Requirements, Plans, and Forms - B.S. in Information Sciences and Technology

Options within the Major

Within the Information Sciences and Technology major, students must select from one of three options to further focus their studies:

In this option, students learn how to design software and integrate information technologies to meet users’ specific needs. Students work with unfamiliar software programs and computer languages, develop applications, troubleshoot problems, and think logically to solve complex problems.

Note: This option is only available to students who entered the University prior to Fall 2021. Students admitted Fall 2021 and were considering this option should meet with an IST academic adviser to discuss the Human-Centered Design and Development major or to explore the Penn State campuses that continue to offer this option.

In this option, students examine how information technology can enable and support how work is accomplished within and between businesses. Students analyze the needs of an organization, formulate and implement technology-based solutions, and evaluate the outcomes.

Note: This option is only available to students who entered the University prior to Fall 2022. Students admitted Fall 2022 who were considering this option should meet with an IST academic adviser to discuss the Enterprise Technology Integration major or to explore the Penn State campuses that continue to offer this option.

In this option, students explore how technology impacts organizations and society. Students will study how businesses and other organizations use technology in their processes, such as how Starbucks uses Twitter and other social media to promote its brand and marketing messages. Students are encouraged to think creatively and pursue opportunities that will allow them to see firsthand how people and technology interact.

This option is currently the only option available at University Park.

Entrance to Major Requirements

To enter the Information Sciences and Technology major, students must meet the entrance to major requirements below based on the semester that they entered the University. Once all entrance to major requirements have been met, learn how to declare your major by using the Update Academics feature on your LionPath account.

  • Enrolled in the College of IST pre-major (INFST_PMAJ) or Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS)
  • Minimum 2.70 cumulative GPA
  • Earned between 40-70 cumulative credits at Penn State (excludes transfer/test/other credits)
  • Completed or currently taking entrance to major courses
  • A grade of C or better in each of the following courses:
    • IST 110
    • IST 140 or CMPSC 101 or CMPSC 121
    • IST 210
    • IST 220
  • Achieved a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students who have completed or are in progress with all ETM courses and have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher may be considered for an exception. Please use the link below to request a review of your academic records 
  • Enrolled in the College of IST pre-major (INFST_PMAJ) or Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS)
  • Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
  • Earned between 40-70 cumulative credits at Penn State (excludes transfer/test/other credits)
  • Completed or currently taking entrance to major courses
  • A grade of C or better in each of the following courses:
    • IST 110
    • IST 140 or CMPSC 101 or CMPSC 121
    • IST 210
    • IST 220

Suggested Academic Plans and Prerequisite Flowchart

Suggested Academic Plans are based on a student’s semester of entry to Penn State and serve as a guide when scheduling courses. Students should work with their academic adviser and run “Academic Requirements” and “What If” reports in LionPATH to ensure that they are staying on track for graduation.

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 meant to help students acquire knowledge in an application domain and to help them develop supplemental knowledge and competencies related to their chosen option. It is recommended that students choose courses in consultation with an academic adviser or faculty member.

The goal of support of option coursework is to add value to the degree and educational experience by taking courses around a cohesive theme. Areas of focus could include business, manufacturing, health care, hospitality, art, telecommunications, geographic information systems, government, or anywhere else information technology is used.

  • Select nine credits if you are pursuing the Design and Development option
  • Select 12 credits if you are pursuing the Integration and Application option or the People, Organizations, and Society option
  • No more than six credits can be at the 200 level or below
  • Three credits or more must be at the 400 level
  • Courses taken as part of a minor may be used to meet the support of option requirement
  • Not all courses are offered every semester
  • IST and SRA courses that are not prescribed courses may be used to meet the support of option requirement
  • Any CYBER, DS, ETI or HCDD courses may be used to meet the support of option requirement

ACCTG 211
ACCTG 432
ACCTG 471

AG 451

AIR 151
AIR 152
AIR 251
AIR 252
AIR 351
AIR 352
AIR 451
AIR 452

AMST 106
AMST 106N

ARCH 210

ARMY 101
ARMY 102
ARMY 203
ARMY 204
ARMY 301
ARMY 302
ARMY 401
ARMY 402
ARMY 496

ART 1
ART 10
ART 2
ART 3
ART 100
ART 201
ART 290
ART 314

BA 100
BA 243
BA 250
BA 302

BBH 101
BBH 440

BESC 408
BESC 410
BESC 468

BIOL 110

BLAW 243
BLAW 340
BLAW 410
BLAW 425
BLAW 441
BLAW 445
BLAW 473

BLOG 305
BLOG 410
BLOG 415
BLOG 425

BUS 361

CAS 201
CAS 202
CAS 250
CAS 252
CAS 301
CAS 303
CAS 321
CAS 352
CAS 402
CAS 404
CAS 426
CAS 426W
CAS 450
CAS 450W
CAS 452
CAS 455
CAS 471
CAS 483

CMATH 220
CMATH 221

CMPEN 271
CMPEN 275
CMPEN 275H
CMPEN 331

CMPSC 122
CMPSC 122H
CMPSC 302
CMPSC 312
CMPSC 360
CMPSC 428
CMPSC 441
CMPSC 451
CMPSC 452
CMPSC 457
CMPSC 459
CMPSC 460
CMPSC 461
CMPSC 462
CMPSC 465
CMPSC 467
CMPSC 469
CMPSC 470
CMPSC 472
CMPSC 474

