To meet a projected demand for computer science and information technology occupations, Georgia Southern University is launching a new, completely online, information technology degree.

Affordably priced, the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) online degree is a 124-credit hour program designed to provide a solid foundation in Information Technology including infrastructure and infrastructure management, networking, operating systems, cyber Security, programming, and data science.

“Georgia Southern’s new online Bachelor of Information Technology degree is ideal for anyone looking to advance within an already established career in the IT industry or to break into this growing field on the ground level,” said Mohammad Davoud, dean of Georgia Southern’s Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing. “This degree meets a growing need in Georgia, and the country. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of computer and information technology occupations to grow 13 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations.”

The new degree will be offered through eMajor, a University System of Georgia (USG) program supported by the system's eCampus, which works with USG institutions across the state to provide quality, affordable, high-demand post-secondary degrees and credentials that address the workplace needs of Georgia and beyond. eMajor programs are ideal not only for traditional students who wish to take advantage of online course delivery, but also for working professionals, military members, transfer students and others seeking alternative routes to degree completion.

As an eMajor program, tuition for the new online IT degree is set at an affordable $199 per credit hour, and students will have access to a wealth of additional support services such as free online tutoring and student success coaches.

Applications are being accepted now. The first classes in the program will begin in January 2020.

“We are excited to have the first Georgia Southern degree to be offered through eMajor,” said Reinhold Gerbsch, director of Industrial Relations for the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing. “Graduates will be able to choose from jobs such as computer network architects, cybersecurity experts, computer systems analysts, or database administrators. Statistics show the median annual wage for computer and information technology is more than $86,000 a year.”