Cybersecurity - A.A.B.

Launch your career in cybersecurity with Kent State's program. Gain the skills needed to protect against cyber threats and secure networks in today's digital world.

Program Information for Cybersecurity - A.A.B.

Program Description

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Business in Cybersecurity delivers an applied foundation in protecting information assets and business operations. Students learn to analyze threats, assess risk, conduct security testing and monitoring, and support enterprise risk management. Building on core IT knowledge in networking, hardware and operating systems, the curriculum adds project management and collaboration for incident workflows and introductory database skills for data-driven investigations. Students are introduced to artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted workflows, including responsible use of AI for log triage, reporting and documentation, with attention to privacy, bias and verification. Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles in security operations and IT support with a security emphasis.

The degree program articulates with Kent State's Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.

Admissions for Cybersecurity - A.A.B.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Apply core cybersecurity principles and tools to protect information assets and IT infrastructure in real-world organizational contexts.
  2. Identify, analyze and mitigate security risks and vulnerabilities in organizational environments using appropriate methods, frameworks and industry standards.
  3. Display professional, legal and ethical behavior in cybersecurity practice while communicating technical information clearly to diverse audiences and collaborating with team members.
  4. Exhibit career readiness by curating a small portfolio of cybersecurity artifacts and brief reflections that connect coursework to workplace roles and skills.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 11004SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11005INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11009COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 13000APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS 3
IT 15000FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21002NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 21003SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS 3
or IT 21007 CYBER ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT 21004INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21009SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21015PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21110NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING 3
IT 21200ETHICAL HACKING 3
IT 21300INTRODUCTION TO SECURITY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT 3
IT 23000INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEM SECURITY 3
IT 24000DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SECURITY POLICIES 3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition3
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts3
Kent Core Social Sciences3
Kent Core Basic Sciences3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:61

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
IT 11004 SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11005 INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
IT 11009 COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 13000 APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS 3
IT 15000 FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21003
or IT 21007
 SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS
or CYBER ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
3
IT 21004 INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
IT 21002 NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 21015 PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21300 INTRODUCTION TO SECURITY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT 3
IT 23000 INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEM SECURITY 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
IT 21009 SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21110 NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING 3
IT 21200 ETHICAL HACKING 3
IT 24000 DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SECURITY POLICIES 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:61

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • ​Fully online

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Cybersecurity - A.A.B.

Examples of Possible Careers

Information security analysts

  • 28.5% much faster than the average
  • 182,800 number of jobs
  • $124,910 potential earnings

Additional Careers

  • Cybersecurity Technician
  • Incident Response Specialist
  • Network Security Administrator
  • Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst 

* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

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Information Technology - B.S.I.T.

Join the fast-growing field of IT with Kent State's B.S.I.T. program. This program equips you with the skills needed to succeed in a range of IT roles, from software engineering to data analytics. With hands-on experience and expert faculty, you'll be well-prepared for a successful career.

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Program Information for Information Technology - B.S.I.T.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology provides an applied, hands-on education focused on supporting end users and organizations across a variety of workplace settings. Students learn to administer computing and network infrastructures; develop desktop, web and mobile applications; integrate databases and data-driven interfaces; and build and deploy solutions in modern cloud environments. Foundational coursework includes project management and collaboration practices and an introduction to relational databases. Across the curriculum, students also learn when and how to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools responsibly for tasks like code assistance, documentation, testing, data analysis and troubleshooting.

Graduates are prepared for roles across business, education, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, and government, including web or software developer; systems, network or cloud administrator; cybersecurity or digital forensics analyst; database administrator; IT support specialist or consultant; and IT project coordinator or manager.

The Information Technology major offers concentrations in Application Development, Cloud and Virtualization Technologies, Cybersecurity and Forensics, Database Design and Administration, Health Information Technology, Integrated Information Technology, Networking (including systems administration) and Web Development.

