Bachelor of Science, Information and Telecommunication Systems (ITS)

Whenever you browse the web, send a text or upload a video, information networking technology is at work. The McClure School's Information and Telecommunication Systems B.S. degree will prepare you for a career in the rapidly growing information network technology field. We offer both a bachelor of science in communication (undergraduate checksheet) [PDF] and a minor in ITS (ITS minor checksheet) [PDF].

ITS professionals take the hardware and software created by engineers and put it to work, designing and managing networks of equipment that individuals, businesses, and governments use to communicate. Furthermore, ITS professionals architect cloud-based services that run practically every aspect of modern life. To gain the skills to work in this field you don’t have to be a math or science whiz!

Our unique program combines classroom learning with hands-on application of that learning in our extensive laboratory facilities. We also can help you find internships and connect you with alumni who can give you the benefit of their real-world experience.

Course of Study

Through the ITS degree  you will gain both a foundational and advanced skill set to solve business and technical problems in the information technology industry.

In addition to Ohio University's general education courses, you will have the opportunity to take:

• 3 introductory classes that will provide you with an overview of the information networking industry and its latest development. These classes will also give you the opportunity to develop skills to start solving problems with information networks. You will need to complete ITS 2140 Introduction to ITS, ITS 2300 Data Networking and ITS 3100 Internet Applications and Networked Systems.
• 3 core classes that will enable you to develop advanced skills through strategy and project planning specifically geared towards the information networking industry. You will need to complete ITS 3110 Technical Foundations for Communications, ITS 4020 Strategic Decision Making in ITS and the ITS 4440 Capstone.
• 4 of our school's ITS electives classes from a variety of topics. These topics may include our cybersecurity sequence classes such as network security, encryption, data privacy or data compliance. It may also include courses in other areas such as wireless networks, Internet of things (IoT), Internet engineering or cloud engineering. A detailed list of the available electives can be accessed through the catalog.

• 5 course area of concentration (AoC) sequence. These courses will let you explore opportunities and gain skill sets in other fields you have personal interest in and that will complement your major and professional goals. These courses are selected in coordination with your academic advisor.

  Examples of area of concentration include foreign language studies, communications, marketing, management, project management, business analytics, management of information systems, computer science, among multiple other options. As a student we will guide you to select an AoC set of courses that supports and expands your future career interests in the field.

• Finally, all of our ITS students complete a sequence of non-ITS classes that allow them to earn a Business Minor and gain foundational expertise in coding, statistics, economics and public speaking.

| 3 introductory classes | 3 core classes | 4 electives | 5 AoC | Other requirements |

The details of our ITS undergraduate program and courses are directly available in the undergraduate catalog.

Please feel free to contact us for more information about a degree that will enable you to build a solid career in the information networking field.

Admissions Information

Our degree in Information and Telecommunication Systems has no requirements beyond University admission requirements. If you are interested in transferring or starting the degree, please contact our undergraduate director Dr. Charles Linscott or schedule a meeting via Handshake with Success Advisor Tori Swarm. Students need a minimum GPA of 2.5 to transfer into any McClure School Program. To complete this program, students must meet all University wide graduation requirements and the College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication.

Career Opportunities

A degree in Information and Telecommunication Systems from the McClure School prepares students to show a variety of sectors. Our strong collaboration with the services sectors has allowed students to work in technical position at companies such as Nationwide Insurance, Progressive Insurance, Huntington Bank or J.P Morgan Chase. Students have also recently joined large engineering companies like Intel, Oracle or Cisco. In the carrier sector, ITS students have joined engineering and sales engineering positions at AT&T, Verizon, Spectrum or Century Link.

ITS graduates gain the skills that will allow them to start fulfilling careers.