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Program Description
As technology increasingly mediates human endeavors, many of the most urgent problems we face are, in large part, complex technological problems. In order to tackle these complex problems and maximize the positive societal impacts technology could have, we need a diverse, socially conscious workforce and citizenry to oversee and guide the design, development, and implementation of technology towards fair, just, and ethical outcomes. The field of information requires people with analytical and complex decision-making skills, including technical skills and strong communication and critical thinking skills. Equally important are people well-versed in the ways that history, politics, culture, and context shape interactions among people, information, and technology.
Entrance to Major
To be eligible for the Information Technology Ethics and Compliance major, students must have completed the following courses with a grade of C or better in each: IEC 100, IEC 200, IST 140, IST 210, STAT 200 or DS 200.
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology Ethics and Compliance, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Requirements for the Major | 93-94 |
18 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GA courses, 6 credits of GH courses, 6 credits of GQ courses, 3 credits of GS courses.
Requirements for the Major
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CYBER 221 | Overview of Information Security | 3 |
| DS 435 | Ethical Issues in Data Science Practice | 3 |
| ETI 301 | Information and Organizations | 3 |
| ETI 302 | IT Project Management | 3 |
| IEC 100 | Introduction to Social Implications of Information Technology | 3 |
| IEC 200 | A Critical Theory Perspective on Information Technology and Design | 3 |
| IEC 300 | Socially Responsible Information Management | 3 |
| IEC 320W | Information and Ethics | 3 |
| IST 130 | Emerging Technologies in Popular Culture  | 3 |
| IST 140 | Introduction to Application Development | 3 |
| IST 210 | Organization of Data | 3 |
| IST/COMM 234N | Digital Cultures | 3 |
| IST 235 | Gender and the Global Information Technology Sector | 3 |
| IST 402 | Emerging Issues and Technologies | 3 |
| IST 431 | The Information Environment | 3 |
| IST 432 | Legal and Regulatory Environment of Information Science and Technology | 3 |
| IST 440W | Information Sciences and Technology Integration and Problem Solving | 3 |
| IST 452 | Legal and Regulatory Environment of Privacy and Security | 3 |
| IST 489 | Research Methods for the Information Sciences and Technology | 3 |
| IST 495 | Internship | 1 |
| SOC 3 | Introductory Social Psychology | 3 |
| SRA 111 | Introduction to Security and Risk Analysis | 3 |
| SRA 231 | Decision Theory and Analysis | 3 |
| SRA 471 | Informatics, Risk, and the Post-Modern World | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Any First-Year Seminar | 1 | |
| MATH 22 or higher | 3-4 | |
| PHIL 107 | Philosophy of Technology | 3 |
| or PHIL 119 | Ethical Leadership | |
| STAT 200 | Elementary Statistics | 4 |
| or DS 200 | Introduction to Data Sciences | |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Focus Area: Select 12 credits from department list with at least 3 credits at the 400-level | 12 | |
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Undergraduate Academic Advising Center
E103 Westgate Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-8947
advising@ist.psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2025-26 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.
Information Technology Ethics and Compliance, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| IEC 100*# | 3 | IEC 200*# | 3 | ||
| First-Year Seminar* | 1 | MATH 22 (or Higher) (GQ)*‡† | 3-4 | ||
| IST 140*# | 3 | IST 130 (GA)*† | 3 | ||
| ENGL 15 (or any GWS)‡ | 3 | CAS 100A, 100B, or 100C (or any GWS)‡ | 3 | ||
| SRA 111 (GS)*† | 3 | General Education Course (GN, GA, GH, or GHW) | 3 | ||
| General Education Course (GN, GA, GH, or GHW) | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 15-16 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| IST 210*# | 3 | SRA 231* | 3 | ||
| STAT 200 or DS 200 (GQ)*‡#† | 4 | PHIL 107 or 119 (GH)*† | 3 | ||
| CYBER 221* | 3 | ENGL 202C or 202D (GWS)‡ | 3 | ||
| IST 234N (GH)*† | 3 | IST 235 (US)* | 3 | ||
| General Education Course (GN, GA, GH, or GHW) | 3 | General Education Course (GN, GA, GH, or GHW) | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| IEC 300* | 3 | IST 431* | 3 | IST 495* | 1 |
| ETI 301* | 3 | IST 432* | 3 | ||
| ETI 302* | 3 | IEC 320W* | 3 | ||
| SOC 3 (GS)* | 3 | General Education Course (GN, GA, GH, or GHW) | 3 | ||
| Application Focus Area* | 3 | Application Focus Area* | 3 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 1 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| DS 435* | 3 | IST 440W* | 3 | ||
| IST 452* | 3 | SRA 471* | 3 | ||
| IST 489* | 3 | IST 402* | 3 | ||
| Application Focus Area* | 3 | Application Focus Area 4XX* | 3 | ||
| General Education Course (GN, GA, GH, or GHW) | 3 | ||||
| 15 | 12 | ||||
| Total Credits 120-121 | |||||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
Advising Notes:
- Students will be responsible for incorporating 6 credits of Integrative Studies into their General Education selections.
- Students will need to appropriately distribute their general education credits within the designated areas. A full explanation is available on the General Education website. Please work with your assigned adviser to be sure you are meeting these requirements.
- Students will be able to modify their General Education selections within certain parameters to explore areas of interest in consultation with their adviser.
Application Focus Areas:
- Students pick one of the tracks below or create a custom 4-course application focus. All 12 credits must be in the same application focus area.
- Business Competency
- Select 12 credits from the courses below:
- Note 1: This focus area does not require 3-credits of 400-level courses as part of the application focus.
- Note 2: Students are encouraged to take these courses from the Smeal College of Business at University Park.
- Note 3: Taking all of the courses listed here, and a Statistics course, will meet the requirements for the Smeal Business Fundamentals Certificate.
- Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations
- Health Care
- Select 12 credits from below, with at least three (3) credits at the 400 level:
- Four courses from the HPA Minor or four courses from the Neuroscience Minor
- Select 12 credits from below, with at least three (3) credits at the 400 level:
- Human-Centered Design and Development
- Law & Policy
- Organizational Leadership (WC)
- ROTC
- Select 12 credits from below, with at least three (3) credits at the 400 level:
- Any AIR/ARMY/NAVSC courses
- Select 12 credits from below, with at least three (3) credits at the 400 level:
- Security Risk Analysis
- Custom Focus Area
- There is an option for a student to create a custom 4-course application focus sequence. It must be a coherent sequence of courses that provides context for the student in terms of ethics and governance content. It must contain three (3) credits of 400-level coursework. The focus area courses must be selected in consultation with a teaching EGI faculty member and an academic adviser. If a student does not complete ROTC, they can use up to six (6) towards a Custom Focus.