Advising FAQs
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The document provides answers to frequently asked questions about the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at Penn State. It addresses questions about differences between IST and computer science majors, housing options, extracurricular activities, declaring a major, study abroad opportunities, course registration, and other academic advising topics. The document aims to help IST students navigate their academic program and resources available to them.
Advising FAQs
- 1. ISTAdvisingCenter,104ISTBuilding,814‐865‐8947,advising@ist.psu.edu FrequentlyAskedQuestions: WhatisthedifferencebetweenInformationSciencesandTechnologyandComputerScience? ISTbridgesthegapbetweencreatorsandusersofIT.Ituseshardwareandsoftware(andothertypesof informationtechnology),aswellascommunicationsandbusinessskillstosolveproblemsinanyfield. Theprimaryfocusisoncomputer,behavioral,andsocialsciences.ManystudentsthatenrollintoIST havethefollowingincommon: Theyenjoyusingtechnology Theylikeworkingwithpeople Theylikethechallengeofsolvingproblems Theyarecomfortableworkingwithmath Theywanttomakeadifference Computerscienceusesmathandphysicstodesignandcreatethecomputersoftware.Itdevelops creatorsofITanditsprimaryfocusisonmathematicsandphysics.Itsfoundationisbasedonbuilding anddeconstructingoperatingsystems. WhatcanIdowithanSRA(SecurityandRiskAnalysis)degree? SRAcanhelpputyouonthefrontlineinconfrontingthreatstooursecurity,respondingtoemergencies, protectingvitalinformation,andhelpingtocreatelawsandpoliciesthatensurepersonalprivacy.More thanever,problemsolverswithbroadskillsandrelevantexperienceareneededtomeetthechallenges postedbyidentitytheft,cyberterrorism,andotherglobalproblems.WiththethreeoptionsinSRA,you canchooseto: Focusonstrategicandtacticallevelsofintelligencecollection,analysis,anddecision‐making, Focusonnetworksecurity,cyber‐threatdefense,informationwarfare,andcriticalinfrastructure protection,or Focusonlegal,regulatory,ethical,andavastarrayofothertopicsassociatedwithsecurityand risk. IsthereanyspecialhousingforCollegeofISTstudents? Yes,atUniversityPark.TheISTSpecialLivingOption (SLO)isavailabletostudentswhowouldliketolive amongotherswithsimilarinterests.Studentsareabletoassisteachotherwithschoolworkandbuild friendshipsoutsidetheclassroom.TherearealsospecialeventssponsoredbytheISTSLO,whicharenot availabletoeveryonelivingoncampus.
- 2. HowcanIgetinvolvedinextracurricularactivities? TheCollegeofISTandPennStateoffermanystudentorganizationsspanningabroadrangeofinterests. Visitthe college'sstudentorganizationWebpage andPennState'sstudentactivitydirectory formore information. WhenwillIenterintoamajor? Theentrancetoamajorbecomesofficialduringthesummersemesterafteryoursophomoreyear.All first‐semesterstudentsenteringtheCollegeofISTareadmittedintoacommonyear(pre‐major)status, calledINFST.StudentsofficiallydeclaretheirmajoronlineusingPennState'seLionsystemduringthe secondsemesteroftheirsophomoreyear. ArethereanyrequirementsforgettingintotheISTBSorSRAmajorforthe2009‐2010admits? StudentsinterestedinISTBSneedtotakeIST110,IST210,IST220withaCorbetterbytheendof Spring2011.StudentsinterestedinSRAneedtocompleteIST110,SRA111,SRA211withaCorbetter bytheendofSpring2011.Bothmajorsrequireacumulativegrade‐pointaverageof2.0orhigherbythe endofFall2010andmaintainedthroughSpring2011. ArethereanyrequirementsforgettingintotheISTBAmajorforthe2009‐2010admits? Yes.TobeeligibleforentrancetotheInformationSciencesandTechnology(ISTBA)major,students musthavethefollowing: Achievedatleastthirdsemesterclassificationandnogreaterthanfourthsemesterclassification whilepursuingaprogramofstudyappropriateforentrytothemajorasshownintheBulletin. Achievedaminimumcumulativegradepointaverageof2.00priortoandthroughtheendofthe semesterduringwhichtheentrance‐to‐majorprocedureiscarriedout. ConsultedwithanofficiallydesignatedCollegeofInformationSciencesandTechnology academicadviserpriortothecompletionof60creditsofcourseworktodesignaformaland approvedprogramthatmeetsspecificandappropriateeducationaland/orcareergoals. HowdoImakeanappointmentwithanAcademicAdviserintheCollegeofIST? ToscheduleappointmentsstudentscancalltheAdvisingCenterat814‐865‐8947,stopby104IST,or emailadvising@ist.psu.edu.Appointmentscannotbemadeonlineorthroughemailingyourassigned adviser.StudentsenrolledintheCollegeofISTwillmeetwiththeirassignedadviser,whichcanbefound byrunningadegreeauditthrougheLion.Registrationisabusyperiodfortheadvisers;itis recommendedthatyoucontacttheAdvisingCenterearly,atleasttwoweeksbeforeyour registrationdate,toscheduleanappointment. I’mconsideringdoingaminor,wherecanIfindinformationonwhatminorsareavailable? Minorsaregreatwaystosupplementyoureducationalgoals.Informationonminorscanbefoundinthe UniversityBulletin.Also,youcancheckouttheFAQpageontheISTminorwebsiteforadditional information.UseeLiontoobtainadegreeauditfortheminoryouareconsideringandplantomeetwith youradvisertoreviewhowminorcoursescanbeusedinyourISTorSRAdegree.