New IT Degree Program Enrolls First Students

In its first semester, the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) program at the KU Edwards Campus has seven majors and over 140 inquiries. The BSIT undergraduate degree is offered through the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS).  

"We are excited by the tremendous interest shown in our new program, which came in response to demands by commercial, industrial and government organizations," said EECS Associate Chair for Edwards Campus programs Hossein Saiedian.  

A collaboration between Johnson County Community College (JCCC) and KU Edwards Campus, the program is designed for working adults seeking higher education during evenings and professionals seeking to enhance their technical knowledge. BSIT students first obtain an associate's degree in IT at JCCC before coming to the Edwards Campus for upper-level courses that include Web technologies, cybersecurity, computer networking and information management. The Start 2 Finish educational partnership enables students to transfer seamlessly from the community college to the university to earn their bachelor degree.

"By enhancing IT educational opportunities within Johnson County, we will help area industries expand their IT infrastructures," Dr. Saiedin said. "Our new undergraduate program will advance the state of the art in IT education, improve regional productivity and competitiveness and offer best practices."

The BSIT is the second new degree program made possible through the Johnson County Education Research Triangle, which was created by a one-eighth cent sales tax in 2008. The initiative has generated more than $15 million annually to fund higher education and degree offerings through a partnership among Johnson County, the University of Kansas and Kansas State University.