Welcome We will begin momentarily If you have

Welcome! We will begin momentarily If you have questions about any of the information on the slides, during the presentation, please use the chat feature to ask your question and one of the advisors will respond. To chat, click the purple balloon icon, choose Everyone, and type your question. Can’t hear us? Make sure your volume is turned up. Click the gear icon under the purple tab to check audio settings. Or, click the menu (top left) to get a dial in phone number. All students registered for the BS INFT orientation have been provided a welcome email (to your MASON email address) with a link to this presentation, your BS INFT advising sheet, course eligibility for fall 2021, and more! Didn’t receive the email? Tell us in the comments (include your first and last name/G#) and an advisor will provide you with the date it was sent to you and/or will make one for you, after the presentation. ACTIVATE YOUR MASON EMAIL: https: //its. gmu. edu/knowledge-base/masonlive-1 st-login-instructions/

IST Website Most of what you need to know about the Information Sciences and Technology undergraduate and graduate programmes is available in the welcome packet email provided to you, and on the IST Website (including this presentation!): http: //ist. gmu. edu/

Communication • Federal Law prohibits us from communicating with students through non-Mason email addresses. • DO NOT forward your emails to a non-Mason email address • Always include a subject, a greeting, a body, and a signature in your emails • Be professional, respectful, and thorough • Create an auto-signature in your email (and on your phones) that includes your G# and your name, for ease • Visit the Writing Center for tips on how to write professional emails

Advising Communicate with an advisor each semester http: //ist. gmu. edu/go/advising • There are currently three full-time academic advisors: • Mrs. Cheryl Howe (chowe 1@gmu. edu) – Science & Technology Campus, Katherine Johnson Hall, Rm. 102 • Mrs. Lisa Sevilla (lsevill 3@gmu. edu) – Fairfax Campus, Nguyen Engineering Bldg. , Rm. 5337 • Ms. Laura Rhodes (lrhodes 8@gmu. edu) – Fairfax Campus, Nguyen Engineering Bldg. , Rm. TBD • We also have IST full-time faculty advisors! • Utilize them for career, content, and concentration advising

Advising, pt 2 During COVID-19, IST advisors are not offering in-person advising. This may change in the fall 2021 semester. • Students are encouraged to schedule a 30 -minute virtual appointment via ist. gmu. edu/go/advising • Quick questions may be sent to the advisors via email, if a 30 -minute appointment is not necessary

Location • IST Courses are offered online, and across three campuses: • Fairfax • Loudoun • Science and Technology (Prince William/Manassas) (IT 300/400 level courses are predominantly offered here) • Don’t have a car? Don’t want to drive in traffic? • To help you get between the Fairfax/Science & Tech campuses, utilize the Mason Shuttle (shuttle. gmu. edu) – Free use with your Mason ID card – Dependable drop off and pick up times – Can use the HOV lanes

Advising: Degree Works https: //registrar. gmu. edu/students/degree-evaluation/degree-works/ Use Mozilla Firefox or Chrome as your Internet Browser (Do not use Internet Explorer) 1. Go to https: //patriotweb. gmu. edu 2. Click “Student Services” Tab 3. Click “Student Profile” Link 4. Click “Degree Evaluation Menu” 5. Click “Degree Works” • • • This is used to view your academic record (current and past enrollment, remaining degree requirements, substitutions/waivers, etc. ) Any time you schedule an appointment with an advisor, this is what we use to create updated advising sheets and how we verify your eligibility TIP: Click on the course number to view prerequisites

FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS: Guaranteed Admissions Agreement • If you applied to Mason under the Guaranteed Admissions Agreement (GAA), and you meet the criteria, you will earn a waiver of your lower level Mason Core. • ENGH 302 will not be waived, unless you earned a Bachelor’s Degree Waiver • If your Transfer Evaluation Worksheet says Guaranteed Admission Mason Core Waiver: YES, you’re good to go! • If your Transfer Evaluation Worksheet says Guaranteed Admission Mason Core Waiver: NO, you need to be sure to send your final transcript with DEGREE CONFERRED on it and follow up with Transfer Admissions (credeval@gmu. edu). It is up to YOU to make sure this is applied to your degree by the last day of classes for your first semester of enrollment. • You must send your final transcripts prior to the last day of classes for the first semester of enrollment and have it applied to remain eligible for the waiver.

