Information Technology

About Information Technology USF Sarasota-Manatee Catalog USF IT Network-Student Club Program Contacts

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"I liked that the IT program was actually teaching job skills that would make you employable, as opposed to business theory that doesn't always apply in the real world. The class work I've done here is real-world stuff that I'm going to use in my career."  -Todd Mitchell  USF Sarasota-Manatee at North Port

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Program

Information Technology (IT) is a young discipline, designed to bridge the gap between computer science and management information systems, providing students with knowledge of rapidly changing technology. At USF Sarasota-Manatee, the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) program emphasizes knowledge-based computer and information technology, traditional computer science concepts, as well as more practical topics including programming, applications, networking, systems administration, security, and the management of a variety of computing environments.(more...)


This program features the required core of computing discipline courses necessary to give the future IT professionals a long-term handle on their careers. At the same time, the degree program is unique in its flexibility-because it has to be. IT is an extremely wide-ranging, rapidly evolving field of work, and no "cookie-cutter" degree program will work for such a breadth of career options. Therefore, the BSIT includes five IT-related elective-courses selected by the student as appropriate to the IT specialty or industry sector they wish to enter. These can be courses offered by the department, or even by other departments. A person aiming for an IT career in hospitals, for example, may elect to take some courses in health care or public health. A person who wishes to specialize in security can take several of the information security courses offered by the IT department.

When it comes to preparing students for a career and then helping them find their first position, this program includes two required courses with this specifically in mind. IT Seminar exposes students to outside speakers on a wide range of topics, including IT career opportunities. Our "capstone" course, the IT Senior Project, provides students an opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of IT skills, as well as their communication and critical thinking abilities. The senior project is frequently an internship with a local firm or agency. These experiences not only provide an important element to the student's resume, but may themselves lead to a job offer.

The Information Technology Department at USF-SM is part of the College of Arts and Science (CAS). IT courses will not be taught by teaching assistants, but by full-time faculty members of the IT department. A rare exception may occur when the department is able to engage the services of a highly qualified adjunct professor to teach a topic in which he or she has current, real world experience.

Program of Study

Prerequisites for Admission, students must:

• Complete an Associate of Arts (AA) degree from a Florida community college or 60 transferable credit hours from another college or university; and
• Transfer a cumulative 2.0 grade point average (GPA) or better from previous educational institutions; and 
• Complete USF's undergraduate admissions application process online.

Students interested in pursuing the BSIT degree at USF-SM are encouraged to complete the prerequisites outlined below while enrolled at the community college or another college or university. Students must earn a grade of "C" or better in each of the courses unless otherwise stated. Students may be admitted to the university prior to completing all of these requirements. Prerequisites
PSY 2012 STA 2023 ECO 2013 CGS XXXX COP 2510 COP XXXX MAC 1140 PHY XXXX MAD XXXX	General Psychology Probability and Statistics Macroeconomics Any Database Course IT Programming Concepts Object Oriented Programming Pre-Calculus Algebra Any Physics Course Discrete Mathematics Course

Core and Specializations

IT Major Core (21 Credits):
CGS 3373 CGS 3374 COP 3XXX COP 3515 COP 3XXX CIS 4935	Foundations of Information Technology I (w/lab - 4 credits) Foundations of Information Technology II (w/lab - 4 credits) Programming Concepts II (4 credits)  (COP3931 - Selected Topics for interim) Requirements and Program Design Immediate Database Systems Senior Project

6 additional courses (18 credits) from one of the areas of specializations below.

3 electives (9 credits) from areas of specializations or from approved cognate or related disciplines.

Additional Degree Requirements for all BS in IT majors (9 credits)

• Business or Technical Writing
• IT or professional ethics
• An additional upper-level course that qualifies as a Major Works "exit".

Student chooses one of the following concentrations:
The IT department at USFSM currently offers the following five concentrations. Additional ones are being planned based on market needs. Please note: Each concentration requires 6 core courses and 3 electives taken from that concentration.

Enterprise Applications Development

The market is sizzling for more Apps Developers whether these are mobile apps, consumer, or commercial apps. Courses in this heating up area are tailored to provide the knowledge base and skill set for students to compete in a broad growing market. Java skills are fundamental to meeting this demand. Comprehensive Java focuses on Java 6, a highly user-friendly, portable and lightweight version, with simple quick prototyping capabilities, and a slew of advanced functionality. This course is a requirement for the Enterprise Applications Development concentration as well as for those aspiring to become Android apps’ developers.
Remember, technology is an enabler for business performance. So, if you revel in customized solutions, web-based or mobile, to deliver business-driven solutions that effectively integrate and support business processes, organizational structures, and corporate cultures, this is the concentration for you.

