Congratulations to all of the students from the Department of Psychological Sciences who participated in the annual Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors at Kent State University. We had a great showing, with 29 Psychology majors and 20 Neuroscience majors participating!...

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel meets with the Flying Flashes Air Race Classic teams from Kent State.

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel toured Kent State University’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering on June 12, seeing firsthand how the university is educating students for critically needed jobs in the aviation and engineering fields.Tressel began his visit with a tour of the Kent State University Airport and was on hand to meet this year’s Flying Flashes Air Race Classic competitors as they were about to depart for Alabama, the starting point for this year’s four-day race to Spokane, Washington. A Kent State team has won the competition for the past three years.  Tressel, who previous...

Medical Assisting - Undergraduate Certificate

The Medical Assisting undergraduate certificate provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this fast-growing field. The program blends flexible online coursework with in-person laboratory training and supervised clinical experiences, ensuring you build both strong foundational knowledge and practical, hands-on skills. With experienced faculty, hands-on training and a focus on real-world applications, you'll be prepared for a rewarding career as a medical assistant. Enroll now and take the first step toward a brighter future in healthcare.

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Program Information for Medical Assisting - Undergraduate Certificate

Program Description

Full Description

The Medical Assisting undergraduate certificate prepares graduates to gain knowledge needed for the national certification examinations. Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. They perform administrative and clinical duties in addition to serving as a patient liaison and a member of the Patient-Centered Medical Home team.

The program is delivered in a blended format, combining asynchronous and synchronous online learning with traditional in-person laboratory practice, competency validation and supervised practicum experiences, consistent with CAAHEP accreditation standards. This blended delivery approach integrates online didactic coursework with hands-on laboratory instruction and supervised clinical experiences to ensure students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

The certificate's curriculum is guided by national standards and covers 12 content areas: anatomy and physiology, applied mathematics, infection control, nutrition, communication, administrative functions, basic practices finances, third-party reimbursement, procedural and diagnostic coding, legal implications, ethical considerations and protective practices.

Admissions for Medical Assisting - 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.

Transfer students or current Kent State students declaring the program must have a minimum 2.000 GPA for admission.

Prior to acceptance into the program, each applicant must meet with the program director to review program prerequisites and requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Identify, administer and document medications safely utilizing the six rights.
  2. Collect and process and diagnostic specimens with appropriate documentation and follow up.
  3. Apply current up-to-date quality control and safety principles in the workplace.
  4. Skillfully perform and document routine clinical procedures.
  5. Perform and document routine administrative procedures.
  6. Effectively utilize verbal, nonverbal and written communication principles and skills in the workplace.
  7. Maintain ethical and legal standards and maintain confidentiality and patient privacy.
  8. Communicate with professionalism in the medical assistant role and function as a valued member of the health care team.
  9. Effectively utilize the electronic health record for documentation and insurance purposes.
  10. Identify medical law and regulatory guidelines as it pertains to the ambulatory setting.

Coursework

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements (min C grade in all courses)
AHS 24010MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 1
or IHS 14020 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
BSCI 10001HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) 3
or BSCI 11010 FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB)
MA 10001FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDICAL ASSISTING 1
MA 10002MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10003PHLEBOTOMY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10004ELECTROCARDIOGRAM FUNDAMENTALS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10005BASIC CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING PROCEDURES 3
MA 10006REIMBURSEMENT FOR PHYSICIAN SERVICES 3
MA 10007ADVANCED CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING 4
MA 10092MEDICAL ASSISTING PRACTICUM (ELR) 13
OTEC 26635ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24
1

Students must be 18 years old or older prior to enrolling in the clinical practicum experience course.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum C grade required in all courses.
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
AHS 24010
or IHS 14020
MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
or MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
1
BSCI 10001
or BSCI 11010
HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS)
or FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB)
3
 Credit Hours4
Semester Two
MA 10001 FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDICAL ASSISTING 1
MA 10002 MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10003 PHLEBOTOMY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10004 ELECTROCARDIOGRAM FUNDAMENTALS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10005 BASIC CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING PROCEDURES 3
OTEC 26635 ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 3
 Credit Hours10
Semester Three
MA 10006 REIMBURSEMENT FOR PHYSICIAN SERVICES 3
MA 10007 ADVANCED CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING 4
MA 10092 MEDICAL ASSISTING PRACTICUM (ELR) 3
 Credit Hours10
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • Geauga Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Medical Assisting - Undergraduate Certificate

Healthcare support workers, all other

3.5%

about as fast as the average

109,700

number of jobs

$46,050

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Front desk coordinator/receptionist
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.

Early Years Education and Care - A.A.S.

The Associate of Applied Science in Early Years Education and Care prepares you to work in a variety of early childhood settings with a focus on using technology to enhance learning experiences. With hands-on experience and expert faculty, you'll gain the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic field.

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Program Information for Early Years Education and Care - A.A.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Early Years Education and Care prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to plan and implement developmentally appropriate practices as they engage with young children. Coursework focuses on the unique needs and development of infants, toddlers and preschool children. Students who wish to pursue this degree program must possess a commitment to valuing all children, regardless of ability or background. In addition, they must have the ability to work collaboratively with the child's home and community.

Graduates of the degree program are eligible to apply for pre-kindergarten licensure through the State of Ohio. Graduates will be qualified for job positions as teacher assistants, child caregivers and family child-care providers in a variety of settings; including child-care centers, early intervention programs, hospitals, Head Start programs, home-based early childhood programs, private schools and public preschool and special needs programs.

