Information Communication Technology

Overview

ICT is NMSU’s premier distance education Information Technology (IT) program accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) curriculum covers the topics and concepts that are required to design, implement, and manage a variety of computer-based information systems.

The program is designed to be an online two-year degree completion educational path to a baccalaureate degree for graduates of computer and technology-related associate degree programs from community colleges or other two-year institutions. It is also a viable degree path for students who have completed the freshmen and sophomore years of computer or technology-related programs at four-year institutions including New Mexico State University. Students taking the distance ICT courses must have familiarity with and unrestricted access to a computer with a CD drive, a current web browser, a high speed connection to the Internet without restrictions, email capability, a sound card, and Microsoft Office. Technologies used for course delivery include WebCT, Quicktime videos, PDF files, and other commonly used formatting. Some software required for specific courses will be available at student discount. The NMSU Distance Education Homepage has more information on orientation, support, the use of library resources, and the use of the university bookstore for students in distance programs.

IT includes all aspects of managing and processing information on all layers of systems within an organization infrastructure (hardware, operating systems, applications, databases, storage, servers, telecommunication technologies and more). IT professionals need to stay abreast of new technology, and they must be very familiar with how to use operating systems and server software, including Linux, Apache, OpenSSL, Windows Server, Oracle, MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server and languages such as C, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MySQL, PHP, Python and Java.

What You Will Need

Windows 10 with 12GB RAM
High speed internet
Webcam/Microphone
Microsoft Office

Students must complete all University degree requirements, which can see be seen with full details on the ICT Catalogs Page and College of Engineering degree requirements, found on the COE Catalog Page.

As a completion program, entering students are expected to have completed two years of college-level work and satisfied the following requirements: The General Education requirements as well as Viewing a Wider World courses. Students must complete all university degree requirements, which include: General Education requirements, Viewing a Wider World requirements, and elective credits to total at least 120 credits with 48 credits in courses numbered 300 or above. Developmental coursework will not count towards the degree requirements and/or elective credits, but may be needed in order to take the necessary English and Mathematics coursework. The General Education requirements may be completed with transfer credits from previous institution.

View Areas

See the General Education section of this catalog for a full list of courses

Area I: Communications
Area II: Mathematics
Area III: Laboratory Sciences
Area IV: Social/Behavioral Science
Area V: Humanities
Area VI: Fine Arts
VWW: See the Viewing Wider World section for a full list of courses
Elective: Credit may vary based on prerequisites, dual credit, AP credit, double majors, and/or minor coursework. Students should discuss elective requirements with their advisor.

To get individualized reports and reflect on the academic progress toward the degree, use the STAR Audit Report. This tool can be used to show what credits are missing by using a checklist. This can calculate the GPA and show what kind of courses still need to taken.

The Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) are aligned with the Institution’s mission to serve the educational needs of New Mexico’s diverse population through comprehensive programs of education, research, extension education, and public service. As the state’s land grant university, it is the responsibility of educational programs, especially those in engineering technology, to prepare students to enter the local and regional workforce and engage them in community service along the way. And are further defined below:

1. Student graduates will be proficient in the following technologies:

Coding
Computing Infrastructure
Database
Information Security
Networks
Operating Systems
Web

2. Student graduates will continue their professional training and adapt to changes in the workplace though additional education, formal or informal.

3. Student graduates will show an awareness of ethical, societal and professional responsibilities.

Student graduates in the NMSU Information Engineering Technology program will have an appropriate mastery of the knowledge, techniques, skills and modern tools of Information and Communication Technology including:

The analysis, design, testing, maintenance, security, operation and documentation for facilities* involved in the process and transfer of information in information engineering technologies.
The applied knowledge of electronics, electrical components, computer architecture, and infrastructure including applications of computer systems, communications and digital signal propagation needed in data transport.
The use of mathematics including statistics, probability, discrete, Boolean, algebra, trigonometry and calculus for supporting the analysis, design, and maintenance of facilities* that process and transfer information.
Project management techniques and teamwork necessary for design and implementation of facilities* that process and transfer information and the effective use of communication skills to prepare and present technical reports, memos, and presentations.

*Facilities are defined to include operating systems, networks, media, databases, computers, security and information technology systems.

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology degree will exhibit the skills and characteristics specified under the Department’s Program Outcomes. These Outcomes will be evaluated via the following Assessment Tools:

1. Senior capstone courses

A senior capstone courses is an assessment tools for the ICT, being ICT 435. Class Assessment Forms for these classes are the assessment tools.

2. Performance in specific components of student work

This measure includes extracting specific categories of student work from several classes in order to measure an outcome. For example, the lab portion from several classes is used to measure outcome laboratory and field testing, working in teams, communication and evaluating engineering materials. Class Assessment Forms for specific classes are the assessment tools. 3. Performance in activity or service based learning (club functions/competitions/conferences/projects)Students in the ICT program are active in several regional and national organizations and competitions. These include: the Cyber Defense League and SWCCDC.

3. Certification Tests

Several certification opportunities present themselves to students during their time in the ICT Program. Results from these certification tests are used to measure outcomes which deal with field testing, laboratory skills, quality and lifelong learning

Graduation Plan Curriculum for 2-Year Program ↓

First Year	Second Year	Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
General Education	Transfer Credits	ICT 360 (3)	ICT 320 (3)	ICT 362 (3)	ICT 435 (3)
		ICT 377 (3)	ICT 339 (3)	ICT 450 (3)	ICT 457 (3)
		OECS 185 (3)	ICT 457 (3)	ICT 364 (3)	ICT 463 (3)
		MATH 121G (3)	ICT 477 (3)	ICT 460 (3)	VWW (3) (See Above)
		Choose one (3) ICT 352 or OECS 195 or E T 262 or C S 152	ICT 462 (3)	VWW (3) (See Above)

30	33	15	15	15	12
					GRAND TOTAL: 120