The Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering (GHSCSE) offers a 4 Plus 1 program that allows qualified students to obtain a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in information technology (IT) and a with a pathway to the Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. This 4 Plus 1 program is offered by GHSCSE at the Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, New Jersey. In particular, three graduate courses: CSCI6638 Operating Systems (3 credits), CSCI6731 Computer Networks and CSCI6738 Cybersecurity, when successfully completed under the 4 Plus 1 program, can be credited toward both the B.S. and M.S. degrees.

Students must have achieved a cumulative grade point ratio (CGPR) of at least 2.75. A minimum of 120 credits is required for the B.S. in information technology. In addition, for degree completion, the B.S. in information technology degree requires a minimum CGPR of 2.00, while the M.S. in computer engineering degree requires a minimum CGPR of 2.75.

Professional Accreditation and Other Designation 

The B.S. in information technology program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET (https://www.abet.org). This accreditation applies only to the B.S. in information technology program offered by the GHSCSE at the Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, New Jersey. 

Students completing the B.S. in information technology program with a concentration in security and forensics are eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion of a National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-designated CAE-CDE program of study from FDU’s Center for Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (CCIA). CAE-CDE denotes the Center for Academic Excellence for Cyber Defense Education. 

Cooperative Education Option  

Students in the B.S. in information technology program have the option to undertake a cooperative education experience and earn a total of 6 academic credits toward their technical electives. 

Degree Plan 

The total degree requirement for the combined degree program is 120 credits. The course distribution is provided below. 

1st Semester (14 credits) 

  • CSCI1105 Survey of Computers and Computer Software (3 credits) 
  • INFO1101 Computer Concepts and Technology (3 credits) 
  • MATH1105 College Algebra (4 credits) 
  • UNIV1001 Transitioning to University Life (1 credit) 
  • WRIT1002 Composition I: Rhetoric and Inquiry (3 credits)

2nd Semester (14 credits) 

  • CGD1177 Introduction to Digital Media (3 credits) 
  • INFO1201 Information Technology (3 credits) 
  • MATH1107 Precalculus (4 credits) 
  • UNIV1002 Preparing for Professional Life (1 credit) 
  • WRIT1003 Composition II: Research and Argument (3 credits)

3rd Semester (16 credits) 

  • EGTG2210 Technical Communications (3 credits) 
  • INFO2101 Computer Programming for Information Technologists I (3 credits) 
  • INFO2105 Internet and Web Applications (3 credits) 
  • UNIV2001 Cross Cultural Perspectives (3 credits) 
  • First course of the Laboratory Science Sequence Elective (4 credits) 

Students are required to complete one full-year laboratory science sequence totaling 8 credits. They select the first course of the sequence from the following courses: 

  • BIOL1221 Biological Diversity Lecture (3 credits) and  
    BIOL1222 Biological Diversity Lab (1 credit)
    or
  • CHEM1201 General Chemistry I Lecture (3 credits) and  
    CHEM1203 General Chemistry Laboratory (1 credit) 
    or 
  • PHYS2101 General Physics I Lecture (3 credits) and  
    PHYS2201 Physics I Laboratory (1 credit)

4th Semester (16 credits) 

  • CSCI2235 Survey of Computing Security (3 credits) 
  • EGTG2286 Digital System Design (3 credits) 
  • INFO2102 Computer Programming for Information Technologists II (3 credits) 
  • INFO2106 Website Design and Management (3 credits) 
  • Second course of the Laboratory Science Sequence Elective (4 credits) 

Select the second course of the sequence in the same science discipline from the following courses: 

  • BIOL1233 Molecules, Cells and Genes Lecture (3 credits) and  
    BIOL1234 Lab: Molecules, Cells and Genes (1 credit)
    or
  • CHEM1202 General Chemistry II Lecture (3 credits) and  
    CHEM1204 Lab: General Chemistry II (1 credit)
    or
  • PHYS2102 General Physics II Lecture (3 credits) and  
    PHYS2202 Physics II Laboratory (1 credit)

5th Semester (15 credits) 

  • CSCI2234 Data Structures and Algorithms (3 credits) 
  • CSCI2247 Assembly Language Programming (3 credits) 
  • ENGR3000 Modern Technologies: Principles, Applications and Impacts (3 credits) 
  • MATH2337 Applied Statistics I (3 credits) 
  • Concentration or Minor or IT Elective Course (3 credits)

6th Semester (15 credits) 

  • CSCI3268 Database Systems (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3274 Linux System Administration (3 credits) 
  • CSCI6638 Operating Systems (3 credits) 
  • INFO3205 Digital Media Publishing (3 credits) 
  • UNIV2002 Global Issues (3 credits)

7th Semester (15 credits) 

  • CSCI6731 Computer Networks (3 credits) 
  • EGTG4269 Management and Engineering Economics (3 credits) 
  • INFO3201 Human Computer interface (3 credits) 
  • INFO4844 Programming for the Internet or  
    Concentration or Minor or IT Elective Course (3 credits) 
  • MATH2255 Discrete Structures (3 credits)

8th Semester (15 credits) 

  • CSCI6738 Cybersecurity (3 credits) 
  • INFO4201 Information Technology Needs Assessment and Management (3 credits) 
  • INFO4205 Information Technology Capstone Project (3 credits)  
  • Concentration or Minor or IT Elective Courses (6 credits)

Concentration or Minor or IT Elective Requirements (12 credits) 

The program offers three in-demand concentration areas: network and system administration, security and forensics and web-development technology. Each concentration is 15 credits. The program also offers a minor in computer forensics. The courses for the three concentrations and the minor are listed below. 

