To earn a Master of Information Technology degree at Virginia Tech, students must complete 11 courses -- 4 core (foundation) courses and 7 elective courses for a total of 33 credit hours. By choosing the appropriate courses, master's students can also earn a Graduate Certificate in one of six I.T. specialities as part of their degree program.
Students also have the option of earning a 12-credit Graduate Certificate. Graduate certificates require the completion of 4 specified VT-MIT core and/or elective courses. Certificates can be completed in one year.
Graduate Certificate Options
Core (Foundation) Courses
VT-MIT degree students begin by taking 4 of 6 core (foundation) courses for a total of 12 credit hours. The core courses are often prerequisites for elective courses. If students wish to take more than 4 core courses, the additional core courses will count as electives.
- ACIS 5504 Information Systems Design & Database Concepts
- BIT 5594 Web-Based Applications & Electronic Commerce
- CS 5044 Object-Oriented Programming with Java
- CS 5704 Software Engineering
- ECE 5484 Fundamentals of Computer Systems
- MGT 5804 Strategic Leadership in Technology-Based Organizations
Elective Courses
After completing the core courses, degree students take 7 elective courses for an additional 21 credit hours.
Before enrolling in electives, degree and certificate students must check that they have taken the appropriate core course and any other elective course designated as a prerequisite.
Analytics & Business Intelligence Courses
(Recommended Core Prerequisite: BIT 5594 or MGT 5804)
- BIT 5524 Introduction to Business Intelligence & Analytics
- BIT 5534 Applied Business Intelligence & Analytics (Prerequisite: BIT 5524)
Big Data Courses (Core Prerequisite: CS 5044)
- CS 5644 Machine Learning with Big Data
- CS 5664 Social Media Analytics
Business Information Systems Courses (Core Prerequisite: ACIS 5504)
- ACIS 5524 Advanced Database Management Systems
- ACIS 5534 Systems Development
Cybersecurity Courses (Core Prerequisite: ECE 5484)
- ECE 5585 IT Security and Trust l
- ECE 5586 IT Security and Trust ll (Prerequisite: ECE 5585)
- ECE 5480 Cybersecurity and the Internet of Things
Cybersecurity Management Courses
(Recommended Core Prerequisite: BIT 5594 or MGT 5804)
- BIT 5134 Cybersecurity Program Design & Operations
- ACIS 5624 Cybersecurity Governance and Risk Management
Cybersecurity Policy Courses
(Recommended Core Prerequisite: BIT 5594 or MGT 5804)
- BIT 5114 Crime and Conflict in Cyberspace
- BIT 5124 Cyber Law and Policy for Information Technology
Decision Support Systems Courses (Recommended Core Prerequisite: BIT 5594)
- BIT 5474 Computer-Based Decision Support Systems
- BIT 5484 Cognitive Computing for Smart Service Systems (Prerequisite: BIT 5474)
Health Information Technology Courses
(Recommended Core Prerequisite: ACIS 5504)
- BIT 5564 Healthcare Information Technology
- ACIS 5574 Healthcare Data Management
Networking Courses (Core Prerequisite: ECE 5484)
- ECE 5485 Networks and Protocols l
- ECE 5486 Networks and Protocols ll (Prerequisite: ECE 5485)
Software Development Courses (Core Prerequisite: CS 5044)
- CS 5244 Web Appplication Development
- CS 5254 Mobile Application Development
Software Engineering Courses (Core Prerequisite: CS 5044)
- CS 5704 Software Engineering (Core Course)
- CS 5744 Software Design & Quality (Prerequisite: CS 5704)
Suggested MIT Degree Plan of Study
Students entering in the Fall Term who wish to complete their degree in two years can take two courses per semester (including the first summer) and follow this sequence:
| 1st Fall | 1st Spring | 1st Summer | 2nd Fall | 2nd Spring | 2nd Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIT 5594: Web-Based Applications and E- Commerce | MGT 5804: Strategic Leadership in Tech-Based Organizations | BIT 5564: Health Information Technology | BIT 5524: Intro Business Intelligence & Analytics | BIT 5534: Applied Business Intelligence & Analytics | CS 5044: Object-Oriented Programming with Java |
| 2 | ACIS 5504: Info Sys/Database Concepts | ACIS 5524: Advanced Database Management Systems | ACIS 5574: Healthcare Data Management | BIT 5474: Computer Based Decision Support Systems | BIT 5484 Cognitive Computing for Smart Service Systems |
Students wishing to complete the requirements over 2 ½ years can complete the following sequence, which allows for a short summer break during the Summer II session (year one) and Summer I session (year two).
| 1st Fall | 1st Spring | 1st Summer | 2nd Fall | 2nd Spring | 2nd Summer | 2nd Fall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIT 5594: Web-Based Applications and E-Commerce | MGT 5804: Strategic Leadership in Tech-Based Organizations | BIT 5564: Health Information Technology | BIT 5524: Business Intelligence & Analytics | BIT 5534: Applied Business Intelligence & Analytics | ACIS 5574: Healthcare Data Management | CS 5044: Object-Oriented Programming with Java |
| 2 | ACIS 5504: Info Sys/Database Concepts | ACIS 5524: Advanced Database Management Systems | BIT 5474: Computer Based Decision Support Systems | BIT 5484 Cognitive Computing for Smart Service Systems |
Sequence of coursework for students entering in Spring Term, and following the two-year cycle:
| 1st Spring | 1st Summer | 1st Fall | 2nd Spring | 2nd Summer | 2nd Fall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIT 5594: Web-Based Applications and E- Commerce | BIT 5564: Health Information Technology | BIT 5524: Business Intelligence & Analytics | BIT 5534: Applied Business Intelligence & Analytics | CS 5044 Object-Oriented Programming with Java | MGT 5804 Strategic Leadership in Technology-Based Organizations |
| 2 | ACIS 5504: Info Sys/Database Concepts | ACIS 5574: Healthcare Data Management | BIT 5474: Computer Based Decision Support Systems | ACIS 5524: Advanced Database Management Systems | BIT 5484 Cognitive Computing for Smart Service Systems |
Sequence of coursework for students entering in Spring Term, and following the 2 ½ year cycle:
| 1st Spring | 1st Summer | 1st Fall | 2nd Spring | 2nd Summer | 2nd Fall | 2nd Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIT 5594: Web-Based Applications and E- Commerce | BIT 5564: Health Information Technology | BIT 5524: Business Intelligence & Analytics | BIT 5534: Applied Business Intelligence & Analytics | ACIS 5574: Healthcare Data Management | MGT 5804: Strategic Leadership in Tech-Based Organizations | BIT 5484 Cognitive Computing for Smart Service Systems |
| 2 | ACIS 5504: Info Sys/Database Concepts | BIT 5474: Computer Based Decision Support Systems | ACIS 5524: Advanced Database Management Systems | CS 5044: Object-Oriented Programming with Java |