Information Sciences and Technology

Penn State Altoona announces new information and cyber security major

Penn State Altoona will implement a security and risk analysis baccalaureate degree (information and cybersecurity option) in the fall semester. This option includes a set of new courses that provides a sound overview of the theories, skills and technologies associated with network security, cyber threat defense, information warfare and critical infrastructure protection across multiple venues.

Within four years of beginning the program, it is anticipated that 40 new students will enter the major as freshmen each year at Penn State Altoona. Roughly half are expected to complete the degree at Altoona, while the remainder will transfer to the College of Information Sciences and Technology at University Park for their junior and senior years.

Seven Penn State Altoona faculty members will be involved with the delivery of 14 new courses and the administration of the new major. The degree also includes an undergraduate capstone course which requires students to work collaboratively in teams. Each team will be given a significant real-world problem or issue in which information technology is part of the solution. Teams will be expected to manage the project effectively and to communicate its results clearly to a variety of audiences within an organization.

Information technology is one of the fastest-growing fields in the world. It has been identified by the U.S. government as vital to the nation's ability to compete in a global economy.
 

Last Updated March 19, 2009

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