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online competency-based information technology bachelor's

Bachelor of science in information technology (direct assessment), start your direct assessment information technology degree.

Pursue your career goals with a direct-assessment bachelor’s in IT. Learn to apply IT theory and principles to real-world business challenges. Gain knowledge needed to successfully address a range of organizational IT issues and opportunities.

What are Direct Assessment Programs?

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Browse courses for your online information technology degree

Education should hold practical value. That’s why our courses meet rigorous academic standards and provide you with skills and knowledge immediately applicable to your career.

Look for this icon to see which skills you’ll learn in a course.

Core Courses

This course introduces the fundamentals of computer systems and the role of information processing in today's business environment. An overview is presented of information systems, systems development, database management, networking, and the Internet.

This course defines the Cyber Domain that encompasses Cybersecurity as the discipline of securing computer information and communications systems, networks, infrastructures and assets, and protecting them against damage, unauthorized use, modification, or exploitation. The Cyber Domain must be managed ethically, politically, and physically in a similar collaborative fashion to the space, maritime, and physical domains of states and nations globally.

This course provides comprehensive Cybersecurity awareness and a fundamental understanding of various computer and network security threats, such as: Identity Theft, Fraud, Online Scams, Viruses and Backdoors, Hacking, Social Engineering Attacks, and more.

This course provides students with a basic understanding of programming development practices. Concepts covered include the application of algorithms and logic to the design and development of procedural and object oriented computer programs to address the problem solving requirements associated with business information systems. This course will cover procedural programming concepts, including data types, controls structures, functional decomposition, arrays, files, classes, and objects.

This course teaches the basics of an object-oriented scripting language capable of developing web apps, scripts, cross-platform apps, games and pen-testing exercises.

This course analyzes and compares security administration for traditional physical infrastructures with that of evolving cloud infrastructures.

This course covers today's most popular data programming languages. Students will be introduced at a high level to the programming languages as they relate to database design, development, and management.

This course provides an introduction to software development with some beginning concepts in HTML, CSS and JavaScript as well as additional skills for building the user interface (UI) and manage the application lifecycle.

This course provides a foundation in basic telecommunications and networking technologies fundamental to the industry and to the broad field of telecommunications. Analog, digital, and cloud-based technologies are covered. Also covered in this course are an introduction to the OSI protocol model, network-switching systems, basics of wireless communications, and network security.

This course introduces the fundamental, logical, and design considerations addressed during system and application software development. It provides a solid background in information systems analysis and design techniques through a combination of theory and application. The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) will be fundamental to the course.

This course covers fundamental database concepts including SQL, non-relational databases, distributed databases and database architectures. Students are provided an overview for how to manage, display, sort, group, retrieve, and organize data for the application or tool associated with the software development taking place within an organization.

This course will provide the knowledge and skills required to understand foundational and advanced cloud terminologies/methodologies; to implement, maintain, and deliver cloud technologies and infrastructures (e.g., server, network, storage, and virtualization technologies); and to understand aspects of IT security and use of industry best practices related to cloud implementations.

This course provides a foundational workshop on data structures, which is a functional component of business intelligence (BI) within an organization. Building upon basic programming and database structure, this course builds competencies for the student to recognize the structure of data contained in deployed enterprise information systems.

This course introduces the fundamental, logical, and design considerations addressed during system and application software development. It provides a background in applications software development and testing techniques through a combination of theory and application.

This course provides the foundation for successful project planning, organization, and implementation within the realm of information technology. The course uses real-world examples and identifies common mistakes and pitfalls in project management. Topics covered include project scoping, estimating, budgeting, scheduling and staffing, tracking and controlling, and software tools for project management.

This course explores the evolution from information security to cyber security, policy and cyber security development and the relationships between business and public/private sector organizations in meeting the challenges of cyber security threats. Students will be introduced to the legal and regulatory requirements for internal network and internet security both as they apply to business and personal use. Vulnerabilities of both the organization and the individual will be reviewed as well as the processes and controls for mitigating cyber security threats. The need for an IT audit will also be explored as part of the vulnerability/mitigation process as well as the need for development of an organization-wide cyber security policy.

As the capstone course for a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT), students will complete a multi-faceted academic project/paper that demonstrates mastery and assesses the level of competency for the stated outcomes of the BSIT program. Additionally, students will complete the development of their career portfolios to illustrate skills gained throughout the course of this program.

General Education Courses

This course transitions students through the foundations of study at University of Phoenix. Students develop personal strategies for achieving educational goals and develop skills in critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.

