B.S. in Information Technology

Walden University offers students a dynamic learning environment and a range of support services to ensure academic success. In this course, students immerse themselves in Walden University's online learning environment and apply skills from the student readiness orientation. In addition, students discover and apply the tools and services that will support them throughout their degree program. Through classroom discussions and the application of key communication principles, students establish an online community of peers and explore their degree program with discipline-specific examples. This course helps students prepare for their Walden academic career and continues their orientation to the university.

Information technology (IT) is essential to the function and success of nearly all businesses. Businesses whose systems are lacking or experience failure are at risk of significant loss; therefore, there will always be a need for IT support and innovation. This course introduces fundamental concepts of the IT infrastructure to prepare students for a role in the field of IT. Students learn about the structure and purpose of hardware components (computers, networks, and interface devices) and software components (operating systems, middleware, applications, and system software). They examine key issues of capacity, performance, reliability, scale, and obsolescence through the evaluation of IT’s role in supporting business and individuals. Students take a practical approach to understanding how IT infrastructure can relate to personal goals as they examine the various career options within the field. (Prerequisites: COMM 1001.)

More than ever, individuals, and businesses rely on Web surfing for variety of functions, including buying products, searching for jobs, sharing data, and entertainment. However, there are many threats involved if a network is not secure, which is why we value network administrators. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain the insight and skill of a network administrator. They examine concepts, components, and design of information and communication infrastructures. Students learn about the design of the Internet protocol stack, the structure and function of important Internet services and applications, and Internet governance. They engage in hands-on lab exercises involving configuration of settings, management of local user accounts, and the design of different types of networks. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

The cornerstone of modern software design is object-oriented programming (OOP), which is a methodology that uses objects to represent complex relationships and simplifies the development and management of information systems. This course provides students with current information on OPP and other prevailing techniques in programming. Students begin by studying foundational concepts and terminology of OPP. They examine programming paradigms, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving techniques in Java. Students engage in coursework and share blogs on computer program design, constraints, variables, functions, procedures, logic and code control, error trapping, error handling, and interactive coding techniques. They gain hands-on, practical experience through lab work focusing on compiling and running applications, reading data interactively, and debugging. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

A data structure is a specialized layout for organizing and storing data. An integral part of the information technology arena, programmers work with many different types of data structures. Using fundamental programming knowledge, such as object-oriented programming (OOP), students continue their practice with OOP and have the opportunity to gain integral knowledge of advanced data structures, including lists, stacks, queues, and the functions of each. They also learn how to choose data structures that are appropriate for various types of information. They engage in blogs and discussions to work through ideas and gain various perspectives on topical issues, such as arrays, data collections, and recursion. Students gain hands-on experience as they solve complex word problems by writing a program and using tools to create, compile, debug, and run interactive programs. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1030.)

Did you ever wonder how many different valid passwords a computer system allows? Or perhaps you need to know how to encrypt a message so that only the intended recipient can decipher it. To answer such questions, programmers use discrete mathematics, which allows them to study sets and numbers, linear algebra, combinatorics, graphs, and probability. This course introduces students to discrete mathematics concepts and techniques used in information technology (IT). Students examine each concept in action and geared toward a specific application in IT. They engage in various application assignments focusing on elements of graph theory, coding, and probability. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

There are many important benefits from studying the different types operating systems, such as administering computers efficiently and structuring code more effectively, which lend to best practices in writing code. This course provides students with an overview of the concepts of computer operating systems, including the main functions, similarities, and differences. They explore a variety of topics, including configuration, file systems, security, administration, interfacing, multitasking, and performance analysis. Students contextualize their learning experience through hands-on activities, such as performing basic administrative tasks on Windows and Linux servers, including configuring networking parameters, administering user accounts and groups, setting access and application permissions, and locating and analyzing log files. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

There are many roles involved in creating and managing an organization’s information system, including the systems analyst. The analyst helps to ensure that the software development process is successful by understanding its purpose, scope, and resource requirements. This course provides students with the prospect of understanding the field from the perspective of a systems analyst. Students focus on the definition and examination of system requirements, both functional and nonfunctional, for an information system (IS) project. Through the review of videos, case, studies, and supplemental websites, they learn about the identification of stakeholders and techniques for requirement elicitation, representation, and life cycles. Students sharpen their communication and practical skills through group projects during which they apply concepts learned in the course to an actual information system. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

This course is an introduction to the approaches used to specify details during the design phase of a systems development life cycle (SDLC). Students explore the discipline of reducing requirements to the structural and functional design of organizational information technology solutions. They examine conceptual modeling, design patterns, and application frameworks. Students learn the basics of modeling, design representations, and the use of design tools. Through discussion with their peers, students confer and debate over the different approaches to systems design, security aspects of interfaces, and documentation. Students work toward gaining collaborative and critical-thinking skills through group projects focusing on the specifics of system design, including planning and implementation. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2040.)

All types of businesses rely on systems to manage their data and to keep that data secure, accurate, and reliable. A database is a system designed to do just this as well as to simplify the processes of data entry, search, and retrieval. In this course, students learn about database management through the examination of the life cycle of a database. Students focus on the representation and manipulation of information in relational database management systems. They learn how to map real-world concepts onto relational representations and how to manipulate them through relational queries to implement data-intensive applications. They also discuss related issues, such as database storage, data validation, sorting, grouping, and nesting data. Students learn to use a core subset of the Structured Query Language (SQL) as well as the fundamentals of database administration. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

This course is an overview of human perception and cognitive performance, computer processes, and system design approaches for successful human-computer interaction. Topic include human factors, usability evaluation, and principles of interface design. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 or CMIS 3004.)

Every day, we are learning to adapt to 21st-century technology. More importantly, we are beginning to rely on it for daily needs, such as obtaining the news, shopping, communicating, banking, and full-scale education. The need for developers of static and dynamic Web pages of all kinds is in demand. In this course, students consider the many factors of developing Web applications for a specific purpose or audience, such as optimization, accessibility, and appeal. They also examine the tools and techniques needed to develop and manage these applications. Through discussions and application assignments, students explore dynamic Web page implementations, elements of client-server and server-side processing, data validation, and concurrency issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2010 or CMIS 2002.)

Mobile computing was developed in the early 1990’s with the introduction of laptop computers. Since then, devices have become smaller, more intuitive and assessable, and have worked their way into businesses, homes, hospitals, and children’s backpacks. The basic principles of system design for such technologies are not entirely different from larger-scale development, but designers must make different considerations and use special techniques for mobile and pervasive technologies. In this course, students examine the technical, business, legal, and sociocultural benefits and challenges of mobile devices and wireless communication technologies. Through discussion and written assignments, students explore wireless protocols and business and consumer applications, such as portable computing, communication, and multimedia devices; telemetry and monitoring systems; and context-aware services. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Insecure security systems can cause major risks and vulnerabilities for companies. Breaches in personal employee information, financial information, or company secrets can elicit the downfall of an organization. In this course, students learn the importance of such concerns as well as key concepts of computer and information security, including technical, privacy, organizational, social, and policy issues. They examine fundamental notions of authentication, authorization, and encryption. Students learn about economic and human impact issues through the analysis of case studies of security and privacy breaches. Through discussions, applications, and group projects, students also examine risk management, informal system security methods, and corporate governance. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2030.)

The process of creation, from conception through completion, is complicated and requires a diverse set of management skills. This course introduces students to the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to successfully manage information technology (IT) projects throughout a project life cycle. Students in this course focus on the IT project management process and development of the project team as key to the successful achievement of IT projects. Students analyze the role of the project manager as an integral administrator overseeing the execution, progress, and interaction of all parties involved. Students learn the intricacies of managing projects and programs that may span multiple organizations. They engage in coursework through which they examine the project management cycle, sourcing strategy, third-party provider selection, and management of third-party providers. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

In this course, students learn about the role of a network administrator, the many considerations of operating a modern system, and the tools and technologies that are available to meet the requirements and demands of an organization’s network. They explore the structure of the Internet and examine protocols, routers, and client/server architecture related to configuring network services. Students also learn about software platforms, control, shared resources, and security from a practical perspective. Through a series of virtual lab assignments, students practice administrative tasks using applications as network tools, routing, securing ports, configuring network address translations, and confirming reconfigurations. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

Evaluation of software quality depends on statistics for many functions, such as assessing the number of bugs in different software routines and evaluating the efficiency of a program. This course provides students with an introduction to statistics in assessing the quality of software. Students synthesize theory with practical applications to learn the fundamentals of statistical reasoning, use of numeric and graphical descriptive statistics, parameter estimation and inferential methods, research design, and linear regression. Students also have the opportunity to practice using a statistical software package to solve statistics problems. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020)

Students in this course examine the systems integration approaches used by today’s information technology organizations to learn what makes them more effective, efficient, and competitive. They explore the functions of enterprise application integration (EAI) practices, middleware models, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) integration challenges, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and integration using cloud computing. Through a hands-on approach, students learn to solve an integration problem by designing an appropriate architecture. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 and ITEC 2080.)

Organizations in all sectors, including small businesses, government departments, and educational institutions, employ the use of quality management in information systems for a variety of reasons, such as meeting consumer’s requirements, complying with regulations, and reaching environmental goals. Students in this course explore the history of the quality revolution and the practices and standards used by today’s information technology organizations to ensure quality. Students engage in exercises, analyses, and discussions on total quality management (TQM) guidelines, Six Sigma improvement methodology, International Organization for Standardization (ISO) quality standards, Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) standards, personal software process (PSP), team software process (TSP), and the metrics used to measure success of quality initiatives. Students also learn to use tools and techniques to analyze a quality problem to make recommendations for improvement. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

Life in the 21st century is fast paced and the public demands information that is expeditious, accurate, and appealing. This course provides students with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to create the types of dynamic Web pages that are practical, well-designed, and can provide people with the information they need at the pace they want. Students examine the configuration of Web server software, the function of server-side programming, and the use of scripting languages. They learn about techniques for enhancing performance through examination of multi-tier locality and parallelism. They also practice methods of access control and secured transmissions in server-side programming. Students also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through a course-long project in which they build on skills acquired each unit to transform a static website into a fully-functional dynamic website. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Nearly all organizations engage in software testing to ensure system stability and prevent future problems. Sometimes testing is the responsibility of individuals; other times, an entire team composed of testers and developers work together to test a system and evaluate the results. Regardless of the approach, testing is an integral process in business and requires the use of specialized techniques and tools. In this course, students learn about software quality and the components of software quality assurance systems before, during, and after software development. They examine metrics and models for software quality as a product, in process, and in maintenance. Students also learn about the testing tools used to automate the process, including related challenges and limitations. (Prerequisites: STAT 3401.)

