Freshman Orientation Welcome! Bachelor of Science Information Technology

Your Success 1.IST Website 2.Manage Your Time 3.Location, Location, Location 4.Advising 5.Seeking Assistance 6.What to Take 7.Concentrations 8.Important Policies 9.General Information 10.What to Fill Out Today 11.Stay Connected with IST

IST Website Most of what you need to know about our program is available on the IST Website:

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

Advising Full-time faculty members in IST are advisors. Plus, two full-time advisors: Mrs. Cheryl Howe –Fairfax Campus, Nguyen Engineering Building, rm Ms. Krystal Dains –Science and Technology Campus, Bull Run Hall, rm. 102E VSE students are required to meet with an advisor each semester

Seeking Assistance Having trouble in a course? There are a number of resources that can help you succeed: First, and most importantly, stay in contact with the instructor of the course. They are there to help you. If there is a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) assigned to the course, reach out to them. They are also there to help you. Seek out a peer mentor from GMU STARS Alliance Organization, which offers tutoring in a number of IT courses. Seek out a tutor from VSE Peer Advising, which offers tutoring in a number of IT courses. More info:

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! Need more info about a course? View the syllabus on our website:

What to Take: Your First Year First SemesterCreditsSecond SemesterCredits ENGH 101- Composition3Nonlab Natural Science3 HIST 100- History of Western Civilization3Literature3 IT 104- Introduction to Computing3COMM 100- Public Speaking3 IT 105- IT Architecture Fundamentals3IT 106- Introduction to IT Problem Solving Using Computer Programming 3 MATH 108- Introductory Calculus w/ Business Applications 3IT 102- Discrete Structures3 Total Hours15Total Hours15

What to Take: Important Course Sequences

Concentrations IT majors select one of six Concentrations:  DTPDatabase Technology & Programming  HITHealth IT  INFSInformation Security  ITEInformation Technology Entrepreneurship  NTELNetworking 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 Catalog Year (most of you!) C or better in foundation, core, capstone, and concentration courses Major GPA of 2.75 or higher in order to graduate View catalog year requirements at catalog.gmu.edu Repeating Courses: If you are unsuccessful at a course twice, you need prior approval to make a third attempt. If you are unsuccessful at the third attempt, you will be terminated from the major.

Pros to Cheating Get past a tough assignment Don't have to do the work Cons to Cheating Not learning the material you paid to learn Risk poor performance on exams If you do not know the material, the exams will be tough Risk an Honor Code violation Violations appear on your record and are caught by background checks (e.g. security clearance) Risk forced completion of an academic integrity seminar Cost of ~$100 and your time Risk an F in the course Cost of ~$1300 (in-state tuition) to retake the class, a delay in graduation, and a lowered GPA Risk academic suspension Delay in graduation and a notation on your transcript Risk expulsion All of your time and money to date would be for naught Is Cheating Worth Its Cost?

General Information This semester’s class schedule may be ugly! Register at your first opportunity; classes fill quickly. Plan for traffic and parking in the Fairfax area, and for travelling between campuses.

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

Stay Connected with IST!