The Graduate Program in Information Technology at Virginia Tech

Transcription

1 The Graduate Program in Information Technology at Virginia Tech William H. Tranter and Leonard A. Ferrari Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA Session 12b5 Abstract - The newly inaugurated Graduate Program in Information Technology (GPIT) at Virginia Tech is herein described. The program is designed for practicing professionals seeking the retraining necessary to effectively participate in the rapidly expanding area of Information Technology. The GPIT program is a combined degree and certificate program offered collaboratively by Virginia Tech s College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences and Pamplin College of Business. The program offers a blend of coursework spanning communications, networking, computer engineering, software development, business, information systems and decision support systems. Introduction The rapid convergence of computing, communications and networking is having a profound and positive impact on the economy and is responsible for the expansion of business opportunities both nationally and in Virginia. A workforce with expertise in information technology disciplines allows industry to take maximum advantage of today s business climate and provides individuals with the tools necessary to profit from the rapid expansion of information technology and its related infrastructure. The shortage of information technology (IT) workers in the United States is well documented. Companies, both large and small, report thousands of vacancies and difficulty in filling these vacancies with skilled workers. The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) first reported this shortage in 1997 [1]. In March 1998, Virginia Tech s Division of Continuing Education and ITAA released an updated report on the IT workforce shortage [2]. This study reported a nationwide estimate of 346,000 IT vacancies in the core occupational areas of programmers, systems analysts, computer engineers and computer scientists. This number was greatly increased from previous studies. The federal government has launched new initiatives to assist communities and institutions to meet the need for skilled IT workers [3]. The nationwide shortage, recognized in these and other reports [4], is mirrored by a critical shortage of technologically competent workers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. According to a report by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), the immediate challenge facing the Commonwealth is to add approximately 110,000 new technology workers over the next five years [5]. Since the demand for graduates in engineering and computer science far exceeds the projected number of students graduating in those degree areas, it is important to offer non-traditional students degree programs which meet their needs. The Graduate Program in Information Technology (GPIT) seeks to meet some of that need. In particular, this program offers skill upgrading to working professionals on a schedule which reflects their need for increased flexibility in their busy workday. The program is built on a number of coursework modules (currently six). Each module consists of two courses (6 credit hours total) and focuses on one of the areas important to the Information Technology discipline. As described in the following sections, students may pursue the Master of Information Technology degree or may enroll in the program as continuing education students with the purpose of obtaining a graduate certificate in one or more of the areas covered by the IT modules. Program Overview An overview of the GPIT program is illustrated in Figure 1. The program consists of two basic components; a four course sequence of foundation material and six IT modules, each of which contains two courses. All courses are threecredit hour semester-length courses. The IT modules span the broad range of activities of interest in the IT discipline. The modules in the GPIT program at the present time cover communications, computer engineering, networking, and software development, as well as the business aspects of information technology including business information systems and decision support systems. In order to cover such a broad range of technical disciplines, the program brings together faculty from three Colleges: Engineering (the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering), Arts and Sciences (the Department of Computer Science) and the Pamplin College of Business (the Departments of Accounting and Management Science). Another unique aspect of the program is that students can enroll as graduate students seeking the Master of Information Technology degree or students may enroll as continuing education 12b5-1

2 students seeking to increase their expertise in one or more specific areas of coursework. Foundation Courses 1. Object-Oriented Programming and Java Fundamentals of Computer Systems 4. Strategic Leadership in Technology-Based Organizations Information Technology Modules 1. Communication Systems (COMM) Digital Communication Systems & Simulation Principles of Wireless Communications 2. Networking (N) Fundamentals of Networking & Protocols Network Performance, Design & Management 3. Computer Engineering (CE) Modeling and Synthesis of Digital Systems Computer Architecture 4. Software Development (SD) Software Design and Quality Internet Software 5. Business Information Systems (BIS) Structured Systems and Database Management Object-Oriented Systems Development & Applications 6. Decision Support Systems (DSS) Computer-Based Decision Support Systems DSS Design and Implementation Figure 1. The Graduate Program in Information Technology Degree and Certificate Requirements One innovative aspect of the GPIT program is that students may enter the program either as degree seeking students or they may