CS Department hopes to offer students a wider world

The UNH Department of Computer Science will soon be opening its doors to a new Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, welcoming the major's first freshman class in fall 2009.

The College of Engineering and Physical Sciences adopted the degree program in May. While approval from The USNH Board of Trustees is still required, the CS Department is hopeful that the Board will provide the necessary final approval at its Fall 2008 meeting.

The impetus for creating the program was to provide students with a wider variety of degree options while keeping up with demand from Industry. Employers indicate a growing need for skilled IT graduates. Students also indicate an interest in IT programs, either because they are not interested in the current Computer Science degree, which is essentially an engineering degree, or because their sights are not set on working in the computer industry, but rather in the wider world to which computing technology can be applied.

Given this interest in the "wider world," students will be required to choose a second discipline, a field in which they intend to apply their IT skills. By choosing a second discipline in areas such as Business Administration, Economics, Health Management and Policy, Natural Sciences, Justice Studies or International Affairs, students will learn how to work effectively with people and organizations whose primary focus is not IT. While the department has come up with a list of suggested second disciplines, students will always have the option of creating a self-designed second discipline.

"We felt this was important because IT professionals' main focus is helping organizations achieve their goals," said Philip Hatcher, chair of the CS Department. "They deal with people in nearly every sector of an organization, so their job is rarely ever focused on pure technology."

Students will also be asked to choose a depth track - a specialty specific to IT and computing. Initially, the department expects to offer three depth options: the Admin track (focused on networks and databases), the Web track, and the Programming track. These options will provide students with even more flexibility while allowing them to create a specialized degree.

“We’re really excited about offering this new degree to UNH students," said Israel Yost, director of the Computer and Information Technology program. "I think it will be a good fit for many students who are interested in computers.”

For more information on the proposed B.S. in Information Technology program, click here.

- Rachel G Purnell, CS Staff