Fast-Track Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

Campus Locations Boston
Also available 100% Online No
Other Format(s)
Credits Required for Graduation 80
Entry Terms Fall Quarter, Winter Quarter, Spring Quarter
Meets International Visa Requirements Yes

Overview

Hone Your Technical Skills

Rapid changes in information technology (IT) are forcing corporations to reconsider what it takes to sustain competitive advantage. Northeastern is dedicated to educating the next generation of IT leaders who can apply information technology to fuel innovation and solve business problems. The Fast-Track Bachelor of Science in Information Technology emphasizes the combination of outstanding technical skills, communication and leadership skills, and specialization in essential IT domains needed to grow your career.

This program is designed for students who have completed an associate degree or equivalent credits who would like to complete their bachelor's degree in an accelerated pace. Students who have an associate degree in Management Information Systems (MIS), Information Systems (IS), or Business are well suited for the accelerated, 18-month Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree completion program. However, the program does not require an associate degree in a technology-related area.

Formats: The Fast-Track Bachelor of Science in Information Technology is also available for students who would like to complete this degree at their own pace, visit our Bachelor of Science in Information Technology web page.

Interested in learning more?

Explore the many Fast-Track benefits or watch the Undergraduate Fast-Track webinar.


Curriculum

Curriculum for FY 2010-2011

Quarter 1

ENG 3550 Writing for the Professions 6 q.h.
MIS 1246 Introduction to Information Privacy 4 q.h.
PHL 2180  Business Ethics 4 q.h.

 Quarter 2

FIN 2110  Financial Basics for Managers 6 q.h.
ITC 2605  IT Strategy, Management, and Policy 6 q.h.
ITC 1206  Technology Fluency Practicum 2 q.h.

Quarter 3

ITC 2531  Leveraging Database Technologies 6 q.h.
ITC 1207  Database Practicum 2 q.h.
ITC 2705  Object-Oriented Programming 6 q.h.

Quarter 4

ECN 2510  Statistics and Business Decision Models 6 q.h.
ITC 2800  Information Technology Legal Issues and Risk Management 6 q.h.

Quarter 5

ITC 2425  Information Systems Design and Development 6 q.h.
ITC 3013  Network Concepts and Applications 6 q.h.
ITC 3014  Network Security Lab 2 q.h.

Quarter 6

ITC 2420  Electronic Commerce and Web Services 6 q.h.
CMN 2002  Intercultural Communications 3 q.h.
ITC 4955  Final Project 3 q.h.

Total Quarter Hours: 80

 

  Quarter 1

Writing for the Professions (6 q.h.)

This course introduces the vocabulary and philosophy of business communications. Students practice planning, writing, and analyzing effective business letters and memoranda. Students learn the methods and principles of research and documentation of semi-technical analyses and business reports. The course allows practice in organizing and writing complex forms of business communications.

Introduction to Information Privacy (4 q.h.)

As critical business functions have increasingly become reliant on information technology and organizations have opened their networks to their customers and other organizations across the globe, the need to protect the data which they possess has become critical. For today’s organizations, a data breach can have catastrophic effects, whether due to a contractual or regulatory obligations or reputational damage. This course provides a conceptual overview of information privacy and the laws that have been enacted to ensure the protection of personal data. Topics covered at an introductory level include privacy fundamentals, privacy law and compliance, workplace privacy, online privacy, data sharing, and data transfer.

Business Ethics (4 q.h.)

Examines ethical principles and considerations involved in making moral business decisions. Studies basic ethical viewpoints as a foundation and analyzes specific characteristics of business life through particular cases and examples.

 
Quarter 2

Finance Basics for Managers (4 q.h.)

Offers nonfinancial managers an opportunity to obtain the rudiments of financial problem solving in the areas of planning projects and securing funding for them in both domestic and international settings. Reviews basic arithmetic and algebraic concepts. Covers financial analysis, forecasting and planning, budgeting, and risk management.

IT Strategy, Management, and Policy (6 q.h.)

