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Apply ByFall: Priority February 1, Final August 1 | Spring: Priority October 1, Final, December 1
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Admission GPA2.5+
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Total Credits120 (including 30 for admission)
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FormatPartially online
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Cost
A Technology Degree with a Professional Focus
Position yourself for success with this industry-driven bachelor’s, designed for working adults.
Today’s IT incorporates collaboration, social responsibility, and global impact. In the University of Minnesota IT infrastructure degree program, you’ll explore real-world problems and solutions through a unique combination of business and IT courses. You'll gain the in-demand technical and professional skills that can set you apart.
What is IT Infrastructure?
Infrastructure technology refers to the components—hardware, software, networking resources—required to manage an organization's IT environment. Its function is to deliver IT products and services internally and to customers.
In the U’s ITI degree program, you’ll learn:
- collaboration and teamwork.
- methods to explain the business value of technology options.
- how to leverage data to answer questions about your business and customers.
- to use legacy and cloud environments to create more value for organizations.
“The degree gave me a very good foundation ... I’m happy that I’m still using what I learned in that program all these years later. I’m grateful for that.”
—Victor Ajibesin, ITI Bachelor’s Degree, 2006
As more organizations convert to cloud-based computing services, “the talent shortage will remain a key issue for organizations to tackle,” according to Tech Republic.
Are you ready to kick-start your fulfilling and rewarding career in IT ? Apply today!
Information Technology Job Outlook
- $126KAnnual mean salary of computer network architects
- $104KAnnual mean salary of information security analysts
- $106KAnnual mean salary of database administrators
Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020 Minnesota data).
To learn more about the ITI graduate outcomes and potential job titles/roles by track, visit the ITI Career Outlook page.
Information Technology Infrastructure Courses
Each ITI course will help prepare you to make a meaningful contribution to your chosen specialty. We've designed the curriculum to provide you with the skills and knowledge to fill a variety of IT roles. Read more about the program's learning outcomes as well as enrollment and graduation data.
Our instructors and advisory board provide industry perspectives to ensure we're sharing the latest practices in the industry. You and your academic advisor will build a degree plan that totals 120 semester credits. Consult the course prerequisite guide for suggestions on the best course sequence. It will include foundation, core, sub-plan/track, and general requirements courses. Many students are able to finish their degree in four years.
Admission Requirements (20 credits)
- Mathematics (MATH 1042 or 1142 or 1271)*
- Physics I and Lab (PHYS 1101W or 1301W)**
- Intro to Computing & Programming Concepts (CSCI 1103 or 1113 or 1133+)
- Intro to Algorithms and Data Structures (CSCI 1913 or 1933+)
- Machine Architecture and Organization (CSCI 2021)
Although it is not an admission requirement, you will also need to take First-Year Writing (WRIT 1301 or 1401).
Foundation Courses (19–25 credits)
- Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication (COMM 1101 or 3402 or 3605W)
- Introduction to Statistics (STAT 1001 or 3011 or SCO 2550 or EPSY 1261)
- Financial Accounting (ACCT 2051 or APEC 1251)
- Economics (ECON 1101 or 1102 or APEC 1101 or 1102)***
- C Programming Language & Applications (INET 3101)
- Web Infrastructure or Discrete Structures of Computer Science (INET 3102 or CSCI 2011+)
+ Required to enroll in CSCI courses beyond ITI major requirements
* Fulfills Mathematical Thinking Liberal Education requirement
** Fulfills Physical Science Liberal Education requirement
*** Fulfills Social Science and Global Perspectives Liberal Education requirements
Core Courses (31 credits)
- The Social Impact of Information Technology
- Foundations of Operating Systems
- Foundations of Networking
- Introduction to Systems
- IT Infrastructure Operations
- IT Infrastructure Projects and Processes
- Introduction to Security: Policy and Regulation
- Defying Racial Bias in the Workplace: Individual Action and Accountability
- Introduction to Databases
Business Communication Courses (12 credits)
General Courses (22-31 credits)
To complete the ITI degree, you will also need to complete University-wide liberal education and writing intensive requirements.
Sub-plans
As a degree-seeking student, you can specialize your expertise through one of six sub-plans. You may also choose the self-designed option.
- Data Management
- Data Science
- Development and Operations (DevOps)
- Networking
- Security
- Systems
Our sub-plans (or "tracks") prepare students for employment in the most current and in-demand computer technology areas. You can also design your own course of study. Your IT infrastructure advisor will help you determine the option that best fits your career goals.
Each sub-plan requires two track-specific courses and one technical elective from a track other than your own. Talk with your advisor to understand your options (10–13 credits). Read more about the career outlook for an ITI professional.
Data Management
This track features hands-on experience with data, starting in relational databases, migrating to NoSQL (big data) concepts, and culminating with building infrastructure to support data management.
Data Science
Learn to use massive amounts of data to ask questions, find patterns and anomalies, and further the research and development of industries outside of IT, such as health care and biological sciences.