• Required Courses (18 credits):
  CIS 3303 Unified Modeling Language or Comprehensive Java (COP 3931 Sel Topics)
  COP 3XXX Integrated Development Environments (Eclipse) (COP 3931 Sel Topics)
  COP 4XXX Programming Concepts III (Jython) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
  COP 3XXX Systems Programming (Java EE) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
  CIS 3615 Secure Software Development
  CEN 3722 Human-Computer Interface
• Electives (9 credits):
  CIS 3360 Principles of Information Security
  CTS 3165 Linux Essentials
  CTS 4348 Linux Administration
  COP 4XXX Mobile Application Development I (Java ME) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
  COP 4XXX Mobile Application Development II (Android) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
  CIS 4361 Information Security Management
  CGS 4XXX Advanced Web Design (Google Tool-Kit) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
  CIS 4510 IT Project Management  

Information Security

If you want a cool job making a difference by standing between your organization and the hackers/malware out there, you would be interested in this concentration. The InfoSec expert analyzes how intruders breached the infrastructure in order to identify additional systems/ networks that have been compromised. Investigating traces left by complex attacks requires a forensic expert who is not only proficient in the latest forensic, response, and reverse engineering skills, but is astute in the latest exploit methodologies.
•  Required Courses (18 credits)
  CIS 3360 Principles of Information Security
  CIS 3367 Architecting Operating Systems Security
  CNT 3403 Network Security and Firewalls
  CIS 4365 Computer Security Policies and Disaster Preparedness
  CIS 4368 Database Security and Audits
  CIS 4361 Information Technology Security Management
• Electives (9 credits):
  CET 3XXX Laws and Legal Aspects of Information Security (CIS 3932 - Sel Topics)
  CIS 3362 Cryptography and Information Security
  CIS 4203 Computer Forensics and Investigations
  CIS 4204 Ethical Hacking
  CIS 3XXX Web Application Security

• Information Technology Management
  An IT Technology Manager is responsible for managing all of the organization’s technologies, from desktops to the backbone, including all mobile devices. Primary duties include: analyzing systems and processes; maintaining workstations and networks; and designing, developing and maintaining Web-based applications. If you are innovative, enjoy all aspects of technology, specially cutting edge and emerging technologies, this is the field for you.
  •  Required Courses (18 credits):
    CIS 4412 IT Resource Management
    CIS 4361 Information Security Management
    CIS 44510 IT Project Management
    CIS 4368 Database Security and Auditing
    CIS 4365 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning
    CEN 3722 Human-Computer Interface
  •  Electives (9 credits)
    CET 3XXX Laws and Legal Aspects of Information Security (COP 3931 Sel Topics)
    COP 3XXX Integrated Development Environments (Eclipse) (COP 3931 Sel Topics)
    COP4XXX Programming Concepts III (Jython) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
    COP 3XXX Systems Programming (Java EE) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
    CTS 3165 Linux Essentials
    CTS 4348 Linux Administration
  • Systems Administration
    Among the top 10 jobs for the next decade and beyond. A Systems Administrator must be well-versed in computer hardware and software applications - must have good troubleshooting skills, since part of the job description is to diagnose problems and correct them. It is a specialized field, and good candidates are usually worth whatever salary they ask.
    • Required Courses (18 credits):
      COP 3XXX Systems Programming (Java EE) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
      CTS 3165 Linux Essentials
      CTS 4348 Linux Administration
      CIS 3615 Secure Software Development
      CIS 4361 Information Security Management
      CIS 4510 IT Project Management
    • Electives (9 credits):
      CNT 3403 Network Security and Firewalls
      CIS 4365 Computer Security Policies & Disaster Preparedness
      COP 3XXX Integrated Development Environments (Eclipse) (COP 3931 Sel Topics)
      COP 4XXX Programming Concepts III (Jython) (COP 3931 Selected Topics)
    Web Design and Development
    If you are interested in the Web and like to solve problems using computers, if you want to design and develop web-pages which work and look pretty, then this concentration is the one for you. You will learn several Web languages, as well as learn how to work with databases. Job opportunities are very flexible ranging from working as part of a team to freelancing and running your own business.
    • Required Courses (18 credits):
      CGS 3853 IT Web Design
      CGS 3850 Web Development (JavaScript)
      COP 4834 Data - Driven Websites
      CGS 4855 Intermediate Web Development (jQuery)
      COP 4816 XML Applications
      CGS 4XXX Rich Internet Applications (Web 2.0) (CIS 3932 Selected Topics)
    • Electives (9 credits):
      CGS 3847 e-Commerce II
      CIS 3XXX Web Application Security (CIS 3932 Selected Topics)
      CGS 4XXX Mobile Web Applications In development (CIS 3932 Selected Topics
  Foreign Language Requirement (8-10 credit hours)
  All students must complete the institution's foreign language requirement. For students receiving a Bachelor of Science degree, this is satisfied with successful completion of either two years of the same foreign language in high school or two semesters of the same foreign language in college. Please contact an advisor for more information.

  Forms - BSIT

  • Prerequisite Equivalents at State College of Florida - pdf
  • Letter of Intent - pdf
  • BS in IT Program Flyer - pdf
  • ISM Equivalents - Sarasota-Manatee Students ONLY - pdf
  • Electronic Archive - Student Permission Form - pdf
  • 2011/2012 IT Concentration flyer - pdf