Not Enrolling New Students
As of November 13, 2024, the B.S., Information Sciences and Technology program at University Park is no longer enrolling new students.
- Students who were admitted to Penn State for spring 2025 or earlier can complete the B.S., IST degree with no changes to their status or degree requirements.
- Students admitted to the B.S., IST program for summer or fall 2025 should work with an academic adviser to select a new major that aligns with their interests.
- Prospective students should explore the college's other majors and connect with Undergraduate Recruiting to learn more.
Options within this Major
Within the Information Sciences and Technology major, students must select from one of three options to further focus their studies.
Entrance to Major Requirements
An Entrance to Major requirement is a set of criteria that you must meet to officially be accepted into a specific major at Penn State. To enter the Information Sciences and Technology major, you must meet the entrance to major requirements below based on the semester you entered the University.
Suggested Academic Plan
Suggested Academic Plans are based on your semester of entry to Penn State and serve as a guide when scheduling courses. Work with your academic adviser and run “Academic Requirements” and “What If” reports in LionPATH to ensure that you are staying on track for graduation.
Prerequisite Flowchart
Prerequisite flowcharts visually represent the major's suggested academic plan including course prerequisites and sequencing. The flowcharts are intended to be used as a planning tool along with the Bulletin Suggested Academic Plan and the LionPath What-If and/or Academic Requirements reports.
Support of Option Courses
Support of option courses are designed to help you acquire knowledge in an application domain and develop supplemental knowledge and competencies related to your chosen option. It is recommended that you select courses in consultation with an academic adviser or faculty member.
The goal of support of option coursework is to add value to your degree and educational experience by taking courses around a cohesive theme. Your areas of focus could include business, manufacturing, health care, hospitality, art, telecommunications, geographic information systems, government, or any other field where information technology is used.
Required Internship
Every B.S., Information Sciences and Technology student is required to complete at least one internship before graduating. For specific information and resources related to the internship requirement, which includes enrolling in the 1-credit IST 495 course, visit the Internship Program page.
Internship Program Overview