Information Science and Technology BS

Overview

Science and technology are the foundations of our future. The Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) is focused on the understanding of fundamental scientific principles and the application of these principles to solving complex problems, using computing technology.

Students in the Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology (IS&T) develop the skills and the knowledge necessary to analyze information problems and to apply current technology to their solution. The emphasis is to develop problem-solving and communication skills.

The technologies and methods include databases, web and mobile application development, client-server computing, network security, project management, software engineering principles, and quality assurance methodologies. A two-semester capstone project course is required. This course is designed to help students integrate what they have learned in other courses and apply this knowledge in the design and implementation of a software application. The BS program gives students the further opportunity to explore their interests in the variety of electives available to them.

The program is targeted for students who have a strong interest in applying computing technologies to solving problems in business, education, science and government agencies. Our IS&T graduates are also involved in innovative product developments. They hold jobs as consultants, network engineers, business and systems analysts, database administrators, and web and application developers.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: ST-IST-BS

Distinction in Major

To graduate with distinction in this major, a student must satisfy the following criteria:

  • have a minimum 3.50 major GPA and
  • have a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA.

Undergraduate Contact Information

Jamie Payton, Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 304
215-204-8450

Gene Kwatny, Vice Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 304
215-204-8450

Dominic Letarte, Faculty Advisor
Science Education and Research Center, Room 372
215-204-6439
istadvsr@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Bachelor of Science Requirements

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

  1. University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
    • Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
    • All undergraduate students must complete at least two writing-intensive courses for a total of at least six credits at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
      CIS 4296Information Systems Analysis and Design4
      CIS 4396Information Systems Implementation4
    • Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
      • See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
      • Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
    • Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
  2. College Requirements
    • A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
      • A minimum of 45 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above).
    • Complete a one-credit first-year or transfer seminar.
      • SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar for every entering first-year CST student.
      • SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar for every entering transfer CST student.
  3. Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (76 s.h.)
    At least 9 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 8 CIS courses must be completed at Temple.
    Computer & Information Science
    CIS 1001Introduction to Academics in Computer Science1
    CIS 1051Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python4
    or CIS 1057 Computer Programming in C
    CIS 1068Program Design and Abstraction4
    or CIS 1968 Honors Program Design and Abstraction
    CIS 1166Mathematical Concepts in Computing I4
    or CIS 1966 Honors Mathematical Concepts in Computing I
    CIS 2109Database Management Systems4
    CIS 2168Data Structures4
    CIS 2229Architecture, Operating Systems and Networking4
    CIS 3309Component-Based Software Design4
    CIS 3329Network Architectures4
    CIS 3342Server-Side Web Application Development4
    CIS 3344Client-Side Scripting for the Web4
    CIS 4296Information Systems Analysis and Design4
    CIS 4396Information Systems Implementation4
    Mathematics
    MATH 2031Probability and Statistics3
    Select one of the following: 14
    MATH 1031
    		Differential and Integral Calculus
    MATH 1041
    		Calculus I
    MATH 1941
    		Honors Calculus I
    Information Science & Technology Related Electives
    Select 12 credits from the following IS&T elective courses:12
    CIS 3100
    		Special Topics in CIS
    CIS 3281
    		Cooperative Education Experience in Information Science & Technology 2
    CIS 3374
    		Quality Assurance & Testing (F)
    CIS 3376
    		Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Design and Implementation
    CIS 3441
    		Software Security
    CIS 3515
    		Introduction to Mobile Application Development
    CIS 3603
    		User Experience Design
    CIS 3605
    		Introduction to Digital Forensics
    CIS 3715
    		Principles of Data Science
    CIS 3775
    		Information Technology Project Management
    CIS 4105
    		Information Technology Process Management (F)
    CIS 4106
    		System Development Process
    CIS 4108
    		Emerging Technologies and Tools for Enterprise Management (S)
    CIS 4282
    		Independent Study 2
    CIS 4330
    		Current Topics in Information Science & Technology
    CIS 4340
    		Seminar in Information Science & Technology (S)
    CIS 4344
    		Advanced Web Application Design & Scripting
    CIS 4350
    		Seminar on Topics in Computer Science (F)
    CIS 4362
    		Application System Development Using Relational Technology (Not offered every year)
    CIS 4376
    		E-Commerce System Development
    CIS 4378
    		Computer and Network Security
    CIS 4419
    		Securing the Internet of Things
    CIS 4515
    		Advanced Mobile Application Development
    CIS 4615
    		Ethical Hacking and Intrusion Forensics
    CIS 4625
    		Audit and Compliance for Security and Digital Forensics
    Other courses communicated to the students from the IS&T Faculty Advisor.
    Laboratory Science courses
    Two (2) laboratory science courses 38
    Total Credit Hours76
    (F) - Fall only course
    (S) - Spring only course
    1

    IS&T majors are required to have completed MATH 1022. They can then choose either MATH 1031, MATH 1041 or MATH 1941.

    2

    A maximum of two sections may be taken from CIS 3281 and CIS 4282. CIS 3281 may be taken once within this two-section sequence.

