Information Technology (B.S.)

Information Technology (B.S.)

Major in Information Technology

What is a Bachelor of Science in information technology?

This program is tailored to students who want to apply computer technologies toward satisfying the information needs of individuals and organizations. The curriculum is rooted in fundamentals; students gain the skills and knowledge needed to enter this ever-changing field with confidence. With a solid foundation in science, students also develop strong programming and problem-solving skills, as well as abstract thinking. The IT program arms graduates with the know-how they’ll bring to professional positions upon graduation and, eventually, in leadership positions in their field.

Why study information technology at UNH?

You’ll have access to the UNH InterOperability Lab, where you’ll test the networking equipment of top technology companies, gaining real-world training and experience. And, you’ll have the opportunity to conduct research through capstone projects and independent studies. Many of UNH’s student organizations are a natural fit for IT majors, such as the Cyber Security Club, the Linux Club, and Wildcat Women in Computer Science. Plus, the Programming Assistance Center offers walk-in support and tutoring.

Potential Careers

  • Application developer
  • Cloud architect
  • Computer support specialist
  • Data center support specialist
  • Data quality manager
  • Database administrator
  • Desktop support manager/specialist
  • Information security analyst
  • Information technology specialist
  • Java developer
  • Network administrator
  • Network specialist
  • Programmer
  • Software developer
  • Web developer
Find Courses
View Course Catalog
Department of Computer Science
Kingsbury Hall N229, 33 Academic Way
Durham, NH 03824

Phone: (603) 862.3778
E: office@cs.unh.edu

  • Dylan Wheeler sitting in Kingsbury Hall courtyard
    Wildcat Spotlight
    Doing It All
    UNH senior follows his passion
    Dylan Wheeler ’20 has been described as a person who lives in a universe with 28-hour days. Here’s why: he’s founded two startups and he hasn’t even graduated yet. He launched the first one during his freshman year, and it has helped pay his way through UNH. He also has his own website...
    Learn More
    Wildcat Spotlight
    Doing It All
    UNH senior follows his passion
    Dylan Wheeler ’20 has been described as a person who lives in a universe with 28-hour days. Here’s why: he’s founded two startups and he hasn’t even graduated yet. He launched the first one during his freshman year, and it has helped pay his way through UNH. He also has his own website...
    Learn More

View All Information Technology (B.S.) Spotlights

Curriculum & Requirements

Information technology is concerned primarily with the application of existing computing technologies to the information needs of organizations and individual computer users. The IT program aims to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge to take on appropriate professional positions in information technology upon graduation and grow into leadership positions in the field. Potential careers include network administrator, database developer, system administrator, and webmaster.

The broad objectives for B.S. in information technology graduates are:

  1. Apply the full range of core IT concepts and techniques to fill the IT needs of an organization and be prepared to assume managerial and other advanced responsibilities,
  2. Confront new problems effectively and anticipate the changing directions of technology,
  3. Communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders as well as function appropriately in a team environment,
  4. Navigate within the complex relationships between IT and larger organizational goals, and
  5. Understand the pervasive and changing role of computing technology in global society, and participate responsibly as both IT professional and citizen.

The B.S. in information technology program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

The following is a sample schedule depicting the necessary requirements and the layout of the curriculum. Students must consult with their advisers in order to come up with the proper schedule for themselves.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
CS 400 Introduction to Computing 2
CS 415 Introduction to Computer Science I 0-4
IT 403 Introduction to Internet Technologies 4
MATH 425 Calculus I 4
Discovery 4
 Credits14-18
Spring
CS 417 From Programs to Computer Science 4
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing (Discovery) 4
Discovery 4
Physical Science (DLAB) 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
IT 505 Integrative Programming 4
IT 520 Computer Architecture 4
CS 501 Professional Ethics and Communication in Technology-related Fields 4
Discovery 4
 Credits16
Spring
CS 518 Introduction to Software Engineering 4
CS 527 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity 4
MATH 539 Introduction to Statistical Analysis 4
Biological Science (DLAB) 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
IT 609 Network/Systems Administration 4
IT 705 Project Management for Information Technology 4
IT Elective (1 of 3) 4
Minor (1 of 5) 4
 Credits16
Spring
IT 699 Internship 1
IT 775 Database Technology 4
Minor (2 of 5) 4
Discovery 4
Free Elective 4
 Credits17
Fourth Year
Fall
IT 791 Senior Project I 2
IT Elective (2 of 3) 4
Minor (3 of 5) 4
Discovery 4
Free Elective (optional)
 Credits14
Spring
IT 792 Senior Project II 2
IT Elective (3 of 3) 4
Minor (4 of 5) 4
Minor (5 of 5) 4
Free Elective or Fourth Writing Intensive 4
 Credits18
 Total Credits127-131

