Online Information Technology Degree

Business Productivity Software prepares students to effectively use business productivity software to enhance efficiency, streamline communication, and support collaboration for their personal projects within an IT team setting. The course will explore a range of productivity software, including communication, collaboration, organization, and presentation software. The course covers each tool’s features and functions, how the tools contribute to optimizing productivity, and their role in facilitating clear communication and collaborative efforts. The course examines how to use these tools for productivity while following their organizations’ technology policies and best practices. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Introduction to IT introduces the fundamental concepts, structures, and roles of information technology (IT) within an organization. The course is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various aspects of IT, including networking, database management, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), and software development. This course also explores the essential components of the typical technology infrastructure for various types of organizations, the role and interaction of each component, and the evolving nature of technology and its implications for business practices. There are no prerequisites for this course.

IT Foundations provides learners with an understanding of personal computer components and their functions in a desktop system; a knowledge of computer data storage and retrieval; and skills in classifying, installing, configuring, optimizing, upgrading, and troubleshooting printers, laptops, portable devices, operating systems, networks, and system security. This course also gives learners the ability to recommend appropriate tools, diagnostic procedures, preventative maintenance, and troubleshooting techniques for personal computer components in a desktop system; strategies for identifying, preventing, and reporting safety hazards and environmental or human accidents in technological environments; and effective communication skills for interacting with colleagues and clients, including job-related professional behavior. The course prepares learners for the CompTIA A+ Core 1 certification exam.

Digital Transformation in the Enterprise provides an in-depth exploration of digital transformation within modern organizations. Students will evaluate emerging technologies and their potential to drive organizational improvement, focusing on the strategic assessment and integration of technology to enhance business processes and performance. The course covers the latest trends in digital innovation, methods for assessing and selecting appropriate technology solutions, and strategies for implementing digital transformation initiatives. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the skills necessary to analyze business needs, propose technology solutions, and effectively manage the change associated with digital transformation. This course is designed for students who aspire to lead or contribute to digital transformation efforts in their organizations, ensuring they are prepared to leverage technology to create a competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving business landscape. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Agile Methodology introduces students to agile's principles, practices, and mindset, focusing on adaptability, collaboration, and value delivery in dynamic team environments. This course explores how agile methodologies such as scrum, Kanban, and Lean empower teams to respond to change, prioritize meaningful work, and achieve shared goals through iterative progress. Students will develop skills in facilitating agile ceremonies, managing backlogs, and fostering transparency and alignment while building cohesive, self-organizing teams that value inclusivity and psychological safety. Through real-world scenarios and hands-on exercises, students will embrace agile values and principles to enhance collaboration, continuous improvement, and success across diverse contexts. There are no prerequisites for this course.

IT Applications introduces skills in identifying operating systems and their configurations and in implementing security principles across devices and networks. Learners will also gain skills in troubleshooting software, security, and malware issues, and in implementing basic operational procedures in documentation, change management, compliance, and communication. The course will introduce basic disaster recovery and business continuity procedures, scripting basics, and remote access technology solutions. The course prepares learners for the CompTIA A+ Core 2 certification exam.

Technology Management provides learners with the knowledge and skills needed to manage and troubleshoot technology systems within an organization. This course will enable students to diagnose, prioritize, and resolve technical issues. The course also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and communication within teams to support a cohesive organizational culture. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to identify and address technology issues, communicate effectively with both technical and nontechnical stakeholders, and work within and influence the organizational culture to support technology management initiatives. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Foundations of Programming (Python) introduces students to the fundamental principles of programming using Python. This course is designed to equip students with the essential skills needed to write, troubleshoot, and debug simple Python programs. Students will explore the syntax and structure of Python, develop an understanding of variables, loops, and conditional statements, and learn to work within different development environments, including integrated development environments (IDEs) and text editors. By the end of the course, students will be able to create functional Python programs, manipulate data structures, and apply debugging techniques across various platforms. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Influential Communication through Visual Design and Storytelling provides learners with foundational visual design and storytelling techniques to influence and create a lasting impression on audiences. Learners will first explore how human behavior is influenced by visuals and when to apply visual techniques to better communicate with audiences. Next, learners will learn techniques for creating compelling stories that create memorable images within the audience's mind. Ultimately, learners who master these skills will be well-positioned to apply their visual and storytelling techniques to not only better communicate their thoughts and ideas to an audience, but to also influence or motivate them.

Health, Fitness, and Wellness focuses on the importance and foundations of good health and physical fitness—particularly for children and adolescents—addressing health, nutrition, fitness, and substance use and abuse.

Technology and Ethics: Emerging Trends and Society explores the intersection of ethical thinking and technological innovations. A foundational introduction to ethical frameworks is applied to emerging trends in technology, including artificial intelligence, social media, and other forms of digital media. This course examines the impact of technology on our understanding of self, as well as the individual’s role in interacting with others in a globalized society. The course helps students gain the ability to recognize ethical actions within the context of current and newly evolving technological landscapes. This course has no prerequisites.