This course develops the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills that are essential for academic and life success.

This course introduces theories and concepts in psychology that will foster academic success and provide students with opportunities to synthesize and apply that knowledge.

Students learn how to think critically, focusing on developing the necessary tools and skills to analyze problems, make decisions, and formulate well-supported points of view on key academic, social, and professional issues.

This course introduces students to thinking about and working with numbers by examining the day-to-day and societal importance of money.

This course extends practice in critical reading, writing, and thinking. Emphasis is given to developing an effective writing process that takes into account audience and rhetorical purpose.

This course is an introduction to the set of perspectives on human life that allows us to understand how our personal lives are affected by our place in society. It explores ways of looking at the world that allow us to understand how the events and experiences of our lives are part of group dynamics, of social institutions, and of cultural meanings. It allows us to see personal events and meanings as affected by historical forces and to see how historical events may be shaped by personal choices.

This course provides an applied approach to teambuilding, collaboration, and conflict resolution. Students must understand and apply these concepts within academic and professional settings. Students develop structures, processes, and strategies to create and maintain effective teams. Gender, cultural, and individual considerations in team dynamics are also explored.

This course provides an overview of the key components of comprehensive wellness. Based on a preventive model, the course will allow learners to explore choices that promote wellness with goals of living longer and better.

This course is designed to educate students about issues of race, ethnicity, gender, disability and other diversity issues in the United States.

Students apply advanced quantitative reasoning skills to solve real world problems. This course emphasizes modelling skills, statistical methods, and probability to create, analyze, and communicate solutions.

This in‐depth environmental science course examines how people use science to understand how they relate to the environment. The course explores relationships between people and ecosystems, and the science behind how ecosystems work. It reviews the historical development of the environmental movement, interactions between humans and natural ecosystems, and more specifically, the role of a growing population and associated pressures on natural resources. This course further examines how economics, natural systems, and conservation are interrelated. The many forms of pollution as well as types of energy resources are addressed. This course challenges students to consider the impact of lifestyle choices on environmental sustainability.

This applications‐driven course prepares students to critically analyze and solve problems using quantitative reasoning. Students approach real world scenarios using numerous reasoning skills and mathematical literacy to draw conclusions.

This course provides an overview of the standard for project management, with a focus on project management principles and guidelines for strategic development, decision making, and problem solving. Students will examine contexts, factors, and functions related to value delivery, governance, project environments, and product management.

This course explores the critical role of human resources in achieving business results. The course will help students to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of human resource management and its strategic relevance in business today. This course will provide students with a critical perspective on the development of human capital in the context of a unified system of attracting, retaining and developing talent that creates and supports the vision and values of the organization. Students will develop an understanding of the critical business implications for human resource professionals today.

The course provides an introduction to the most prominent forms of media that influence and impact social, business, political, and popular culture in contemporary America. It explores the unique aspects of each medium as well as interactions across various media that combine to create rich environments for information sharing, entertainment, business, and social interaction in the United States and around the world.

This foundational course covers networking basics. In this course, you will learn about network architecture, including network infrastructure implementation, addressing schemas, routing, unified communications, and cloud computing. Understanding computer networks and network components is essential for any IT professional. This course covers the objectives for the CompTIA Network+ certification exam.

This course introduces practices in cloud infrastructure and services. Covered are a cloud computing model, layers of cloud computing, and functions of cloud computing. Included are fundamental layers of cloud infrastructure: physical, virtual, control, orchestration, and service. Also included are cross-layer functions of cloud infrastructure: business continuity, security, and service management.

This course provides an overview of project planning and performance, with a focus on stakeholders, teams, development approach and lifecycle, and planning performance domains.

This course provides an overview of project delivery and measurement, with a focus on project work, delivery, measurement, and uncertainty performance domains.

This course explores models, methods, and artifacts commonly used in the management of projects. Students will have the opportunity to apply a variety of models, methods, and artifacts across performance domains to support project requirements.

This course examines tailoring practices used to adapt project management approaches, governance, and processes to individual project needs. Students will also review agile methodologies used to improve collaboration, performance, and responses to change within various project phases.

This course provides a foundational perspective for ethics and social responsibility in relationship to individuals, organizations, and the community. Emphasis is placed on the interrelated nature of ethics, morality, legal responsibility, and social issues.

Requirements: 120 credits

In a competency-based program, you earn competency units by demonstrating your knowledge of a core skill, or competency. Since there are 120 competency units in this program, one competency equals one unit.

