Penn State Wilkes-Barre is not currently enrolling new students. Current students can get assistance through academic advising, degree planning, and career advising.
What is IST?
Penn State Wilkes-Barre’s Information Sciences and Technology (IST) associate (two-year) degree program provides an environment for learning and research focused on the integration of people, information, and technology. In today’s fast-changing digital economy, you need to know more than just the basics of operating a computer or coding software. To be successful in the workplace, today’s student must also understand the relationship between technology, society, and business in order to know how, when, and where information technology should be applied.
Computer Science, MIS, or Computer Engineering programs focus on building computer hardware and software. In IST, these disciplines are combined to form a strong technical foundation, providing students with a hands-on experience using today’s computer systems. Unlike other IT programs, these skills are just the beginning.
Moving beyond technical know-how, the IST curriculum provides students with the ability to see the big picture, to know what technology is appropriate for a particular situation and to know how to implement the solution. The IST program creates highly skilled leaders that are sought after everywhere in the global digital economy — from the board room to the computer room, from government to Fortune 500 firms.
IST faculty focus on leadership and management, interpersonal relationships, problem solving, communication, foreign cultures, and teamwork. They engage students through discussions, exercises, and visiting speakers. The instructors focus on problem-based learning: the kind of tasks a professional might face in the corporate world.
The major fosters communications, interpersonal, and group interaction skills through appropriate collaborative and active learning projects and experiences. Technical material covers the structure of database systems, web and multi-media systems, and considerations in the design of information systems. Team projects in most courses, a required internship, and a second year capstone experience provide additional, focused venues for involving students in the cutting-edge issues and technologies in the field.
Program Options
The Wilkes-Barre IST department offers two options in the associate degree program, one that allows a customized course of study, and the other that can be completed while working towards an IST bachelor’s degree.
Each option is described below, along with a link to an option-specific checksheet (a semester-by-semester listing of the courses needed to complete the option). For complete Associate Degree options and course descriptions, please view the program’s suggested academic plan. Course descriptions of the non-IST courses listed in the Associate Degree Roadmap can be found in the Online Penn State Bluebook.
Individual Option
While our associate degree options have been designed with great care, you may not find one that exactly suits your individual goals. This option allows you to work closely with an adviser to develop a plan of study that meets the dual objective of allowing a flexible academic program and providing breadth of technical specialization. An example would be a program where a student would take some of the courses listed in the Network Option and the remainder in the Software Option. The PDF semester plan for the Individual Option can be found in the right-hand column.
Baccalaureate Option
This option was created to allow you to complete an associate degree in information sciences and technology while at the same time completing requirements so that you can easily continue your studies toward an IST bachelor's degree at another campus. Completing this option allows you to fulfill all the lower division requirements for your bachelor’s.
Where can I get more information?
If you need more information, please contact Dr. Wei-Fan Chen ([email protected], 570-675-9142).