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

Major Requirements

Information Technology Courses
CS 400Introduction to Computing2
CS 415Introduction to Computer Science I 14
or CS 410C Introduction to Scientific Programming/C
or CS 410P Introduction to Scientific Programming/Python
or CS 414 From Problems to Algorithms to Programs
CS 417From Programs to Computer Science 14
CS 501Professional Ethics and Communication in Technology-related Fields4
CS 518Introduction to Software Engineering4
CS 527Fundamentals of Cybersecurity4
IT 403Introduction to Internet Technologies4
IT 505Integrative Programming4
IT 520Computer Architecture4
IT 609Network/Systems Administration4
IT 699Internship1
IT 705Project Management for Information Technology4
IT 775Database Technology4
IT 791
& IT 792		Senior Project I
and Senior Project II		4
IT Electives (select three)12
IT 502
Intermediate Web Design
IT 604
Server-side Web Development
IT 605
Client-side Web Development
IT 612
Scripting Languages
IT 630
Data Science and Big Data Analytics
IT 666
Cybersecurity Practices
IT #704
Advanced Web Development
IT 718
Cloud Computing Principles
IT 725
Network Technology
IT 780
Topics in Information Technology
Mathematics Courses
MATH 425Calculus I4
MATH 539Introduction to Statistical Analysis4
Science Courses 2
One Discovery Biological Science (BS) with Discovery Lab4
One Discovery Physical Science (PS) with Discovery Lab4
Other Courses
Discovery requirements not already covered by required courses24
General Electives6-8
Minor, Second Major, or Dual Degree20
Total Credits129-131
1

Starting in 2022-2023, all Information technology majors will be recommended to take CS 415 Introduction to Computer Science I and CS 417 From Programs to Computer Science as their two-semester sequence. CS 414 From Problems to Algorithms to Programs will be discontinued starting Fall 2022.

2

Courses must carry the Discovery attributes of Biological Science or Physical Science and include Discovery lab (DLAB).

Information technology majors must maintain an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better in all required information technology and computer science required courses in order to graduate. If at the end of any semester, including the first, a student's cumulative grade-point average in these courses falls below 2.0, the student may not be allowed to continue as an IT major. In order to meet the IT major requirements, the following courses must be passed with a grade of C- or better:  CS 410P, CS 410C, CS 414, CS 415, CS 416, CS 417, IT 403, IT 505, IT 520. 

If a student wishing to transfer into the information technology major has any coursework that is applicable to the major, the grades in those courses must satisfy the minimum grade requirements for the B.S. degree in information technology. The student must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better in all courses taken at the University.

In addition to the core IT requirements, each student must complete a complementary set of courses in a particular domain outside of IT to which the student's IT skills can be applied. This set of courses can be completed in one of the following ways:

  1. An approved minor**;
  2. A second major or UNH dual degree.

**A list of preapproved minors is available from the CS Department and requires at least (5) courses to complete.

Students will be able to:

  • Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
  • Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  • Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  • Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
  • Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
  • Identify and analyze user needs and to take them into account in the selection, creation, integration, evaluation, and administration of computing-based systems.
  • Self-learning skills, exposure to technologies new to the students, practice in understanding those technologies on their own.

Explore Program Details

The B.S. in information technology program is accredited by the:

Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET
111 Market Place, suite 1050
Baltimore, MD
21202-4012
Phone: (410) 347-7700
www.abet.org/

In addition to the core IT requirements, each student must complete a complementary set of courses in a particular domain outside of IT to which the student's IT skills can be applied. This set of courses can be completed in one of the following ways:

  1. A pre-defined second discipline*;
  2. A self-defined second discipline approved by the IT Program Coordinator;
  3. An approved minor**;
  4. A second major or UNH dual degree.

*Four (4) second disciplines have been defined by the CS department, requiring (4) courses in such areas as business administration, entrepreneurship, health management and policy, and justice studies.

**An approved list of minors is available from the CS Department and requires (5) courses to be completed.

Information Technology majors must maintain an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better in all required information technology, computer science, mathematics courses in order to graduate. If at the end of any semester, including the first, a student’s cumulative grade-point average in these courses falls below 2.0, the student may not be allowed to continue as a IT major.

The following courses must be passed with a grade of C- or better: IT 403, CS 410, CS 414, CS 415, CS 416, CS 417, IT 502, and IT 505. If a student wishing to transfer into the information technology major has any coursework that is applicable to the major, the grades in those courses must satisfy the minimum grade requirements for the B.S. degree in information technology. The student must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better in all courses taken at the University.

As a guide to course selection students may use either of the following sets of guidelines:

For a description of the IT 699 Internship click here.

Student Outcomes in Information Technology

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