A Typical IST Advising Sheet KEY: • Still needed: You still need to satisfy this course. • If you were accepted GAA and believe your lower level Mason Core should be waived, be sure to send your final transcript to the University (through your My. NOVA account) and follow up with Transfer Admissions at credeval@gmu. edu to ensure it gets applied. • ✔: This course has been completed, either at Mason or at your prior institution

FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS: Transfer Credits https: //www 2. gmu. edu/admissions-aid/how-apply/transfer-credit-policy • You have ONE academic year before transfer credits are set in stone. These become final after the first year of enrollment. • Take care of issues now. There is no grace period. • Review Your Transfer Evaluation in Patriot Web • If there are courses missing, submit a Transfer Credit Inquiry form to the Office of Admissions, for review • If you would like direct credit for a transfer elective, submit a Transfer Credit Reevaluation Appeal – For IT courses, submit to istdept@gmu. edu or Engineering 5400 – For MATH courses, submit to the Math department, for ENGH courses, to the English department, etc.

FOR TRANSFER STUDENT: Bridge Courses http: //ist. gmu. edu/go/bridge • Students who have taken similar coursework at their prior institution(s) have the option to take a 1 -credit bridge course, for a grade, to satisfy the Mason course required for the degree • • These are offered only during the summer sessions, but the availability of bridge courses is subject to change. We do not guarantee they will be offered every summer. • If passed (C or higher), students will satisfy the Mason course required for the degree Transfer Bridge Mason + = Students also have the option to Course take the Information Systems CLEP exam to receive credit for IT 104 NOTE: You may only attempt the bridge ONCE. If you do not pass the bridge course, you must take the full Mason course. The full course grade will replace your bridge course grade in your CGPA, after the full course grade has been submitted. ITE 115 or CSC 110 + IT 191 = IT 104 ITP 120 + IT 196 = IT 106 ITE 170 + IT 193 = IT 213 ITD 256 + IT 194 = IT 214 Students in ADVANCE who earned a B or higher in the VCCS course will receive direct equivalency for IT 213, IT 214, IT 106 and WILL NOT need to take a bridge course to satisfy these credits.

Program Overview Our program is divided into 7 areas: • Mason Core Requirements (masoncore. gmu. edu) • IT Foundation • IT Core • 2 -Semester Capstone Sequence • Concentration • Supporting Coursework • General Electives • All students need a minimum of 120 credits to graduate, 45 credits of which need to be at the 300/400 level • If you have lower level transfer credit for upper level courses, you will need to be sure to satisfy the minimum 45 -credit requirement • Examples: ITN 154+ITN 155= IT L 341 ITN 156+ITN 157= IT L 445 ACC 211+ACC 212= ACCT 203 (substituted for MBUS 300)

Program Overview • For IT courses, begin with Foundation and Core followed by Concentration and Capstone • Always check pre- and co- requisite requirements • These are tied to the academic year when the course is taught, not your catalog year! • http: //ist. gmu. edu/go/prereq • COrequisites: Can be taken before or at the same time • Example: MATH 108 can be taken before IT 102 OR at the same time as IT 102. • PRErequisite: Must be taken before the course for which it is required • Example: IT 102 or MATH 125 must be taken BEFORE IT 300. • Need more info about a course? View the syllabus on our website: • http: //ist. gmu. edu/go/syllabi

Program Overview: Concentrations IT majors must select at least one of six concentrations (you may declare up to two). In order to declare a concentration, you must earn a B or higher in the gateway course(s) associated with that concentration. § § § DTP Database Technology & Programming ([IT 206 or IT 209 or CS 211] and [IT 214 or IT 194]) HIT CYBR NTEL WADV CCG Health IT (IT 214 or IT 194) Cyber Security (IT 223) Networking and Telecommunications (IT 341) Web Application Development (IT 213 or IT 193) Cloud Computing (IT 341) Students who have transfer credit for the courses above will need to submit override request forms (next slide) in order to register for any course that requires a B or higher in that course. You will be given detailed information about each concentration during IT 293: Junior Transition

Important Policies: Overrides Sometimes, Patriot Web will not recognize your transfer credits, substitutions, or waivers. Be sure you meet the prerequisites BEFORE submitting a request. These are reviewed manually, and in the order in which they were received. Duplicate requests will be moved to the bottom of the queue • http: //ist. gmu. edu/go/override • If your courses are graded, but you are waiting for your final transfer evaluation to be done, you can submit a request, then email an unofficial copy of your transcript to bsit@gmu. edu for review • • • Submit requests for IT courses and SYST 469, only Math overrides for MATH courses: camaya@gmu. edu ENGH 302 overrides (if you have earned the MCW): lscott@gmu. edu We do not override classroom capacity for courses. If the course is full, you can add yourself to an available waitlist or you will need to plan to take it in a different semester.

