Southern Polytechnic has been authorized by the Board of Regents to offer a new degree: a Master of Science in Information Technology.

The Master of Science in Information Technology degree, jointly administered by the university's College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Management, meets the high demand for professional degrees in the strategy, development and administration of integrated computing and telecommunications systems. The program is targeted for working professionals who want to attend evening, weekend or part-time classes, and will provide graduates with an innovative mixture of technical and managerial skills.

"This new program directly addresses the workforce needs of Georgia by increasing the knowledge and skills of professionals working in the field of information technology," said Southern Polytechnic President Dr. Lisa Rossbacher. "Graduates will not only be able to fill existing jobs, but they will also be able to create new jobs and businesses."

"I'm particularly pleased that this new program has such a strong interdisciplinary emphasis, linking computer science and management perspectives."

The Master of Science in Information Technology will include courses in business, finance, accounting, marketing principles, computer programming principles, computer database management, production database management and statistics. The program will serve technical professionals wishing to develop management and business skills, and business professionals wishing to develop technical and technical management skills. The degree will be offered via traditional instruction, distance learning, or a mix of the two, according to Rossbacher.