Programme description for Bachelor's Programme in IT and Information Systems (2022–2025)

By the end of the programme students will have acquired the following knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The students will:

• have a broad knowledge of digital transformation both in context of different businesses and society in general
• have a broad knowledge of key subject areas within systems development such as analysis, design, programming, algorithms, databases, and other current technologies
• have a systematic and coherent understanding of laws, regulations, and agreements in working life relevant to the subject areas of information technology and information systems
• have acquired coherent body of knowledge of the important role information technology and digitalisation can play in organisational and social development
• be familiar with research and development work within information systems, and be able to update their knowledge within the field

Skills

The students will:

• have specialised skills to analyse user needs, to model information systems, to program and to develop solutions, and to master relevant tools, techniques, and subject matter
• understand the organisational and financial consequences of digitalisation
• reflect on their own professional practice and be able to adjust under supervision
• participate actively and work independently in systems development projects and related project work

General competence

The students will:

• be able to plan and implement digital innovation projects and maintain information systems based on the needs of companies, both alone and as participant in a team
• have developed abilities for collaboration, communication, critical assessment and for dealing with paradoxes
• have conscious awareness of possibilities and limitations of information technology and digitalisation
• be able to take a position on issues of an ethical and practical nature related to the development and implementation of information systems and to digitalisation
• be able to update their own knowledge through literature searches, contact with professional environments, relevant user groups and apply and disseminate this in their own practice

Bachelor in IT and information systems is a three-year program. The most important program goals are to present students with the phenomenon of digitalisation and to give opportunities to develop skills for a participation of future-oriented solutions. The content of the programme will present students with a wide range of ideas in development and use of information systems leading to insight into the effects of digitalisation. Through practical problem solving, experimentation with innovative solutions, teamwork, collaboration with companies, as well as theoretical and practical guidance, students will be able to explore important aspects of responsible, sustainable, and ethical use of information systems for individuals, organisations, and society at large. After completing the programme, the students will be able to contribute to the development of information systems (IS) in the context of a sustainable society.

In the fourth and fifth semesters the students can choose between electives in systems development, information systems security, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In the fourth semester the students also have the option to study abroad.

• Individual examination using digital tools
• Individual and in group reports
• Group report combined with an oral examination and with, an individual or a group grading
• Portfolio including both group and individual deliverables

IT and information systems are international subject areas. The study programme is based on international sources and global perspectives. Several courses are taught in English, and in these courses the students will meet exchange students from other universities.

We recommend all students to use the opportunity to go on an exchange in the 4th semester. Exchange to one of the UiA's partner universities will provide unique experience and the opportunity to work and communicate in an international context. A semester studying abroad can also provide options for different subject combination, for example in subject areas like economics and management, eHealth, programming, and systems architecture.

The department has a number of exchange agreements with popular universities our employees have a collaboration with and we recommend the students to study at Waterford Institute of Technology (Ireland), LUISS (Rome, Italy), Minho University (Portugal), Paderborn University (Germany) and University of Münster (Germany) University of Nebraska (USA) and Queensland University of Technology (Australia). There are also other options. An overview is available on UiA's website (look for internationalisation and studies abroad). Students studying abroad in Europe can apply for an Erasmus+ scholarship.

There is a great demand for the expertise in the areas of digital business understanding, sustainability, and digital transformation in the private and public sector. There is also a need for people with knowledge in economics and organizational sciences to be able to understand the interaction between technology and organization. The programme is suited for preparation of students for the positions such as analysts, system developers, programmers, consultants, and advanced level user support.

Candidates from the bachelor’s programme in IT and information systems will be qualified to apply for admission to the Master's program in Information Systems, and the Master's program in Cyber Security at the University of Agder. The students completing the programme will also be qualified for further studies at several other institutions. Please note that other institutions may have additional requirements for an admission.

Read more about career opportunities for social scientists at www.uia.no/karriereveier.