Program Overview: What We Do Not Recommend We will never recommend a student do any of the following: • Take more than 2 IT technical courses in the summer, at the same time; • Take more than 16 credits in a fall/spring; • Take STAT 250 and MBUS 300, at the same time; • Take any three from: (MATH 108/113), (IT 102/MATH 125), (IT 106/109/CS 112), STAT 250, MBUS 300, at the same time; • Take both (IT 206/IT 209/CS 211) and IT 207, at the same time; • Take any three from (IT 206 or IT 209 or CS 211) and IT 207 and IT 341 and IT 342 and MBUS 300, at the same time. The above is based on the rigorous nature of these courses and students’ historical performance in them when taken concurrently. We advise, but it is ultimately up to you what you wish to attempt.

Important Policies: Grades and Termination Grades • All students: C or higher in any course that is a prerequisite for another course (except for the Literature Mason Core, which can be a min D); • BS INFT majors: C or higher in foundation, core, capstone, and concentration courses, AND B or higher in the gateway course(s) for the respective desired concentration • Major GPA of 2. 75 or higher in order to graduate • View your specific catalog year requirements at catalog. gmu. edu Repeating Courses/Termination Policy: • If you are unsuccessful at a Math or CEC course required for the major, twice, you need prior approval to take third attempt (ist. gmu. edu/go/override), which must be in the semester directly following the second unsuccessful attempt, excluding summers • If you are unsuccessful at the third attempt, or you do not take it in the required semester, you will be terminated from the major and the CEC.

Important Policies: Study Elsewhere Requests Students who wish to take a course at another institution to transfer back to Mason, must obtain approval by submitting the Study Elsewhere Request form (available at registrar. gmu. edu/forms/), a typed, detailed explanation for the request, and supporting documentation. IST Academic Advisors do not have the authority to sign these forms. For advisor signature, students need to submit all documents to istdept@gmu. edu or 5400 Engineering for review from the Associate Chair. • Freshmen and transfer students in their first semester at Mason are not permitted to study elsewhere • Courses previously attempted at Mason (including withdrawals) cannot be taken elsewhere • Must be submitted to the Office of the University Registrar prior to the taking of the course at another institution

Important Policies: Registration Periods https: //registrar. gmu. edu/drop-withdrawal-deadlines-faqs/ https: //registrar. gmu. edu/calendars/ • Add/Drop: Students can add/drop courses with no tuition penalty. No grades will be recorded on their transcripts • Unrestricted Withdrawal: Students can withdraw from a course with partial or no tuition reimbursement. There is no limit on the number of unrestricted withdrawals a student can do. A W will be recorded on the transcript (no GPA, but counts as attempted credit hours) • Selective Withdrawal: Students can selectively withdraw from a max of 3 courses (with no tuition reimbursement) at Mason throughout their entire undergraduate career. A W will show on the transcript https: //registrar. gmu. edu/topics/selective-withdrawal/ Waitlists https: //registrar. gmu. edu/topics/waitlists/ • • Not all Mason courses offer a waitlist You will not be automatically registered from a waitlist Waitlist overrides are issued when seats become available Waitlist overrides remain on your account for 48 hours If you see an open seat, DO NOT try to remove yourself from the waitlist until you receive the override After receiving a waitlist override, you must move yourself from the waitlist to the class roster All waitlists are purged on the last day to add classes

First Semester • Doing well in your first two semesters at Mason is extremely important. Many transfer students opt to pursue their first semester (or two) parttime to get used to Mason culture and the rigorous course loads. Credit Level Warning Probation Suspension Attempted Credit Hours: Cumulative GPA Range: 7 -16 0. 00 -1. 99 ----- 17 -29 1. 75 -1. 99 1. 00 -1. 74 0. 00 -0. 99 30 -59 1. 85 -1. 99 1. 25 -1. 84 0. 00 -1. 24 60 -89 1. 95 -1. 99 1. 55 -1. 94 0. 00 -1. 54 90+ ---- 1. 85 -1. 99 0. 00 -1. 84 • Freshmen and Transfer students in their first semester of study at Mason will receive probation as the strongest academic sanction. GPA retention levels, as stated above, will apply in all subsequent semesters.