The Information Technology major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Application Development concentration prepares students to design and build software for desktop, web, and mobile; apply testing and deployment practices; incorporate AI thoughtfully for code review, refactoring and documentation.
  • The Cloud and Virtualization Technologies concentration prepares students to plan, deploy, and administer virtualized and cloud resources; use automation and scripting; learn when to apply AI for documentation and capacity insights.
  • The Cybersecurity and Forensics concentration prepares students to secure systems and networks and support digital investigations; practice incident response and evidence handling; leverage AI carefully for monitoring, logging, triage and reporting.
  • The Database Design and Administration concentration prepares students to design, implement, secure, and administer relational databases; write SQL for queries and reporting; explore AI-assisted query drafting and documentation with verification.
  • The Health Information Technology concentration prepares students to manage and secure IT systems in healthcare environments, including EHR support and compliance; discuss responsible AI uses in documentation and data review with privacy safeguards.
  • The Integrated Information Technology concentration allows students to create a flexible plan spanning multiple IT domains tailored to career goals; encourages cross-functional projects and measured use of AI tools across disciplines.
  • The Networking concentration prepares students to plan, configure, and maintain network infrastructures across on-prem and cloud; practice systems administration, identity, and security hardening; introduce AI-assisted monitoring where appropriate.
  • The Web Development concentration prepares students to create dynamic, data-driven web applications with client- and server-side frameworks, APIs and deployment practices; evaluate AI for design ideation, code review and content drafts.

Admissions for Information Technology - B.S.I.T.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Analyze emerging and existing information technologies and design integrated IT solutions that address individual, organizational, and societal needs.
  2. Manage and optimize IT infrastructures, applications, and services to meet requirements for performance, reliability, security, and scalability.
  3. Communicate and collaborate effectively as a member or leader of multidisciplinary teams, using appropriate documentation, standards, and project management practices to deliver IT initiatives.
  4. Apply professional, ethical, legal, and social principles, and engage in research and lifelong learning, to guide the responsible adoption, governance, and evaluation of information technologies.
  5. Exhibit career readiness by curating a professional portfolio of authentic IT artifacts, experiential learning evidence, and reflections that showcase technical proficiency, impact, and readiness for employment or advancement.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 11004SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11005INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11006INTRODUCTION TO WEB SITE TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11009COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 12000INTERMEDIATE OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPS 3
IT 13000APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS 3
IT 15000FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21002NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 21003SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS 3
IT 21004INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21007CYBER ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21009SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21015PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 36314SEMINAR IN EMERGING COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES 3
IT 36319GENERATIVE AI AND ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (WIC) (min C grade) 33
IT 36339CLOUD AND VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 42000SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY 3
TAS 37900TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CORNERSTONE 3
TAS 47999TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) (WIC) 13
Additional Program Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
American Civic Literacy Requirement 43
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)6-9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)3-6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 2, 52
Concentrations
Choose from the following:24
Application Development
Cloud and Virtualization Technologies
Cybersecurity and Forensics
Database Design and Administration
Health Information Technology
Integrated Information Technology
Networking
Web Development
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Minimum C grade required to satisfy the writing-intensive requirement.

2

Students may earn up to 6 credits for IT 21095. 

3

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

4

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

5

IT 36095 may be repeated for credit when the topic changes.

Application Development Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 20030VISUAL AND OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21006DATABASE PROGRAMMING 3
IT 30000PYTHON PROGRAMMING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 36308ERGONOMICS AND USABILITY IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 46309ASP.NET WEB PROGRAMMING 3
or IT 46315 SQL AND RELATIONAL DATABASES
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:9
IT 36304
C++ PROGRAMMING
IT 36305
C# PROGRAMMING
IT 36306
JAVA PROGRAMMING
IT 36309
PROGRAMMING MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Cloud and Virtualization Technologies Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 36330NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS 3
IT 36355COMMAND LINE UTILITIES 3
IT 38000AI IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY 3
or IT 38001 CYBER WARFARE
IT 40000CYBERSECURITY 3
IT 41002CLOUD TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 46302IT SERVER AND NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES 3
IT 46313VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION 3
IT 46331NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Cybersecurity and Forensics Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 21200ETHICAL HACKING 3
IT 36320COMPUTER FORENSICS 3
IT 36321DIGITAL AND NETWORK FORENSICS 3
IT 36330NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS 3
IT 38000AI IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY 3
IT 38001CYBER WARFARE 3
IT 40000CYBERSECURITY 3
IT 46331NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Database Design and Administration Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 21006DATABASE PROGRAMMING 3
IT 36350PROGRAMMING OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPLICATIONS 3
IT 46315SQL AND RELATIONAL DATABASES 3
IT 46340DATA DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION 3
IT 46350DATABASE ADMINISTRATION AND REPORTING TOOLS 3
IT 36330NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS 3
Concentration Elective, choose from the following:6
IT 36308
ERGONOMICS AND USABILITY IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT 36396
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT 38000
AI IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY
IT 38001
CYBER WARFARE
IT 41002
CLOUD TECHNOLOGY
IT 43000
HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS
IT 46309
ASP.NET WEB PROGRAMMING
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Health Information Technology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 31002HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT 3
IT 36330NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS 3
IT 41010USING MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 43000HEALTHCARE INFORMATION SYSTEMS 3
IT 46331NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS 3
IT 40000CYBERSECURITY 3
IT 41002CLOUD TECHNOLOGY 3
Concentration Elective, choose from the following:3
IT 36396
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1
IT 46302
IT SERVER AND NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES
IT 46313
VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION
IT 46340
DATA DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24
1

