DESCRIPTION
The Bachelor of Technology Degree in Information Technology (IT) provides students with a balanced, advanced education in computer systems, database systems, software development, computer programming, data communications and networking, business and management, liberal education, communications and personal skills. The degree program is designed for students entering the program directly in Year 1 or for:
- Students who have completed the first two years of the Computer Information Systems (CISY) Diploma program from Kwantlen University College
- Graduates holding a Computer Information Systems (CISY) Diploma or equivalent from Kwantlen University College or other institutions
- Computer professionals wishing to obtain advanced skills and formal qualifications
- Degree and diploma holders from non-computing disciplines wishing to make a career move into Information Technology discipline
The degree program is comprised of two main components: a technical component, and a Liberal Education component. In the technical component, students study advanced information technologies that integrate problem-solving skills, technical skills and business knowledge. In the Liberal Education component, students take courses designed to equip them with humanistic perspectives, which are an essential element for success in today’s multicultural milieu and global marketplace.
The optional co-operative education internship component expands the skills of students in the areas of personal management, communications, and teamwork skills. Many courses are offered in the evenings so that working professionals may complete part of the degree requirement outside normal working hours.
Options: Regular and Co-op Mode
Students may graduate from either the regular Bachelor of Technology degree mode or the optional Co-operative Education mode.
In order to receive a Co-operative Education designation, the following criteria must be met in addition to the 120 credit hours of course work:
- Completion of COOP 1101
- Satisfactory completion of one eight-month work term or two four-month work terms
Admission Requirements to Co-op Education
Co-op admission is optional/selective. Students wishing to choose the Co-op option must register into COOP 1101 upon admission into the degree program. If you have already taken COOP 1101, contact the Co-op Office to indicate your interest in the Co-op option. Prerequisites for the first Co-op work term (COOP 3210) are COOP 1101, permission of the instructor and a minimum 2.5 grade point average in any five program (INFO) courses.
In addition to academic requirements, satisfactory work evaluations are required in this Co-op option.
Please refer to the Co-operative Education section of the calendar or contact the Co-op Education department at 604.599.2465 for more information on the Co-op option.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
A graduate of this program may find employment in following areas:
- Software analysis, design and development
- Web design, development and integration
- Data warehouse and data mining design, development and administration
- Distributed systems design and development
- Network and telecommunication system administration
- Software quality assurance, testing and validation
- Project management
- Human computer interface design
- Multimedia development
- Hardware/software technical support
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
For all students entering the program in first year, the admission requirements are met by all of the following:
- BC high school English 12 with a B or better, or equivalent
- Principles of Math 11 with a C+ or better, or equivalent or Applications of Math 12 with a B or better
For all students entering the program in the third year, upon completion of two years of study, in addition to general admission requirements, the program requirements are met by one of the following:
- Completion of a CISY diploma program, or equivalent qualification from other institutions with a GPA of 2.7.
- Students who do not have a two-year computing-related diploma may meet the admission requirements if they have completed 60 university transferable credits from any recognized institution with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 including the five required bridging courses or transferable equivalents with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7.
Bridging Program Courses (or equivalents)
Students who have completed a minimum of 60 post-secondary credits from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field other than technology are required to complete these bridging courses. Students do not have to repeat any courses they have already taken, including equivalent courses from other institutions.
- CISY 1212 Systems Analysis and Design
- CISY 2311 C/C++ Programming (or CPSC 1103: Introduction to Computer Programming I)
- CISY 2313 Data Communications
- CISY 2314 Database Management Systems
- CISY 2315 Data Structure (or CPSC 2302: Data and Program Organization)
Note: Students who have graduated with the diploma in Automation Engineering Robotics or Electronics Engineering Technology Program of Kwantlen University College are required to complete the following three bridging courses:
- CISY 1212 Systems Analysis and Design
- CISY 2314 Database Management Systems
- CISY 2315 Data Structure (or CPSC 2302: Data and Program Organization)
Continuance Requirements
For students admitted to Year 1 of the program, continuation after achieving 60 credits requires:
- A program GPA of at least 2.7
- Successful completion of the first year English and Applied Communications requirements
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
Students wishing to attempt PLA credits should contact the Advising office and the PLA Coordinator in the academic department offering the course for which they are seeking PLA credit (e.g.: a student desiring PLA credit for CISY 2313 – Data Communications must contact Educational Advising and the Computer Sciences and Information Systems Department directly). This assessment should be initiated at least six months in advance of the intended start date.