How do we design interfaces for optimal efficiency and appeal? Before we can answer this question, we must first understand the goals, needs, and skills of the user. In this course, students consider these factors and learn methods for evaluating, designing, and improving human-computer interfaces. Students engage in exercises, discussions, and other assignments to explore a variety of topics, such as user-interface evaluation methods, requirements analysis, and user-interface design methodologies, including rapid prototyping and iteration. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2070.)

The synergistic bond between technology and culture has existed from the beginning of civilization with the invention of simple tools to stay warm and store goods, to more complex, contemporary inventions, such as computers. This relationship is vital to our existence, but also warrants both social and ethical consideration, monitoring, and regulation. In this course, students examine the relationship between information technologies and core social concerns, such as privacy, democracy, equity, security, economic progress, and intellectual property rights. Using relevant articles and classic literature in the field, students evaluate existing and emerging technologies taking into account the social, ethical, and legal considerations inherent in the design and use of these technologies. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

In this capstone course, students review the work they have collected in their portfolios and reflect on their educational experience. They revisit the career priorities they expressed upon entry into the program and consider their professional goals in the context of their education. They also develop plans for continued learning and career development in the context of their personal objectives and priorities.

In this capstone project course, students complete an integrative IT project that combines multiple aspects of their information technology program. The project requires collaboration with a team of students to manage, analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based information system. The system development process is initiated with a case study included within the course structure. Students will develop a project charter that will guide them through the discovery of functional and nonfunctional requirements, the creation of a system design based on those requirements, and the development and testing of a functional computer application. Students will develop a management presentation to describe the project design and justify the continuation of the project. The implementation of the final project will require students to draw on their technical concentration-based knowledge of information security and assurance, networking, database design, interface design, and website design.

Walden University offers students a dynamic learning environment and a range of support services to ensure academic success. In this course, students immerse themselves in Walden University's online learning environment and apply skills from the student readiness orientation. In addition, students discover and apply the tools and services that will support them throughout their degree program. Through classroom discussions and the application of key communication principles, students establish an online community of peers and explore their degree program with discipline-specific examples. This course helps students prepare for their Walden academic career and continues their orientation to the university.

Information technology (IT) is essential to the function and success of nearly all businesses. Businesses whose systems are lacking or experience failure are at risk of significant loss; therefore, there will always be a need for IT support and innovation. This course introduces fundamental concepts of the IT infrastructure to prepare students for a role in the field of IT. Students learn about the structure and purpose of hardware components (computers, networks, and interface devices) and software components (operating systems, middleware, applications, and system software). They examine key issues of capacity, performance, reliability, scale, and obsolescence through the evaluation of IT’s role in supporting business and individuals. Students take a practical approach to understanding how IT infrastructure can relate to personal goals as they examine the various career options within the field. (Prerequisites: COMM 1001.)

More than ever, individuals, and businesses rely on Web surfing for variety of functions, including buying products, searching for jobs, sharing data, and entertainment. However, there are many threats involved if a network is not secure, which is why we value network administrators. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain the insight and skill of a network administrator. They examine concepts, components, and design of information and communication infrastructures. Students learn about the design of the Internet protocol stack, the structure and function of important Internet services and applications, and Internet governance. They engage in hands-on lab exercises involving configuration of settings, management of local user accounts, and the design of different types of networks. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

The cornerstone of modern software design is object-oriented programming (OOP), which is a methodology that uses objects to represent complex relationships and simplifies the development and management of information systems. This course provides students with current information on OPP and other prevailing techniques in programming. Students begin by studying foundational concepts and terminology of OPP. They examine programming paradigms, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving techniques in Java. Students engage in coursework and share blogs on computer program design, constraints, variables, functions, procedures, logic and code control, error trapping, error handling, and interactive coding techniques. They gain hands-on, practical experience through lab work focusing on compiling and running applications, reading data interactively, and debugging. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

A data structure is a specialized layout for organizing and storing data. An integral part of the information technology arena, programmers work with many different types of data structures. Using fundamental programming knowledge, such as object-oriented programming (OOP), students continue their practice with OOP and have the opportunity to gain integral knowledge of advanced data structures, including lists, stacks, queues, and the functions of each. They also learn how to choose data structures that are appropriate for various types of information. They engage in blogs and discussions to work through ideas and gain various perspectives on topical issues, such as arrays, data collections, and recursion. Students gain hands-on experience as they solve complex word problems by writing a program and using tools to create, compile, debug, and run interactive programs. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1030.)

Did you ever wonder how many different valid passwords a computer system allows? Or perhaps you need to know how to encrypt a message so that only the intended recipient can decipher it. To answer such questions, programmers use discrete mathematics, which allows them to study sets and numbers, linear algebra, combinatorics, graphs, and probability. This course introduces students to discrete mathematics concepts and techniques used in information technology (IT). Students examine each concept in action and geared toward a specific application in IT. They engage in various application assignments focusing on elements of graph theory, coding, and probability. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

There are many important benefits from studying the different types operating systems, such as administering computers efficiently and structuring code more effectively, which lend to best practices in writing code. This course provides students with an overview of the concepts of computer operating systems, including the main functions, similarities, and differences. They explore a variety of topics, including configuration, file systems, security, administration, interfacing, multitasking, and performance analysis. Students contextualize their learning experience through hands-on activities, such as performing basic administrative tasks on Windows and Linux servers, including configuring networking parameters, administering user accounts and groups, setting access and application permissions, and locating and analyzing log files. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

There are many roles involved in creating and managing an organization’s information system, including the systems analyst. The analyst helps to ensure that the software development process is successful by understanding its purpose, scope, and resource requirements. This course provides students with the prospect of understanding the field from the perspective of a systems analyst. Students focus on the definition and examination of system requirements, both functional and nonfunctional, for an information system (IS) project. Through the review of videos, case, studies, and supplemental websites, they learn about the identification of stakeholders and techniques for requirement elicitation, representation, and life cycles. Students sharpen their communication and practical skills through group projects during which they apply concepts learned in the course to an actual information system. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

This course is an introduction to the approaches used to specify details during the design phase of a systems development life cycle (SDLC). Students explore the discipline of reducing requirements to the structural and functional design of organizational information technology solutions. They examine conceptual modeling, design patterns, and application frameworks. Students learn the basics of modeling, design representations, and the use of design tools. Through discussion with their peers, students confer and debate over the different approaches to systems design, security aspects of interfaces, and documentation. Students work toward gaining collaborative and critical-thinking skills through group projects focusing on the specifics of system design, including planning and implementation. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2040.)

All types of businesses rely on systems to manage their data and to keep that data secure, accurate, and reliable. A database is a system designed to do just this as well as to simplify the processes of data entry, search, and retrieval. In this course, students learn about database management through the examination of the life cycle of a database. Students focus on the representation and manipulation of information in relational database management systems. They learn how to map real-world concepts onto relational representations and how to manipulate them through relational queries to implement data-intensive applications. They also discuss related issues, such as database storage, data validation, sorting, grouping, and nesting data. Students learn to use a core subset of the Structured Query Language (SQL) as well as the fundamentals of database administration. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

This course is an overview of human perception and cognitive performance, computer processes, and system design approaches for successful human-computer interaction. Topic include human factors, usability evaluation, and principles of interface design. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 or CMIS 3004.)

Every day, we are learning to adapt to 21st-century technology. More importantly, we are beginning to rely on it for daily needs, such as obtaining the news, shopping, communicating, banking, and full-scale education. The need for developers of static and dynamic Web pages of all kinds is in demand. In this course, students consider the many factors of developing Web applications for a specific purpose or audience, such as optimization, accessibility, and appeal. They also examine the tools and techniques needed to develop and manage these applications. Through discussions and application assignments, students explore dynamic Web page implementations, elements of client-server and server-side processing, data validation, and concurrency issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2010 or CMIS 2002.)

Mobile computing was developed in the early 1990’s with the introduction of laptop computers. Since then, devices have become smaller, more intuitive and assessable, and have worked their way into businesses, homes, hospitals, and children’s backpacks. The basic principles of system design for such technologies are not entirely different from larger-scale development, but designers must make different considerations and use special techniques for mobile and pervasive technologies. In this course, students examine the technical, business, legal, and sociocultural benefits and challenges of mobile devices and wireless communication technologies. Through discussion and written assignments, students explore wireless protocols and business and consumer applications, such as portable computing, communication, and multimedia devices; telemetry and monitoring systems; and context-aware services. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Insecure security systems can cause major risks and vulnerabilities for companies. Breaches in personal employee information, financial information, or company secrets can elicit the downfall of an organization. In this course, students learn the importance of such concerns as well as key concepts of computer and information security, including technical, privacy, organizational, social, and policy issues. They examine fundamental notions of authentication, authorization, and encryption. Students learn about economic and human impact issues through the analysis of case studies of security and privacy breaches. Through discussions, applications, and group projects, students also examine risk management, informal system security methods, and corporate governance. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2030.)

The process of creation, from conception through completion, is complicated and requires a diverse set of management skills. This course introduces students to the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to successfully manage information technology (IT) projects throughout a project life cycle. Students in this course focus on the IT project management process and development of the project team as key to the successful achievement of IT projects. Students analyze the role of the project manager as an integral administrator overseeing the execution, progress, and interaction of all parties involved. Students learn the intricacies of managing projects and programs that may span multiple organizations. They engage in coursework through which they examine the project management cycle, sourcing strategy, third-party provider selection, and management of third-party providers. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

In this course, students learn about the role of a network administrator, the many considerations of operating a modern system, and the tools and technologies that are available to meet the requirements and demands of an organization’s network. They explore the structure of the Internet and examine protocols, routers, and client/server architecture related to configuring network services. Students also learn about software platforms, control, shared resources, and security from a practical perspective. Through a series of virtual lab assignments, students practice administrative tasks using applications as network tools, routing, securing ports, configuring network address translations, and confirming reconfigurations. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

Evaluation of software quality depends on statistics for many functions, such as assessing the number of bugs in different software routines and evaluating the efficiency of a program. This course provides students with an introduction to statistics in assessing the quality of software. Students synthesize theory with practical applications to learn the fundamentals of statistical reasoning, use of numeric and graphical descriptive statistics, parameter estimation and inferential methods, research design, and linear regression. Students also have the opportunity to practice using a statistical software package to solve statistics problems. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020)

Students in this course examine the systems integration approaches used by today’s information technology organizations to learn what makes them more effective, efficient, and competitive. They explore the functions of enterprise application integration (EAI) practices, middleware models, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) integration challenges, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and integration using cloud computing. Through a hands-on approach, students learn to solve an integration problem by designing an appropriate architecture. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 and ITEC 2080.)

