Freshman Orientation

Welcome!Bachelor of Science

Information Technology

Your Success

1. IST Website2. Manage Your Time3. Location, Location, Location4. Advising5. Seeking Assistance6. What to Take7. Concentrations8. Important Policies9. General Information10. What to Fill Out Today11. Stay Connected with IST

IST Website

Most of what you need to know about our program is available on

the IST Website:

http://ist.gmu.edu/

Manage Your Time

• Each course will require several hours of work per week - beyond time for lectures and labs.

• Full Time ≥12 credits• Most students take 4-5 courses• >5 courses requires excellent GPA

• Be realistic about courses you can complete, especially if you are working fulltime or have other responsibilities.

Location, Location, Location

• BSIT program is based at the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas

• Non-IT courses & 100 – 200 level IT courses are offered at the Fairfax Campus

• 300 – 400 level IT courses are only offered at the Science and Technology Campus

• Mason Shuttle is the quickest way to travel between campuses• http://shuttle.gmu.edu

Advising

• Full-time faculty members in IST are advisors.• Plus, two full-time advisors:

• Mrs. Cheryl Howe (chowe1@gmu.edu)– Fairfax Campus, Nguyen Engineering

Building, rm. 5400• Ms. Krystal Dains (kdains@gmu.edu)

– Science and Technology Campus, Bull Run Hall, rm. 102E

• VSE students are required to meet with an advisor each semester• http://ist.gmu.edu/advising/appointments

Seeking Assistance

• Having trouble in a course? There are a number of resources that can help you succeed:• First, and most importantly, stay in contact with the instructor of

the course. They are there to help you.• If there is a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) assigned to the

course, reach out to them. They are also there to help you.• Seek out a peer mentor from GMU STARS Alliance Organization,

which offers tutoring in a number of IT courses.• Seek out a tutor from VSE Peer Advising, which offers tutoring in

a number of IT courses.• More info:

http://ist.gmu.edu/students/current-students/tutoring-office-hours/

What to Take: Program Overview

• Our program is divided into 7 areas:• Mason Core Requirements• Foundation Courses• Core Courses• Capstone Courses• Concentration Courses• Other Required Courses• Electives

• 120 credits needed to graduate, including 45 upper-division hours.• In general, take courses in order of level: 100, then 200, then 300,

then 400.• For IT courses, begin with Foundation and Core followed by

Concentration and Capstone.• Always check prerequisite requirements.

• Prerequisites are tied to the academic year when the course is taught, not your catalog year!

• http://ist.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/IT_Prerequisites.pdf• Need more info about a course? View the syllabus on our website:

http://ist.gmu.edu/students/current-students/course-syllabi/

What to Take: Your First Year

First SemesterCredi

tsSecond Semester

Credits

ENGH 101- Composition 3 Nonlab Natural Science 3

HIST 100- History of Western Civilization 3 Literature 3

IT 104- Introduction to Computing 3 COMM 100- Public Speaking 3

IT 105- IT Architecture Fundamentals 3 IT 106- Introduction to IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming

3

MATH 108- Introductory Calculus w/ Business Applications

3 IT 102- Discrete Structures 3

Total Hours 15 Total Hours 15

What to Take: Important Course

Sequences

Concentrations

IT majors select one of six Concentrations:

DTP Database Technology & Programming HIT Health IT INFS Information Security ITE Information Technology Entrepreneurship NTEL Networking and Telecommunications WDM Web Development and Multimedia

You will make this selection during IT 293: Junior Transition

Important Policies

Grades• All students:

• C or better in any course that is a prerequisite for another course

• 2015-2016 Catalog Year (most of you!)• C or better in foundation, core, capstone, and concentration

courses • Major GPA of 2.75 or higher in order to graduate

• View catalog year requirements at catalog.gmu.edu

Repeating Courses:• If you are unsuccessful at a course twice, you need prior approval to

make a third attempt.• If you are unsuccessful at the third attempt, you will be

terminated from the major.

Pros to Cheating• Get past a tough

assignment• Don't have to do

the work

Cons to Cheating• Not learning the material you paid to learn• Risk poor performance on exams

• If you do not know the material, the exams will be tough

• Risk an Honor Code violation• Violations appear on your record and are caught by

background checks (e.g. security clearance)• Risk forced completion of an academic integrity

seminar• Cost of ~$100 and your time

• Risk an F in the course• Cost of ~$1300 (in-state tuition) to retake the class, a

delay in graduation, and a lowered GPA• Risk academic suspension

• Delay in graduation and a notation on your transcript• Risk expulsion

• All of your time and money to date would be for naught

Is Cheating Worth Its Cost?

General Information

•This semester’s class schedule may be ugly!

•Register at your first opportunity; classes fill quickly.

•Plan for traffic and parking in the Fairfax area, and for travelling between campuses.

What to Fill Out Today

• Attendance Sheet (Name and G#)

• Class wish list and alternatives

Welcome to your future at Mason!

Stay Connected with IST!

http://ist.gmu.edu

http://linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=5136040

http://gmuist.tumblr.com

http://instagram.com/gmuist

http://facebook.com/gmuist

http://twitter.com/gmuist