies, server administration and storage and infrastructure services. This concentration is for students who want to pursue a professional career in virtualization and cloud computing and prepare for industry-recognized certificates in the IT field.
- The Cybersecurity and Forensics concentration places an emphasis on security of computer and network systems, including forensic work to prevent and/or determine and correct security issues utilizing cybersecurity devices, procedures, tools and solutions.
- The Database Design and Administration concentration focuses on skills needed to become a database manager. Topics include relational database design; working with database servers, users and permissions; SQL statements used for queries and reports; and incorporating databases into programming used in web-based and desktop forms.
- The Health Information Technology concentration provides students with the tools to install, manage, troubleshoot and secure hardware and software systems in healthcare environments. The course of study includes health IT privacy, security, EHR Implementation and support, mobile device management, technology and application life-cycle management, organizational behavior, medical business operations and regulatory requirements.
- The Integrated Information Technology concentration is ideal for students who want a flexible course of study for positions that require IT staff to perform a wide range of technical duties.
- The Networking concentration focuses on configuring and maintaining network information systems and components in various network operating system and cloud computing environments that are prevalent in today’s businesses. The emphasis is on network administration (i.e. managing Active Directory and network services), servers, workstations, virtualization, security, troubleshooting, installation and maintenance.
- The Web Development concentration focuses on scripting; server-side form handling; web database integration; and interactive and dynamic multimedia Internet development.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Identify and evaluate current technologies and assess their applicability to address individual and organizational needs.
- Develop a product, process or solution by applying knowledge of programming, scripting, web, digital media, database, human computer interaction, networking, cloud, virtualization and security tools.
- Perform end-user support, including identifying and implementing solutions to user requests.
- Explain implementation, integration and maintenance for IT applications to a wide range of audiences.
- Work in diverse project teams to develop and/or implement IT-based solutions.
- Apply professional ethics in IT solutions.
- Engage in continuous learning, as well as research and assess new ideas and information to provide the capabilities for lifelong learning.
Program Structure
- 120 credits total
- 52-53 courses
- Each concentration is 18 or 19 credits
- Minimum C grade required to satisfy the writing-intensive requirements (IT 36318)
Information Technology Bachelor’s 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.
First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.
First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.
Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.
Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.
Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog’s Academic Policies.
Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program’s Coursework tab
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 | 3 |
| IT 21009 | SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21010 | WORKGROUP PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE | 3 |
| IT 36308 | ERGONOMICS AND USABILITY IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 36314 | SEMINAR IN EMERGING COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES | 3 |
| IT 36318 | SURVEY OF INFORMATION SECURITY, INTERNET FRAUD AND COMPUTER FORENSICS (WIC) 1 | 3 |
| IT 36339 | CLOUD AND VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 36340 | HELP DESK SUPPORT | 3 |
| IT 42000 | SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY | 3 |
| TAS 37900 | TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CORNERSTONE | 3 |
| TAS 47999 | TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) (WIC) 1 | 3 |
| Additional Program Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Kent Core Composition | 6 | |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) | 9 | |
| Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) | 6 | |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory) | 6-7 | |
| Kent Core Additional | 6 | |
| General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) | 5 | |
| Concentrations | ||
| Choose from the following: | 18 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 120 | |
1Minimum C grade required to satisfy the writing-intensive requirement.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 20030 | VISUAL AND OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 30000 | PYTHON PROGRAMMING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 36304 | C++ PROGRAMMING | 3 |
| IT 36305 | C# PROGRAMMING | 3 |
| IT 36306 | JAVA PROGRAMMING | 3 |
| IT 36309 | PROGRAMMING MOBILE APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| IT 46315 | SQL WITH ORACLE | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 36330 | NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS | 3 |
| IT 36355 | COMMAND LINE UTILITIES | 3 |
| IT 41002 | CLOUD TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 46311 | TECHNOLOGY OF NETWORKING | 3 |
| IT 46313 | VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION | 3 |
| IT 46331 | NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 21200 | ETHICAL HACKING | 3 |
| IT 46313 | VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION | |
| IT 36320 | COMPUTER FORENSICS | 3 |
| IT 36321 | NETWORK FORENSICS | 3 |
| IT 36330 | NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS | 3 |
| IT 46331 | NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS | 3 |
| Concentration Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| IT 40000 | CYBERSECURITY | |
| IT 46300 | ADVANCED COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION | |
| IT 46313 | VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION | |
| IT 46320 | CLOUD FORENSICS | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 21006 | DATABASE PROGRAMMING | 3 |
| IT 36350 | PROGRAMMING OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| IT 46315 | SQL WITH ORACLE | 3 |
| IT 46340 | DATA DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION | 3 |
| IT 46350 | DATABASE ADMINISTRATION AND REPORTING TOOLS | 3 |
| Concentration Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| IT 36330 | NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS | |
| IT 41010 | MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | |
| IT 41002 | CLOUD TECHNOLOGY | |
| IT 43000 | HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 31002 | HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT | 3 |
| IT 36330 | NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS | 3 |
| IT 41010 | MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 43000 | HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS | 3 |
| IT 46331 | NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS | 3 |
| Concentration Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| IT 36396 | CERTIFICATION PREPARATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1 | |
| IT 40000 | CYBERSECURITY | |
| IT 41002 | CLOUD TECHNOLOGY | |
| IT 46311 | TECHNOLOGY OF NETWORKING | |
| IT 46313 | VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION | |
| IT 46340 | DATA DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
1Students may repeat IT 36396 for a maximum of 6 credit hours toward the concentration.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 41010 | MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| Information Technology (IT) Electives | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 21110 | NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING | 3 |
| IT 36330 | NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS | 3 |
| IT 46311 | TECHNOLOGY OF NETWORKING | 3 |
| IT 46314 | ADVANCED SERVER CONFIGURATION | 3 |
| IT 46331 | NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS | 3 |
| Concentration Elective, choose from the following: | 3 | |
| IT 36355 | COMMAND LINE UTILITIES | |
| IT 36396 | CERTIFICATION PREPARATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1 | |
| IT 46300 | ADVANCED COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION | |
| IT 46313 | VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
1Students may repeat IT 36396 for a maximum of 6 credit hours toward the concentration.
| 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 36303 | DIGITAL IMAGE EDITING | 3 |
| IT 36309 | PROGRAMMING MOBILE APPLICATIONS | 3 |
| IT 46303 | DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING | 3 |
| IT 46315 | SQL WITH ORACLE | 3 |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
|---|---|
| 2.000 | 2.000 |
- Students may declare more than one concentration in the Information Technology major, provided that they complete minimum 12 credit hours of coursework unique to each concentration.
Information Technology Bachelor’s Degree Program Tuition and Fees
Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
$335.57 Lower Division Courses (81 ch) $393.35 Upper Division Courses (39 ch) | $1,006.71 Lower Division Courses $1,180.05 Upper Division Courses | $31,400 full-time1 |
Non-Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
$345.57 Lower Division Courses (81 ch) $403.35 Upper Division Courses (39 ch) | $1,036.71 Lower Division Courses $1,210.05 Upper Division Courses | $32,600 full-time2 |
1The flat-rate semester fee of $3,692.65 for LOWER division courses and $4,327.54 for UPPER division courses applies to full-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester. The approximate full-time tuition for this 8 semester program is calculated at 5 semesters of LOWER division courses ($18,463.25) and 3 semesters of UPPER division courses ($12,982.62), as an average.
2The flat-rate semester fee of $3,692.65 for LOWER division courses and $4,327.54 for UPPER division courses applies to full-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour of actual credits taken (between 12-18 semester credits or $120-$180). The approximate full-time tuition cost for this 8 semester program was calculated at 5 semesters of LOWER division courses ($18,463.25) plus the $750 surcharge, and 3 semesters of UPPER division courses ($12,982.62) plus the $450 surcharge, as an average.
For part-time semesters: The $335.57 per-credit-hour tuition rate for LOWER division courses and $393.35 for UPPER division courses applies to part-time Ohio resident undergraduate students, PLUS a $10 per-credit-hour surcharge for non-Ohio resident undergraduate students, taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester.
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 may vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. 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.
The total program costs are estimates and are not final or binding. Program costs are based on standard fees, but fees may vary based on the actual classes taken. Kent State University disclaims any liability arising from the use of or reliance upon these program cost estimates by any person. Program costs are subject to change without notice.
Careers
- 9.7% much faster than the average
- 132,500 number of jobs
- $98,860 potential earnings
- 4.3% about as fast as the average
- 373,900 number of jobs
- $84,810 potential earnings
- 21.5% much faster than the average
- 1,469,200 number of jobs
- $110,140 potential earnings
- Cloud solutions architect
- Information security analyst
- Application Development
- âFull-stack developer
- Mobile application developer
- Cloud Visualization Technologies
- Cloud engineer
- Virtualization administrator
- Cybersecurity and Forensics
- Digital forensics analyst
- Security consultant
- Database Design and Administration
- Data analyst
- Business intelligence developer
- Health Information Technology
- Electronic health records (EHR) manager
- Health IT specialist
- Integrated Information Technology
- IT project manager
- Systems analyst
- Networking
- âInfrastructure manager
- Network engineer
- Web Development
- Front-end engineer
- UI/UX designer
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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