enter the certificate program seeking only to upgrade their skills in a specific area. The requirements for degrees and for certificates are outlined in the following sections. The Master of Information Technology Degree Thirty (30) credit hours of coursework are required for the Master of Information Technology degree. Each student must complete three modules for a total of 18 credit hours (three modules with 6 credit hours per module), as well as the 12 credit-hour block of foundation courses shown in Figure 1. The student selects the three modules which best fit his or her needs. The foundation courses are tailored to provide the background material required for success in the set of modules selected by the student. Certificate Requirements Students in the Graduate Program in Information Technology (GPIT) program receive a graduate certificate (awarded by the appropriate college rather than by continuation education) upon successful completion of any module together with the foundation course appropriate to that module. Therefore, successful completion of a certificate requires 9 credit hours (three credit hours for the foundation course plus the six credit hours that constitute the module.) The required foundation course will depend upon the module selected for certificate study as shown in Figure 2. As indicated, the communications module is a special case. Students seeking a certificate in the communications module are required to either have completed a course in analog and digital communications as a part of their undergraduate programs or will be required to take this course in place of one of the standard foundation courses. Module Required Foundation Course COMM Analog and Digital Communications * N CE SD BIS DSS Fundamentals of Computer Systems Fundamentals of Computer Systems * Not a standard GPIT foundation course. See note in text. Figure 2. Required Foundation Courses for Certificate Programs (Module abbreviations are defined in Figure 1) 12b5-2

3 A student may receive multiple certificates and a given foundation course may be applied to multiple certificates. For example, a student may obtain certificates in both networking and computer engineering by taking a total of 15 credit hours. The required foundation course, software engineering, can be applied to both certificates. In a similar manner, a student may receive three certificates (software development, business information systems, and decision support systems) by taking a total of 21 credit hours. After completing three certificate programs, a student may then elect to pursue the Master of Information Technology degree. The additional coursework required for the degree will depend upon the number of foundation courses completed while obtaining the certificates. For example, a student completing three certificate programs with a common foundation course would be required to take the other three foundation courses in order to complete the required 30 credit-hour program and receive the Master of Information Technology degree. Program Detail As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the GPIT program consists of both a block of foundation courses and six IT modules with two courses in each module. Details of the foundation courses and modules follow. Foundation Courses The 12 credit-hour block of foundation courses in the GPIT program serve two important purposes. They provide students with the necessary background and analytical skills to successfully pursue the more advanced coursework associated with the IT modules. In addition, since the four foundation courses span IT-related coursework in engineering, computer science and business-related topics, the block of four foundation courses provide students with an overview of many of the topics important to the information technology discipline. Object-Oriented Programming and Java: The basic concepts of object-oriented programming and their relationships to the principles of software engineering are introduced. Emphasis is placed on the programming structures of interfaces, classes, objects, inheritance, and polymorphism and how these structures aid in the development of extensible software systems. Practical experience is gained in the design, construction and debugging of systems in a strongly-typed object-oriented language such as C++ or Java. This course provides the programming skills needed for developing software in other courses, and provides the context for more advanced modules that deal with software engineering and project management. : The principles and tools applicable to the methodical construction and controlled evolution of complex software systems are explored. An overview of all phases of the software life cycle are presented and particular attention is focused on the design, testing and maintenance phases. Emphasis is also placed on the quantitative assessment of cost, reliability and complexity of the software process and of software products. This course provides the essential basis for the study of more specialized topics in software engineering and the context for appreciating the global processes and issues in software development in specific application domains. Fundamentals of Computer Systems: This course discusses the design and organization of modern computer systems including fundamental hardware and software building blocks. