Creating an Undergraduate InfoTech Major.

Franklin Pierce College (New Hampshire) has established an information technology (IT) major which combines courses from the computer science, graphic communications, and mass communication disciplines to conform more closely to the reality of technology in the late 1990s. Information technology brings together tools from these disciplines for the implementation of well designed, robust electronic communication and represents the continuing convergence of technology in the communications and computing fields. The IT major includes computer literacy, graphic design, data communications, media policy, and economics to provide technical as well as conceptual and managerial expertise. The IT major is interested in the rich implementation of emerging technology. Notable features of the IT major include: (1) the dominance of the set of core courses allows tight control over subject matter for students in the major; (2) IT bridges the gap between existing majors; (3) the program is built on existing, popular programs and therefore can be introduced with little extra expenditure; (4) the major will provide the basis for a respectable application to graduate school; (5) the minor provides exposure to different aspects of information technology; and (6) the program is based on a new concept of education in information technology, so comparison with programs at other schools is not possible. (SWC)