Five University System Institutions
Launch New On-Line Information Technology Degree
Atlanta,
Ga.--(April 21)--The University System of Georgia ’s first
fully on-line undergraduate degree in information technology --the
WebBSIT, or Bachelor of Science in Information Technology –
was approved today by the Board of Regents of the University System
of Georgia.
The program represents a collaborative effort between five University
System institutions: Armstrong Atlantic State University, Clayton
College &State University, Georgia Southern University, Macon
State College, and Southern Polytechnic State University. Not only
does the program meet workforce demand in specific academic discipline,
it also represents a strategic response on the part of the University
System to meet burgeoning enrollment growth with innovative program-delivery
solutions.
The WebBSIT degree is designed primarily for Georgians whose lifestyles
do not easily permit pursuing coursework in a traditional college
campus setting, including working professionals, stay-at-home parents,
separating military personnel, and residents who do not live within
close proximity of a campus. It also presents a “laddering”
opportunity for graduates of the University System’s two-year
colleges who wish to earn a baccalaureate without the time and location
restrictions of on-campus degree programs.
“The WebBSIT represents the new wave of delivering highly sought
after academic programs to Georgians without requiring their presence
on a University System campus,” said University System of Georgia
Chancellor Thomas C.Meredith. "In addition to expanding access
to a college degree for more Georgians, the WebBSIT will contribute
to the knowledge-based workforce needed to recruit and retain high-tech
business and industry, which is vital to our state’s continued
growth."
The coursework for the new degree program will cover critical areas
such as systems analysis and design, datacommunications and networking,
technical communication, database design, information security,
Web applications development, e-commerce, and more. All courses
are completed online.
WebBSIT graduates will be well prepared to assume employment in
a variety of high-tech roles, including those involving information
technology project management and leadership roles. Research conducted
in the program ’s feasibility study found that many employers
prefer students with on-line course experience, as they exhibit
maturity, self-discipline, focus and motivation. Such attributes
are especially valuable in a field such as information technology,
where much work is done in virtual teams.
"The WebBSIT is the first of several fully online collaborative
undergraduate degree programs that will be offered by University
System of Georgia institutions," said Senior Vice Chancellor
Daniel Papp." Such programs not only help meet the needs of
students and industry; they also provide an ef ficient and effective
means of managing the skyrocketing growth in the University System."
Interested students should visit the program ’s web site at
www.WebBSIT.org for further information on admissions requirements,
tuition and fees, and specific courses. Prospective students should
apply to one of the five participating institutions of their choice
to initiate the admissions consideration process.
Courtesy
of the University System of Georgia
