New Degree Teaches Students How to Be Effective Technology Users

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 6, 2014) — Beginning Fall 2014, the University of Kentucky College of Communication and Information will position students at the forefront of today’s increasingly interconnected world with a new applied information technology degree program.

A Bachelor of Science in Information Communication Technology (ICT) will provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively apply, use and manage technology when solving problems specifically related to information and communication. Students who major in ICT can expect to work in positions where they are the communication link between people, organizations, and the technologies used to support those organizations’ information infrastructures. 

“Our program really offers a unique advantage because it emphasizes technology within the context of the people who use that technology and the environments in which it is used,” said Jeff Huber, director of the School of Library and Information Science that will house the new major. “The program is designed to emphasize the interconnected relationship between technology and society and how one affects the other.” 

“While there are strong technical components in the curriculum, we adopt a much broader view that considers how information, communication, and technology affect people and communities.”

ICT majors may pursue one of two concentrations, ICT commercialization or technology management. ICT commercialization focuses on ICT as an enabling tool to drive economic growth. The concentration in technology management focuses on using technology to provide a stable operating environment. Students take different courses depending on the degree concentration they pursue, allowing them to focus their degree plan on the option they feel best suits their career interests. Information and course descriptions can be found on the new ICT program website.

ICT is a fast emerging field that encompasses many job sectors. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment growth rates in the ICT sector are forecasted to rise over the next 10 years, with most job categories reflecting double-digit percentage increases. Job categories include information security analysts, Web developers, database administrators, computer network architects, and media and communication specialists.

The College of Communication and Information is the designated iSchool for UK. iSchools are a group of information schools dedicated to advancing the information field. The UK program has already seen a growing interest among undergraduates in courses related to navigating, analyzing, and managing information effectively. Its information studies minor, offered since Spring 2013, is another unique program and UK’s first completely online minor. The IS 200 Information Literacy and Critical Thinking course has received experimental approval as a UK Core course.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ann Blackford, ann.blackford@uky.edu