In this course, students work toward gaining the skills necessary to develop and administer database-backed dynamic Web applications, which are in increasing demand as organizations compete for cutting-edge, fully-interactive, dynamic Web pages. Students explore contemporary development tools for database-driven Web applications, the use of templates to separate business logic and presentation, and data storage and management. They also examine server and application configuration to ensure site security, session management, and user authentication. In this course, students have the opportunity to enhance their communication and critical-thinking skills as they engage in peer discussions on topical issues, such as Web hosting, operations, security, and database table structure. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2060 and ITEC 2080.)

The database administrator plays an integral role in ensuring that the information on which organizations rely is organized, efficient, and secure. In this course, students identify the range of tasks a database administrator performs, including disaster recovery, performance analysis and tuning, data dictionary maintenance, data modeling and optimization, and database and user management and monitoring. They also assess the techniques, tools, and best practices used in managing a relational database. Students apply concepts presented in the course to practical exercises involving installation, management, performance monitoring, creation of users and user privileges, backup, and recovery. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2060.)

Effective data center operation involves efficient operating practices in an environmentally-responsible manner. This course provides students with an overview of data center principles and operational issues, including environmental controls, power supplies, backup, data communications, and security standards to assure business continuity. Students discuss emerging trends and technologies in areas including cloud computing, virtualization, middleware, databases, data centers, green grids, and corporate and environmental social responsibility. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 and ITEC 3030.)

Businesses rely on stable, secure systems to run their organizational operations. If a system is disrupted or encounters problems, it may result in loss of money, time, or customer faith. Effective data center operation helps to provide assurance that the integrity and functionality of a system is at low risk of disruption or threat. Students in this course explore the study and application of the principles of fault-tolerant systems (failsafe) and networks, which are used to ensure systems continue to operate appropriately, even if one or more components fail. They learn about a variety of topics, including design; modeling; analysis; and integration of hardware, software, and redundancy techniques to achieve dependable systems. Students also examine performance and reliability evaluation techniques, system diagnosis, disaster recovery planning, backup strategies for data and hardware, virus monitoring, and associated security and administration issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020 and ITEC 4020.)

The synergistic bond between technology and culture has existed from the beginning of civilization with the invention of simple tools to stay warm and store goods, to more complex, contemporary inventions, such as computers. This relationship is vital to our existence, but also warrants both social and ethical consideration, monitoring, and regulation. In this course, students examine the relationship between information technologies and core social concerns, such as privacy, democracy, equity, security, economic progress, and intellectual property rights. Using relevant articles and classic literature in the field, students evaluate existing and emerging technologies taking into account the social, ethical, and legal considerations inherent in the design and use of these technologies. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

In this capstone course, students review the work they have collected in their portfolios and reflect on their educational experience. They revisit the career priorities they expressed upon entry into the program and consider their professional goals in the context of their education. They also develop plans for continued learning and career development in the context of their personal objectives and priorities.

In this capstone project course, students complete an integrative IT project that combines multiple aspects of their information technology program. The project requires collaboration with a team of students to manage, analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based information system. The system development process is initiated with a case study included within the course structure. Students will develop a project charter that will guide them through the discovery of functional and nonfunctional requirements, the creation of a system design based on those requirements, and the development and testing of a functional computer application. Students will develop a management presentation to describe the project design and justify the continuation of the project. The implementation of the final project will require students to draw on their technical concentration-based knowledge of information security and assurance, networking, database design, interface design, and website design.

Walden University offers students a dynamic learning environment and a range of support services to ensure academic success. In this course, students immerse themselves in Walden University's online learning environment and apply skills from the student readiness orientation. In addition, students discover and apply the tools and services that will support them throughout their degree program. Through classroom discussions and the application of key communication principles, students establish an online community of peers and explore their degree program with discipline-specific examples. This course helps students prepare for their Walden academic career and continues their orientation to the university.

Information technology (IT) is essential to the function and success of nearly all businesses. Businesses whose systems are lacking or experience failure are at risk of significant loss; therefore, there will always be a need for IT support and innovation. This course introduces fundamental concepts of the IT infrastructure to prepare students for a role in the field of IT. Students learn about the structure and purpose of hardware components (computers, networks, and interface devices) and software components (operating systems, middleware, applications, and system software). They examine key issues of capacity, performance, reliability, scale, and obsolescence through the evaluation of IT’s role in supporting business and individuals. Students take a practical approach to understanding how IT infrastructure can relate to personal goals as they examine the various career options within the field. (Prerequisites: COMM 1001.)

More than ever, individuals, and businesses rely on Web surfing for variety of functions, including buying products, searching for jobs, sharing data, and entertainment. However, there are many threats involved if a network is not secure, which is why we value network administrators. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain the insight and skill of a network administrator. They examine concepts, components, and design of information and communication infrastructures. Students learn about the design of the Internet protocol stack, the structure and function of important Internet services and applications, and Internet governance. They engage in hands-on lab exercises involving configuration of settings, management of local user accounts, and the design of different types of networks. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

The cornerstone of modern software design is object-oriented programming (OOP), which is a methodology that uses objects to represent complex relationships and simplifies the development and management of information systems. This course provides students with current information on OPP and other prevailing techniques in programming. Students begin by studying foundational concepts and terminology of OPP. They examine programming paradigms, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving techniques in Java. Students engage in coursework and share blogs on computer program design, constraints, variables, functions, procedures, logic and code control, error trapping, error handling, and interactive coding techniques. They gain hands-on, practical experience through lab work focusing on compiling and running applications, reading data interactively, and debugging. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

A data structure is a specialized layout for organizing and storing data. An integral part of the information technology arena, programmers work with many different types of data structures. Using fundamental programming knowledge, such as object-oriented programming (OOP), students continue their practice with OOP and have the opportunity to gain integral knowledge of advanced data structures, including lists, stacks, queues, and the functions of each. They also learn how to choose data structures that are appropriate for various types of information. They engage in blogs and discussions to work through ideas and gain various perspectives on topical issues, such as arrays, data collections, and recursion. Students gain hands-on experience as they solve complex word problems by writing a program and using tools to create, compile, debug, and run interactive programs. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1030.)

Did you ever wonder how many different valid passwords a computer system allows? Or perhaps you need to know how to encrypt a message so that only the intended recipient can decipher it. To answer such questions, programmers use discrete mathematics, which allows them to study sets and numbers, linear algebra, combinatorics, graphs, and probability. This course introduces students to discrete mathematics concepts and techniques used in information technology (IT). Students examine each concept in action and geared toward a specific application in IT. They engage in various application assignments focusing on elements of graph theory, coding, and probability. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

There are many important benefits from studying the different types operating systems, such as administering computers efficiently and structuring code more effectively, which lend to best practices in writing code. This course provides students with an overview of the concepts of computer operating systems, including the main functions, similarities, and differences. They explore a variety of topics, including configuration, file systems, security, administration, interfacing, multitasking, and performance analysis. Students contextualize their learning experience through hands-on activities, such as performing basic administrative tasks on Windows and Linux servers, including configuring networking parameters, administering user accounts and groups, setting access and application permissions, and locating and analyzing log files. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

There are many roles involved in creating and managing an organization’s information system, including the systems analyst. The analyst helps to ensure that the software development process is successful by understanding its purpose, scope, and resource requirements. This course provides students with the prospect of understanding the field from the perspective of a systems analyst. Students focus on the definition and examination of system requirements, both functional and nonfunctional, for an information system (IS) project. Through the review of videos, case, studies, and supplemental websites, they learn about the identification of stakeholders and techniques for requirement elicitation, representation, and life cycles. Students sharpen their communication and practical skills through group projects during which they apply concepts learned in the course to an actual information system. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

This course is an introduction to the approaches used to specify details during the design phase of a systems development life cycle (SDLC). Students explore the discipline of reducing requirements to the structural and functional design of organizational information technology solutions. They examine conceptual modeling, design patterns, and application frameworks. Students learn the basics of modeling, design representations, and the use of design tools. Through discussion with their peers, students confer and debate over the different approaches to systems design, security aspects of interfaces, and documentation. Students work toward gaining collaborative and critical-thinking skills through group projects focusing on the specifics of system design, including planning and implementation. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2040.)

All types of businesses rely on systems to manage their data and to keep that data secure, accurate, and reliable. A database is a system designed to do just this as well as to simplify the processes of data entry, search, and retrieval. In this course, students learn about database management through the examination of the life cycle of a database. Students focus on the representation and manipulation of information in relational database management systems. They learn how to map real-world concepts onto relational representations and how to manipulate them through relational queries to implement data-intensive applications. They also discuss related issues, such as database storage, data validation, sorting, grouping, and nesting data. Students learn to use a core subset of the Structured Query Language (SQL) as well as the fundamentals of database administration. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

This course is an overview of human perception and cognitive performance, computer processes, and system design approaches for successful human-computer interaction. Topic include human factors, usability evaluation, and principles of interface design. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 or CMIS 3004.)

Every day, we are learning to adapt to 21st-century technology. More importantly, we are beginning to rely on it for daily needs, such as obtaining the news, shopping, communicating, banking, and full-scale education. The need for developers of static and dynamic Web pages of all kinds is in demand. In this course, students consider the many factors of developing Web applications for a specific purpose or audience, such as optimization, accessibility, and appeal. They also examine the tools and techniques needed to develop and manage these applications. Through discussions and application assignments, students explore dynamic Web page implementations, elements of client-server and server-side processing, data validation, and concurrency issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2010 or CMIS 2002.)

Mobile computing was developed in the early 1990’s with the introduction of laptop computers. Since then, devices have become smaller, more intuitive and assessable, and have worked their way into businesses, homes, hospitals, and children’s backpacks. The basic principles of system design for such technologies are not entirely different from larger-scale development, but designers must make different considerations and use special techniques for mobile and pervasive technologies. In this course, students examine the technical, business, legal, and sociocultural benefits and challenges of mobile devices and wireless communication technologies. Through discussion and written assignments, students explore wireless protocols and business and consumer applications, such as portable computing, communication, and multimedia devices; telemetry and monitoring systems; and context-aware services. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Insecure security systems can cause major risks and vulnerabilities for companies. Breaches in personal employee information, financial information, or company secrets can elicit the downfall of an organization. In this course, students learn the importance of such concerns as well as key concepts of computer and information security, including technical, privacy, organizational, social, and policy issues. They examine fundamental notions of authentication, authorization, and encryption. Students learn about economic and human impact issues through the analysis of case studies of security and privacy breaches. Through discussions, applications, and group projects, students also examine risk management, informal system security methods, and corporate governance. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2030.)