Is Cheating Worth the Cost? Pros to Cheating Cons to Cheating • • Not learning the material you paid to learn • Risk poor performance on exams • Get through a tough assignment Don't have to do the work Self-plagiarism is considered an honor code violation. DO NOT reuse your own work. You will be caught… We are IT. • If you do not know the material, the exams will be tough • Risk an Honor Code violation • Violations appear on your record and are caught by background checks (e. g. security clearance) • Risk forced completion of an academic integrity seminar • Cost of ~$100 and your time • Risk an F in the course • Cost of full course tuition to retake the class, a delay in graduation, and a lowered GPA • Risk academic suspension • Delay in graduation and a notation on your transcript • Risk expulsion • All of your time and money to date would be for naught • Risk not being able to get a job after you graduate because of a violation on your disciplinary record

Seeking Assistance • Having trouble in a course? There a number of resources that can help you succeed: • Stay in contact with the instructor of the course. They are there to help you. • If there is a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) assigned to the course, reach out to them. • Seek out a tutor from the CEC Peer Mentor Center, which offers tutoring in a number of IT courses in each fall/spring (not summers) • Visit Learning Services for help with managing test anxiety, learning strategies for motivation, organization, etc. • Register with the Office of Disability Services to receive accommodations to bolster your academic success

Additional Mason Resources • • • Career Services (careers. gmu. edu) Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) (caps. gmu. edu) Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) (ssac. gmu. edu/) Mason Student Services Center (SUB 1, first floor) mssc@gmu. edu • Registrar, Learning Services, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, etc. Office of International Programs & Services (OIPS) (oips. gmu. edu) Math Tutoring Center Office of Military Services (military. gmu. edu) Office of Student Involvement (si. gmu. edu) Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Resources lgbtq. gmu. edu Women and Gender Studies Center (wmst. gmu. edu) Writing Center

Additional Opportunities (pt 1) • Data Analytics Credential • In partnership with the Greater Washington Partnership, a consortium of some of the largest employers in the region (e. g. Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capitol One, Northrop Grumman, Under Armour), George Mason is launching a Data Analytics Credential. • Students who enroll and begin and complete the course work associated with the Data Analytics Credential (much of which is included in your course of study as an INFT Major) will receive special invitations and opportunities to meet with Greater Washington Partnership Companies and receive special opportunities for resume review, internships and hiring upon graduation. • Information Technology with NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Education Criteria Certificate • Students completing the Information Technology, B. S. with a concentration in Information/Cyber Security are eligible to earn a NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Education Criteria Certificate. • Digital Media and Web Design Minor (CEC) • Contact Prof. Diana Wang (ywangm@gmu. edu) for advising

Additional Opportunities (pt 2) • There are currently 6 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's (BAM) programmes currently associated with our undergraduate degree. • • • Information Technology, BS/Information Security and Assurance, Accelerated MS Information Technology, BS/Information Systems, Accelerated MS Information Technology, BS/Software Engineering, Accelerated MS Information Technology, BS/Digital Forensics, Accelerated MS Information Technology, BS/Telecommunications, Accelerated MS Information Technology, BS/Applied Information Technology, Accelerated MS • To apply for one of the BAM programs affiliated with the BS INFT, students need to have met the criteria (listed in the University catalog at the time of application). All information regarding BAMs can be found at IST. gmu. edu/go/applyaccelerated and in the University catalog (https: //catalog. gmu. edu/colleges-schools/engineering/informationsciences-technology/information-technologybs/#acceleratedmasterstext). • Students interested in the 3 BAMs that are affiliated with the CS department should contact them for advising regarding their programmes and additional BAM acceptance requirements (https: //cs. gmu. edu/current-students/ms-students/foundation-courses/).

Stay Connected with IST! http: //ist. gmu. edu https: //www. facebook. com/GMUIST/ http: //linkedin. com/grp/home? gid=5136040 bsit@gmu. edu @GMUIST @mason_istdept

Still Have Questions? Check your MASON EMAIL address for your welcome email that includes your transfer evaluation worksheet, advising sheet, and course eligibility. If you have personal questions about your academic record, your course eligibility, etc. , you may email an academic advisor (lsevill 3@gmu. edu, lrhodes 8@gmu. edu, chowe 1@gmu. edu, bsit@gmu. edu), or schedule a 30 -minute virtual appointment for a future date, by following the instructions posted at ist. gmu. edu/go/advising. If you’d like us to verify your enrollment, after you’ve registered, feel free to email an advisor from your Mason email address, including your name and G#.