Freshman Orientation
Welcome!
Bachelor of Science
Information Technology
Your Success
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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
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.
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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
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http://shuttle.gmu.edu
Advising
• Full-time faculty members in IST are advisors.
• Plus, two full-time advisors:
• Mrs. Cheryl Howe (chowe1@gmu.edu)
– Fairfax Campus, Nguyen Engineering Building, rm. 5400
• Ms. Krystal Dains (kdains@gmu.edu)
– Science and Technology Campus, Bull Run Hall, rm. 102E
• VSE students are required to meet with an advisor each semester
• http://ist.gmu.edu/advising/appointments
Seeking Assistance
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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: http://ist.gmu.edu/students/current-students/tutoring-office-hours/
What to Take: Program Overview
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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
Credits
ENGH 101- Composition
3
Nonlab Natural Science
3
HIST 100- History of Western Civilization
3
Literature
3
IT 104- Introduction to Computing
3
COMM 100- Public Speaking
3
IT 105- IT Architecture Fundamentals
3
IT 106- Introduction to IT Problem Solving Using Computer
Programming
3
MATH 108- Introductory Calculus w/ Business
Applications
3
IT 102- Discrete Structures
3
Total Hours
15
Total Hours
15
What to Take: Important Course Sequences
Concentrations
IT majors select one of six Concentrations:
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DTP
HIT
INFS
ITE
NTEL
WDM
Database Technology & Programming
Health IT
Information Security
Information Technology Entrepreneurship
Networking and Telecommunications
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
• 2015-2016 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
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• Not learning the material you paid to learn
• Risk poor performance on exams
•
Get past a tough
assignment
Don't have to do the
work
• 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.
What to Fill Out Today
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Attendance Sheet (Name and G#)
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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