The process of creation, from conception through completion, is complicated and requires a diverse set of management skills. This course introduces students to the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to successfully manage information technology (IT) projects throughout a project life cycle. Students in this course focus on the IT project management process and development of the project team as key to the successful achievement of IT projects. Students analyze the role of the project manager as an integral administrator overseeing the execution, progress, and interaction of all parties involved. Students learn the intricacies of managing projects and programs that may span multiple organizations. They engage in coursework through which they examine the project management cycle, sourcing strategy, third-party provider selection, and management of third-party providers. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

In this course, students learn about the role of a network administrator, the many considerations of operating a modern system, and the tools and technologies that are available to meet the requirements and demands of an organization’s network. They explore the structure of the Internet and examine protocols, routers, and client/server architecture related to configuring network services. Students also learn about software platforms, control, shared resources, and security from a practical perspective. Through a series of virtual lab assignments, students practice administrative tasks using applications as network tools, routing, securing ports, configuring network address translations, and confirming reconfigurations. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

Evaluation of software quality depends on statistics for many functions, such as assessing the number of bugs in different software routines and evaluating the efficiency of a program. This course provides students with an introduction to statistics in assessing the quality of software. Students synthesize theory with practical applications to learn the fundamentals of statistical reasoning, use of numeric and graphical descriptive statistics, parameter estimation and inferential methods, research design, and linear regression. Students also have the opportunity to practice using a statistical software package to solve statistics problems. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020)

Students in this course examine the systems integration approaches used by today’s information technology organizations to learn what makes them more effective, efficient, and competitive. They explore the functions of enterprise application integration (EAI) practices, middleware models, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) integration challenges, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and integration using cloud computing. Through a hands-on approach, students learn to solve an integration problem by designing an appropriate architecture. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 and ITEC 2080.)

Health professionals often use information technology to make important clinical and managerial decisions related to services and processes in healthcare. Students in this course examine information technology that supports the collection, storage, retrieval, and communication of data; information systems safeguards; ethical and legal issues; and information management to promote patient safety and quality of care. They also explore information literacy, basic hardware and software concepts, and fundamental software applications, including spreadsheets and healthcare databases. Applying course concepts, students plan for the development of a database, explain their chosen database design, and describe potential challenges in implementing their system. Students also have the opportunity to review and analyze current events about health topics addressed in the course. (Prerequisites: COMM 1001.)

What determines patients’ plan of care and what role does technology play in their diagnosis and treatment? Through this course, students have the opportunity to answer questions such as these as well as to gain a broad understanding of healthcare as a complex business system. Students examine the main elements of the healthcare industry in the United States and elsewhere, analyzing the interests and information needs of healthcare professionals, provider organizations, researchers, pharmaceutical companies, public health agencies, regulators, insurers, individuals, and others. They examine classic literature and current articles in the field to gain an appreciation of the trends toward and obstacles to information exchange. Though this course, students also have the opportunity to survey the various professional careers available in healthcare and consider their goals and interests in relation to these opportunities. (Prerequisites: BUSI 1001 or BUSI 1002.)

As in most industries, healthcare relies heavily on information technology to provide the infrastructure for healthcare delivery in the global marketplace. Through this course, students have the opportunity to gain the necessary skills to understand the complexities of healthcare information systems components. Students examine the trends in the development of standardized patient records for a variety of health-related applications. They use requisite skills in requirements analysis and design to address the challenges in the field and engage in coursework on topics including privacy, confidentiality, and standardization. Students assess and discuss a variety of topics, such as medical devices, guidelines, and standards as well as the differences among electronic health records, electronic medical records, and personal health records. (Prerequisites: CMIS 4301 and CMIS 4101 OR HLTH 1005 [for B.S. in Health Studies or B.S. in Public Health students]).

The cost of delivering healthcare in the United States continues to grow exponentially; therefore, the industry is in need of ways to optimize the financial components associated with delivery while focusing on better quality of care. Through this course, students learn about healthcare information systems applications designed to add value to the delivery of healthcare from a financial and clinical outcomes-based perspective. Students examine some of the most important classes of healthcare information systems, ranging from patient care management to epidemiology to billing to research data analysis. Case studies provide students with a practical opportunity to exercise their information systems design and analysis skills as well as to consider social and ethical issues related to the field. (Prerequisites: CMIS 4302.)

The synergistic bond between technology and culture has existed from the beginning of civilization with the invention of simple tools to stay warm and store goods, to more complex, contemporary inventions, such as computers. This relationship is vital to our existence, but also warrants both social and ethical consideration, monitoring, and regulation. In this course, students examine the relationship between information technologies and core social concerns, such as privacy, democracy, equity, security, economic progress, and intellectual property rights. Using relevant articles and classic literature in the field, students evaluate existing and emerging technologies taking into account the social, ethical, and legal considerations inherent in the design and use of these technologies. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

In this capstone course, students review the work they have collected in their portfolios and reflect on their educational experience. They revisit the career priorities they expressed upon entry into the program and consider their professional goals in the context of their education. They also develop plans for continued learning and career development in the context of their personal objectives and priorities.

In this capstone project course, students complete an integrative IT project that combines multiple aspects of their information technology program. The project requires collaboration with a team of students to manage, analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based information system. The system development process is initiated with a case study included within the course structure. Students will develop a project charter that will guide them through the discovery of functional and nonfunctional requirements, the creation of a system design based on those requirements, and the development and testing of a functional computer application. Students will develop a management presentation to describe the project design and justify the continuation of the project. The implementation of the final project will require students to draw on their technical concentration-based knowledge of information security and assurance, networking, database design, interface design, and website design.

Walden University offers students a dynamic learning environment and a range of support services to ensure academic success. In this course, students immerse themselves in Walden University's online learning environment and apply skills from the student readiness orientation. In addition, students discover and apply the tools and services that will support them throughout their degree program. Through classroom discussions and the application of key communication principles, students establish an online community of peers and explore their degree program with discipline-specific examples. This course helps students prepare for their Walden academic career and continues their orientation to the university.

Information technology (IT) is essential to the function and success of nearly all businesses. Businesses whose systems are lacking or experience failure are at risk of significant loss; therefore, there will always be a need for IT support and innovation. This course introduces fundamental concepts of the IT infrastructure to prepare students for a role in the field of IT. Students learn about the structure and purpose of hardware components (computers, networks, and interface devices) and software components (operating systems, middleware, applications, and system software). They examine key issues of capacity, performance, reliability, scale, and obsolescence through the evaluation of IT’s role in supporting business and individuals. Students take a practical approach to understanding how IT infrastructure can relate to personal goals as they examine the various career options within the field. (Prerequisites: COMM 1001.)

More than ever, individuals, and businesses rely on Web surfing for variety of functions, including buying products, searching for jobs, sharing data, and entertainment. However, there are many threats involved if a network is not secure, which is why we value network administrators. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain the insight and skill of a network administrator. They examine concepts, components, and design of information and communication infrastructures. Students learn about the design of the Internet protocol stack, the structure and function of important Internet services and applications, and Internet governance. They engage in hands-on lab exercises involving configuration of settings, management of local user accounts, and the design of different types of networks. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

The cornerstone of modern software design is object-oriented programming (OOP), which is a methodology that uses objects to represent complex relationships and simplifies the development and management of information systems. This course provides students with current information on OPP and other prevailing techniques in programming. Students begin by studying foundational concepts and terminology of OPP. They examine programming paradigms, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving techniques in Java. Students engage in coursework and share blogs on computer program design, constraints, variables, functions, procedures, logic and code control, error trapping, error handling, and interactive coding techniques. They gain hands-on, practical experience through lab work focusing on compiling and running applications, reading data interactively, and debugging. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

A data structure is a specialized layout for organizing and storing data. An integral part of the information technology arena, programmers work with many different types of data structures. Using fundamental programming knowledge, such as object-oriented programming (OOP), students continue their practice with OOP and have the opportunity to gain integral knowledge of advanced data structures, including lists, stacks, queues, and the functions of each. They also learn how to choose data structures that are appropriate for various types of information. They engage in blogs and discussions to work through ideas and gain various perspectives on topical issues, such as arrays, data collections, and recursion. Students gain hands-on experience as they solve complex word problems by writing a program and using tools to create, compile, debug, and run interactive programs. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1030.)

Did you ever wonder how many different valid passwords a computer system allows? Or perhaps you need to know how to encrypt a message so that only the intended recipient can decipher it. To answer such questions, programmers use discrete mathematics, which allows them to study sets and numbers, linear algebra, combinatorics, graphs, and probability. This course introduces students to discrete mathematics concepts and techniques used in information technology (IT). Students examine each concept in action and geared toward a specific application in IT. They engage in various application assignments focusing on elements of graph theory, coding, and probability. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

There are many important benefits from studying the different types operating systems, such as administering computers efficiently and structuring code more effectively, which lend to best practices in writing code. This course provides students with an overview of the concepts of computer operating systems, including the main functions, similarities, and differences. They explore a variety of topics, including configuration, file systems, security, administration, interfacing, multitasking, and performance analysis. Students contextualize their learning experience through hands-on activities, such as performing basic administrative tasks on Windows and Linux servers, including configuring networking parameters, administering user accounts and groups, setting access and application permissions, and locating and analyzing log files. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

There are many roles involved in creating and managing an organization’s information system, including the systems analyst. The analyst helps to ensure that the software development process is successful by understanding its purpose, scope, and resource requirements. This course provides students with the prospect of understanding the field from the perspective of a systems analyst. Students focus on the definition and examination of system requirements, both functional and nonfunctional, for an information system (IS) project. Through the review of videos, case, studies, and supplemental websites, they learn about the identification of stakeholders and techniques for requirement elicitation, representation, and life cycles. Students sharpen their communication and practical skills through group projects during which they apply concepts learned in the course to an actual information system. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

This course is an introduction to the approaches used to specify details during the design phase of a systems development life cycle (SDLC). Students explore the discipline of reducing requirements to the structural and functional design of organizational information technology solutions. They examine conceptual modeling, design patterns, and application frameworks. Students learn the basics of modeling, design representations, and the use of design tools. Through discussion with their peers, students confer and debate over the different approaches to systems design, security aspects of interfaces, and documentation. Students work toward gaining collaborative and critical-thinking skills through group projects focusing on the specifics of system design, including planning and implementation. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2040.)

