OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024
[Archived Catalog]
Information & Telecommunication Systems, ECT (VR/AR) Track (B.S.C.) |
Major code BC5383
Scripps College of Communication
J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies
360 Schoonover Center
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4890
www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/mcclure
Charles P. (“Chip”) Linscott, contact person
linscoc2@ohio.edu
Program Overview
Whenever you use the Internet, stream video or music, make a voice call, use your mobile device, or play an online game, information network technology is at work. Advanced network applications like live video, audio, or gaming frequently demand specific services from the network infrastructure. As the transport of advanced network applications increases, networks must understand the nature and specific needs of the traffic they carry, and advanced applications must understand the resources and capabilities available from networks. Cutting-edge applications like live video and gaming are a function of not only the type of data that is being transferred but of the transmission requirements of the information and the location of the information being exchanged. Augmented and virtual reality are two examples of applications that may demand specific services from networks. Such applications also need to know from where the required information can be delivered by the network to the end user. To address this technology transformation, the J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Technologies has instituted this separate track within our existing ITS degree. This new track (ECT) is dedicated to emerging communication technologies production, e.g., virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) while also covering information networking and telecommunication systems. Students possessing both networking and content production skills have a competitive advantage in the marketplace. The ITS/ECT major allows our students to develop this competitive edge by combining courses that build competency in both networking and content production.
The McClure School will prepare you for a career in the rapidly growing fields of Information and Telecommunication Systems, VR/AR, and Games. We offer the Bachelor of Science in Communication degree. To earn your degree, you will work with ITS/ECT faculty in the classroom and will utilize the School’s extensive laboratory facilities, gaining hands-on experience with the technologies that are revolutionizing the ways that individuals, businesses, and governments communicate, learn, and play. You will learn about the design, management, regulation, and application of information network technology; the production, use, and implementation of VR/AR; as well as how businesses acquire and sell such products and services. You will study how these collected technologies are changing the way people do business, consume entertainment, get an education, access healthcare, and go about their daily lives. ECT students also gain a strong foundation in business administration and automatically fulfill the requirements of the Business Administration Minor when completing courses required for the ITS/ECT degree. The ITS/ECT program is one of the few of its kind in the country and entirely unique both in Ohio and around the region.
Admissions Information
F reshman/First-Year Admission
No Requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Change of Program Policy
GPA of 2.5 is required. Transfers may be limited due to capacity constraints.
External Transfer Admission
No requirements beyond University admission requirements.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
Information network technology is the lifeblood of modern business. The intersection of networking technology, VR/AR, and business practices encompasses a wide variety of jobs, and ITS graduates can be found in many different roles. The School’s blend of theoretical study, production expertise, and practical experience continues to prove attractive to employers, including Fortune 500 companies, throughout the United States.
An ITS/ECT degree provides career opportunities in a variety of settings. Major companies operate sophisticated business networks, and ITS graduates manage the operations and security of networks at companies in the insurance, banking, consumer product, industrial, government, and retail sectors. Companies that have hired ITS graduates include Progressive Insurance, Nationwide Insurance, Kroger, Marathon Petroleum, JP Morgan Chase, Cardinal Health, Fifth Third Bank, Xerox, and Abercrombie & Fitch. VR/AR students have gone on to work for Warner Brothers, Sony, Disney, Bethesda, Microsoft, Unity, and many other major tech and entertainment companies. ITS graduates are also employed in branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and in state and federal government offices.
Further, ITS graduates have found employment at major telecommunication and information service providers or vendors such as AT&T, Cincinnati Bell, CenturyLink, Verizon, Sprint, Cisco Systems, Time Warner Telecom, Level 3 Communications, Microsoft, IBM, EMC, Google, PowerNet Global, and XO Communications. Our students have also acquired positions with consulting companies like Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, PwC, and Capgemini. When combining VR/AR development skills with a focus on managing and engineering networks, overseeing network security, and selling information and telecommunication products and services, McClure graduates have boundless career opportunities.
The School’s placement rate is among the highest in the Scripps College of Communication. Our graduates enjoy substantial starting salaries.
Requirements
Universitywide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires the completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for the conferral of a bachelor’s degree. This program can be completed within that 120-hour requirement. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other universitywide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – Universitywide page.
College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication
View the College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication .
Introductory Core Requirements
Complete the following courses:
- ECT 1700 - Foundations of Virtual Reality and Game Design Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 1710 - Digital Tools for Virtual Reality and Game Development Credit Hours: 2
- ITS 2140 - Introduction to Information and Telecommunication Systems Credit Hours: 3 (C or better)
- ITS 2300 - Data Networking Credit Hours: 4 (C or better)
Completion Core Requirements
Complete the following courses:
- ECT 1210 - Understanding Virtual Reality Technology Credit Hours: 4
- ECT 2210 - Introduction to VR Production Credit Hours: 4
- ECT 4440 - Lifecycle Management in Emerging Communication Systems Credit Hours: 3
-
or
- ITS 4440 - Lifecycle Management in Emerging Communication Systems Credit Hours: 3
Electives
Choose four of the following courses for at least 12 hours (at least 9 hours from ECT):
- ECT 2401 - Digital Game Design: Concepts Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 2750 - New Media Storytelling Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 3210 - Virtual Reality Production: Immersive Audio Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 3220 - Virtual Reality Production: cineVR Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 3230 - Virtual Reality Production: Interactive Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 3401 - Game Development I Credit Hours: 3
- ECT 4401 - Game Development II Credit Hours: 3
- ITS 3100 - Internet Applications and Network Systems Credit Hours: 4
- ITS 3110 - Technical Foundations for Communications Credit Hours: 4
- ITS 4020 - Strategic Decision Making in Information and Telecommunication Industries Credit Hours: 3
- ITS 4310 - Privacy in the Internet Age Credit Hours: 3
- ITS 4330 - IT Compliance and Planning Credit Hours: 3
- ITS 4750 - Internet Engineering Credit Hours: 4
- ITS 4900 - Topical Seminar Credit Hours: 1 - 3
- ITS 4920 - Practicum in Communication Systems Credit Hours: 1 - 3
General Courses
Complete the following courses:
- ACCT 1005 - Accounting for Business Activities Credit Hours: 3
- BUSL 2000 - Law and Society Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 1030 - Fundamentals of Public Speaking Credit Hours: 3
- COMS 3200 - Communication and New Technology Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 1000 - Survey of Economics Credit Hours: 3
- FIN 3000 - Introduction to Corporate Finance Credit Hours: 3
- MGT 2000 - Introduction to Management Credit Hours: 3
- MIS 2021 - Business Information Systems Nonmajor Credit Hours: 3
- MKT 2020 - Marketing Principles Credit Hours: 3
Statistics Course
Statistics (3-4 credits). Choose 1 of the following courses:
- COMS 3520 - Quantitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
- ECON 3810 - Economic Statistics Credit Hours: 3
- MATH 2500 - Statistics and Probability Credit Hours: 4
- PSY 2110 - Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences Credit Hours: 4
- QBA 1720 - Introduction to Information Analysis and Descriptive Analytics Credit Hours: 3
Programming Course
Programming (3-4 credits). Choose 1 of the following courses:
- CS 2300 - Computer Programming in JAVA Credit Hours: 4
- CS 2400 - Introduction to Computer Science I Credit Hours: 4
- CTCH 1330 - Introduction to Computer Programming Credit Hours: 3
- ET 2100 - Engineering Programming Credit Hours: 4
- ITS 2801 - Scripting Projects Credit Hours: 3