In this course you will learn key critical thinking concepts and how to apply them in the analysis and evaluation of reasons and evidence. The course examines the basic components of an argument, the credibility of evidence sources, the impact of bias, and how to construct an argument that provides good support for a claim. The course consists of an introduction and four major sections. Each section includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to check your learning, practice, and show how well you understand course content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to gain proficiency in the four competencies that will be covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge or experience, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.

Welcome to Composition: Successful Self-Expression! In this course, you will focus on four main topics: professional writing for a cross-cultural audience, narrowing research topics and questions, researching for content to support a topic, and referencing research sources. Each section includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to check your learning, practice, and show how well you understand course content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to gain proficiency in the seven competencies that will be covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge or experience, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content. You will demonstrate competency through a performance assessment. There is no prerequisite for this course and there is no specific technical knowledge needed.

Introduction to Systems Thinking and Applications provides learners with the skills required to engage in a holistic systems-based approach to analyzing complex problems and solutions. This course introduces the foundational concepts and principles of systems thinking and provides opportunities to use a systems thinking approach to analyze and evaluate real-world case studies. The course will culminate with using systems thinking to develop a solution to an authentic complex problem. This course has no prerequisites, but general education math (C955 or C957) is preferred. Because the course is self-paced, learners may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as needed, with the goal of demonstrating proficiency in the five competencies covered in the final assessment. If learners have no prior knowledge of this material, they can expect to spend 30 to 40 hours on the course content.

Applied Probability and Statistics is designed to help students develop competence in the fundamental concepts of basic statistics including: introductory algebra and graphing; descriptive statistics; regression and correlation; and probability. Statistical data and probability are often used in everyday life, science, business, information technology, and educational settings to make informed decisions about the validity of studies and the effect of data on decisions. This course discusses what constitutes sound research design and how to appropriately model phenomena using statistical data. Additionally, the content covers simple probability calculations, based on events that occur in the business and IT industries. No prerequisites are required for this course.

American Politics and the U.S. Constitution examines the evolution of representative government in the United States and the changing interpretations of the civil rights and civil liberties protected by the Constitution. This course will give candidates an understanding of the powers of the branches of the federal government, the continual tensions inherent in a federal system, the shifting relationship between state and federal governments, and the interactions between elected officials and the ever-changing electorate. This course will focus on such topics as the role of a free press in a democracy, the impact of changing demographics on American politics, and the debates over and expansion of civil rights. Upon completion of the course, candidates should be able to explain the basic functions of the federal government, describe the forces that shape American policy and politics, and be better prepared to participate in America’s civic institutions. This course has no prerequisite.

Applied Algebra is designed to help you develop competence in working with functions, the algebra of functions, and using some applied properties of functions. You will start learning about how we can apply different kinds of functions to relevant, real-life examples. From there, the algebra of several families of functions will be explored, including linear, polynomial, exponential, and logistic functions. You will also learn about relevant, applicable mathematical properties of each family of functions, including rate of change, concavity, maximizing/minimizing, and asymptotes. These properties will be used to solve problems related to your major and make sense of everyday living problems. Students should complete Applied Probability and Statistics or its equivalent prior to engaging in Applied Algebra.

Technical Communication introduces skills in editing professional communications, evaluating the impact of professional etiquette in digital environments, and in creating artifacts that are persuasive, informational, and research-based. The course also introduces skills in delivering multimedia presentations using professional verbal communication skills.

This course provides students an introduction to using the scientific method and engaging in scientific research to reach conclusions about the natural world. Students will design and carry out an experiment in the natural sciences to investigate a hypothesis by gathering quantitative data. They will also research a specific topic in the natural sciences using academic sources and draw conclusions from their findings.

This is a Global Arts and Humanities course that contains three modules with corresponding lessons. This course is an invitation to see the world through the humanities, examine the humanities during the Information Age, and explore the global origins of music—essentially questioning what makes us human, and how people are connected across culture and time. Each module includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to practice and check learning. With no prior knowledge or experience, a learner can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.

Business of IT - Applications examines Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) terminology, structure, policies, and concepts. Focusing on the management of information technology (IT) infrastructure, development, and operations, learners will explore the core principles of ITIL practices for service management to prepare them for careers as IT professionals, business managers, and business process owners. This course has no prerequisites.

In this course, students will build on industry standard concepts, techniques, and processes to develop a comprehensive foundation for project management activities. During a project's life cycle, students will develop the critical skills necessary to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, control, and close a project. Students will apply best practices in areas such as scope management, resource allocation, project planning, project scheduling, quality control, risk management, performance measurement, and project reporting. This course prepares students for the following certification exam: CompTIA Project+.