All types of businesses rely on systems to manage their data and to keep that data secure, accurate, and reliable. A database is a system designed to do just this as well as to simplify the processes of data entry, search, and retrieval. In this course, students learn about database management through the examination of the life cycle of a database. Students focus on the representation and manipulation of information in relational database management systems. They learn how to map real-world concepts onto relational representations and how to manipulate them through relational queries to implement data-intensive applications. They also discuss related issues, such as database storage, data validation, sorting, grouping, and nesting data. Students learn to use a core subset of the Structured Query Language (SQL) as well as the fundamentals of database administration. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

This course is an overview of human perception and cognitive performance, computer processes, and system design approaches for successful human-computer interaction. Topic include human factors, usability evaluation, and principles of interface design. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 or CMIS 3004.)

Every day, we are learning to adapt to 21st-century technology. More importantly, we are beginning to rely on it for daily needs, such as obtaining the news, shopping, communicating, banking, and full-scale education. The need for developers of static and dynamic Web pages of all kinds is in demand. In this course, students consider the many factors of developing Web applications for a specific purpose or audience, such as optimization, accessibility, and appeal. They also examine the tools and techniques needed to develop and manage these applications. Through discussions and application assignments, students explore dynamic Web page implementations, elements of client-server and server-side processing, data validation, and concurrency issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2010 or CMIS 2002.)

Mobile computing was developed in the early 1990’s with the introduction of laptop computers. Since then, devices have become smaller, more intuitive and assessable, and have worked their way into businesses, homes, hospitals, and children’s backpacks. The basic principles of system design for such technologies are not entirely different from larger-scale development, but designers must make different considerations and use special techniques for mobile and pervasive technologies. In this course, students examine the technical, business, legal, and sociocultural benefits and challenges of mobile devices and wireless communication technologies. Through discussion and written assignments, students explore wireless protocols and business and consumer applications, such as portable computing, communication, and multimedia devices; telemetry and monitoring systems; and context-aware services. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Insecure security systems can cause major risks and vulnerabilities for companies. Breaches in personal employee information, financial information, or company secrets can elicit the downfall of an organization. In this course, students learn the importance of such concerns as well as key concepts of computer and information security, including technical, privacy, organizational, social, and policy issues. They examine fundamental notions of authentication, authorization, and encryption. Students learn about economic and human impact issues through the analysis of case studies of security and privacy breaches. Through discussions, applications, and group projects, students also examine risk management, informal system security methods, and corporate governance. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2030.)

The process of creation, from conception through completion, is complicated and requires a diverse set of management skills. This course introduces students to the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to successfully manage information technology (IT) projects throughout a project life cycle. Students in this course focus on the IT project management process and development of the project team as key to the successful achievement of IT projects. Students analyze the role of the project manager as an integral administrator overseeing the execution, progress, and interaction of all parties involved. Students learn the intricacies of managing projects and programs that may span multiple organizations. They engage in coursework through which they examine the project management cycle, sourcing strategy, third-party provider selection, and management of third-party providers. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

In this course, students learn about the role of a network administrator, the many considerations of operating a modern system, and the tools and technologies that are available to meet the requirements and demands of an organization’s network. They explore the structure of the Internet and examine protocols, routers, and client/server architecture related to configuring network services. Students also learn about software platforms, control, shared resources, and security from a practical perspective. Through a series of virtual lab assignments, students practice administrative tasks using applications as network tools, routing, securing ports, configuring network address translations, and confirming reconfigurations. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

Evaluation of software quality depends on statistics for many functions, such as assessing the number of bugs in different software routines and evaluating the efficiency of a program. This course provides students with an introduction to statistics in assessing the quality of software. Students synthesize theory with practical applications to learn the fundamentals of statistical reasoning, use of numeric and graphical descriptive statistics, parameter estimation and inferential methods, research design, and linear regression. Students also have the opportunity to practice using a statistical software package to solve statistics problems. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020)

Students in this course examine the systems integration approaches used by today’s information technology organizations to learn what makes them more effective, efficient, and competitive. They explore the functions of enterprise application integration (EAI) practices, middleware models, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) integration challenges, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and integration using cloud computing. Through a hands-on approach, students learn to solve an integration problem by designing an appropriate architecture. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 and ITEC 2080.)

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the management of information technology (IT), including the relationships of parties involved, the tools for IT process improvement, and best practices involved in the field. Students focus on the relationship among an IT organization, business customers, and users. They explore the customer’s perspective of IT’s contribution to the organization and they learn ways to communicate effectively with stakeholders. Students use current articles and classic literature to examine a variety of topics, including operations architecture, IT governance, and relevant frameworks. Students also examine relationships of IT service management to process improvement movements, for example, Six Sigma improvement methodology, total quality management (TQM), business process management (BPM), and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) standards. Through group projects and peer evaluation, students learn to work efficiently in groups as they assess the design of a service management program and the role of ethics in service management. (Prerequisites: ITEC 3030 and ITEC 3040.)

Technological innovation has led us to store all types of information on the Web, such as medical records, financial data, and personal communications. We rely on this information to be safe from external attacks. Preventing such threats is a vital role in the field of information technology. This course provides an overview of network security defense techniques and countermeasures. Students sharpen their communication and analytical skills through the discussion and debate of a variety of topics, such as cryptanalysis and attacks, safety of wireless connections, intrusion detection methods, and access control. They engage in assignments designed to provide them with practical applications of content, such as the design and configuration of firewalls, traffic analysis and filtering, intrusion detection, statistical anomaly detection, and wireless security. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020 and ITEC 3020.)

Before a business can establish a new network or service, they must ensure that the system or service meets their specific needs and requirements. Once a system is in place, they must continue to ensure that the network is optimized, connected appropriately, and free of critical threats, such as viruses and spyware. In this course, students learn about the specifics of planning, maintaining, and auditing data communications and networks in an organization. Students engage in assignments focusing on business planning, long- and short-term planning, operations, maintenance, and forecasting. They also explore topological design, network synthesis, and network realization. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020 and 4020.)

Businesses rely on stable, secure systems to run their organizational operations. If a system is disrupted or encounters problems, it may result in loss of money, time, or customer faith. Effective data center operation helps to provide assurance that the integrity and functionality of a system is at low risk of disruption or threat. Students in this course explore the study and application of the principles of fault-tolerant systems (failsafe) and networks, which are used to ensure systems continue to operate appropriately, even if one or more components fail. They learn about a variety of topics, including design; modeling; analysis; and integration of hardware, software, and redundancy techniques to achieve dependable systems. Students also examine performance and reliability evaluation techniques, system diagnosis, disaster recovery planning, backup strategies for data and hardware, virus monitoring, and associated security and administration issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020 and ITEC 4020.)

The synergistic bond between technology and culture has existed from the beginning of civilization with the invention of simple tools to stay warm and store goods, to more complex, contemporary inventions, such as computers. This relationship is vital to our existence, but also warrants both social and ethical consideration, monitoring, and regulation. In this course, students examine the relationship between information technologies and core social concerns, such as privacy, democracy, equity, security, economic progress, and intellectual property rights. Using relevant articles and classic literature in the field, students evaluate existing and emerging technologies taking into account the social, ethical, and legal considerations inherent in the design and use of these technologies. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

In this capstone course, students review the work they have collected in their portfolios and reflect on their educational experience. They revisit the career priorities they expressed upon entry into the program and consider their professional goals in the context of their education. They also develop plans for continued learning and career development in the context of their personal objectives and priorities.

In this capstone project course, students complete an integrative IT project that combines multiple aspects of their information technology program. The project requires collaboration with a team of students to manage, analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based information system. The system development process is initiated with a case study included within the course structure. Students will develop a project charter that will guide them through the discovery of functional and nonfunctional requirements, the creation of a system design based on those requirements, and the development and testing of a functional computer application. Students will develop a management presentation to describe the project design and justify the continuation of the project. The implementation of the final project will require students to draw on their technical concentration-based knowledge of information security and assurance, networking, database design, interface design, and website design.

Walden University offers students a dynamic learning environment and a range of support services to ensure academic success. In this course, students immerse themselves in Walden University's online learning environment and apply skills from the student readiness orientation. In addition, students discover and apply the tools and services that will support them throughout their degree program. Through classroom discussions and the application of key communication principles, students establish an online community of peers and explore their degree program with discipline-specific examples. This course helps students prepare for their Walden academic career and continues their orientation to the university.

Information technology (IT) is essential to the function and success of nearly all businesses. Businesses whose systems are lacking or experience failure are at risk of significant loss; therefore, there will always be a need for IT support and innovation. This course introduces fundamental concepts of the IT infrastructure to prepare students for a role in the field of IT. Students learn about the structure and purpose of hardware components (computers, networks, and interface devices) and software components (operating systems, middleware, applications, and system software). They examine key issues of capacity, performance, reliability, scale, and obsolescence through the evaluation of IT’s role in supporting business and individuals. Students take a practical approach to understanding how IT infrastructure can relate to personal goals as they examine the various career options within the field. (Prerequisites: COMM 1001.)

More than ever, individuals, and businesses rely on Web surfing for variety of functions, including buying products, searching for jobs, sharing data, and entertainment. However, there are many threats involved if a network is not secure, which is why we value network administrators. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain the insight and skill of a network administrator. They examine concepts, components, and design of information and communication infrastructures. Students learn about the design of the Internet protocol stack, the structure and function of important Internet services and applications, and Internet governance. They engage in hands-on lab exercises involving configuration of settings, management of local user accounts, and the design of different types of networks. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

The cornerstone of modern software design is object-oriented programming (OOP), which is a methodology that uses objects to represent complex relationships and simplifies the development and management of information systems. This course provides students with current information on OPP and other prevailing techniques in programming. Students begin by studying foundational concepts and terminology of OPP. They examine programming paradigms, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving techniques in Java. Students engage in coursework and share blogs on computer program design, constraints, variables, functions, procedures, logic and code control, error trapping, error handling, and interactive coding techniques. They gain hands-on, practical experience through lab work focusing on compiling and running applications, reading data interactively, and debugging. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

A data structure is a specialized layout for organizing and storing data. An integral part of the information technology arena, programmers work with many different types of data structures. Using fundamental programming knowledge, such as object-oriented programming (OOP), students continue their practice with OOP and have the opportunity to gain integral knowledge of advanced data structures, including lists, stacks, queues, and the functions of each. They also learn how to choose data structures that are appropriate for various types of information. They engage in blogs and discussions to work through ideas and gain various perspectives on topical issues, such as arrays, data collections, and recursion. Students gain hands-on experience as they solve complex word problems by writing a program and using tools to create, compile, debug, and run interactive programs. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1030.)