This course examines how information technology supports corporate goals. Readings and case studies will illustrate how IT may be employed to support a variety of business goals. Management issues such as the types of information systems, the impact of information systems on individuals and organizations, IT policies, outsourcing, and the use of IT as a competitive strategy will be discussed along with technological issues such as database management systems, electronic data interchange, decision support systems, and expert systems.

Technology Fluency Practicum (2 q.h.)

Students are required to develop a proposal that includes a risk analysis and basic budget for a simple IT application and the infrastructure components on which it would rely.

 
Quarter 3

Leveraging Database Technologies (6 q.h.)

This course introduces students to the design and use of database systems to manage and extend the value of enterprise data. Covers conceptual database design and data modeling; the relational data model and relational query languages; the capabilities of modern database management systems; data warehousing; database integrity, security and backup/recovery.

Database Practicum (2 q.h.)

This course focuses on the skills associated with database creation, use, and administration. Topics include: creating queries, linking files, cross-indexing, designing forms and reports. Students are required to specify and implement a database application.

Object Oriented Programming (6 q.h.)

Students will examine object-oriented components and characteristics including classes, inheritance, and polymorphism. In addition, students are taught how to write, debug, and execute Java programs and how to create Java applets and applications. Practice exercises will make use of J2EE and EJB. Other techniques covered include threads, multimedia, exception handling, images, Java IO, sequential files, random access files, networking, utility classes, and operations on bits. This course will also focus on applets, AWT, graphics, event handling, images, Java IO, sequential files, random access files, networking, utility classes, hashtables, string tokenizer, and operations on bits.

 
Quarter 4

Statistics and Business Decision Models (6 q.h.)

This course introduces students to the collection and organization of econometric data. It also explores modeling as a method for gaining insight into the underlying mathematical structure of business problems. Students will be taught how to use specific modeling techniques, such as linear programming and simulation.

  Information Technology Legal Issues and Risk Management (6 q.h.)

As the Internet has become a mainstream medium for commercial transactions and business activities, IT security and legal issues have become a major factor in business today. This course will focus on the tools and skills needed to assess and manage risk in an organization. Students will be taught best practices for protecting intellectual property and confidentiality, safeguarding consumers against identity and account theft, and protecting a company from criminal and civil suits.

 
Quarter 5

Information Systems Design and Development (6 q.h.)

This course provides students with a thorough and practical introduction to the methodologies, models, tools and techniques used in modern system development. The content covers clientserver and web system architecture, project lifecycle models, project management techniques, requirements elicitation, analysis, documentation, management, CASE tools, case analysis, business rules, system design approaches and graphical modeling with the Unified Modeling Language (UML). Students will analyze and document a business process, prepare a project plan, complete a system analysis and design model, and gain experience with project management tools.

Network Concepts and Applications (6 q.h.)

This course introduces basic principles of computer networks and networking APIs (e.g., Application Program Interfaces). It uses examples from many real-world operating systems and networks (UNIX, Linux,Windows, TCP/IP, Ethernet, ATM, token rings) to reinforce the concepts. The course also addresses both theoretical aspects such as performance modeling, and analysis, and practical considerations of implementing Internet protocols.

Network Security Lab (2 q.h.)

This course provides students with the opportunity to explore the practical elements of information and network security awareness and related design and deployment decisions in a secure lab environment. Teams of students will experiment with designing, deploying, and securing services and applications.

 
Quarter 6

Electronic Commerce and Web Services (6 q.h.)

This course covers the use of the Internet and Web technologies used by businesses and other enterprises to communicate with partners and customers. Topics include the definition and types of e-commerce, online payment mechanisms, online auctions and e-marketplaces, and policies for the internet economy. The course content will introduce Internet/Web architecture, protocols and authoring tools (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript); domain name services; and the use of web service standards and frameworks (e.g.,

Intercultural Communications (3 q.h.)

The world is shrinking. The ease of travel, the pervasiveness of communication technology, and the realities of economic/ political interdependence has made it essential to communicate in intercultural settings. This course discusses the impediments to effective intercultural communication and strategies for overcoming them.

