Information Systems and Technology.

Information Systems and Technology Degree – Bachelor of Science (BS)

Students today realize that computing is an essential element of nearly every human endeavor today – computing careers are socially relevant. The IST degree at Catawba College educates students to contribute to solving many of the world’s problems through the creative, collaborative and strategic application of technology.  This degree exposes students to augmented and virtual reality, app development, web design, entrepreneurship, programming and data analytics.  Catawba's IST degree will help you develop skills that can be used in many working contexts and subject matters.  In a world of varied information technology jobs, graduates who pursue careers in information systems and technology can enjoy a higher than average income with flexibility with industry and geographic location.

how is this degree different?

How does Catawba's combined Information Systems / Information Technology degree differ from our Computer Science degree and the B.S. degree in Business with a Concentration in Information Systems?

Information Systems and Technology Professionals:

• Reduced emphasis on math, more on applied information and technology skills
• Targeted more toward careers rather than research and theoretical knowledge
• More accessible to a wider range of students
• Emphasis on emerging technologies including data mining, cloud and augmented – virtual reality
• IST professionals understand both technical and organizational factors
• IST professionals are able to help an organization determine how information and technology-enabled business processes can provide a competitive advantage.
• Tracks enable students to specialize in analytics, software development, or networking and security
• 45-hour major including 6 hours in a track, students can easily add additional tracks or minors in other areas

Computer Scientists:

• Design and implement software
• Research and devise new ways to use computers
• Research and develop effective ways to solve computer problems
• Need a strong foundation in mathematics and algorithms

Business Administration with a concentration in Information Systems:

• 14 courses (42 hours) in Business coursework including coursework in management, marketing, economics, accounting, finance, other
• 6 courses (18 hours) in Information Systems and Technology classes
• Emphasis is on business rather than technology

Program Notes

Catawba College students who choose the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Technology have unique opportunities for close interactions with faculty in the discipline and with their fellow students.  Our upper-level classes are capped at a small number to allow even more interaction between students and faculty. Additionally, incoming freshmen majoring in this program (a combination information systems degree and information technology degree) may be offered a scholarship upon acceptance to the College.

The Catawba College faculty is committed to having Information Systems and Technology majors understand the interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary aspect of this program of study. The faculty also has a wide range of interests and backgrounds that allows students to study topics that they are interested in and not found in a typical course.  In the recent past, independent studies, internships and seminars have been offered in areas related to information systems and technology on topics such as web design and development, app development with beacons, and data mining with the international shark attack database.

Information systems and technology PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Emphasis on Emerging Technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, cloud platforms and big data
• Languages:  Python, Java, C++, R, SQL, Visual Basic, Javascript, HTML, CSS
• Applications, IDE’s:  SAS, Tableau, Excel, Project, Jupyter, Netbeans, Dreamweaver
• Three tracks allowing flexibility in the program:  Analytics, Software Development, Networking and Security
• Many career paths
• Students continue in graduate school in programs in Information Systems, Computer Science and Analytics:
• Riley Myers ’19 is continuing at Wake Forest University with the Masters program in Business Analytics. He is also playing baseball for D1 Wake Forest with his 5th year eligibility.
• Tafari Lanclos ’19 is starting the Masters Program in Information Technology at UNC-Charlotte
• DaQunda Magwood ’19 is starting the Certificate Program in Information Systems at UNC-Greensboro
• Laurel Powell ’15 started the Ph.D. Program in Computing and Informatics at UNC-Charlotte and anticipates graduation in 2020. She was a GANN fellowship recipient and her committee chair is the same as Dr. Thompson’s (UNCC ’11 working under Dr. Z. Ras).

Internships in IST.

Information Systems and Technology majors are encouraged to participate in a variety of internships, most of which are completed during the summer months. Internships allow Catawba College students to bring their classroom learning to the real world and help them discover different potential career paths. Students have enjoyed internships at the VA Hospital, Food Lion Technology Innovation Center, Lutheran Services of the Carolinas, Lowes, Vickie’s Baskets, McKenzie, Novant, Rowan Helping Ministries, and other area and regional businesses.

Study Abroad and At-Home in IST.

Catawba College students majoring in Information Systems and Technology are encouraged to think globally about how their skills can be put to work internationally and domestically.  Students can create their own independent study abroad opportunity or arrange one through Catawba’s consortium partner. Information Systems and Technology undergrads can also explore domestic experiential learning opportunities with large multinational companies.

Service Learning in IST.

Sharing and passing along what they have learned are ways that Catawba College students pursuing an Information Systems and Technology degree are involved in Service Learning. Recently, two Catawba faculty who teach courses in the Computer Science and Information Systems and Technology major, along with several of their undergraduates, helped the City of Salisbury launch a local chapter of Girls Who Code. These faculty and their students facilitated learning sessions for middle school girls to teach them about computers, websites, and how to write code along with data mining.

Research Opportunities in IST.

Research opportunities are provided for Information Systems and Technology majors in Independent study and senior level courses.  Recent research projects include application of beacons to data collection for a rewards driven transportation app and predicting near shore shark presence by mining the international shark attack database combined with weather, water and other environmental factors.

RELATED BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAMS

• Computer Science
• Business Administration - Information Systems Concentration