Students may repeat IT 36396 for a maximum of 6 credit hours toward the concentration.

Integrated Information Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 41010USING MOBILE APPLICATIONS FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
Information Technology (IT) Electives21
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Networking Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 21110NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING 3
IT 36330NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS 3
IT 36355COMMAND LINE UTILITIES 3
IT 40000CYBERSECURITY 3
IT 38000AI IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY 3
or IT 38001 CYBER WARFARE
IT 46302IT SERVER AND NETWORK TECHNOLOGIES 3
IT 46313VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION 3
IT 46331NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24
1

Students may repeat IT 36396 for a maximum of 6 credit hours toward the concentration.

Web Development Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 21006DATABASE PROGRAMMING 3
IT 21011TECHNIQUES OF MULTIMEDIA WEB DESIGN 3
IT 36303DIGITAL IMAGE EDITING 3
IT 36309PROGRAMMING MOBILE APPLICATIONS 3
IT 36308ERGONOMICS AND USABILITY IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 46303DIGITAL VIDEO EDITING 3
IT 46309ASP.NET WEB PROGRAMMING 3
IT 46315SQL AND RELATIONAL DATABASES 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Students may declare more than one concentration in the Information Technology major, provided that they complete minimum 12 credit hours of coursework unique to each concentration.
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
IT 11004 SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11005 INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 12000 INTERMEDIATE OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPS 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
American Civic Literacy Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
IT 11009 COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 13000 APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS 3
IT 15000 FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21004 INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
IT 11006 INTRODUCTION TO WEB SITE TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21002 NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 21003 SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS 3
IT 21007 CYBER ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21015 PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
IT 21009 SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 36319 GENERATIVE AI AND ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (WIC) 3
Concentration Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
TAS 37900 TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CORNERSTONE 3
Concentration Requirement 6
Kent Core Requirement 6
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
IT 36339 CLOUD AND VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
Concentration Requirements 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
IT 42000 SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY 3
Concentration Requirement 6
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
IT 36314 SEMINAR IN EMERGING COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES 3
TAS 47999 TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) (WIC) 3
Concentration Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Information Technology - B.S.I.T.

Database administrators

-0.7%

little or no change

78,000

number of jobs

$104,620

potential earnings

Network and computer systems administrators

-4.2%

decline

331,500

number of jobs

$96,800

potential earnings

Software developers

15.8%

much faster than the average

1,693,800

number of jobs

$133,080

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Cloud solutions architect
  • Information security analyst
Concentration-specific careers
  • Application Development
    • ​Full-stack developer
    • Mobile application developer
  • Cloud Visualization Technologies
    • Cloud engineer
    • Virtualization administrator
  • Cybersecurity and Forensics
    • Digital forensics analyst
    • Security consultant
  • Database Design and Administration
    • Data analyst
    • Business intelligence developer
  • Health Information Technology
    • Electronic health records (EHR) manager
    • Health IT specialist
  • Integrated Information Technology
    • IT project manager
    • Systems analyst
  • Networking
    • ​Infrastructure manager
    • Network engineer
  • Web Development
    • Front-end engineer
    • UI/UX designer
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Information Technology - A.A.B.

Advance your career in IT with Kent State's A.A.B. in Information Technology. With a blend of technical and business skills, this program prepares you for a range of IT roles. From cybersecurity to software development, the Information Technology program has you covered. Enroll now and take the first step towards a rewarding career.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule a Visit
Find All Majors

Program Information for Information Technology - A.A.B.

Program Description

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Business in Information Technology provides a core foundation in programming, operating systems and networking, web development, hardware, security fundamentals, project management and collaboration and introductory database concepts. Courses introduce appropriate uses of artificial intelligence (AI) for productivity and learning support, such as code and content assistance, documentation and basic analytics, with an emphasis on ethics and accuracy. The major offers concentrations in Application Development Technology, General Technology, Network Technology (with systems administration) and Web Development.