Final Project (3 q.h.)

This course requires students to demonstrate the skills learned throughout the term by developing an end-to-end proposal and plan for an IT application and the infrastructure upon which it will rely. The proposal will include a justification, budget, architecture document, presentation, and a project plan.


Admissions Requirements

Below are the official Admissions Requirements for this program.

  • Online application
  • Statement of purpose (500-1000 words): identifying your educational goals and expectations from the program; please be aware that the University's academic policy on plagiarism applies to applicant's statement of purpose
  • Professional resume: current resume that displays job responsibilities, relevant experience, and education history
  • Academic transcript(s): must submit one of the following
    • Official associate degree stating conferral and date
    Or
    • Official high school transcript or GED and
    • Official transcripts from each institution attended- must be equal to 80quarter hours (60 semester hours) for transfer credit evaluation
  • Additional requirements: applicants must have experience in Information Technology or have completed related coursework, and have access to a laptop
  • Proof of English language proficiency: ONLY for students for whom English is not their primary language: English language proficiency guidelines

For general admissions information and recommended admissions deadlines, Undergraduate Admissions.

All requirements must be received prior to review.


Tuition

Estimated total tuition for this program is $29,840.00.

Tuition for individual courses is based on the number of quarter hours. Most courses are 3-6 quarter hours. See Undergraduate Tuition Rates for details.

Use our Tuition Calculator below to see if transfer credit or tuition reimbursement from your employer could reduce your total tuition.

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Please note: The estimated total tuition is based on tuition rates for Academic Year 2011-12 and does not include any fees or other expenses. Some courses and labs have tuition rates that may increase or decrease total tuition. Tuition and fees are subject to revision by the president and Board of Trustees at any time.


Student Profile

Who Will Your Classmates Be?

This undergraduate program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in information technology and would like to improve:

  • Programming
  • Web and multimedia design
  • System and network administration
  • Quantitative methods
  • Networking
  • Security

Careers to consider include:

  • Systems administrator
  • Information systems scientist or analyst
  • Computer engineer
  • Web or multimedia designer
  • Database administrator
  • Networking or security specialist

Career Outlook

Put Your Degree to Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in information technology is expected to grow much faster than average, and job prospects should be excellent.

While the field continues to be very robust, computer network, systems, and database administrators—particularly those with college degrees—are expected to enjoy the best opportunities.


Program Benefits

This program is designed for students who have earned an associate degree or the equivalent number of credits (80 quarter hours or 60 semester hours) and are looking to earn their bachelor's degree at an accelerated pace. The office of admissions will work with applicants to evaluate and accept as many previously completed credits as possible.

On-Campus Format

The accelerated 18-month Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting Management is an on-campus program. On-campus classes meet at a designated time at the Boston main campus or the Downtown Boston campus on Broad Street. This format allows for face-to-face interaction with instructors and fellow students. Classes are also augmented with online learning through instructor-facilitated lessons and assignments using Northeastern University’s state-of-the-art learning management system.

Schedule

Classes meet one week night per week and every other Saturday, and participants will complete all coursework with the same group of students. For increased convenience, dinner is provided during on-campus weeknight classes and breakfast and lunch during on-campus Saturday classes, as well as all textbooks and course materials.

Additional Benefits

  • Transfer in your credits, and complete your degree in 18 months
  • Know your six-term course plan when you begin your program
  • Fast-Track program managers register you for all courses and advise you throughout your entire academic program
  • Develop a valuable network of professional contacts
  • Learn from classmates and the various industries and professions they represent
  • Meals and text books are provided and included in program tuition

Talk to an Enrollment Coach

We can walk you through your program options and the application process.


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Upcoming Academic Term Dates
  • Spring Term
    April 9, 2012 (6- & 12-week classes)
    May 21, 2012 (6-week classes)
  • Summer Term
    July 2, 2012 (8-, 6-, and 4- week classes)
    July 30, 2012 (4-week classes) 

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