Florida State University 2008-2009 General Bulletin Undergraduate Edition

College of Information

Dean: Larry Dennis; Associate Deans: Robert Brooks, Corinne Jörgensen

In the emerging connected society, information and information technology are ubiquitous and influence almost all forms of human activity. Modern IT professionals use information and technology to support the goals and cultures of the people and organizations they serve. The College of Information's Bachelor of Science in information technology (IT) program prepares graduates who can apply technology innovatively, manage information purposefully, communicate effectively, and work productively with people. Successful information technology professionals determine an organization's information needs and then design, create, and manage information systems to meet those needs. In the IT program students participate in hands-on learning experiences designed to develop and hone leadership skills in communication, technology, teamwork, information management, critical thinking, and problem solving.

The BS in IT program is a forty-two (42) semester hour program, offering multiple concentrations such as the ones in information systems and services or in information organization and communication. The program requires four (4) foundation courses, two (2) introductory courses, two (2) capstone courses, and six (6) concentration and elective courses. Students can focus on topics such as databases, networking, security, Web development and administration, information architecture, project management, and usability.

The demand for IT professionals continues to grow. The Bachelor of Science in IT offered by the College of Information draws upon the service tradition of the early information fields to educate IT professionals who make a difference in the organizations for which they work and create value through the appropriate and judicious use of information technology. Specific careers include information architect, network administrator, technical editor/writer, usability analyst, content manager, systems analyst, technology coordinator, and Web developer/administrator.

In addition to the BS in information technology, the College of Information offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in library and information studies, a specialist (S) degree, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.

The College of Information was established in 1947 as a professional school and is one of the top-ranked programs in the nation. The master's degree program is accredited by the American Library Association, and the college is a member of the Association for Library and Information Science Education.

Requirements for All Incoming Students

All new main campus undergraduate students who enter the College of Information are required to provide their own laptop computer and the appropriate software. Specific information may be found on the college's Web site at http://ci.fsu.edu/.

Requirements for a Major

Students are eligible to major in information technology after completing a program of liberal studies with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better. All students of Florida State University must fulfill the Liberal Studies Program requirements set forth in the "Undergraduate Degree Requirements" chapter of the General Bulletin.

Transfer students who have earned an Associate of Arts (AA) degree from a Florida public community college or state university will be considered to have met the liberal studies requirement.

Program Prerequisites are:

For additional information concerning undergraduate degree programs, please refer to the college's Web site at http://ci.fsu.edu/.

Core Program

To major in information technology, a student must complete a minimum of forty-two (42) semester hours in information technology including the six (6) core and two (2) capstone courses:

Note: All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "C–."

Requirements for a Minor

With the approval of the academic dean of the College of Information, a minor in information technology may be obtained upon completion of at least four (4) of the six (6) core courses (LIS 3021, LIS 3201, LIS 3267, LIS 3353, LIS 3706, and LIS 3784). All courses must be completed with a minimum grade of "C–."

Facilities

The College of Information resides in the Louis Shores Building, which houses classrooms, computer laboratories, and administrative offices. The New Technology (NT) Laboratory includes small-scale Local Area Networks, experimental servers, digital video equipment, and other cutting-edge technology. It provides students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in network administration, UNIX server administration, and multimedia resource production, and is used for special independent and group projects under the supervision of faculty and staff. Made possible in part by a grant from the Kellogg Foundation, the Usability Center is a fully equipped usability laboratory for conducting, observing, recording, and analyzing usability evaluations. The iSpace computer cluster and learning lab provides students with access to a modern Web development environment with scripting language and database access, media production facilities, and a flexible virtual computer environment for experimenting with and using modern information technology tools.

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