The degree program articulates to the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree and the certificate in Computer Forensics and Information Security.

The Information Technology major comprises the following concentrations:

  • The Application Development technology concentration prepares students to design and build software using industry-standard languages and tools; introduces responsible use of AI for code suggestions, tests and documentation.
  • The General Technology concentration allows students to create a broad, multi-domain skill set in hardware, operating systems, networking, web fundamentals, teamwork and customer support, with selective use of AI for troubleshooting and documentation.
  • The Network Technology concentration prepares students to install, configure, secure, and troubleshoot networked systems; practice systems administration and identity services; explore AI-assisted monitoring and ticket notes where appropriate.
  • The Web Development concentration prepares students to build modern, user-friendly websites and basic web applications with attention to accessibility and data integration; responsibly use AI for wireframes, content drafts and test cases.

Admissions for Information Technology - A.A.B.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Apply core IT concepts and skills in areas such as networking, operating systems, databases and application development to analyze and solve real-world technical problems.
  2. Communicate and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams, interpreting and presenting technical information clearly to technical and nontechnical audiences using appropriate tools.
  3. Display professional, ethical, legal, and business-aware practice by evaluating new technologies, using basic project management approaches and supporting organizational goals.
  4. Exhibit career readiness by assembling a portfolio of representative IT artifacts and reflections that connect academic work to workplace expectations and future study.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 11004SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11005INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11006INTRODUCTION TO WEB SITE TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11009COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 12000INTERMEDIATE OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPS 3
IT 13000APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS 3
IT 15000FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21002NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 21003SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS 3
or IT 21007 CYBER ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT 21004INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21009SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21015PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition3
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts3
Kent Core Social Sciences3
Kent Core Basic Sciences3
Concentrations
Choose from the following:9
Application Development Technology
General Technology
Network Technology
Web Development
Minimum Total Credit Hours:61

Application Development Technology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 20030VISUAL AND OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21006DATABASE PROGRAMMING 3
IT 21037WEB SCRIPTING 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:9

General Technology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
Information Technology (IT) Electives9
Minimum Total Credit Hours:9

Network Technology Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
Information Technology (IT) Elective3
Concentration Electives, choose from the following:6
IT 21100
NETWORK TROUBLESHOOTING
IT 21110
NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING
IT 21200
ETHICAL HACKING
Minimum Total Credit Hours:9

Web Development Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
IT 21006DATABASE PROGRAMMING 3
IT 21011TECHNIQUES OF MULTIMEDIA WEB DESIGN 3
IT 21037WEB SCRIPTING 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:9

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
!IT 11004 SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
!IT 11005 INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 12000 INTERMEDIATE OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY APPS 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
!IT 11009 COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 13000 APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS 3
IT 15000 FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21003
or IT 21007
 SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS
or CYBER ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
3
IT 21004 INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
IT 11006 INTRODUCTION TO WEB SITE TECHNOLOGY 3
!IT 21002 NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 21015 PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
Concentration Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
!IT 21009 SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
Concentration Requirement 3
Concentration Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:61

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Information Technology - A.A.B.

Examples of Possible Careers

Computer user support specialists

  • -3.7% decline
  • 729,500 number of jobs
  • $60,340 potential earnings

Computer network support specialists

  • 1.8% slower than the average
  • 152,700 number of jobs
  • $73,340 potential earnings

Web developers

  • 7.5% faster than the average
  • 86,000 number of jobs
  • $90,930 potential earnings

Additional careers

  • Database support technician
  • IT support specialist

Concentration-specific careers

  • Application Development Technology
    • Application support analyst
    • Junior software developer
  • Network Technology
    • Network support specialist
    • Systems administrator
  • Web Development
    • Front-end developer
    • Web content manager

* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Individualized Program - A.T.S

The Associate of Technical Study degree, Individualized Program, is open to students who need a specially designed course of study in a technical field. The program consists of courses that suit students' career goals. Course requirements are planned with the help of a faculty advisor and must be approved by the dean of the College of Applied and Technical Studies.

Program Information for Individualized Program - A.T.S

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Multi-modal communication: Participate in effective written, oral and digital communication skills in multiple contexts, for a variety of audiences.
  2. Cultural awareness: Develop self-awareness about identity, culture, perspectives and respect for differences.
  3. Applied integration: Integrate applied skills with academic knowledge in core or elective courses that enhance the preparation and implementation of student career goals in the chosen field of focus or study.

