Innovation, Society, and Technology Bachelor’s Degree Curriculum

The 120 credits must be distributed as follows:

  • 31 credits of IST major courses
    • 10 credits of Primary Core classes
    • 6 credits of Innovation Electives
    • 9 credits of Technology Electives
    • 6 credits of Society Electives
  • 15 credits in IST Concentration and Elective courses
  • 21-23 credits in Skills Electives
  • 36 credits in Arts and Sciences Divisional Requirements
  • 21-24 credits in General Electives
  • 4 credits including 1 credit IDEA Requirement (FYS101 – inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility course) plus one upper division 3-credit IDEA course
  • International Experience

I. Innovation, Society & Technology Major (46 credits)

A. Primary Core (31 credits)

Required courses (10 credits)
  • IST 101 – First‐Year Forum
  • IST 195 – Information Technologies
  • IST 344 – Information Reporting & Presentation*
  • IST 477 – Capstone in Innovation, Society, and Technology
Information Innovation (pick 2)
  • IDS 301 – What’s the Big Idea
  • IST 341 – Human‐Centered Design
  • IST 421 – Information Visualization
  • IST 429 – The Future of Work
  • IST 486 – Social Media in the Organization
Information Technology (pick 3)
  • IST 256 – App Programming for Info Systems
  • IST 323 – Intro to Information Security
  • IST 233 – Intro to Network Computing
  • IST 346 – Info Tech Mgmt & Admin
  • IST 359 – Intro to Database Mgmt Systems
  • IST 387 – Intro to Applied Data Science
Information in Society (pick 2)
  • IST 305 – Globalization, IT & Culture
  • IST 343 – Data in Society*+
  • IST 382 – Cultural Competence for Information Professionals+
  • IST 426 – Information, Justice, and Community Engagement+
  • IST 443 – Critique of the Information Age*
  • IST 456 – Information Policies and Decision Making

B. Concentration and Electives (15 credits)

Completing a concentration allows students to select course work that matches their professional interests and planned career paths. Students must complete five additional iSchool courses to fulfill their IST elective requirement. Students must complete one iSchool concentration with a minimum of three courses in that concentration. Students may petition the Undergraduate Program Director to approve three courses to be considered a concentration in an area of interest that is not shown in the official list of concentrations. These three courses must provide depth in an area of study. Courses cannot be used to satisfy both a core requirement and a concentration.

Information Security Management

Required:

  • IST 323 – Introduction to Information Security

Electives:

  • IST 336 – Leading Issues in Information Security
  • IST 342 – Information Security Policy
  • IST 402 – Digital Forensics
  • IST 425 – Enterprise Risk Management
  • IST 431 – Security in Networked Environments
  • IST 476 – Applied Information Security
Project Management

Required:

  • IST 345 – Managing Info Systems Projects

Electives:

  • IST 352 – Information Analysis of Org. Systems.
  • IST 425 – Enterprise Risk Mgmt
  • IST 442 – Agile Project Mgmt
  • IST 455 – Enterprise IT Consultation
  • IST 456 – Information Policies and Decision Making
Network and Systems Management

Required:

  • IST 233 – Intro to Network Computing

Electives:

  • IST 346 – Info Tech Mgmt & Admin
  • IST 408 – Blockchain Management
  • IST 431 – Security in Networked Environments*
  • IST 452 – Advd. Computer Networking
Web Design and Management

Required:

  • IST 263 – Introduction to Front-End Web Development

Electives:

  • IST 322 – Digital Strategy & Analytics for the Web
  • IST 341 – Human‐Centered Design
  • IST 349 – Human Computer Interaction
  • IST 363 – Advanced Front End Design
  • IST 486 – Social Media in the Organization
  • IST 523 – Graphic Design for the Web
Data Analytics

Required:

  • IST 359 – Intro to Database Mgmt Systems
  • IST 387 – Intro to Applied Data Science

Electives:

  • IST 407 – Advanced Data Analytics
  • IST 414 – Data Driven Inquiry
  • IST 418 – Big Data Analytics
  • IST 421 – Information Visualization
  • IST 462 – Scripting for Data Analysis
  • IST 486 – Social Media in the Organization
Digital Retail Strategies (in partnership with Whitman School of Management)

Required:

  • IST 195 – Information Technologies
  • RMT 301 – Retailing Fundamentals
  • RMT 407 – Retail Buying and Planning
  • RMT 457 – Electronic Retailing and Marketing

Electives:

  • IST 263 – Intro to Front‐End Web Development
  • IST 322 – Digital Strategy & Analytics for the Web
  • IST 486 – Social Media in the Organization
  • IST 523 – Graphic Design for the Web
Innovation, Design, and Startups

Required:

  • IDS 301 – What’s the Big Idea
  • IDS 302 – Idea 2 Startup
  • IDS 403 – Sandbox

* 56 additional liberal arts core credits from A&S required. 60 required by NYSED. *courses count toward the 60

+ Indicates courses included in the upper‐level IDEA requirement approved list.

II. Skills Electives (21-23 credits)

A. Programming Skills (3 credits)

All students majoring in Innovation, Society, and Technology are required to complete the computer programming course listed below:

  • IST 256 – Application Programming for Information Systems
  • Any programming course approved by petition.

B. Communications Skills (12 credits)

Students must choose one course from each of the four requirements.

  • WRT 105 – Studio 1: Practices of Academic Writing
  • or
  • WRT 109 – Studio 1: Practices of Academic Writing (Honors)
  • WRT 205 – Studio 2: Critical Research and Writing
  • or
  • WRT 209 – Studio 2: Critical Research and Writing (Honors)
  • another writing course with permission of advisor
  • IST 344 – Information Reporting and Presentation
  • WRT 303 – Advanced Writing Studio: Research and Writing
  • or
  • WRT 307 – Advanced Writing Studio: Professional Writing

C. Quantitative Skills (6-8 credits)

All Innovation, Society, and Technology majors are required to attain minimum competence in mathematics. Students may satisfy this requirement by completing the quantitative skills requirement of the Liberal Arts Core curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences.

III. Arts and Sciences Divisional Requirements (12 courses; minimum 36 credits)

More than one-third of the courses required for completing the Innovation, Society, and Technology major are taken in the College of Arts and Sciences. The three divisions of the Arts and Sciences-Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Social Sciences, and Humanities-play a central role in the Innovation, Society, and Technology curriculum. Students are required to take three courses in each of the three divisions. In addition, three courses in any of the divisions must be completed to fulfill this requirement.

IV. General Electives (21-24 credits)

Students can take any Syracuse University course open to them or concentrate on a minor, a dual degree, a combined degree, an internship experience, or study abroad.

V. IDEA Requirement

Students are required to complete one course in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility from the approved list. +indicates courses included in the upper‐level IDEA requirement approved list.

  • FYS 101 – First Year Forum (1 credit)*

VI. International Experience

Students will be required to complete one international experience to graduate with their iSchool undergraduate degree. This international experience is intended to expose students to how business is accomplished in other countries, as well as how to integrate business and information exchange between these countries, and work within multinational teams. Students can fulfill their international requirement in one of the following ways:

  1. Semester abroad
  2. University exchange
  3. Short term abroad program
  4. International internship
  5. Coursework (6 credits from an approved list)
  6. Approved international component – by petition