23 Core Courses

Here’s where you’ll pick up the bulk of your program-specific knowledge. By the time you finish these courses, you should have the confidence and skills needed in an IT environment.

15 Gen Ed Courses

These courses lay the foundation for all our degree programs. Because communication, math and writing skills aren’t just universally applicable in IT — they’re also useful in daily life.

2 Elective Courses

Elective courses allow you to learn about topics you’re interested in. That means you’ll have a degree that’s unique to you and your education goals.

2, 3 or 4 courses at a time

12 weeks per course

Your academic counselor will help schedule your courses for a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (Direct Assessment).

Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years.

Learning shouldn’t take years to put into practice. That’s why we’re empowering you to build career-relevant skills with every course.

We’ve worked with the labor market researcher Lightcast to identify in-demand skills for occupations and mapped those to our related associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

Affordable, fixed tuition

Keep the same fixed, affordable tuition from start to finish of your degree program, even if it takes longer than you planned. That’s our promise: no matter what surprises life brings, you can count on us. That's your Tuition Guarantee.

Lock-in Tuition

Per 12-week term

Learn about Cost of Attendance (COA)

Bachelor of Information Technology Direct Assessment

The cost per term is $2,500, depending on how many courses you take per term. The length of your program may vary. This program is not eligible for federal financial aid.

Careers & Outcomes

What can you do with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree?

Discover where your degree might take you and make informed choices about your future.

A BSIT can help prepare you to be a:

Information Technology Director
Information Systems Director
Information Systems Supervisor
Information Systems Manager
Information Technology Manager

Top skills learned in this program:

Business Process

Cybersecurity

Information Systems

Systems Analysis

Ready to get started?

Start your application for free or request additional information.

What you’ll learn

When you earn your online information technology degree, you’ll be equipped with a concrete set of skills you can apply on the job. You’ll learn how to:

Apply key principles of systems analysis and design to selected business processes within the organization in order to implement effective information systems
Design selected network and cloud infrastructures that will comply with key requirements of accepted industry best practices to improve organizational network operation
Design and develop key database models aligning with business requirements for storage, retrieval, and use of data
Implement cybersecurity solutions that comply with global governance best practices
Demonstrate an ability to evaluate, design, and implement application programs to meet business processes

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , job growth for computer and information systems managers is projected to be much faster than average between 2023 and 2033.

The BLS Projected Growth for 2023-2033 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

Apply for free – no application fee, no obligation.

Starting your degree is a big decision — and we want you to feel great about it. That’s why we remove obstacles from your application.

No SAT/ACT required
No essay required
No cost, risk-free trial for eligible students
We’ll request transcripts at no cost to you, when possible, and we accept eligible credits from over 5,000 accredited institutions.

How to enroll at the University of Phoenix

How to enroll at University of Phoenix

Receive 1-on-1 support

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 90% of our surveyed students. [1] Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

[1] Transactional Survey, August 2021-22 (18,645 respondents)

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Gabriel G., Enrollment Rep

You have a support team of real people you can lean on. And our academic counselors, who are with you every step of the way, have earned a 5-star rating from 85% of our surveyed students. [1]

[1] Transactional Survey, September 2022-August 2023 (23,739 respondents)

Start a conversation with an enrollment representative today.

Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.

Student Experience

An education that fits your busy life

Balancing family, work and school.

Work toward your degree without giving up what matters most. Start your degree year-round and take one class at a time.

Online learning

Enroll in online classes and attend class whenever it fits your life, day or night.

Around-the-clock support and resources

You have a support team available up to 14 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Computer requirements for courses

Many course assignments will require you to use a computer to complete and submit your assignment.

Student completing homework at night while child plays on floor.

Faculty Spotlight

Learn from professionals working in IT

As a university built for working adults, we believe you should be taught by faculty who practice what they teach. The IT curriculum they teach today is designed to help you make an impact in your day-to-day work tomorrow, bridging the gap between academics and industry knowledge.

Edward Spear MIS, MS CIS, MS MGMT, MS HRM, MS Global MGMT, Doctoral Candidate MIS

Faculty, College of Business and Information Technology

Troy L. Adams, MBA, MsMIS, MsCyberSec

Sharon Golett, MS

Associate Faculty, College of Business and Information Technology

Accreditation

Accredited for 45+ years

Since 1978, University of Phoenix has maintained institutional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org . Learn more about the value of University of Phoenix accreditation and how it benefits our students.