As the technology explosion continues, Southern Polytechnic State University has been authorized by the Board of Regents to offer a new degree - the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT). The program will supplement SPSU's current master's degree in Information Technology.

The Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree is designed to meet the high demand for professional knowledge in the strategy, development, and administration of integrated computing, management and information technology systems. The program combines courses from computer science and management with a new information technology curriculum, and will be managed from the School of Computing and Software Engineering.

"This new degree is both unique and exciting," said Dr. Becky Rutherfoord, acting department head of Computer Science. "It combines many of the essentials of computer science with a strong emphasis on management as well."

The program will be offered on campus, while some courses are available through distance education on the Internet or on videotape, according to Rutherfoord. The new BSIT will coincide this fall with the offering of the new Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering. Both of these programs will contribute graduates to Governor Barnes' Yamacraw project.

"The demand for information technology specialists is one of the fastest growing needs in the region, especially in Atlanta," said Dr. Lisa A. Rossbacher, president of SPSU. "We want to provide the companies of Georgia with a solid pipeline of information technology graduates."