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

2. 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

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

4. 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.

5. 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

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

7. 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:

8. 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:

9. 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

10. Important Course Sequences

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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!

16. Stay Connected with IST!