Integrated Science and Technology

Areas of Emphasis within ISAT

Majors are specific degree programs of study within the Department of Integrated Science and Technology.

Areas of Emphasis are focuses within majors in the Department of Integrated Science and Technology.

Specializations are specific areas of focus within areas of emphasis, not noted on the transcript or diploma.

Minors are 12-15 hours of courses offered by the Department of Integrated Science and Technology, but are not open to students already majoring in a degree program offered by the IST Department.

Certifcations are options that non-degree seeking students can earn by taking specific courses within IST.

Environmental Assessment and Policy Area of Emphasis

The Environmental Assessment and Policy Area of Emphasis focuses on the most current methods of assessing environmental quality and relating assessment to current regulatory actions. This degree program is appropriate for those interested in how environmental data are collected and analyzed and how decisions are made to protect environmental quality. Coursework includes a solid foundation in the most current analytical and technological methods for environmental analysis. Environmental mapping and modeling are used extensively in the study of both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Specific courses required include: GLY 200, CHM 211 & 212, IST 320-323, MGT 320, PSC 333, IST 420-421, IST 423-425.

Biotechnology Area of Emphasis

This allows students to take additional coursework in either the Computer and Information Technology or the Environmental Assessment and Policy areas.

Computer Application Development Area of Emphasis

Focus is on applications for business, industry, and education that run on the personal computer or integrate various hardware pieces into the computer system as a whole. Students will learn the software engineering process and project management and learn to program in languages such as C++, VB.NET and Java.

In the Software Development specialization students learn to specify, design, and build large-scale software systems for existing hardware. In the Instrumentation specialization students concentrate on development of applications with computer hardware, including sensors, computer organization and robotics.
Computer Application Development, Software Development 4-year plan

Students are required to complete IST160, 163, 236, 238, 303, 332, 333, 334, 337, 362, 365 and 264/336 and their Senior Project must involve an issue in Computer Application development and be approved by a Computer and Information Technology faculty member.

Computer Forensics Area of Emphasis

This program is a collaboration between Marshall University’s Departments of Criminal Justice and Integrated Science and Technology and the Forensic Science Degree Program. The study of Computer Forensics prepares students for careers in the collection, preservation, examination and analysis of evidence from computers and other electronic devices. IST 160 and IST 264 are prerequisites for the Area of Emphasis. Students must complete the four course sequence in IST Computer Forensics (IST 446-449), as well as IST463-464, and either CJ 312 or CJ 323 and all the prerequisites for these courses.

Students may choose one of two specializations: Computer and Multimedia Forensics/Investigation or Network Security and Administration. See below for sample 4-year plans of study in each specialization:
Computer and Multimedia Forensics/Investigation 4-year plan
Network Security and Administration 4-year plan

Web Application Development Area of Emphasis

The Web application development area of emphasis allows students to specialize in developing Web application content using web-based development languages and the effective design and organization of databases. Students are required to complete IST160, 163, 263, 332, 333, 334, 362, 363, 365, 430, 466, and 264/336 along with the general Integrated Science and Technology requirements. Students within the Web Application Development area of emphasis will also be given the opportunity to obtain a minor in graphics arts by completing ART214, 219, 312, 453, 454, and any other ART course.

Students may choose one of two specializations: Web Programming or Database Administration. See below for sample 4-year plans of study in each specialization:
Web Programming 4-year plan
Database Administration 4-year plan

Game Development Area of Emphasis

This area of emphasis combines the sound principles of computer application development through computer game development. Game development is a very popular venue in higher education and the faculty of the IST program recognize that this area of emphasis is key to the mission of the Computer and Information Technology major. Marshall University’s Integrated Science and Technology department is dedicating a computer lab for gaming (Marshall's Advanced Gaming and Interactive Computing Lab – MAGIC) where students can interact with each other, playing different types of computer games to research latest trends and graphics and discuss gaming, as well as, design and develop their own games for courses taught in the area of emphasis and their senior project, which will consist of the development of an advanced computer game. The connection of development and game development skills within an area of emphasis better defines students who are coming to Marshall University with aspirations of developing computer and console games. Students must complete several required CIT and IST courses, but will focus on IST 360 (Game Development I: 2D), IST 438 (Computer Graphics for Gaming), IST 439 (Game Development II: 3D), and IST 460 (Game Development III: AI).
Game Development 4-year plan