Did you ever wonder how many different valid passwords a computer system allows? Or perhaps you need to know how to encrypt a message so that only the intended recipient can decipher it. To answer such questions, programmers use discrete mathematics, which allows them to study sets and numbers, linear algebra, combinatorics, graphs, and probability. This course introduces students to discrete mathematics concepts and techniques used in information technology (IT). Students examine each concept in action and geared toward a specific application in IT. They engage in various application assignments focusing on elements of graph theory, coding, and probability. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

There are many important benefits from studying the different types operating systems, such as administering computers efficiently and structuring code more effectively, which lend to best practices in writing code. This course provides students with an overview of the concepts of computer operating systems, including the main functions, similarities, and differences. They explore a variety of topics, including configuration, file systems, security, administration, interfacing, multitasking, and performance analysis. Students contextualize their learning experience through hands-on activities, such as performing basic administrative tasks on Windows and Linux servers, including configuring networking parameters, administering user accounts and groups, setting access and application permissions, and locating and analyzing log files. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

There are many roles involved in creating and managing an organization’s information system, including the systems analyst. The analyst helps to ensure that the software development process is successful by understanding its purpose, scope, and resource requirements. This course provides students with the prospect of understanding the field from the perspective of a systems analyst. Students focus on the definition and examination of system requirements, both functional and nonfunctional, for an information system (IS) project. Through the review of videos, case, studies, and supplemental websites, they learn about the identification of stakeholders and techniques for requirement elicitation, representation, and life cycles. Students sharpen their communication and practical skills through group projects during which they apply concepts learned in the course to an actual information system. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

This course is an introduction to the approaches used to specify details during the design phase of a systems development life cycle (SDLC). Students explore the discipline of reducing requirements to the structural and functional design of organizational information technology solutions. They examine conceptual modeling, design patterns, and application frameworks. Students learn the basics of modeling, design representations, and the use of design tools. Through discussion with their peers, students confer and debate over the different approaches to systems design, security aspects of interfaces, and documentation. Students work toward gaining collaborative and critical-thinking skills through group projects focusing on the specifics of system design, including planning and implementation. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2040.)

All types of businesses rely on systems to manage their data and to keep that data secure, accurate, and reliable. A database is a system designed to do just this as well as to simplify the processes of data entry, search, and retrieval. In this course, students learn about database management through the examination of the life cycle of a database. Students focus on the representation and manipulation of information in relational database management systems. They learn how to map real-world concepts onto relational representations and how to manipulate them through relational queries to implement data-intensive applications. They also discuss related issues, such as database storage, data validation, sorting, grouping, and nesting data. Students learn to use a core subset of the Structured Query Language (SQL) as well as the fundamentals of database administration. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

This course is an overview of human perception and cognitive performance, computer processes, and system design approaches for successful human-computer interaction. Topic include human factors, usability evaluation, and principles of interface design. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 or CMIS 3004.)

Every day, we are learning to adapt to 21st-century technology. More importantly, we are beginning to rely on it for daily needs, such as obtaining the news, shopping, communicating, banking, and full-scale education. The need for developers of static and dynamic Web pages of all kinds is in demand. In this course, students consider the many factors of developing Web applications for a specific purpose or audience, such as optimization, accessibility, and appeal. They also examine the tools and techniques needed to develop and manage these applications. Through discussions and application assignments, students explore dynamic Web page implementations, elements of client-server and server-side processing, data validation, and concurrency issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2010 or CMIS 2002.)

Mobile computing was developed in the early 1990’s with the introduction of laptop computers. Since then, devices have become smaller, more intuitive and assessable, and have worked their way into businesses, homes, hospitals, and children’s backpacks. The basic principles of system design for such technologies are not entirely different from larger-scale development, but designers must make different considerations and use special techniques for mobile and pervasive technologies. In this course, students examine the technical, business, legal, and sociocultural benefits and challenges of mobile devices and wireless communication technologies. Through discussion and written assignments, students explore wireless protocols and business and consumer applications, such as portable computing, communication, and multimedia devices; telemetry and monitoring systems; and context-aware services. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Insecure security systems can cause major risks and vulnerabilities for companies. Breaches in personal employee information, financial information, or company secrets can elicit the downfall of an organization. In this course, students learn the importance of such concerns as well as key concepts of computer and information security, including technical, privacy, organizational, social, and policy issues. They examine fundamental notions of authentication, authorization, and encryption. Students learn about economic and human impact issues through the analysis of case studies of security and privacy breaches. Through discussions, applications, and group projects, students also examine risk management, informal system security methods, and corporate governance. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2030.)

The process of creation, from conception through completion, is complicated and requires a diverse set of management skills. This course introduces students to the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to successfully manage information technology (IT) projects throughout a project life cycle. Students in this course focus on the IT project management process and development of the project team as key to the successful achievement of IT projects. Students analyze the role of the project manager as an integral administrator overseeing the execution, progress, and interaction of all parties involved. Students learn the intricacies of managing projects and programs that may span multiple organizations. They engage in coursework through which they examine the project management cycle, sourcing strategy, third-party provider selection, and management of third-party providers. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

In this course, students learn about the role of a network administrator, the many considerations of operating a modern system, and the tools and technologies that are available to meet the requirements and demands of an organization’s network. They explore the structure of the Internet and examine protocols, routers, and client/server architecture related to configuring network services. Students also learn about software platforms, control, shared resources, and security from a practical perspective. Through a series of virtual lab assignments, students practice administrative tasks using applications as network tools, routing, securing ports, configuring network address translations, and confirming reconfigurations. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

Evaluation of software quality depends on statistics for many functions, such as assessing the number of bugs in different software routines and evaluating the efficiency of a program. This course provides students with an introduction to statistics in assessing the quality of software. Students synthesize theory with practical applications to learn the fundamentals of statistical reasoning, use of numeric and graphical descriptive statistics, parameter estimation and inferential methods, research design, and linear regression. Students also have the opportunity to practice using a statistical software package to solve statistics problems. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020)

Students in this course examine the systems integration approaches used by today’s information technology organizations to learn what makes them more effective, efficient, and competitive. They explore the functions of enterprise application integration (EAI) practices, middleware models, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) integration challenges, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and integration using cloud computing. Through a hands-on approach, students learn to solve an integration problem by designing an appropriate architecture. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 and ITEC 2080.)

The job of an information security specialist is to oversee enterprise operations that follow industry best practices for security and data integrity to ensure that systems are free from external threats and risks that may jeopardize or harm the organization. Students in this course investigate the responsibilities of the security specialist, including the security of operating systems and other system software, such as database management systems. Through a variety of assignments, including hands-on lab work, students explore components of a networked operating system, architectural designs for secure usage, system administration tasks, and tools for security. Students examine the real effects that security threats have on systems. They address such threats through exercises in administrative tasks using tools vital for implementing security policies on Linux and Windows systems. (Prerequisites: ITEC 3020.)

Technological innovation has led us to store all types of information on the Web, such as medical records, financial data, and personal communications. We rely on this information to be safe from external attacks. Preventing such threats is a vital role in the field of information technology. This course provides an overview of network security defense techniques and countermeasures. Students sharpen their communication and analytical skills through the discussion and debate of a variety of topics, such as cryptanalysis and attacks, safety of wireless connections, intrusion detection methods, and access control. They engage in assignments designed to provide them with practical applications of content, such as the design and configuration of firewalls, traffic analysis and filtering, intrusion detection, statistical anomaly detection, and wireless security. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020 and ITEC 3020.)

In the past, security measures were merely supplemental to software design, but with the increasing threat of hackers who manipulate applications and steal or modify important data, countermeasures are vital to protect applications from vulnerability. This course provides students with an overview of best practices in developing secure software applications and the tools for investigating anomalies and vulnerabilities in application software. Students engage in a variety of course assignments focusing on related topics, including buffer overflow, structured query language (SQL) injections, selected programming and scripting languages, and the security of Web applications on both the client and server side. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080 and ITEC 3020.)

As we adapt to the digital revolution, an increasing number of cases, both civil and high-profile, rely on data identification, recovery, and preservation of digital evidence. We also rely on computer forensics for the prevention and prosecution of criminal activity, such as child pornography, financial fraud, and personal identify theft. In this course, students learn procedures and tools for collecting and investigating evidence from illegal or inappropriate computer use. They also engage in a range of assignments and activities focusing on the legal, ethical, and policy implications of various forensic techniques and monitoring practices. (Prerequisites: ITEC 3101, ITEC 4101, and ITEC 4102.)

The synergistic bond between technology and culture has existed from the beginning of civilization with the invention of simple tools to stay warm and store goods, to more complex, contemporary inventions, such as computers. This relationship is vital to our existence, but also warrants both social and ethical consideration, monitoring, and regulation. In this course, students examine the relationship between information technologies and core social concerns, such as privacy, democracy, equity, security, economic progress, and intellectual property rights. Using relevant articles and classic literature in the field, students evaluate existing and emerging technologies taking into account the social, ethical, and legal considerations inherent in the design and use of these technologies. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

In this capstone course, students review the work they have collected in their portfolios and reflect on their educational experience. They revisit the career priorities they expressed upon entry into the program and consider their professional goals in the context of their education. They also develop plans for continued learning and career development in the context of their personal objectives and priorities.

In this capstone project course, students complete an integrative IT project that combines multiple aspects of their information technology program. The project requires collaboration with a team of students to manage, analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based information system. The system development process is initiated with a case study included within the course structure. Students will develop a project charter that will guide them through the discovery of functional and nonfunctional requirements, the creation of a system design based on those requirements, and the development and testing of a functional computer application. Students will develop a management presentation to describe the project design and justify the continuation of the project. The implementation of the final project will require students to draw on their technical concentration-based knowledge of information security and assurance, networking, database design, interface design, and website design.

Walden University offers students a dynamic learning environment and a range of support services to ensure academic success. In this course, students immerse themselves in Walden University's online learning environment and apply skills from the student readiness orientation. In addition, students discover and apply the tools and services that will support them throughout their degree program. Through classroom discussions and the application of key communication principles, students establish an online community of peers and explore their degree program with discipline-specific examples. This course helps students prepare for their Walden academic career and continues their orientation to the university.

