Florida State University

Commonly referred to as Florida State or FSU, Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida was founded in 1851. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifies the university as a "Research University with Very High Research," and the university consists of 16 separate colleges and more than 110 institutes, labs, facilities, and centers that offer more than 360 study programs, including professional school programs.

Florida State University is also home to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory — Florida's only national laboratory — and it is the birthplace of Taxol, a commercially feasible anti-cancer drug. The university operates the State Art Museum of Florida, the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, and one of the largest university/museum complexes in the country.

Florida State University is home to nationally ranked programs in a number of academic areas, including the sciences, social work, psychology, political science, visual art, dance, theater, music, film, social policy, medicine, engineering, business, and law.

Accreditation Details

Florida State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as well as the AANA, ACEND, NASD, NASM, and NAST. Its online Master of Science in Information Technology degree is also accredited by the SACSCOC.

Application Requirements

Students interested in earning an online Master of Science in Information Technology must first submit an online School of Information Supplemental Application to be accepted into the School of Information. Next, students must apply to Florida State University by submitting an online University Graduate Application. Students will be required to pay an application fee and upload a copy of their current resumes at the time of applying.

Finally, students must send an official copy of their test scores from their graduate admission entrance exam to the University Office of Admissions as well as official transcripts from each university or college attended. If a student previously attended Florida State University, he or she is not required to submit an official FSU transcript.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of the online Master of Science in Information Technology costs approximately $479 per credit hour for in-state students and $1,110 per credit hour for out-of-state students. Students can also expect a per-credit-hour distance learning fee that varies depending on the course, and special market rates may be available for students from outside the state.

Online degree-seeking students are eligible for the same financial aid awards as campus-based students if they register for a minimum of six hours per semester. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to apply. Financial aid options include:

• State resident scholarship programs for Florida residents
• State and federal loans such as the Stafford loan
• State and federal grants such as the Pell grant
• Scholarships Research
• Bright Futures award
• Out-of-state tuition waivers

Online Degree Available

The Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) is a 32-credit-hour degree that allows students to gain a strong foundation in areas such as mobile information systems, data management, distributed information systems, IT technical writing/documentation and communication, user experience design, IT project management, information systems management, IT governance, usability, information quality assurance, and information architecture.

Students are required to complete course work for the degree within seven years from the date of registration for the graduate credit. In addition, any graduate work a student wishes to transfer from another institution must not have ended more than seven years before the completion of the degree in order for the credits to apply.

The master's curriculum includes a total 12 semester hours for four required core courses of three credit hours each: Assessing Information Needs, Management of Information Organizations, Usability Analysis, and Information Systems Management. The remaining 20 credits may be earned through electives.

Students should choose electives based on their foundational needs, current technological skill levels, and the goals they would like to achieve to reach their professional goals. Electives include Leadership in Technology, Web Site Development and Administration, Theory of Information Retrieval, Introduction to Legal Resources, Database Management Systems, and Fundamentals of Metadata Theory and Practice.

After taking the Introduction to Information Technology course, students will have a beginning knowledge on both practical and theoretical levels. The course reviews the underlying concepts of information technology as embodied in networks, website creation, application software, hardware, and operating systems. It ensures that all students have fully mastered minimum knowledge and skill sets and are prepared to successfully complete assignments that require information technology skills through the degree program.

Students will also receive an introduction to the role of information systems in organizations and how these information systems relate to organizational structures and objectives. The Information Systems Management course covers the basics of information and management as they relate to one another in the operation of an information center.

The Management of Information Organizations course enables students to build a conceptual framework for integrating fundamental management practices, theories, principles, and concepts into an effective personal management process that relates to the 21st century's information organizations.

Students will also receive an overview of the user's perspective in the analysis of information preferences and needs. They will also be introduced to the design, execution, and reporting of tests for the usability of information services and products. The courses also include teaching the theory, concepts, and techniques for evaluating, producing, and designing networked multimedia resources, and students will be presented with a strong focus on the management of information organizations.

Students may also wish to take additional courses as electives through the College of Communication and Information's School of Communication. These courses may include Agile Project Management, Advanced Topics in Project Management, Introduction to Project Management, and Organizational Communication Theory & Practice. With the permission of the iSchool Director, students may also take electives in other academic units.

To help students choose their courses, the school organizes courses into programs of study along specialized and general areas of interest. While these programs of study are not required for graduation and do not lead to additional transcripts or diplomas, they function as an advising and planning tool for students. They include: web design, user-centered design, technology and networking, leadership and management, and large-scale data management.

Graduates who receive a Master of Science in Information Technology from Florida State University advanced as qualified professionals using the information technology knowledge and skills gained from earning their online degree.

Related Resource: 30 Most Affordable Online Master's in Information Technology