Program Overview

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Information Sciences and Technology (IST) is an online degree program that explores how to strengthen the power of information and technology to increase human potential. The course work focuses on creating innovative systems and technology solutions in a wide range of industries.

Program Details

• The program requires a minimum of 125 credits to graduate.
• The curriculum includes:
  • 84 credits required for the major
    • 26 prescribed credits
    • 13 additional credits
    • 21 supporting courses and related areas credits
    • 24 option credits (Design and Development)
  • 8 credits of electives
  • 45 General Education credits (12 of these credits are included in the requirements for the major)

Entrance-to-Major Requirements

To change your major to IST, you must have earned at least 27.5 credits with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a C or better in the following courses:

• IST 110
• IST 140 (or equivalent CMPSC 101 or CMPSC 121)
• IST 210
• IST 220

Prescribed Courses

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all prescribed courses except STAT 200.

• ETI 301: Information and Organizations
• HCDD 331: Foundations of Human-Centered Design
• IST 110: Information, People, and Technology
• IST 210: Organization of Data
• IST 220: Networking and Telecommunications
• IST 230: Language, Logic, and Discrete Mathematics
• IST 440W: Information Sciences and Technology Integration and Problem Solving
• IST 495: Internship
• STAT 200: Elementary Statistics

Additional Courses

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all additional courses.

• ECON 102: Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy
• ECON 104: Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy
• ENG 202C: Effective Writing: Technical Writing
• ENG 202D: Effective Writing: Business Writing
• IST 140: Introduction to Application Development
• CMPSC 101: Introduction to Programming
• MATH 110: Techniques of Calculus I
• MATH 140: Calculus with Analytic Geometry I

Supporting Courses and Related Areas

• Emerging Issues and Technologies (3 credits)
• Foreign Language (12 credits)
• International Courses in Foreign Cultures (6 credits)

Design and Development Option

• Prescribed Courses for the Design and Development Option (6 credits)
  • HCDD 311: Object-Oriented Design and Software Applications
  • IST 242: Intermediate and Object-Oriented Application Development
• Studio Courses for the Design and Development Option (select 3 credits)
  • IST 261: Application Development Design Studio I
  • HCDD 361: Application Development Design Studio II
• Additional Courses for the Design and Development Option (6 credits)
  • HCDD 411: Distributed-Object Computing
  • HCDD 412: The Engineering of Complex Software Systems
• Supporting Courses and Related Areas for the Design and Development Option (9 credits)

Electives

Courses chosen in consultation with an adviser.

General Education Requirements

Some General Education requirements may be satisfied by courses required for the major. Students should work with an adviser to select courses.

• Foundations: 15 credits
  • Writing/Speaking: 9 credits
  • Quantification: 6 credits
• Knowledge Domains: 15 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
• Integrative Studies: 6 credits
  • Inter-Domain course work: 6 credits
• Exploration: 9 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN) (may be Inter-Domain): 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, and Inter-Domain courses: 6 credits

Career Opportunities

The demand for college-educated IT professionals continues to increase as organizations from retail to manufacturing and business to science improve and upgrade their IT infrastructures.

• Job Titles Related to This Degree:
  • Application Programmer Analyst
  • Database Administrator (DBA)
  • Database Architect
  • Information Technology Manager (IT Manager)
  • Systems Administrator
  • Web Developer
• Employment Outlook for Occupational Fields Related to This Degree:
  • Computer and Information Systems Managers: 17.4% employment growth (10 years), 645,970 total employment
  • Web Developers: 9% employment growth (10 years), 78,860 total employment
  • Database Architects: 10.8% employment growth (10 years), 64,770 total employment
  • Database Administrators: 8.2% employment growth (10 years), 73,180 total employment
  • Network and Computer Systems Administrators: -2.6% employment growth (10 years), 318,570 total employment
  • Computer Programmers: -9.6% employment growth (10 years), 109,870 total employment

Tuition and Financial Aid

• Undergraduate Tuition:
  • 2025-26 Academic Year Rates:
    • If you have 59 or fewer credits: $638 per credit
    • If you have 60 or more credits: $685 per credit
  • 2026-27 Academic Year Rates:
    • If you have 59 or fewer credits: $644 per credit
    • If you have 60 or more credits: $692 per credit
• Financial Aid and Military Benefits:
  • Some students may qualify for financial aid.
  • Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities.

Application Instructions

• Deadlines and Important Dates:
  • Summer Deadline: Apply by March 15 to start May 18
  • Fall Deadline: Apply by June 30 to start August 24
  • Spring Deadline: Apply by October 31, 2026, to start January 11, 2027
• Steps to Apply:
  1. Review the admission requirements.
  2. Gather your required materials.
  3. Create a Penn State login account.
  4. Read the application instructions.
  5. Complete the application.

Faculty

• Michael R. Bartolacci
• Nannette D'Imperio
• James (Jim) Farrugia
• Fred Fonseca
• Chris Gamrat
• Katherine Hamilton
• David M. Hozza
• Johnson Kinyua
• Sadan Kulturel-Konak
• Lynette Kvasny Yarger
• Richard Lomotey
• Alison R. Murphy
• Joseph Oakes
• Gregory O'Toole
• Kaamran Raahemifar
• Syed Rizvi
• Maryam Roshanaei

News

• Which Information Technology Degree Is Right for Me?
• Penn State featured in U.S. News’ 2025 ‘Best Online Programs’ rankings
• Online learners build a sense of community at IST

Student Success Story

Being a World Campus student allowed me to really appreciate the technology that goes into being an online learner. — Jamie Reep, Penn State World Campus graduate

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