The degree program articulates to the B.S.E. degree in Early Childhood Education, from which graduates are eligible to apply for Ohio licensure to teach children in preschool to grade five. Completion of the associate degree does not guarantee admission to the bachelor's degree. Admission to the B.S.E. degree is selective.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions for Early Years Education and Care - A.A.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.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate skills in self-assessment, reflection and self-advocacy; mastery and application of foundational concepts from general education; and written and verbal communication skills.
  2. Apply prior knowledge/experience to new learning environments.
  3. Identify and use professional resources.
  4. Integrate reflective and critical self-assessment with one’s own practice in early education.
  5. Engage in informed advocacy for children and families.
  6. Describe strategies to build positive, respectful and supportive relationships with families.
  7. Support self-advocacy of the families in their communities through respectful and reciprocal relationships.
  8. Identify young children’s typical and atypical developmental characteristics and needs.
  9. Describe the multiple influences on child development and learning.
  10. Create a healthy, respectful and challenging learning environment to meet the educational needs of all students in an equitable manner so all students may achieve their full potential.
  11. Develop plans that build positive relationships and supportive interactions with children and their families.
  12. Practice positive interpersonal communication with all constituencies involved in the education, development and care of young children.
  13. Identify the goals, benefits and appropriate uses of various informal and formal assessment tools and approaches.
  14. Identify and practice responsible assessment of learning and development.
  15. Discuss the importance of core knowledge in the academic disciplines and how this relates to the education, development and care of young children.
  16. Identify ways to engage in self-reflection in continuous and purposeful professional development.
  17. Identify and uphold confidentiality, ethical standards and other professional and regulatory guidelines.
  18. Engage in ongoing and collaborative relationships to enhance one’s own learning and practice.

Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CULT 29535EDUCATION IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY (min C grade)3
ECED 10120INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES (min C grade)1
ECED 20101UNDERSTANDING YOUNG CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT (min C grade)3
ECED 30202MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN THE EARLY YEARS (min C grade)3
EPSY 29525EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY (min C grade)3
EYEC 10121EARLY YEARS FIELD PREPARATION AND TRAININGS 1
EYEC 10192PRESCHOOL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE I (ELR) 1
EYEC 20192PRESCHOOL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE II (ELR) 1
EYEC 21005COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE OF THE YOUNG CHILD (min C grade)3
EYEC 21010INFANT AND TODDLER CURRICULUM AND SERVICES (min C grade)3
EYEC 22000PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM (min C grade)3
EYEC 22130EMERGING LITERACIES (min C grade)3
EYEC 22140PRESCHOOL SEMINAR: SUPPORTING A CULTURALLY SUSTAINING PEDAGOGY (ELR) (min C grade)2
EYEC 22192PRESCHOOL STUDENT TEACHING (ELR) (min C grade) 12
SPED 23000INTRODUCTION TO EXCEPTIONALITIES (min C grade)3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 14001BASIC MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS I (KMCR) 24
MATH 14002BASIC MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS II (KMCR) 24
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition 2, 36
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts 43
Kent Core Social Sciences 43
Kent Core Basic Sciences 2,43
Minimum Total Credit Hours:62
1

Students must complete training in ALICE training, child safety training and CPR/AED before student teaching.

2

A minimum C grade in these courses is not required for the A.A.S. degree in Early Years Education and Care; however, a minimum C grade is required in these courses to earn the B.S.E. degree in Early Childhood Education.

3

3 credit hours are required for the Kent Core. This program requires a total of 6 credit hours to earn the associate degree.

4

Students continuing on to the B.S.E. in Early Childhood Education have specific Kent Core courses that are required under additional coursework. Students should meet with an advisor every semester.

Progression Requirements

Students must successfully pass ECED 10120,  ECED 20101EYEC 10121,  and the preschool block of coursework (EYEC 21005, EYEC 21010, EYEC 22000 and EYEC 22130) and related field experiences (EYEC 10192 and EYEC 20192) in order to register for preschool student teaching and related seminar  (EYEC 22140 and EYEC 22192).

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • A minimum grade of C grade is required in most courses; view the program requirements to see specific courses.
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
!CULT 29535 EDUCATION IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY 3
!ECED 10120 INTRODUCTION TO EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES 1
EYEC 10121 EARLY YEARS FIELD PREPARATION AND TRAININGS 1
MATH 14001 BASIC MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS I (KMCR) 4
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
ECED 20101 UNDERSTANDING YOUNG CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT 3
EPSY 29525 EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 3
EYEC 10192 PRESCHOOL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE I (ELR) 1
EYEC 21010 INFANT AND TODDLER CURRICULUM AND SERVICES 3
MATH 14002 BASIC MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS II (KMCR) 4
 Credit Hours17
Semester Three
EYEC 20192 PRESCHOOL CLINICAL EXPERIENCE II (ELR) 1
EYEC 21005 COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE EDUCATION AND GUIDANCE OF THE YOUNG CHILD 3
EYEC 22000 PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM 3
EYEC 22130 EMERGING LITERACIES 3
SPED 23000 INTRODUCTION TO EXCEPTIONALITIES 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Four
ECED 30202 MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN THE EARLY YEARS 3
EYEC 22140 PRESCHOOL SEMINAR: SUPPORTING A CULTURALLY SUSTAINING PEDAGOGY (ELR) 2
EYEC 22192 PRESCHOOL STUDENT TEACHING (ELR) 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours13
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:62

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Salem Campus
    • Tuscarawas Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Early Years Education and Care - A.A.S.

Preschool teachers, except special education

4.1%

about as fast as the average

555,100

number of jobs

$37,120

potential earnings

Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

-1.5%

decline

1,422,800

number of jobs

$35,240

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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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

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.

Contact Us

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Find All Majors

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

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
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.
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