Academics

Greater Allegheny offers blended IST degree with help from the Heinz Endowments

MCKEESPORT, Pa. — Penn State Greater Allegheny is offering for the first time a blended associate’s degree in information sciences and technology (IST) that local residents can complete both on campus and online. The pilot, blended degree program will be made possible by a grant that was awarded to Penn State through the Heinz Endowments.

The associate’s degree in IST consists of 60 credits of course work and has been designed to prepare graduates to work in the information technology field in roles such as application programmers, associate systems designers, network managers, web designers and administrators, information systems support specialists and more. 

With support from Penn State World Campus and the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, students can take some courses in an online format.

The Heinz Endowments is devoted to the mission of helping the Pittsburgh region prosper as a vibrant center of creativity, learning, and social, economic and environmental sustainability. Core to the Heinz Endowments' work is the vision of a just community where all are included and where everyone who calls southwestern Pennsylvania home has a real and meaningful opportunity to thrive.

“This support from the Heinz Endowments and the collaboration with Penn States World Campus will help us to provide creative access to a Penn State associate degree program for students who are working adults and those who have some college credits but no degree,” said Jacqueline Edmondson, chancellor and chief academic officer at Penn State Greater Allegheny. “Those who successfully complete the degree will help to meet workforce demands in Allegheny County as detailed in the Allegheny Conference report 'Inflection Point,' which specifies the need for IT workers in the region.”

This pilot, blended program is now accepting students for summer/fall 2019.

For admission and enrollment information, contact the admissions office at 412-675-9010 or psuga@psu.edu

Last Updated March 28, 2019