Areas of emphases are focuses within the major in Computer & Information Technology. An area of emphasis provides a core set of courses that allow a CIT student to focus, or specialize, in a particular area by taking 18-24 hours that are specific to that area while still receiving a well-rounded IT education. The CIT major currently has two areas of emphasis available: Computer and Web Application Development and Game and Simulation Development.
Computer and Web Application Development Area of Emphasis
This area of emphasis focuses on the development of computer applications for business, industry, and education. Students will learn the software engineering process and project management and learn to program in languages such as Python, Java, C++ and C#. Students also learn to specify, design, and build large-scale software systems for existing hardware. This area of emphasis is aimed at students who are interested in pursuing careers in computer programming, IT, and related fields.
Game and Simulation Development Area of Emphasis
Game development is a very popular focus for students interested in computing. This area of emphasis combines principles of computer application development with computer game development. This connection between application development and game development is aimed at students who are coming to Marshall University with aspirations of developing computer, console, and mobile games.
CIT has two computer labs with a focus on gaming where students utilize the environment to play and analyze different types of interactive media, to research the latest trends and graphics, and to discuss gaming. The space will also be available to students designing and developing their own games for courses taught in the area of emphasis and for their senior project, which will consist of the development of an advanced computer game.