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to computer organization and computer communications. Topics related to computer organization include Boolean logic, number systems, data representation and formats, hardware building blocks, processor architectures, memory and storage subsystems, input/output systems, and operating system functions. Topics related to computer communications include synchronous and asynchronous data communication, local and wide area networks, and network protocols, including the basic operation of the TCP/IP protocol suite. Strategic Leadership in Technology-Based Organizations: This course focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary for the development and implementation of effective strategies for the management of technology-based organizations. This involves: developing a general management perspective on technology and innovation, examining the problems of new product development, identifying distinctive technological competencies, licensing and marketing technologies, assessing and forecasting the evolution of technology, and assessing the organizational and industrial context of technology. Information Technology Modules The Graduate Program in Information Technology currently consists of six modules: communications, networking, computer engineering, software development, business information systems and decision support systems. Each module consists of two courses (three semester credit hours each). The courses comprising the modules consist of those normally offered in the regular graduate programs of the participating departments. In this way, the GPIT program can be offered without greatly increasing the required resource base beyond that necessary to accommodate the enrollment associated with the program. 12b5-3

4 The Communications Module: Digital communication systems implement the physical layer of data networks. A basic understanding of these systems is necessary for the understanding of both wired and wireless network performance. The first course in the communications module covers the important concepts of modulation, channel models and optimum receiver design. It also presents an introduction to error control coding. Basic simulation methodologies are presented so that students can gain a feel for the operating characteristics of modern communication systems rather than being restricted to studying the highly idealized communication systems typically presented in basic courses in digital communications. The second course in the communications module provides a survey of the basic techniques for the design, analysis, and implementation of wireless communications links and networks. Specifically covered are the concepts of cellular architecture, frequency reuse, propagation effects and channel modeling and receiver design. The most popular wireless standards are also presented. The Networking Module: Computer networks and their associated protocols form the basis for modern data communications that is at the heart of Information Technology and the Internet. The networking module prepares students to be contributors to the design, selection, management, and operation of networks and it provides important background knowledge for students who choose to become application developers for a networked environment. The module provides students with a basic understanding of network technologies, protocols, and algorithms that form the foundation of networking. The module builds on this foundation to provide students with the knowledge and the analytical capabilities needed to effectively design, deploy, and manage computer networks and protocols. Students completing the networking module will be prepared to conduct further research in networks and protocols, design networks and protocols, and quickly learn operational details needed to manage networks. The Computer Engineering Module: The computer engineering module prepares students to deal with the rapidly increasing complexity of computer systems in the design and selection of digital systems. First, this module will enable the student to employ modern and effective approaches to modeling and synthesis so that he or she can design and realize complex digital systems. Students will learn to create accurate and efficient hardware description language models of digital systems and understand how to use synthesis tools to transform these models into digital logic. Secondly, this module will provide the student with in-depth knowledge of computer architectures so that he or she will be able to understand the structure of computer systems and effectively select or design computing and other digital structures. The Software Development Module: Since software is an integral element in all information technology products and services, the systematic development of software is an essential aspect of the Information Technology program. The software development module provides a pragmatically oriented exposure to the field of software engineering and develops skills in building software systems for internet and world-wide web applications. The foundation courses develop abilities in creating software in a programming language that is suitable for use in internet applications. They also provide an overview of the software engineering field. The courses in the software development module focus on limited but critical aspects of software engineering and internet software. First, the module provides knowledge of, and practice with, modern techniques for designing software systems and insuring their quality. This aspect of the module builds on the survey of software engineering provided in the foundation courses. Secondly, the module provides an in-depth exposure to the development of software for internet and world-wide web applications. Students gain through demonstration, and experience a working knowledge of, the libraries, protocols and techniques used in constructing software systems that exploit the communications power for the internet and the world-wide web. The Business Information Systems Module: In today's business environment, ad-hoc approaches to information systems development are not sufficient. Modern approaches to the development of information systems such as structured systems development, relational database development, and object-oriented systems development, are required. The business information systems module