The need for well-prepared IT professionals is greater than ever, with a nationwide vacancy rate for positions around 10%. In Indiana, IT is considered one of the “hot” job areas, with positions paying $50,000-$70,000 per year, more than double the median wage for the State. According to CIO magazine, the hottest IT jobs are in business technology. Yet in Indiana, the limited IT workforce remains an issue, not just to technology companies, but to businesses of all sizes—the IT force can make or break a company.

Against this backdrop, the Graduate Division and the Office of Information Technology saw both need and opportunity. The result—a marriage of academic and administrative units on campus—is a new graduate degree, the Master of Science in Information Technology, to begin in fall, 2008. The concept at VU is innovative, drawing on the expertise in both the academic and IT sectors of the University. The curriculum, which can be completed in 15 months, is designed to provide breadth across the many areas of technology along with depth in emerging tech fields. As recommended by experts and professional organizations in the field, emphasis is placed both on critical analysis skills and on solving real world, high–level technology problems faced by businesses and organizations.

The program includes a number of distinctive features:

• Emphasis on both theory and application, with hands-on learning opportunities
• A rotating internship experience on campus or at a local technology firm
• Emerging technologies incorporated into all coursework
• An emphasis on a collaborative and teamwork approach
• Development of skills in technology leadership
• Option to elect coursework from other professional-based graduate programs.
  

Admission to the program assumes 15 credits of undergraduate or graduate background in a technology-related field such as computer science, engineering, or IT, although those lacking this background may complete a “bridge” program to prepare them for admission. Interested persons should contact the Office of Graduate Studies, 464-5313.