    3

    Must select within a Sequence for Laboratory Science A and Laboratory Science B. See the Sequenced Laboratory Science list below for the science options.

  • Students may also select other 3000-level or higher Computer & Information Science courses for which they meet the prerequisites as long as that course is not already used for the IS&T degree.
  • No more than two courses that do not have formal classes and a text, such as Independent Study, Directed Study, and co-op may be used to satisfy the elective requirement. In addition, the co-op course may only be taken once.
  • Students with senior standing and a minimum overall 3.25 GPA may also request permission from both the IS&T advisor and course instructor to use graduate courses (5xxx level) as electives.

Sequenced Information Science and Technology Laboratory Science Requirements

Biology Sequence
Select one Biology Lab Science A:
BIOL 1011
General Biology I
BIOL 1111
Introduction to Organismal Biology
BIOL 1911
Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology (S)
Select one Biology Lab Science B:
BIOL 1012
General Biology II
BIOL 1112
Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
BIOL 1912
Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
BIOL 2112
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
BIOL 2912
Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology (F)
Chemistry Sequence 1
Select one Chemistry Lab Science A:
CHEM 1021
& CHEM 1023
Introduction to Chemistry I
and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1031
& CHEM 1033
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
CHEM 1951
& CHEM 1953
Honors General Chemical Science I
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I
Select one Chemistry Lab Science B:
CHEM 1022
& CHEM 1024
Introduction to Chemistry II
and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1032
& CHEM 1034
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
CHEM 1952
& CHEM 1954
Honors General Chemical Science II
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II
Earth & Environmental Science Sequence 2
Select this Lab Science A:
EES 2001
Physical Geology
Select one Lab Science B:
EES 2011
Mineralogy I (with CHEM 1031 prerequisite)
EES 2021
Sedimentary Environments (no CHEM 1031 prerequisite)
EES 2061
Introduction to Geochemistry (with CHEM 1031 prerequisite)
Physics Sequence 3
Select one Physics Lab Science A:
PHYS 1021
Introduction to General Physics I
PHYS 1061
Elementary Classical Physics I
PHYS 1961
Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F)
PHYS 2021
General Physics I
PHYS 2921
Honors General Physics I (F)
Select one Physics Lab Science B:
PHYS 1022
Introduction to General Physics II
PHYS 1062
Elementary Classical Physics II
PHYS 1962
Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S)
PHYS 2022
General Physics II
PHYS 2922
Honors General Physics II (S)
1

Students can choose to mix-and-match the Chemistry Sequence A and B courses. However, they must take at least 1 course from Chemistry Sequence A and 1 from Chemistry Sequence B. Note: Chemistry courses consist of a three-credit lecture plus a one-credit lab.

2

For the EES Sequence, two of the three Lab Science B options require students to take CHEM 1031 as a prerequisite, but EES 2021 does not.

3

Students can choose to mix-and-match the Physics Sequence A and B courses. However, they must take at least 1 course from Physics Sequence A and 1 from Physics Sequence B.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Science in Information Science and Technology

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
CIS 1001 Introduction to Academics in Computer Science 1
Select one of the following: 4
CIS 1051
 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python  
CIS 1057
 Computer Programming in C  
Select one of the following: 1 4
MATH 1031
 Differential and Integral Calculus  
MATH 1041
 Calculus I  
MATH 1941
 Honors Calculus I  
SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar 1
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
CIS 1068
or CIS 1968
 Program Design and Abstraction
or Honors Program Design and Abstraction
 4
CIS 1166
or CIS 1966
 Mathematical Concepts in Computing I
or Honors Mathematical Concepts in Computing I
 4
ENG 0802
or ENG 0812
or ENG 0902
 Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 2
Fall
MATH 2031 Probability and Statistics 3
CIS 2168 Data Structures 4
IST Laboratory Science A 4
IH 0851
or IH 0951
 Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
 3
Elective 1
 Credit Hours15
Spring
CIS 2109 Database Management Systems 4
CIS 2229 Architecture, Operating Systems and Networking 4
IST Laboratory Science B 4
IH 0852
or IH 0952
 Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
CIS 3309 Component-Based Software Design 4
CIS 3344 Client-Side Scripting for the Web 4
Information Science & Technology Elective 2 3-4
GenEd Breadth Course 3-4
Elective 2-0
 Credit Hours16
Spring
CIS 3329 Network Architectures 4
Information Science & Technology Elective 2 3-4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
Elective 3
Elective 2-1
 Credit Hours15
Year 4
Fall
CIS 4296 Information Systems Analysis and Design [WI] 4
CIS 3342 Server-Side Web Application Development 4
Information Science & Technology Elective 2 3-4
Elective 3
Elective 2-1
 Credit Hours16
Spring
CIS 4396 Information Systems Implementation [WI] 4
Information Science & Technology Elective 2 3-4
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 2-1
 Credit Hours15
 Total Credit Hours123
1

IS&T majors are required to have completed MATH 1022. They can then choose either MATH 1031, MATH 1041 or MATH 1941.

2

Select from the Information Science & Technology Related Electives list under Requirements.