Admissions for Individualized Program - A.T.S

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

This degree program may not be earned as a double major or dual degree with another major and cannot be earned as an additional degree after another degree at the same or higher level has been earned previously.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
Course Requirements Approved by Faculty Advisor and College Dean30
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition3
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts3
Kent Core Social Sciences3
Kent Core Basic Sciences3
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 60 credits hour)14
Minimum Total Credit Hours:60

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Students must ​successfully complete 15 credit hours of graded Kent State coursework required for the A.T.S. degree before receiving any college credit for industry recognized licensures, certifications or diplomas.
Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
    • Mostly online
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • East Liverpool Campus
    • Geauga Campus
    • Salem Campus
    • Stark Campus
    • Trumbull Campus
    • Tuscarawas Campus
    • Twinsburg Academic Center

Alumnus Spotlight: 2025 Early Career Achievement Award

2025 Kent Geauga Dean Spalsbury and Alumnus Ben Wilcox

At the close of every academic year, Kent State University at Geauga honors a recent alum with the Early Career Achievement Award. This distinction honors a strong leader who shows continued potential in their chosen field, with commitment to the community and university.During the 2025 commencement ceremonies in May, Dean Angela Spalsbury presented this award to 2020 graduate Benjamin Wilcox. She said, “Ben is one of many successful alumni from our campus, and his journey is a powerful example of dedication, service, and perseverance. As a veteran, college graduate, and now a police officer, ...

Top of the Class at Kent State Salem

Kent State University at Salem

Denise A. Seachrist, Ph.D., dean of Kent State University at Salem, announced those students named to the Spring 2025 President’s and Dean’s lists. To qualify for the President’s List, students must have a 4.0 grade point average and must have completed 15 hours during the semester. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must earn a 3.40 or greater grade point average and must have completed 12 or more credit hours for the semester, the majority at the Salem Campus. The students and their hometowns are:President’s ListAustinburg:Chad RichterBarberton:Alana StultsCanfield:Hannah GettemyC...

Brewing Technology - Undergraduate Certificate

The Brewing Technology undergraduate certificate provides students with the practical experience and the technology skills of brewing. The certificate emphasizes the science of brewing and includes hands-on field experience and laboratory work at local breweries.

Program Information for Brewing Technology - Undergraduate Certificate

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Produce beer according to commercial industry standards.
  2. Perform chemical analysis of beer.
  3. Perform lab tests to identify microbiological components of yeast and beer, troubleshooting potential quality and sanitation issues.
  4. Analyze sensory characteristics of beer.
  5. Use commercial brewing equipment.
  6. Communicate effectively with professionals in the brewing industry.

Admissions for Brewing Technology - Undergraduate Certificate

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

NOTE: Certain courses in the certificate require students to be at least 21 years old.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
ENOL 12000SCIENCE OF WINE AND BEER PRODUCTION I 3
ENOL 22000SCIENCE OF WINE AND BEER PRODUCTION II 2
ENOL 22001ADVANCED WINERY AND BREWERY MICROBIOLOGY AND SANITATION 4
VIN 11800INTRODUCTION TO BREWING 3
VIN 14000INTERMEDIATE BREWING 3
VIN 24000SENSORY EVALUATION OF BEER 3
VIN 28992BREWERY PRODUCTION FIELD EXPERIENCE (ELR) 2
Minimum Total Credit Hours:20

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
ENOL 12000 SCIENCE OF WINE AND BEER PRODUCTION I 3
VIN 11800 INTRODUCTION TO BREWING 3
 Credit Hours6
Semester Two
ENOL 22000 SCIENCE OF WINE AND BEER PRODUCTION II 2
ENOL 22001 ADVANCED WINERY AND BREWERY MICROBIOLOGY AND SANITATION 4
 Credit Hours6
Semester Three
VIN 14000 INTERMEDIATE BREWING 3
VIN 24000 SENSORY EVALUATION OF BEER 3
 Credit Hours6
Semester Four
VIN 28992 BREWERY PRODUCTION FIELD EXPERIENCE (ELR) 2
 Credit Hours2
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:20

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Brewing Technology - Undergraduate Certificate

Food science technicians

4.8%

about as fast as the average

20,400

number of jobs

$49,430

potential earnings

Separating, filtering, clarifying, precipitating, and still machine setters, operators, and tenders

-4.3%

decline

54,400

number of jobs

$49,500

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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