Information Technology Infrastructure Minor

Admission

The ITI minor is available to any student currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the University of Minnesota.

Admission Requirements

To apply for the ITI minor, you need to have:

• 30 transferable credits completed.
• a 2.5+ GPA.
• completed INET 2002, CSCI 1931 or CSCI 1933.
   

Admission to the Applied Data Science or Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence subplans also requires completion of:

• Mathematics (MATH 1031, 1051, 1151 or 1271)
• Introduction to Statistics (EPSY 1261, STAT 1001 or 3011, or BA 2551)
   

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Courses and Subplans

The courses you'll take in the IT Infrastructure minor are organized by subplans consisting of 18–19 credits. Each subplan includes specialized courses. Your advisor can help you determine the option that best fits your career goals.

Applied Data Science

Turn raw data into real-world insight. This subplan introduces the tools that power today’s analytics pipelines, SQL and NoSQL databases, Python, Power BI, and cloud-based platforms such as AWS Redshift and S3. Students learn to design data architectures, clean and visualize information and apply statistical and machine-learning methods to solve business problems. Graduates leave ready to build dashboards, interpret results, and support data-driven decision-making in any organization. 

Career paths include: Data Analyst, Data Engineer, Business Intelligence Developer, Database Administrator, Analytics Consultant or Data Scientist.

• Foundations of Operating Systems (INET 4001)
• Data Science I: Machine Learning Essentials (INET 4061)
• Data Science II: Advanced Analytics and AI (INET 4062)
• Introduction to Databases (INET 4707)
• Data Management I: Data Systems Design (INET 4709)

Cybersecurity and Governance

Protect systems, people, and data. Students gain practical experience with Splunk, Wireshark, Nmap, Metasploit and AWS Security Hub, learning to detect, defend and respond to cyber threats. The subplan combines technical labs with governance frameworks such as NIST 800–53 and ISO 27001 to connect security practice to policy. Graduates are well-prepared for roles in cybersecurity operations, compliance and risk management, along with certifications like Security+ or CISSP. 

Career paths include: Information Security Analyst, Penetration Tester, Security Engineer, Cloud Security Specialist, Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) Analyst or Cybersecurity Consultant.

• Introduction to Security: Policy and Regulation (INET 4153)
• Security I: Cybersecurity Essentials (INET 4165)
• Security II: Cloud Security and Strategy (INET 4007)
• Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment (INET 4172)
• Operational Cybersecurity Strategy and Control Implementation (INET 4173)

DevSecOps and IT Project Management

Where development meets security and strategy. This subplan immerses students in Agile, Scrum, GitHub Actions, Terraform, Jenkins, Docker and Kubernetes, linking coding and infrastructure to organizational goals. Learners practice continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD), automate workflows and manage risk through secure-by-design practices. With a focus on real teamwork, project portfolios and cloud pipelines, students graduate prepared to lead DevSecOps or IT project teams. 

Career paths include: DevOps Engineer, DevSecOps Engineer, Cloud Automation Engineer, IT Project Manager, Scrum Master, Systems Integrator or Infrastructure Lead.

• IT Infrastructure Projects and Processes (INET 4082W)
• Agile and Strategic IT Project Management (INET 4084)
• Foundations of Software Development, Security and Operations (DevSecOps) (INET 4085)
• IT Portfolio Management and Operational Strategy (INET 4086)
• DevOps II: Advanced DevSecOps and Automation (INET 4121) 

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence

Explore how intelligent systems learn, predict, and create. Students experiment with Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch,and AWS AI Services to design and train models for image, language, and data analysis. This subplan emphasizes hands-on labs in cloud environments, ethical use of algorithms and scalable deployment using modern automation tools. By completion, learners can move from building a prototype to delivering production-ready AI solutions. 

Career paths include: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Specialist, Data Scientist, Automation Engineer, Predictive Analytics Developer or Research Analyst.

• Web Infrastructure (INET 3102)
• Data Science I: Machine Learning Essentials (INET 4061) 
• Data Science II: Advanced Analytics and AI (INET 4062 )
• Applied AI and Machine Learning: Cloud Computing Tools and Techniques (INET 4087)
• Generative AI Systems: Tools and Techniques (INET 4088)

Network and Cloud Infrastructure

Build and manage the backbone of modern IT. This subplan blends traditional networking with next-generation cloud design using Cisco Packet Tracer, AWS VPC, Azure Network Manager and VMware ESXi. Students learn routing, virtualization and hybrid-cloud deployment while configuring secure, high-availability systems. The result is a strong pathway to careers in network administration, cloud engineering and systems architecture. 

Career paths include: Network Engineer, Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, Systems Administrator, Network Architect, Cloud Solutions Architect or IT Operations Manager.

• Foundations of Networking (INET 4002)
• Networking I: Network Infrastructure and Administration (INET 4011)
• Networking II: Next-Gen Networking Technologies (INET 4041)
• Cloud Essentials (INET 4033)
• Cloud Architecture and Management (INET 4034)

Web Application Programming (coming spring 2027)

Build modern applications from interface to infrastructure. This subplan guides students through the full lifecycle of web development, beginning with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and version control, then progressing into full-stack engineering, secure backend development and scalable architecture. Students work with frameworks such as React and Flask, design RESTful APIs, implement authentication and authorization, and deploy applications to cloud platforms using Docker and Kubernetes.

The curriculum emphasizes responsive design, secure coding practices, cloud deployment and performance optimization. By completion, students can design, develop, secure and scale production-ready web applications that meet real-world business and technical demands.

Career paths include: Full-Stack Developer, Front-End Developer, Backend Developer, Web Application Developer, Cloud Application Developer, API Developer or Software Engineer.

• Web Infrastructure (INET 3102)
• Introduction to Web Development (INET 4017)
• Advanced Web Development, Deployment, and Security (INET 4018)
• Scalable Web Architecture and Performance Optimization (INET 4019) 
• Advanced Secure Network Coding and Distributed Systems (INET 4021)

Self-Designed

You may design your own area of emphasis based on your individual experience and goals. Advisor approval is required.

• Foundations of Operating Systems (INET 4001)
• Foundations of Networking (INET 4002)
• 11–12 credits selected in consultation with your advisor