Information technology (IT) is essential to the function and success of nearly all businesses. Businesses whose systems are lacking or experience failure are at risk of significant loss; therefore, there will always be a need for IT support and innovation. This course introduces fundamental concepts of the IT infrastructure to prepare students for a role in the field of IT. Students learn about the structure and purpose of hardware components (computers, networks, and interface devices) and software components (operating systems, middleware, applications, and system software). They examine key issues of capacity, performance, reliability, scale, and obsolescence through the evaluation of IT’s role in supporting business and individuals. Students take a practical approach to understanding how IT infrastructure can relate to personal goals as they examine the various career options within the field. (Prerequisites: COMM 1001.)

More than ever, individuals, and businesses rely on Web surfing for variety of functions, including buying products, searching for jobs, sharing data, and entertainment. However, there are many threats involved if a network is not secure, which is why we value network administrators. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain the insight and skill of a network administrator. They examine concepts, components, and design of information and communication infrastructures. Students learn about the design of the Internet protocol stack, the structure and function of important Internet services and applications, and Internet governance. They engage in hands-on lab exercises involving configuration of settings, management of local user accounts, and the design of different types of networks. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

The cornerstone of modern software design is object-oriented programming (OOP), which is a methodology that uses objects to represent complex relationships and simplifies the development and management of information systems. This course provides students with current information on OPP and other prevailing techniques in programming. Students begin by studying foundational concepts and terminology of OPP. They examine programming paradigms, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving techniques in Java. Students engage in coursework and share blogs on computer program design, constraints, variables, functions, procedures, logic and code control, error trapping, error handling, and interactive coding techniques. They gain hands-on, practical experience through lab work focusing on compiling and running applications, reading data interactively, and debugging. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

A data structure is a specialized layout for organizing and storing data. An integral part of the information technology arena, programmers work with many different types of data structures. Using fundamental programming knowledge, such as object-oriented programming (OOP), students continue their practice with OOP and have the opportunity to gain integral knowledge of advanced data structures, including lists, stacks, queues, and the functions of each. They also learn how to choose data structures that are appropriate for various types of information. They engage in blogs and discussions to work through ideas and gain various perspectives on topical issues, such as arrays, data collections, and recursion. Students gain hands-on experience as they solve complex word problems by writing a program and using tools to create, compile, debug, and run interactive programs. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1030.)

Did you ever wonder how many different valid passwords a computer system allows? Or perhaps you need to know how to encrypt a message so that only the intended recipient can decipher it. To answer such questions, programmers use discrete mathematics, which allows them to study sets and numbers, linear algebra, combinatorics, graphs, and probability. This course introduces students to discrete mathematics concepts and techniques used in information technology (IT). Students examine each concept in action and geared toward a specific application in IT. They engage in various application assignments focusing on elements of graph theory, coding, and probability. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

There are many important benefits from studying the different types operating systems, such as administering computers efficiently and structuring code more effectively, which lend to best practices in writing code. This course provides students with an overview of the concepts of computer operating systems, including the main functions, similarities, and differences. They explore a variety of topics, including configuration, file systems, security, administration, interfacing, multitasking, and performance analysis. Students contextualize their learning experience through hands-on activities, such as performing basic administrative tasks on Windows and Linux servers, including configuring networking parameters, administering user accounts and groups, setting access and application permissions, and locating and analyzing log files. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

There are many roles involved in creating and managing an organization’s information system, including the systems analyst. The analyst helps to ensure that the software development process is successful by understanding its purpose, scope, and resource requirements. This course provides students with the prospect of understanding the field from the perspective of a systems analyst. Students focus on the definition and examination of system requirements, both functional and nonfunctional, for an information system (IS) project. Through the review of videos, case, studies, and supplemental websites, they learn about the identification of stakeholders and techniques for requirement elicitation, representation, and life cycles. Students sharpen their communication and practical skills through group projects during which they apply concepts learned in the course to an actual information system. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

This course is an introduction to the approaches used to specify details during the design phase of a systems development life cycle (SDLC). Students explore the discipline of reducing requirements to the structural and functional design of organizational information technology solutions. They examine conceptual modeling, design patterns, and application frameworks. Students learn the basics of modeling, design representations, and the use of design tools. Through discussion with their peers, students confer and debate over the different approaches to systems design, security aspects of interfaces, and documentation. Students work toward gaining collaborative and critical-thinking skills through group projects focusing on the specifics of system design, including planning and implementation. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2040.)

All types of businesses rely on systems to manage their data and to keep that data secure, accurate, and reliable. A database is a system designed to do just this as well as to simplify the processes of data entry, search, and retrieval. In this course, students learn about database management through the examination of the life cycle of a database. Students focus on the representation and manipulation of information in relational database management systems. They learn how to map real-world concepts onto relational representations and how to manipulate them through relational queries to implement data-intensive applications. They also discuss related issues, such as database storage, data validation, sorting, grouping, and nesting data. Students learn to use a core subset of the Structured Query Language (SQL) as well as the fundamentals of database administration. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

This course is an overview of human perception and cognitive performance, computer processes, and system design approaches for successful human-computer interaction. Topic include human factors, usability evaluation, and principles of interface design. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 or CMIS 3004.)

Every day, we are learning to adapt to 21st-century technology. More importantly, we are beginning to rely on it for daily needs, such as obtaining the news, shopping, communicating, banking, and full-scale education. The need for developers of static and dynamic Web pages of all kinds is in demand. In this course, students consider the many factors of developing Web applications for a specific purpose or audience, such as optimization, accessibility, and appeal. They also examine the tools and techniques needed to develop and manage these applications. Through discussions and application assignments, students explore dynamic Web page implementations, elements of client-server and server-side processing, data validation, and concurrency issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2010 or CMIS 2002.)

Mobile computing was developed in the early 1990’s with the introduction of laptop computers. Since then, devices have become smaller, more intuitive and assessable, and have worked their way into businesses, homes, hospitals, and children’s backpacks. The basic principles of system design for such technologies are not entirely different from larger-scale development, but designers must make different considerations and use special techniques for mobile and pervasive technologies. In this course, students examine the technical, business, legal, and sociocultural benefits and challenges of mobile devices and wireless communication technologies. Through discussion and written assignments, students explore wireless protocols and business and consumer applications, such as portable computing, communication, and multimedia devices; telemetry and monitoring systems; and context-aware services. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Insecure security systems can cause major risks and vulnerabilities for companies. Breaches in personal employee information, financial information, or company secrets can elicit the downfall of an organization. In this course, students learn the importance of such concerns as well as key concepts of computer and information security, including technical, privacy, organizational, social, and policy issues. They examine fundamental notions of authentication, authorization, and encryption. Students learn about economic and human impact issues through the analysis of case studies of security and privacy breaches. Through discussions, applications, and group projects, students also examine risk management, informal system security methods, and corporate governance. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2030.)

The process of creation, from conception through completion, is complicated and requires a diverse set of management skills. This course introduces students to the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to successfully manage information technology (IT) projects throughout a project life cycle. Students in this course focus on the IT project management process and development of the project team as key to the successful achievement of IT projects. Students analyze the role of the project manager as an integral administrator overseeing the execution, progress, and interaction of all parties involved. Students learn the intricacies of managing projects and programs that may span multiple organizations. They engage in coursework through which they examine the project management cycle, sourcing strategy, third-party provider selection, and management of third-party providers. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

In this course, students learn about the role of a network administrator, the many considerations of operating a modern system, and the tools and technologies that are available to meet the requirements and demands of an organization’s network. They explore the structure of the Internet and examine protocols, routers, and client/server architecture related to configuring network services. Students also learn about software platforms, control, shared resources, and security from a practical perspective. Through a series of virtual lab assignments, students practice administrative tasks using applications as network tools, routing, securing ports, configuring network address translations, and confirming reconfigurations. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

Evaluation of software quality depends on statistics for many functions, such as assessing the number of bugs in different software routines and evaluating the efficiency of a program. This course provides students with an introduction to statistics in assessing the quality of software. Students synthesize theory with practical applications to learn the fundamentals of statistical reasoning, use of numeric and graphical descriptive statistics, parameter estimation and inferential methods, research design, and linear regression. Students also have the opportunity to practice using a statistical software package to solve statistics problems. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020)

Students in this course examine the systems integration approaches used by today’s information technology organizations to learn what makes them more effective, efficient, and competitive. They explore the functions of enterprise application integration (EAI) practices, middleware models, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) integration challenges, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and integration using cloud computing. Through a hands-on approach, students learn to solve an integration problem by designing an appropriate architecture. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 and ITEC 2080.)

In this capstone course, students review the work they have collected in their portfolios and reflect on their educational experience. They revisit the career priorities they expressed upon entry into the program and consider their professional goals in the context of their education. They also develop plans for continued learning and career development in the context of their personal objectives and priorities.

In this capstone project course, students complete an integrative IT project that combines multiple aspects of their information technology program. The project requires collaboration with a team of students to manage, analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based information system. The system development process is initiated with a case study included within the course structure. Students will develop a project charter that will guide them through the discovery of functional and nonfunctional requirements, the creation of a system design based on those requirements, and the development and testing of a functional computer application. Students will develop a management presentation to describe the project design and justify the continuation of the project. The implementation of the final project will require students to draw on their technical concentration-based knowledge of information security and assurance, networking, database design, interface design, and website design.

Walden University offers students a dynamic learning environment and a range of support services to ensure academic success. In this course, students immerse themselves in Walden University's online learning environment and apply skills from the student readiness orientation. In addition, students discover and apply the tools and services that will support them throughout their degree program. Through classroom discussions and the application of key communication principles, students establish an online community of peers and explore their degree program with discipline-specific examples. This course helps students prepare for their Walden academic career and continues their orientation to the university.

Information technology (IT) is essential to the function and success of nearly all businesses. Businesses whose systems are lacking or experience failure are at risk of significant loss; therefore, there will always be a need for IT support and innovation. This course introduces fundamental concepts of the IT infrastructure to prepare students for a role in the field of IT. Students learn about the structure and purpose of hardware components (computers, networks, and interface devices) and software components (operating systems, middleware, applications, and system software). They examine key issues of capacity, performance, reliability, scale, and obsolescence through the evaluation of IT’s role in supporting business and individuals. Students take a practical approach to understanding how IT infrastructure can relate to personal goals as they examine the various career options within the field. (Prerequisites: COMM 1001.)

