Welcome to the College of Information Sciences and Technology—or IST, as we at Penn State like to say.

Across the globe, information and digital technologies are evolving at astounding speeds and becoming increasingly embedded in all aspects of the human experience. Our college is evolving right along with them, continuously transforming to meet, exceed, and even predict society’s technology needs.

We are committed to understanding how emerging information technologies can be used to improve the way we communicate, live, work, and play. Change is an opportunity to do things differently, and we are working hard to be ahead of the curve in teaching, research, and service.

IST is dedicated to providing excellence in education. Our undergraduate and graduate programs deliver the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed by information professionals as they take on the challenges of an information society.

Our curriculum challenges students to enhance their technological expertise with skills in business, engineering, law, sociology, and more. We provide opportunities for our students to bring theory to life through real-world problems from industry, government, and non-profits.

An IST degree from Penn State opens doors to rewarding and well-paying jobs. Our graduates are connecting people, information, and technology across an expansive array of industries, from health care and finance to consulting and academia. Qualified information professionals are needed everywhere.

IST’s quality of education is augmented by innovative and interdisciplinary research. Our faculty and students are focused on finding strategic ways to harness and leverage vast quantities of data while confronting accompanying challenges head-on. Ultimately, our goal is to help people and organizations make better decisions, start new businesses, and safeguard their privacy.

Diversity drives innovation, and IST welcomes collaborators from all walks of life. Our college — together with stakeholders both within and external to Penn State — is committed to a high-caliber research culture that is rooted in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Join us at the intersection of information, technology, and society.

Andrea Tapia
Dean, College of Information Sciences and Technology