CONTENT
The complete degree program will require 120 semester credit hours of post-secondary courses. This includes the initial two years of post-secondary education equal to 60 semester credit hours for students entering the program at Year 3. The third and fourth year courses will provide an additional 60 semester credit hours consisting of 39 semester credit hours of Information Technology studies, 6 semester credit hours of free electives and 15 semester credit hours of Liberal Education studies. This degree is integrated with an optional eight-month Co-op internship.
The courses in third and fourth year are rigorous and demanding. Prior to registering, the student should carefully consider the time requirements of part-time versus full-time study based on their individual work and personal situation.
Note: All courses are not offered at all times or on all campuses. It is important to ensure work and personal schedules can accommodate the posted schedule times prior to committing to the program.
Normal Course Progression - Regular Mode
Students must complete the following courses:
Group A (Required Courses)
Group A (Required Courses)
- Year 2
- CISY 2311 C/C++ Programming
- CISY 2312 Systems Development Methodologies
- CISY 2313 Data Communications
- CISY 2314 Database Management Systems
- CISY 2411 GUI and Object-Oriented Programming
- CISY 2413 CASE and 4GL Implementation
- CMNS 1140 Business and Technical Communication: Theory and Application
- CISY 2415 Computer Project (Note: Students completing all required courses for Co-op mode are exempt from this course)
- CISY 2315 Data Structure
- CISY 2412 Emerging Technologies
- CISY 2414 Management of Information Systems
Group B (three Courses - can be taken any semester)
- All of:
- Two of:
- ACCT 1230 Business Statistics
- ACCT 2293 Introduction to Financial Accounting
- ACCT 3320 Introductory Management Accounting
- Any undergraduate level ECON (one course)
- Any undergraduate level MRKT (one course)
Group A (Required Courses)
Group A (Required Courses)
- Year 4
- INFO 4220 Advanced Systems Diagnosis and Interfaces
- INFO 4230 Software Engineering Implementation
- INFO 4310 Entrepreneurial Development in Information Technology*
- INFO 4320 Software Quality Assurance
- INFO 4330 Data Warehousing and Data Mining
- INFO 4340 Integration Project
- Two of:
- Year 3 or 4
- INFO 3220 Multimedia Systems
- INFO 4210 Human Factors and Computer Interface Design
- INFO 4350 Introduction to Wireless Technologies and Programming
- INFO 4360 Information System Security
*Note: Students are required to participate in an actual sales project that counts towards part of their graded assessment.
Group B (Liberal Education)
All Business degrees require the completion of 15 credit hours of Liberal education. They are made up as follows:
Required 1 third or fourth year Ethics course
Students typically select from:
- PHIL 3033 Business Ethics (formerly ENTR 3033)
- LBED 4210 Ethics and Social Issues
- or an equivalent third or fourth-year Ethics course
Liberal Education Electives – four from:
Courses approved by the Liberal Education Committee for use by School of Business students (view approved courses online at www.kwantlen.ca/calendar/lbedelec.html). Please consult with an Educational Advisor or view the online advising website (http://www.kwantlen.ca/counadvs/).
Note: Students are reminded to complete the required 6 semester credit hours of electives, if they have not already done so.
English Requirement
A first year English course (excluding ENGL 1099) is a graduation requirement for all Kwantlen University College degrees. If English was not taken previous to BTech entry, students must take ENGL 1100 or 1110 (or equivalents) in addition to the above courses, resulting in 123 credits to graduate.
Normal Course Progression - Co-operative Education Mode
In addition to the regular mode as outlined above (Grp A and B including the English Requirement), Co-op Students must also take the following Co-op courses:
Please refer to the Co-operative Education section of the calendar or contact the Co-op Education department at 604-599-2465 for more information on the Co-op program.
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EXCHANGES
Kwantlen is participating in Canada-European Community Program for Co-operation in Higher Education and Training and has exchange agreements for BTech students with partner institutions in Finland, Germany and Spain.
For more information about international programs, visit the International Education website at: www.kwantlen.ca/international_ed/ or email the International Education department at inted@kwantlen.ca
GRADUATION
Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a Bachelor of Technology Degree. Graduates may use the designation BTech (I.T.) after their names.