Transfer Orientation

Bachelor of ScienceInformation Technology

Welcome!

Your Success

1. IST Website2. Manage Your Time3. Location, Location, Location4. Advising5. Seeking Assistance6. Transfer Credit7. What to Take8. Concentrations9. Important Policies10. General Information11. Stay Connected with IST

IST Website

Most of what you need to know about IT 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/go/advising

Seeking Assistance

• Having trouble in a course? There are a number of resources that can help you succeed:• 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. • 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/go/tutoring

VCCS Guaranteed Admissions Agreement

• Earned AA or AS from VCCS• GPA = 2.85 or better at application and

graduation• http://admissions.gmu.edu/transfer/gaa.asp

• If you meet all requirements, receive a waiver of lower-level Mason Core requirements• Important to make sure final transcript is

recorded! No final transcript = no Mason Core waiver

Transfer Credits

• ONE year before transfer credits are set in stone. • Take care of issues now. There is no grace

period.• Review Transfer Evaluation

• If you are missing courses: Transfer Credit Inquiry Form

• If you want direct credit for a transfer elective: Transfer Credit Reevaluation Appeal.

admissions.gmu.edu/transfer/transferCreditEvaluation.asp

Bridge Courses

• For students who have similar transfer coursework.

• 1 credit, self-paced, online. Required in-person final exam.

• If passed, receive credit for GMU equivalent course.

• Offered in summer and winter only.– http://ist.gmu.edu/go/bridge-courses

Transfer

Course+

Bridge

Course

=GMU

Course

ITE 115 + IT 191 = IT 104

ITP 120 + IT 196 = IT 106

ITE 170 + IT 193 = IT 213

ITD 256 + IT 194 = IT 214

ORTake IT 104, 106, 213, 214 when you arrive at Mason

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/go/prereq

• Need more info about a course? View the syllabus on our website:• http://ist.gmu.edu/go/syllabi

Important Course Sequences

Overrides

• Sometimes, PatriotWeb will not recognize your transfer credits, substitutions, or waivers

• Follow the Registration Errors/Override link on the IST homepage

• Submit requests for IT and SYST 469 courses only– Be sure you meet the prerequisites BEFORE

submitting• Math overrides for MATH 108 and MATH

125: camaya@gmu.edu• We do not overload courses

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.

Advising Today

• Meet with an advisor today• Individualized advising sheets available

• Schedule an appointment if you need more time• http://ist.gmu.edu/go/advising

Stay Connected with IST!

http://ist.gmu.edu

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