Information Technology

The B.A. in Information Technology comprises 120 credit hours. Courses are offered in an 8 week session format with online and evening options. Students will also have access to state-of-the-art computer labs to support their studies.

You will learn how to:

• Apply a structured approach to solving problems on a computer, create algorithms for solving problems, and implement solutions to problems using a programming language
• Identify elementary data structures, describe their implementation, and choose an appropriate data structure to solve a given problem
• Evaluate algorithms to select from a range of possible options, provide justification for that selection, and implement the algorithm in a particular context
• Design, implement, test, and debug a program that uses each of the following fundamental programming constructs: basic computation, variables, expressions, I/O, standard conditional and iterative structures (loops), the definition of functions, parameter passing, and recursion
• Describe principles of object-orientation (abstraction, delegation, inheritance, and polymorphism) and basic design patterns
• Practice programming with mainstream object-oriented languages such as C++ or Java
• Apply a variety of strategies to the testing and debugging of simple programs
• Construct, execute, and debug programs using a modern IDE and associated debugging tools as well as using the standard libraries available with a chosen programming language
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of dynamic languages versus static typing
• Practice programming in Python or some other dynamic language, such as Ruby or PHP
• Organize data in ways to emphasize relationships
• Write simple programs to process, visualize, and graphically display data
• Mine data for patterns and design web interfaces to data
• Apply the relational model to solving real world problems and implement those models using SQL on standard DBMS platforms and to use a declarative query language (SQL) to elicit information from a database.
• Analyze laws and issues in areas such as privacy, encryption, freedom of speech, copyrights and patents, computer crime, and computer/software reliability and safety
• Assess philosophical perspectives related to ethics and the basics of the U.S. legal system
• Identify ethical issues that arise in information technology and determine how to address them technically and ethically
• Make informed and strategic decisions in a complex work environment, apply quantitative analysis to business problems, and impact organizational goals through project management strategies

Not surprisingly with the world’s growing reliance on technology, IT professionals are in high demand given their ability to create or support computer applications, systems, and networks. IT alumni from SCPS fill a wide variety of positions ranging from database architects and computer systems analysts to network and computer systems administrators. Possessing in-demand skills, our alumni work in a range of industries as well, holding positions with government agencies, educational providers, finance and insurance companies, and telecommunications enterprises to name a few.

$97,430

Median annual wage for full-time employees in computer and information technology occupations (Source: BLS)

15%

Projected growth in employment for computer and information technology occupations over the next decade (Source: BLS)

418,500

Projected number of annual job openings for computer and information technology occupations over the next decade (Source: BLS)

682,000

Projected number of new jobs in computer and information technology expected over the next decade (Source: BLS)

SPCS students enrolled in the BA in Information Technology degree program receive instruction, guidance, and support from dedicated SCPS faculty members. Many are seasoned faculty members from Loyola University’s Department of Computer Sciences. View Our Directory

Prospective students can take advantage of SCPS’s rolling application process and apply immediately. Alongside an application, SCPS requires official transcripts from all prior institutions you attended.

Accepted students can begin their studies in Information Technology during any of the 5 sessions throughout the academic year. To complete the degree program, students must complete 120 credit hours, which includes 39 credit hours in the Information Technology major. Major courses are offered in 8-week sessions in an online format with evening and Saturday morning meeting times. Other courses necessary to complete the degree are also fully online, which may include both synchronous and asynchronous components with either evening or Saturday morning meetings.