prepares the student to become a business information systems developer using both structured and object-oriented systems development approaches. It also prepares the student to design and develop business information systems that use a relational database. In this module, the student studies the strategies and techniques for dealing with the inherent complexity in the development of information systems. System development topics include: (1) business systems planning; (2) fact-finding and requirements analysis techniques; (3) information systems process modeling; (4) logical and physical design; (5) user interface design; (6) introduction to database management systems and their use in business. Database topics covered include data modeling, normalization, SQL, transaction management and concurrency control, physical data organization, query optimization, and database administration. 12b5-4

5 The Decision Support Systems Module: The advent of powerful microcomputers has revolutionized the manner in which organizations approach many complex managerial problems. This technology allows for the construction of interactive computer-based information systems that use decision rules, models, and comprehensive databases to support the decision-making process. In this module, the student will learn how to design and implement such systems in a visual language environment. Module coursework includes an in-depth coverage of methods for data access, modeling and computation using a visual language, graphical display of support material and report generation methodologies, object sharing between software components, and the deployment of support systems within a distributed computing environment. Client server systems, common object model methodologies, and the distribution of support systems in a web-based environment are examined in the context of distributed decision support systems. The design and use of computer systems on the world wide web and their role in electronic commerce are covered. This component examines the basics of electronic commerce, security issues in sensitive data transfer, and unique aspects of business-oriented commerce, as well as future trends. Program Delivery and Future Plans The Graduate Program in Information Technology was developed to be offered live over Net.Work.Virginia. Most of the live courses originate from Virginia Tech s Northern Virginia Center (NVC) in Falls Church because of its location at the heart of Virginia s information technology industry. Net.Work.Virginia is a broadband, digital communications network supporting two-way voice and video as well as data communications. The initial response to the program justifies making it available to students without regard to time or place. We are therefore anticipating program delivery through the internet including the possibility of CD supplements for those students who do not have the required bandwidth available for quality audio and video transmission. In order to insure that the program meets the changing needs of the information technology industry, a procedure is being put in place that allows, after appropriate review, new modules to be added to the program. Summary The Graduate Program in Information Technology at Virginia Tech consists of both degree and certificate components. The purpose of the program is to provide an academic vehicle for Virginia professionals to enter the rapidly expanding information technology area. The program has a broad focus (spanning three departments and colleges) which reflects the breadth of the disciplines impacting the information technology field. This breath is achieved through a number of parallel modules (currently six) ranging from modules focusing on topics in electrical and computer engineering, through a module focusing on computer science, to two modules focusing on the business aspects of information technology. The program is administered jointly by three colleges through a steering committee. Thus, the program is interdisciplinary, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of information technology. In addition to offering a Masters degree, certificates are offered to those students completing discipline modules. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the members of the Steering Committee for the Graduate Program in Information Technology. It is through their efforts that the structure of the program was developed and the academic requirements defined. Members include: Jeremy Allnutt and Scott Midkiff of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Dennis Kafura and Ing Ray Chen of the Department of Computer Science; Ernest Houck, David Teagarden and Tarun Sen of the Pamplin College of Business; Mark Schaefermeyer, Linda Leffel and Laura Fornash of Continuing Education; Pamela Kurstedt, Assistant Dean of Engineering; and Sam Rankin, Director of Information Technology Programs. The GPIT program as well as this paper is a blend of their ideas, and several of them provided the course and module descriptions that appear in this paper. References [1] Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), Help Wanted: The IT Workforce Gap at the Dawn of a New Century. (Arlington, VA., 1997) [2] Virginia Tech, Help Wanted 1998: A Call for Collaborative Action for the New Millennium. (Blacksburg, VA: Division of Continuing Education, 1998). [3] Lee, H., White House Pledges to Back High-Tech Industry, San Francisco Chronicle, January 13, 1998, pp. A15, A18. [4] United States Department of Commerce: Office of Technology Policy, America s New Deficit: The Shortage of Information Technology Workers. (Washington, D.C.: Department of Commerce, 1997). [5] State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, Study of the Demand for Computer Scientists, Engineers, and other Technologically Skilled Workers in Virginia. (Richmond, VA: SCHEV, 1997), p b5-5