Network and System Administration Concentration 

  • CSCI3274 Linux System Administration (3 credits) 
  • CSCI6638 Operating Systems (3 credits) 
  • CSCI6731 Computer Networks (3 credits) 
  • CSCI6738 Cybersecurity (3 credits) 
  • INFO2101 Computer Programming for Information Technologists I (3 credits) 

Security and Forensics Concentration 

  • CRIM2218 Computer Technologies and Cyber Crime (3 credits) 
  • CRIM3327 File System Forensic Analysis and Investigation (3 credits) 
  • CRIM4010 Computer Forensic, Software and Hardware Applications (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3783 Information Security (3 credits) 
  • CSCI6638 Operating Systems (3 credits)

Web-development Technology Concentration 

  • CGD1177 Introduction to Digital Media (3 credits) 
  • INFO2105 Internet and Web Applications (3 credits) 
  • INFO2106 Website Design and Management (3 credits) 
  • INFO3201 Human Computer Interface (3 credits) 
  • INFO4844 Programming for the Internet (3 credits)

Computer Forensics Minor for Information Technology BS, Cybersecurity MS students

Required Courses (12 credits)  
  • CRIM2218 Computer Technologies and Cyber Crime (3 credits) 
  • CRIM3327 File System Forensic Analysis and Investigation (3 credits) 
  • INFO1101 Computer Concepts and Technology (3 credits) 
  • CSCI6731 Computer Networks
Elective Course (3 credits) 
  • CRIM4010 Computer Forensic, Software and Hardware Applications (3 credits)
    or 
    CSCI6738 Cybersecurity (3 credits)

All five required courses in the network and system administration are already included in the IT core requirements, so students automatically fulfill this concentration. Four out of the five courses in the web-development technology concentration are also included in the IT core requirements, so students just need to take INFO4844 Programming for the Internet (3 credits) to complete this concentration. Moreover, one of the five required courses in the security and forensics concentration is also part of the IT core requirements, so students must take the remaining four courses if they want to complete this concentration. 

The 15-credit minor in computer forensics consists of 12 credits of four required courses and a 3-credit elective to be selected between two courses. Two of the required courses and one of the two elective courses are already included in the IT core requirements. Thus, IT majors only need to take the two remaining required courses, CRIM2218 Computer Technologies and Cyber Crime (3 credits) and CRIM3327 File System Forensic Analysis and Investigation (3 credits) in order to pursue the minor in computer forensics.    

Students can do one of the following to complete the remaining four courses (12 credits): 

  • Take the remaining four courses in the security and forensics concentration to complete this concentration and the minor in computer forensics. 
  • Take INFO4844 Programming for the Internet to fulfill the web-development technology concentration and either 
  • Three 3-credit IT electives or  
    CRIM2218 Computer Technologies and Cyber Crime and CRIM3327 File System Forensic Analysis and Investigation, the two remaining required courses — completing the minor in computer forensics — and one 3-credit IT elective course. 
  • Take CRIM2218 Computer Technologies and Cyber Crime and CRIM3327 File System Forensic Analysis and Investigation — completing the minor in computer forensics — and two 3-credit IT elective courses. 
  • Take four 3-credit IT electives. 

Students must obtain prior approval from the GHSCSE academic adviser for any course selection. The required courses in the three concentrations are listed above. To take any course in the concentration, a student must meet all the prerequisites for that course. They must complete 15 credits of the required courses in the concentration to be eligible for a certificate in that area. 

Information Technology Electives 

A list of recommended IT electives is provided below. Prerequisites for any courses selected must be met. 

  • COMM2215 Photoshop for Advertisement and Illustration (3 credits) 
  • COMM2648, COMM2649 Basic Video Editing Lecture and Laboratory (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3314 Mobile Application Development (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3317 Computer Game Programming (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3331 Advanced Database (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3345 Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3380 UNIX Shell Programming (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3420 Cryptography (3 credits) 
  • CSCI3461 Data Mining and Applications
  • CSCI3485 Big Data Analytics (3 credits) 
  • CSCI4380 Systems Development with Java (3 credits) 
  • EGTE3288 Microprocessor System Design II (3 credits)

For Information 

Alfredo Tan, Director, Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering 
Professor of Electrical Engineering and Gregory Olsen Endowed Chair 
tan@fdu.edu
201-692-2324 

Program Coordinator  

Kalyan Mondal, Director of Center for Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, Coordinator of B.S. in Information Technology Program, Lee Gildart and Oswald Haase School of Computer Sciences and Engineering 
Professor of Electrical Engineering 
mondal@fdu.edu  
201-692-2123