More than ever, individuals, and businesses rely on Web surfing for variety of functions, including buying products, searching for jobs, sharing data, and entertainment. However, there are many threats involved if a network is not secure, which is why we value network administrators. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain the insight and skill of a network administrator. They examine concepts, components, and design of information and communication infrastructures. Students learn about the design of the Internet protocol stack, the structure and function of important Internet services and applications, and Internet governance. They engage in hands-on lab exercises involving configuration of settings, management of local user accounts, and the design of different types of networks. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

The cornerstone of modern software design is object-oriented programming (OOP), which is a methodology that uses objects to represent complex relationships and simplifies the development and management of information systems. This course provides students with current information on OPP and other prevailing techniques in programming. Students begin by studying foundational concepts and terminology of OPP. They examine programming paradigms, algorithmic thinking, and problem-solving techniques in Java. Students engage in coursework and share blogs on computer program design, constraints, variables, functions, procedures, logic and code control, error trapping, error handling, and interactive coding techniques. They gain hands-on, practical experience through lab work focusing on compiling and running applications, reading data interactively, and debugging. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

A data structure is a specialized layout for organizing and storing data. An integral part of the information technology arena, programmers work with many different types of data structures. Using fundamental programming knowledge, such as object-oriented programming (OOP), students continue their practice with OOP and have the opportunity to gain integral knowledge of advanced data structures, including lists, stacks, queues, and the functions of each. They also learn how to choose data structures that are appropriate for various types of information. They engage in blogs and discussions to work through ideas and gain various perspectives on topical issues, such as arrays, data collections, and recursion. Students gain hands-on experience as they solve complex word problems by writing a program and using tools to create, compile, debug, and run interactive programs. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1030.)

Did you ever wonder how many different valid passwords a computer system allows? Or perhaps you need to know how to encrypt a message so that only the intended recipient can decipher it. To answer such questions, programmers use discrete mathematics, which allows them to study sets and numbers, linear algebra, combinatorics, graphs, and probability. This course introduces students to discrete mathematics concepts and techniques used in information technology (IT). Students examine each concept in action and geared toward a specific application in IT. They engage in various application assignments focusing on elements of graph theory, coding, and probability. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010 and MATH 1040.)

There are many important benefits from studying the different types operating systems, such as administering computers efficiently and structuring code more effectively, which lend to best practices in writing code. This course provides students with an overview of the concepts of computer operating systems, including the main functions, similarities, and differences. They explore a variety of topics, including configuration, file systems, security, administration, interfacing, multitasking, and performance analysis. Students contextualize their learning experience through hands-on activities, such as performing basic administrative tasks on Windows and Linux servers, including configuring networking parameters, administering user accounts and groups, setting access and application permissions, and locating and analyzing log files. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

There are many roles involved in creating and managing an organization’s information system, including the systems analyst. The analyst helps to ensure that the software development process is successful by understanding its purpose, scope, and resource requirements. This course provides students with the prospect of understanding the field from the perspective of a systems analyst. Students focus on the definition and examination of system requirements, both functional and nonfunctional, for an information system (IS) project. Through the review of videos, case, studies, and supplemental websites, they learn about the identification of stakeholders and techniques for requirement elicitation, representation, and life cycles. Students sharpen their communication and practical skills through group projects during which they apply concepts learned in the course to an actual information system. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1010.)

This course is an introduction to the approaches used to specify details during the design phase of a systems development life cycle (SDLC). Students explore the discipline of reducing requirements to the structural and functional design of organizational information technology solutions. They examine conceptual modeling, design patterns, and application frameworks. Students learn the basics of modeling, design representations, and the use of design tools. Through discussion with their peers, students confer and debate over the different approaches to systems design, security aspects of interfaces, and documentation. Students work toward gaining collaborative and critical-thinking skills through group projects focusing on the specifics of system design, including planning and implementation. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2040.)

All types of businesses rely on systems to manage their data and to keep that data secure, accurate, and reliable. A database is a system designed to do just this as well as to simplify the processes of data entry, search, and retrieval. In this course, students learn about database management through the examination of the life cycle of a database. Students focus on the representation and manipulation of information in relational database management systems. They learn how to map real-world concepts onto relational representations and how to manipulate them through relational queries to implement data-intensive applications. They also discuss related issues, such as database storage, data validation, sorting, grouping, and nesting data. Students learn to use a core subset of the Structured Query Language (SQL) as well as the fundamentals of database administration. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

This course is an overview of human perception and cognitive performance, computer processes, and system design approaches for successful human-computer interaction. Topic include human factors, usability evaluation, and principles of interface design. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 or CMIS 3004.)

Every day, we are learning to adapt to 21st-century technology. More importantly, we are beginning to rely on it for daily needs, such as obtaining the news, shopping, communicating, banking, and full-scale education. The need for developers of static and dynamic Web pages of all kinds is in demand. In this course, students consider the many factors of developing Web applications for a specific purpose or audience, such as optimization, accessibility, and appeal. They also examine the tools and techniques needed to develop and manage these applications. Through discussions and application assignments, students explore dynamic Web page implementations, elements of client-server and server-side processing, data validation, and concurrency issues. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2010 or CMIS 2002.)

Mobile computing was developed in the early 1990’s with the introduction of laptop computers. Since then, devices have become smaller, more intuitive and assessable, and have worked their way into businesses, homes, hospitals, and children’s backpacks. The basic principles of system design for such technologies are not entirely different from larger-scale development, but designers must make different considerations and use special techniques for mobile and pervasive technologies. In this course, students examine the technical, business, legal, and sociocultural benefits and challenges of mobile devices and wireless communication technologies. Through discussion and written assignments, students explore wireless protocols and business and consumer applications, such as portable computing, communication, and multimedia devices; telemetry and monitoring systems; and context-aware services. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Insecure security systems can cause major risks and vulnerabilities for companies. Breaches in personal employee information, financial information, or company secrets can elicit the downfall of an organization. In this course, students learn the importance of such concerns as well as key concepts of computer and information security, including technical, privacy, organizational, social, and policy issues. They examine fundamental notions of authentication, authorization, and encryption. Students learn about economic and human impact issues through the analysis of case studies of security and privacy breaches. Through discussions, applications, and group projects, students also examine risk management, informal system security methods, and corporate governance. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2030.)

The process of creation, from conception through completion, is complicated and requires a diverse set of management skills. This course introduces students to the knowledge, tools, and techniques needed to successfully manage information technology (IT) projects throughout a project life cycle. Students in this course focus on the IT project management process and development of the project team as key to the successful achievement of IT projects. Students analyze the role of the project manager as an integral administrator overseeing the execution, progress, and interaction of all parties involved. Students learn the intricacies of managing projects and programs that may span multiple organizations. They engage in coursework through which they examine the project management cycle, sourcing strategy, third-party provider selection, and management of third-party providers. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050.)

In this course, students learn about the role of a network administrator, the many considerations of operating a modern system, and the tools and technologies that are available to meet the requirements and demands of an organization’s network. They explore the structure of the Internet and examine protocols, routers, and client/server architecture related to configuring network services. Students also learn about software platforms, control, shared resources, and security from a practical perspective. Through a series of virtual lab assignments, students practice administrative tasks using applications as network tools, routing, securing ports, configuring network address translations, and confirming reconfigurations. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

Evaluation of software quality depends on statistics for many functions, such as assessing the number of bugs in different software routines and evaluating the efficiency of a program. This course provides students with an introduction to statistics in assessing the quality of software. Students synthesize theory with practical applications to learn the fundamentals of statistical reasoning, use of numeric and graphical descriptive statistics, parameter estimation and inferential methods, research design, and linear regression. Students also have the opportunity to practice using a statistical software package to solve statistics problems. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2020)

Students in this course examine the systems integration approaches used by today’s information technology organizations to learn what makes them more effective, efficient, and competitive. They explore the functions of enterprise application integration (EAI) practices, middleware models, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) integration challenges, service-oriented architecture (SOA), and integration using cloud computing. Through a hands-on approach, students learn to solve an integration problem by designing an appropriate architecture. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2050 and ITEC 2080.)

Developers have to keep usability, accessibility, and cross-device compatibility in mind when creating applications for multiple platforms. In this course, students examine the critical elements of the development life cycle of these applications, including visual design, information architecture design, and interaction design as well as the work-products that developers produce. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2080.)

Designers strive to optimize the interaction between the user and the system to create a smooth and productive user experience. Students in this course focus on the particular challenges of creating user-centered mobile applications. They also investigate the design process deliverables used to communicate with clients, technical leads, and stakeholders. (Prerequisites: ITEC 2070.)

Successful mobile Web applications have interfaces that support effective interactions and inspire user allegiance. In this course, students create highly interactive and attractive interfaces for applications. In the context of a specific interface design scenario, students analyze data, choose appropriate tools, and design a solution. (Prerequisites: ITEC 4501.)

Building mobile applications that operate on a variety of devices poses a unique set of challenges that developers must consider and address at each stage of the development life cycle. In this course, students develop applications that run on a mobile platform. (Prerequisites: ITEC 4502.)

The synergistic bond between technology and culture has existed from the beginning of civilization with the invention of simple tools to stay warm and store goods, to more complex, contemporary inventions, such as computers. This relationship is vital to our existence, but also warrants both social and ethical consideration, monitoring, and regulation. In this course, students examine the relationship between information technologies and core social concerns, such as privacy, democracy, equity, security, economic progress, and intellectual property rights. Using relevant articles and classic literature in the field, students evaluate existing and emerging technologies taking into account the social, ethical, and legal considerations inherent in the design and use of these technologies. (Prerequisites: ITEC 1020.)

In this capstone course, students review the work they have collected in their portfolios and reflect on their educational experience. They revisit the career priorities they expressed upon entry into the program and consider their professional goals in the context of their education. They also develop plans for continued learning and career development in the context of their personal objectives and priorities.

In this capstone project course, students complete an integrative IT project that combines multiple aspects of their information technology program. The project requires collaboration with a team of students to manage, analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based information system. The system development process is initiated with a case study included within the course structure. Students will develop a project charter that will guide them through the discovery of functional and nonfunctional requirements, the creation of a system design based on those requirements, and the development and testing of a functional computer application. Students will develop a management presentation to describe the project design and justify the continuation of the project. The implementation of the final project will require students to draw on their technical concentration-based knowledge of information security and assurance, networking, database design, interface design, and website design.