COMM 100
COMM 100N
COMM 180
COMM 205
COMM 320
COMM 370
COMM 381
COMM 387
COMM 403
COMM 405
COMM 408
COMM 419
COMM 479
COMM 484
COMM 485
COMM 487
COMM 489
COMM 490
COMM 491
COMM 492

CRIM 100
CRIMJ 12
CRIMJ 13
CRIMJ 100
CRIMJ 433

DART 202
DART 303

EBF 200
EBF 301
EBF 304
EBF 401
EBF 484

ECON 102
ECON 104
ECON 302
ECON 304
ECON 315
ECON 333
ECON 342
ECON 351
ECON 402
ECON 433
ECON 480

EDPSY 14

EDSGN 100

EDTHP 115

EMSC 468

ENGL 200
ENGL 419
ENGL 420

ENGR 310
ENGR 407
ENGR 411

ENNEC 425
ENNEC 482
ENNEC 483
ENNEC 490

ENTR 430

FIN 100
FIN 301

FOR 455

GEOG 30
GEOG 30N
GEOG 126
GEOG 160
GEOG 356
GEOG 363
GEOG 424
GEOG 428
GEOG 430
GEOG 442
GEOG 458
GEOG 463
GEOG 468

HCM 361

HCOMM 330
HCOMM 331
HCOMM 351
HCOMM 450
HCOMM 454
HCOMM 455

HDFS 287
HDFS 302B

HIST 122
HIST 123
HIST 151
HIST 155
HIST 423
HIST 457
HIST 458
HIST 458Y
HIST 459

HM 201
HM 202
HM 350
HM 471

HPA 101
HPA 301
HPA 310
HPA 332
HPA 431
HPA 440
HPA 447
HPA 455
HPA 470

HRIM 470

IE 302
IE 327
IE 404
IE 418
IE 419
IE 450
IE 466

IET 308
IET 402
IET 405

INART 10
INART 110

INFSY 430

INS 400

INSYS 412
INSYS 441
INSYS 447

LARCH 410

LDT 415A
LDT 441
LDT 447
LDT 566

LER 401
LER 414W
LER 458
LER 458Y

LING 1
LING 401
LING 402
LING 404
LING 448
LING 449

MATH 111
MATH 141
MATH 220
MATH 230
MATH 231
MATH 250
MATH 251
MATH 311
MATH 315
MATH 457
MATH 459
MATH 465
MATH 468
MATH 469

MET 303

METEO 473

MGMT 100
MGMT 301
MGMT 321
MGMT 331
MGMT 341
MGMT 402
MGMT 451

MIS 391
MIS 432
MIS 440
MIS 446
MIS 450
MIS 489

MKTG 220
MKTG 221
MKTG 301
MKTG 310
MKTG 445

NAVSC 101
NAVSC 102
NAVSC 103
NAVSC 201
NAVSC 202
NAVSC 204
NAVSC 301
NAVSC 302
NAVSC 311
NAVSC 313
NAVSC 322
NAVSC 401
NAVSC 402
NAVSC 411

PHIL 106
PHIL 107
PHIL 212
PHIL 221
PHIL 233
PHIL 405
PHIL 406
PHIL 407
PHIL 412
PHIL 418
PHIL 420
PHIL 423
PHIL 429
PHIL 433

PHOTO 400

PHYS 211
PHYS 212

PLSC 1
PLSC 14
PLSC 412
PLSC 418
PLSC 419
PLSC 428
PLSC 441
PLSC 442
PLSC 460
PLSC 471
PLSC 472
PLSC 473
PLSC 474
PLSC 475
PLSC 489
PLSC 490
PLSC 491

PNG 430

PSYCH 100
PSYCH 413
PSYCH 420
PSYCH 423
PSYCH 424
PSYCH 444
PSYCH 456
PSYCH 457
PSYCH 458
PSYCH 459
PSYCH 461
PSYCH 484
PSYCH 485

PUBPL 304
PUBPL 305
PUBPL 446

RLST 423

RM 302
RM 425

SCM 301
SCM 310
SCM 320
SCM 404
SCM 405
SCM 416
SCM 418
SCM 430
SCM 432
SCM 435
SCM 450

SOC 1
SOC 13
SOC 23
SOC 3
SOC 5
SOC 55
SOC 287W
SOC 403
SOC 404
SOC 419
SOC 444

SRA 1
SRA 99

STAT 301
STAT 401
STAT 460
STAT 462
STAT 470
STAT 470W
STAT 480

STS 5
STS 101
STS 107
STS 151
STS 200
STS 233
STS 407
STS 408
STS 460
STS 470

WMNST 205
WMNST 428
WMNST 455

Required Internship

All undergraduate students in the College of IST are required to complete at least one internship before graduation. Please review provided resources and plan early.

For specific information and resources related to the internship requirement, which includes enrolling in the 1-credit IST 495 course, contact the Office of Career Solutions and Corporate Engagement. The Career Resources webpages provide information to assist you in determining your major and career goals. The Discovering Your IST Career Path and Past Student Internships pages may be especially helpful in exploring your major.

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Office of Undergraduate Academic Advising

E103 Westgate Building
University Park, PA 16802

Make an Appointment

advising@ist.psu.edu
(814) 865-8947