DevOps
This track covers the development of applications, as well as the role of code in the building, managing, and monitoring of infrastructure and operating systems and the packages required to run those applications.
Networking
The Networking track develops foundational knowledge of how networks work—everything from theory to physical devices.
Security
The Security track provides foundational knowledge in not just "keeping people out," but also the how and why of security breaches. This specialty examines the tools and mechanisms to track who did what and covers the exponentially growing challenges of cloud security.
Systems
Stepping from the fundamentals of bare metal computing to cloud, virtualization, and software-defined networking requires a unique focus.
Transferring Credits
Wondering if Your Credits Will Transfer?
Current U of M Students: Run a "What if" APAS report to see how your coursework might meet the Information Technology Infrastructure program requirements.
Non-U of M students from a local community college: Sometimes ITI foundation courses can be taken at a community college. To find out if your college’s courses transfer to the ITI major, consult the CCAPS Transfer Admissions Guides.
Non-U of M students from a four-year institution: Visit the Transferology website, a free, web-based system that provides access to up-to-date information about how your courses will transfer and apply to a degree program at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. (You will need to create a free Transferology account.)
Additional Resources
Have a specific question? Contact our enrollment advisor to talk about your individual coursework.
Admission Requirements
The ITI degree welcomes students who have completed at least 30 college credits, which will count toward your 120-credit total. You can apply if you don’t have 30 credits completed yet, but you should first talk to our admissions advisor. Find out more about how your credits might transfer in the Transferring Credits section.
Ready to apply? Here’s what we’re looking for:
- 30 transferable credits
- 2.5+ GPA
- Demonstrated interest in IT field
We also look to see that you have ...
- A pattern of steady academic improvement
- Nonacademic experience in a related field
- Work experience, paid or unpaid
- Extenuating circumstances (events or issues that may have affected your progress in school)
The University also reserves the right to deny admission to an otherwise admissible applicant if the University determines that the applicant's enrollment would not be in the applicant's or the University's best interest.
Apply
Fall Semester Application Deadline | Priority: February 1; Final: August 1
Spring Semester Application Deadline | Priority: October 1; Final: December 1
All applications received by the priority deadline for each term will be considered. Applications received after the priority deadline, up until the final deadline, will be considered on a space-availability basis.
Questions about admission? Contact your admissions advisor.
Admissions Advising
Meet Jeff Olsen Krengel
I work with prospective students interested in our applied undergraduate majors (Construction Management, Health Services Management, and Information Technology Infrastructure) or designing their own degree program (Health & Wellbeing Sciences, Inter-College Program, and Multidisciplinary Studies). I’m available to answer your questions and help you find a program that meets your needs.
In my free time, I can be found reading, running with my son, or visiting a brewery. I am an avid sports fan cheering for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota United FC, and Liverpool FC.
Give me a call at 612-625-4340, email me, or schedule an appointment on my calendar below.
Meet Jeff in person at these upcoming events
Current Students
Are you a current student of any of the ITI programs? We built a website just for YOU!
We envision the Information Technology Infrastructure website to be a one-stop shop for all your academic needs. From the website, you can:
- contact your instructors and advisors
- browse the academic calendar
- access essential forms and docs (e.g., Directed Study and Leave of Absence)
- register for internships and explore career opportunities
- apply to the study abroad program
- and a whole lot more!
IT Infrastructure FAQ
What Is Information Technology Infrastructure?
Information technology Infrastructure encompasses the tools, including hardware, software, networking resources and operational practices that are necessary for management of an organization’s IT environment. This technology framework supports the effective delivery and function of IT products and services to internal and external clients.
Why Is Information Technology Infrastructure Important?
Information technologies solutions have become a key driver of organizational success across many operational aspects—from communications to productivity to innovation. Because of this, maintaining the IT infrastructure that supports these solutions is a vital and ongoing focus for organizations.
Are Information Technology Jobs In Demand?
There are a number of in-demand areas across the IT field. For those interested in supporting IT security, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), forecasts a 35% job growth rate for information securityanalysts through 2031. Database administration offers an additional 12,800 job roles over the next decade. Another field with promising growth is computer network architecture, which is projected to add 7,500 jobs by 2031.
What Careers Can I Pursue With An Information Technology Infrastructure Bachelor’s Degree?
Wherever your IT interests lean, there are many ways to support IT infrastructure. Potential job roles can include computer research scientist, computer network architect, database administrator, information security analyst and so many more!
What Is The Average Salary For Information Technology?
Depending on what area of IT you aspire to work in, there are many opportunities to earn a lucrative salary. For example, computer network architects earn a median annual salary of $120,520, according to the BLS. The median annual salary for a computer systems analyst is $99,270 and a computer programmer can earn $93,000 annually.
What Courses Do You Take While Earning An Information Technology Infrastructure Bachelor’s Degree?
Coursework in this bachelor’s degree program focuses on fundamentals in core areas such as IT infrastructure operations, networking, databases and operating systems. These foundational studies are enhanced through topics across business communications, mathematics, science and computing.
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