An implementation of secondary tracks in an information technology degree program

ABSTRACT

This paper will layout the University of Cincinnati's efforts in creating the secondary track curriculum for an information technology degree program to be started in the autumn quarter of 2004. By secondary track, we are referring to coursework required by all information technology majors in their secondary area of specialization. Five options are made available to students as their secondary area: database management, digital media, networking, software development or web technologies. The work done creating this secondary track for students is based on ACM SIGITE's initial implementation of IT curriculum guidelines. Input for the secondary track curriculum was also obtained from faculty, students, and industry partners. Processes by which specific course offerings were chosen will be detailed; objectives of the secondary track courses, desired outcomes for students, content, and associated hands-on activities. In all, the paper will present a means by which the secondary track curriculum can be successfully implemented in information technology programs at other universities that are interested in such an endeavor.

REFERENCES

• 1: Information Technology Curriculum at UC CAS, <http://it.cas.uc.edu>
• 2: Soleda Leung , Hazem Said , Mark Stockman, Enroute to making an IT baccalaureate program, Proceedings of the 5th conference on Information technology education, October 28-30, 2004, Salt Lake City, UT, USA [doi>10.1145/1029533.1029597]
• 3: Lunt, B.M., Ekstrom, J.J., Lawson, E.A., Kamali, R., Miller, J., Gorka, S., and Reichgelt, H. Defining the IT Curriculum: The Results of the Past 21/2 Years. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition (Salt Lake City, US, June 21-23, 2004)
• 4: Lunt, B.M., Lawson, E.A., Goodman, G., Helps, C.G.R, Designing an IT Curriculum: The Results of the First CITC Conference. Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference and Exposition.
• 5: Ohio itWorks (<http://www.itworks-ohio.org/>)
• 6: Reichgelt, H., Zhang, A., Price, B. Designing an Information Technology Curriculum: The Georgia Southern University Experience., Journal of Information Technology Education, Volume 1, No. 4, 2002.
• 7: Hazem Said , Russ McMahon , Soleda Leung , Annu Prabhakar , Tamisra Sanyal , Mark Stockman , Tom Wulf, An implementation of a software development track in an information technology degree program, Proceedings of the 5th conference on Information technology education, October 28-30, 2004, Salt Lake City, UT, USA [doi>10.1145/1029533.1029584]
• 8: Hazem Said , Louise Chaytor , Daniel Humpert , John Nyland , Robert Schlemmer , Mark Stockman , Chris Christopherson , Patrick Kumpf , Annu Prabhakar , Vali Tadayon , Soleda Leung , Sam Geonetta , Russ McMahon , Tamisra Sanyal , Tom Wulf, An implementation of a core curriculum in an information technology degree program, Proceedings of the 5th conference on Information technology education, October 28-30, 2004, Salt Lake City, UT, USA [doi>10.1145/1029533.1029557]
• 9: SIGITE curriculum guidelines: <http://www.sigite.org>
• 10: Mark Stockman , Chris Christopherson , Hazem Said , John Nyland, An implementation of a networking track in an information technology degree program, Proceedings of the 5th conference on Information technology education, October 28-30, 2004, Salt Lake City, UT, USA [doi>10.1145/1029533.1029568]

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Accreditation

General Terms:
Documentation, Standardization

Keywords:
curriculum, database, information technology, networking, software, web technologies