The Practical Applications of Prompt course introduces learners to generative artificial intelligence (AI). This course aims to allow learners to gain skills for writing effective prompts and develop more effective conversations with artificial intelligence. Practical Applications of Prompt will lead learners to explore why prompt engineering is necessary. The course also aims to help learners, regardless of background, increase prompt fluency, which is fluency in using prompt effectively. The course teaches learners how to create effective prompts to elicit information with consideration of scope, specificity, and context; additionally, it teaches learners to evaluate the medium of the prompt and adjust prompts to output relevant results. The last section of the course focuses on ways to evaluate the efficacy of prompts and improve the depth and quality of analytical investigations. This approach prepares students to navigate the complexities of working with generative AI and use these skills effectively throughout their careers.

Linux Foundations prepares learners for the LPI Linux Essentials certification, and is an introduction to Linux as an operating system as well as an introduction to open-source concepts and the basics of the Linux command line. Learners will gain skills in identifying the fundamentals of open-source software and to develop resources for data access and security.

Fundamentals of Spreadsheets and Data Presentations offers learners an overview of the use of spreadsheet functions and methods for presenting data within spreadsheets. Learners will have the opportunity to explore features and uses of MS Excel and apply the tools to situations they may encounter while studying in their program. They will also be introduced to real world uses and tools to collect, organize and present data.

Web Design Fundamentals provides students with essential web development skills, guiding them through the creation of accessible, responsive, and interactive web pages. This course will enable students to gain hands-on experience in HTML, CSS, and foundational JavaScript. The course will also focus on teaching students how to structure content, apply styling, and add dynamic functionality to enhance user engagement. Emphasizing industry best practices, this course covers key aspects of web accessibility, focusing on WCAG compliance, along with core UX and UI principles to ensure usability for diverse audiences. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive toolkit for designing web pages that are not only visually compelling but also technically sound and adaptable to various devices and user needs. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Network and Security - Foundations introduces learners to the basic network systems and concepts related to networking technologies. Learners will gain skills in applying network security concepts for business continuity, data access, and confidentiality, and in identifying solutions for compliance with security guidance.

Cloud Applications prepares learners for the CompTIA Cloud+ certification exam. Learners will gain skills in designing cloud infrastructure and services and in recommending cloud security solutions, policies, and procedures. The course will also introduce skills in deploying cloud solutions for storage, networking, and security, and in managing cloud operations with processes, procedures, and improvements. Learners will also gain skills in troubleshooting cloud services issues in networking, security, and performance.

Network and Security - Applications prepares learners for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam. The course introduces learners to skills in identifying threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities to organizational security. The learner will also gain skills in designing security solutions for enterprise infrastructures and architectures, as well as in implementing security solutions across hardware, applications, and network services. Learners will be able to execute operations and incident response with tools, policies, forensics, and mitigation techniques, and to analyze information security controls, governance, risk, and compliance.

Data Management Foundations offers an introduction in creating conceptual, logical and physical data models.  Students gain skills in creating databases and tables in SQL-enabled database management systems, as well as skills in normalizing databases. No prerequisites are required for this course.

Data Management - Applications covers conceptual data modeling and introduces MySQL. Students will learn how to create simple to complex SELECT queries, including subqueries and joins, and how to use SQL to update and delete data. Topics covered in this course include exposure to MySQL; creating and modifying databases, tables, views, foreign keys and primary keys (FKs and PKs), and indexes; populating tables; and developing simple Select-From-Where (SFW) queries to complex 3+ table join queries. The following course is a prerequisite: Data Management - Foundations.

Networks introduces skills in configuring networking components and a network infrastructure. Learners will gain skills in optimizing network operations for availability, performance, and security, and in troubleshooting network issues. The course prepares learners for the CompTIA Network+ certification exam. Network and Security - Foundations is a prerequisite for this course.

Technology Governance equips students with strategic frameworks and practices essential for effective governance in technology. The course covers the entire lifecycle of technology governance, including establishing governance structures and leadership techniques for enforcing these frameworks. Key themes include the evaluation of various technology governance models, the development of IT leadership skills, and the strategic integration of technology to meet business objectives. The course is aligned with COBIT, ITIL, CMMI, and ISO frameworks, emphasizing their application in real-world scenarios. Ethical considerations and social responsibility in technological governance are also explored.

Cloud Foundations introduces learners to real-world issues and practical solutions to cloud computing. This course covers the business value of cloud computing, examining cloud types, the steps to successful cloud adoption, and the effect cloud adoption has on IT service management, as well as the risks and consequences of implementing cloud solutions. This course prepares learners for the AWS Certified Practitioner certification exam. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Python for IT Automation covers the fundamentals of the Python language and its features to control program flow, inform decisions, and automate IT tasks and processes. The course emphasizes a systematic approach to solving problems and the application of programming logic to administer secure, scalable, and resilient IT networks and systems.