05 Jul 2008
Information Sciences & Technology: Frequently Asked Questions

Information Sciences and Technology is a broad term that refers to many computer and information management disciplines and technologies. Areas that overlap with IST include computer science, information science and management, computer programming, computer network and telecommunication technology, database development and management, Internet and World Wide Web technologies, client/server and distributed systems. Basically, Information Sciences and Technology is concerned with the design, development, application, integration, and evaluation of computer technology systems that store, manipulate, communicate, and interpret information used by business, government, and industry. The IST program will also balance technical skills with "people skills" such as teamwork, communication, and critical thinking.

A helpful illustration that broadly depicts the philosophy of Information Sciences and Technology is presented in the diagram below. As you can see, IST is shown overlapping the established fields of (1) Management Information Systems (MIS), which typically exists within a Business Program, and (2) Computer Science, which is a technical degree originating within the Science and Engineering disciplines.

The IST program was developed by The Pennsylvania State University in cooperation with leading corporations and businesses in order to provide highly trained professional workers to meet the expanding information technology needs facing our nation.

Computer science is more focused on the "technical details" than is the IST program. Computer science majors require coursework that typically includes Calculus I, II, & III, Matrices, Differential Equations, Physics I & II , digital circuitry, introductory through advanced programming, assembly language, computer organization, compiler design, operating systems, and artificial intelligence. Computer science skills range from the design of computer software and hardware components at the "bit" and "byte" level to the design of sophisticated computer systems.

The IST student will be required to take courses in mathematics, statistics, and programming languages, but the emphasis will be on solving problems at the application and systems level. The IST professional is trained to evaluate, modify, and apply the "building blocks" designed by computer science and engineering workers to devise systems that solve real-world computer information problems.

Career positions available to IST graduates include systems analyst, network specialist, telecommunications specialist, database analyst, database administrator, and consultant.

IST graduates could find employment in a wide range of business, industry, and government agencies. Computer companies, banks, insurance companies, telecommunications, hospitals, entertainment industries, and pharmaceutical companies are just a small list of organizations that require information technology personnel.

Approximately $35,000 to $45,000 per year. Starting salaries will vary depending on type of company, region, level of responsibility, academic accomplishments of the student, and other variables.

Qualified incoming freshmen and academically successful sophomore students from Penn State Abington may elect to be considered for the IST program. The selection of students to be enrolled into the IST program at Abington will be made on a competitive basis, with preference given to incoming freshmen. The target size for the entire starting class of IST at Abington is 25 students total. For any student (this includes incoming freshmen as well as sophomores) entering the Abington program in the Fall of 1999, the time required for the completion of the IST program will be a minimum of 4 years, starting from Fall of 1999.

Penn State University Park will be offering IST in the Fall of 1999. In our region, the Penn State Delaware County and the Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley campuses will also be offering the Bachelor of Science in IST program starting in the Fall 1999.

The IST curriculum will be identical at the all of the Penn State locations (this includes Penn State Abington and University Park). The course syllabi for the IST courses and the requirements for graduation will be the same throughout the Penn State system. The specific courses available as electives within the IST program will vary from campus to campus depending on the unique strengths and resources at each location.

There are three options (concentrations) available within the Penn State Bachelor of Science IST program. Not all options will be available at all Penn State locations. Each of the three options require the completion of the same five common IST "core" courses during the first two years of the four-year IST degree. So, the first two years of the IST degree are nearly identical for each of the options, although the mathematics requirement for each option varies. The difference between the options appears in the third- and fourth-year IST courses and electives.

Here is a brief description of each of the IST options:
Information Technology Integration Option:

This option prepares the student to effectively select, integrate, implement, manage, and evaluate state-of-the-art information technology and computer systems. Courses in this option include topics such as database design and integration, system performance and management, and electronic commerce. Math 110 (Techniques of Calculus I) or Math 140 (Calculus I) is required for this option. Note: this option will be offered at Penn State Abington in the Fall of 1999.

Information Systems Development Option:

This option is focused more on the technical development and programming aspects of IST. Courses in this option will include such titles as "Object-Oriented Design and Software Application," "Distributed-Object Computing," and "The Engineering of Complex Software Systems." Electives include advanced software programming, statistics, artificial intelligence, and operating systems. Math 140 (Calculus I) is required for this option. Note: this option will not be offered at Penn State Abington in the Fall of 1999, but will be considered for adoption at Abington within the next few years based on demand and resources.

Information, Society, and Public Policy Option:

This option prepares the student to deal with the societal aspects of the Information Age. These issues include man-machine interfacing, digital libraries, information law, and multimedia. Math 40 or 110 is required for this option. Note: this option will not be offered at Penn State Abington in the Fall of 1999. Currently, there are no plans to offer this option at Abington in the near future.

Penn State Abington has elected to offer the Information Technology Integration Option in the Fall of 1999. Other options within the Bachelor of Science in IST program at Penn State Abington will be considered based on demand and resources.

No, the two-year associate degree in IST will not be offered at either Abington College or University Park. However, some of the Penn State locations will be offering a two-year associate degree in IST.

Please keep in mind, all references to the IST program throughout this web document refer to the four-year Bachelor of Science in IST degree program.
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Can I complete IST degree at the Penn State Abington location?

Yes. All course and internship requirements can be completed at Penn State Abington.

After the second year, students may apply for admission to the IST major at any campus offering the baccalaureate degree in IST, including University Park. At University Park, 200 students will be admitted to the major on the basis of their cumulative grade point average, regardless of their initial campus location. Opportunities to transfer from IST at Abington to other Penn State (non-University Park) locations offering the IST program will also be based on demand and resources. Of course, students may elect to complete all requirements at the Penn State Abington location. The decision to transfer at the junior level can be discussed with an advisor during the sophomore year of the IST program.

No. Penn State Abington will be involved in the arrangement of internship opportunities for IST students.

A calculus course (Math 110 or Math 140) is required for the Information Technology Integration Option in IST being offered at Abington. No physics courses are required.

Here is a list of the five IST "core" courses required for all options of the Bachelor of Science in IST degree. These courses will be completed during the first two years of the four-year B.S. in IST program. Click here for more information on credits, prerequisites, course descriptions, and other IST course information

IST 110 - Introduction to Information Sciences and Technology
IST 210 - Organization of Data
IST 220 - Networking and Telecommunications
IST 230 - Language, Logic, and Discrete Mathematics
IST 240 - Introduction to Computer Languages

Here is a partial list of the junior and senior level IST courses corresponding to the Integration Option offered by Penn State Abington:

IST 321- Information Technology and Systems Integration I
IST 421- Information Technology and Systems Integration II
IST 420W- IST Integration and Problem Solving

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Is it necessary for IST students to purchase a computer?

No, it is not necessary for IST majors at Abington to purchase their own computers. IST students will have ample access to the Abington computer labs. However, some Abington students elect to purchase a computer for convenient access at home. All Penn State University students receive a computer account which supports email and Internet access. Software is available to students with home computers to enable them to access email and the Internet through their Penn State account from home.

Prior computer experience is not a specific requirement for the IST program, although we anticipate that the majority of the incoming IST students will have some familiarity with basic computer operations.

For current information regarding professional issues in the field of Information Technology (IT), visit the web site of the trade magazine ComputerWorld. This site includes national salary surveys and IT career information.

Yes, The IST web site maintained by UPark has additonal information concerning IST programs. You can access this web site by clicking here.

IST students at Penn State Abington can participate in a University-wide Information Sciences and Technology program and take advantage of the convenient location, small class size, and the proximity to high-tech companies for internship opportunities that are offered by Penn State Abington.