Welcome! Bachelor of Science Information Technology Freshman Orientation Welcome! Bachelor of Science Information Technology

Your Success IST Website Manage Your Time Location, Location, Location Advising Seeking Assistance What to Take Concentrations Important Policies General Information What to Fill Out Today Stay Connected with IST

IST Website http://ist.gmu.edu/ Most of what you need to know about our program is available on the IST Website: http://ist.gmu.edu/

Manage Your Time Each course will require several hours of work per week - beyond time for lectures and labs. Full Time ≥12 credits Most students take 4-5 courses >5 courses requires excellent GPA Be realistic about courses you can complete, especially if you are working fulltime or have other responsibilities.

Location, Location, Location BSIT program is based at the Science and Technology Campus in Manassas Non-IT courses & 100 – 200 level IT courses are offered at the Fairfax Campus 300 – 400 level IT courses are only offered at the Science and Technology Campus Mason Shuttle is the quickest way to travel between campuses http://shuttle.gmu.edu

Advising Mrs. Lisa Sevilla (lsevill3@gmu.edu) Full-time faculty members in IST are advisors. Plus, three full-time advisors: Mrs. Cheryl Howe (chowe1@gmu.edu) Science & Technology Campus, Bull Run Building, rm. 102 Mrs. Lisa Sevilla (lsevill3@gmu.edu) Fairfax Campus, Nguyen Engineering Building, rm. 5337 Ms. Christy Genova (cgenova2@gmu.edu) Fairfax Campus, Nguyen Engineering Bldg., Rm. 5340 VSE students are required to meet with an advisor each semester http://ist.gmu.edu/advising/appointments

Seeking Assistance Having trouble in a course? There are a number of resources that can help you succeed: First, and most importantly, stay in contact with the instructor of the course. They are there to help you. If there is a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) assigned to the course, reach out to them. They are also there to help you. Seek out a tutor from VSE Peer Advising, which offers tutoring in a number of IT courses. More info: http://ist.gmu.edu/students/current-students/tutoring-office-hours/

What to Take: Program Overview Our program is divided into 7 areas: Mason Core Requirements Foundation Courses Core Courses Capstone Courses Concentration Courses Other Required Courses Electives 120 credits needed to graduate, including 45 upper-division hours. In general, take courses in order of level: 100, then 200, then 300, then 400. For IT courses, begin with Foundation and Core followed by Concentration and Capstone. Always check prerequisite requirements. Prerequisites are tied to the academic year when the course is taught, not your catalog year! http://ist.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/IT_Prerequisites.pdf Need more info about a course? View the syllabus on our website: http://ist.gmu.edu/students/current-students/course-syllabi/

What to Take: Your First Year First Semester Credits Second Semester ENGH 101- Composition 3 Non-lab Natural Science HIST 100- History of Western Civilization Literature IT 104- Introduction to Computing COMM 100- Public Speaking IT 105- IT Architecture Fundamentals IT 106- Introduction to IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming MATH 108- Introductory Calculus w/ Business Applications IT 102- Discrete Structures Total Hours 15

Important Course Sequences

Concentrations IT majors select one of six Concentrations: DTP Database Technology & Programming HIT Health IT INFS Information Security ITE Information Technology Entrepreneurship NTEL Networking and Telecommunications WDM Web Development and Multimedia You will make this selection during IT 293: Junior Transition

Important Policies Grades All students: C or better in any course that is a prerequisite for another course 2016-2017 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.

Is Cheating Worth Its Cost? Pros to Cheating Cons to Cheating Get past a tough assignment Don't have to do the work 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

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.

Welcome to your future at Mason! What to Fill Out Today Attendance Sheet (Name and G#) Class wish list and alternatives Welcome to your future at Mason!

Stay Connected with IST! http://facebook.com/gmuist http://twitter.com/gmuist http://instagram.com/gmuist http://gmuist.tumblr.com http://linkedin.com/grp/home?gid=5136040 http://ist.gmu.edu